Natural and Organic Skincare Blog

Good health isn't just about healthy eating and exercise. You can eat a clean healthy diet and exercise every day but if you're not looking after yourself in other ways you probably won't feel truly healthy and happy.

Here are our 5 simple steps to form good habits that will help you feel great inside and out.

1. Drink more water

Most of us don't drink enough water. Your body uses and loses water constantly, so it’s essential to replace it throughout the day. Drinking little and often is the best way to stay hydrated. You should aim to drink 6 - 8 glasses a day which is around 1.5 litres. Staying well hydrated can help prevent headaches and constipation. It boosts your skin health too, increasing its elasticity which has an anti-aging effect. If you don't like drinking plain water try sparkling water or add a slice of lemon or lime.

Applying good quality natural Moisturising Creams also hydrates your skin. I find when I apply one of our Rich Creams a small amount of organic beeswax remains on the surface creating a physical barrier keeping moisture in without feeling oily on the surface. 

2. Take a walk

With or without a dog, get them steps in! Walking is not just good for your physical health, it's good for your mental health too. Walking for just 150 minutes a week  (or about 30 minutes, five days a week) can help burn calories, strengthen bones and muscles, relieve stress and boost your general mood and wellbeing. 

In the spring through to late summer, to prevent water loss and sun damage to my skin, I apply some organic Shade Sunscreen. It's the only one I've found that I can use on my sensitive skin and apart from it's amazing abilities to protect, I love the natural scent of the Shea Butter and the way it leaves my skin feeling naturally soft. 

So when you’re feeling down, get out there. Getting up and moving can help increase your general energy, your mental clarity and your sleep quality too. 

3. Talking about sleep

It is essential and without it we can't function properly, it's just as important as drinking, eating and breathing. It's probably not a surprise that getting a good night's sleep can help to keep your energy levels up, but there are also many other health benefits like boosting your immune system, reducing your stress levels and even helping you maintain a healthy weight. Getting a good night's sleep is important for maintaining good all round mental and physical health.

I find soaking my feet (2 inches above my ankles) for 20 mins in a mixture of warm water, a couple of tablespoons of sea salt and a few drops of organic Lavender Oil helps to calm my thoughts so I can drift off easily followed by a good quality sleep.

4. Feeling good from the inside

Eat lots of fruit and vegetables. Most fruit and vegetables are low in saturated fat, salt and sugar and are high in fibre so you will feel fuller for longer, which as part of a balanced diet can help you lose weight. Try replacing that snack with a piece of fruit or filling half your dinner plate with vegetables. Fruit and vegetables are also a good source of vitamins and minerals helping to protect you against cancer, diabetes and heart disease. I find organic fruit and vegetables generally tastier and more enjoyable, helping you to eat more of them. 

I have noticed that in Pembrokeshire the price of locally sourced organic food has stayed the same whilst non-organic has gone up in price; this may be due to the increase in cost of transportation, artificial fertilizers and pesticides which are not used in locally grown organic produce. Is it the same where you live? If so, it's good news for your health and wellbeing I think. 

Oh and don't forget...what you put on your skin is absorbed into your bloodstream in 26 seconds so make sure that's good food too :) Talking about skin food...

5. Feeling good on the outside

You may already take regular exercise and eat healthy food but have you considered what you put on your skin? Your skin is the largest living, breathing organ on your body and absorbs 60-70% of everything you put on it!

It takes 26 seconds for your skin to absorb a chemical into your bloodstream.

When choosing what you put on your skin you'd do good to yourself and our planet by using natural organic products. Organic skin care products begin with organic ingredients grown and produced using sustainable practices, so without any harsh synthetic chemicals; making them far less likely to cause irritation. Nature is the best source of skin-nourishing ingredients full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Use clean organic beauty products and reap their nutritional benefits.

Use this one-time 20% discount code to try our Sample Packs:

SKINFOOD20

Go organic! Good for you and good for the planet.

Sustainable Living can change you from the inside out

The life you lead when you are trying to be conscious of your environment and other creatures in it can have a very dramatic impact because sustainable lifestyles lead to better health choices and also foster a mentality of compassion and connectivity.

Here at New Dawn we use the principle of circular economy. Striving to protect nature, eliminate waste and pollution, reuse and recycle materials to keep them circulating for as long as possible. As the world’s population continues to grow we aim to throw away nothing, thereby reducing the need to use more resources.

Here are some of the sustainable practices we implement here at New Dawn:

1. Organic ingredients
2. Plastic Free and Compostable Packaging
3. Prevented Ocean Plastic bottles
4. Recycled Plastic Containers
5. Refill service
6. Compostable/recyclable postal packaging

What is a solid shampoo soap bar?

A shampoo soap bar is a highly concentrated solid version of a liquid shampoo. The main difference is that they don’t contain the same detergents found in many liquid shampoos that can strip your hair of its natural oils. Solid soap bars tend to be made with natural ingredients and contain very little water which makes them a more environmentally friendly choice than standard liquid shampoo that contains between 70-80% water, and often harmful chemicals such as phthalates and harsh preservatives.

There are three types of solid soap bars:

Glycerin-Based -  A good choice as it is pH-balanced and gentle. They are softer and more natural on the hair than other types of soap bars and are also good for dry, itchy scalps.

Cold-Processed - Usually made at home or by small businesses, these shampoo bars have high pH and contain a high amount of natural oils which are great for conditioning, but they can contribute to a waxy build-up.

Solid Surfactant - A surfactant is a chemical compound that lowers the surface tension between two substances, allowing them to more easily spread or become wet. Solid surfactant shampoo tends to be very clarifying, meaning it removes oil. Because of this quality, this type of shampoo is especially suited to hard water but can leave your hair dry.

It’s important that you choose a shampoo soap bar with the right ingredients for you hair. Good quality essential oil will not only have a better scent but will increase their cleansing and nourishing qualities.

Ingredients to avoid when choosing a shampoo soap bar:

• Sulphates - They strip the hair of their natural oils, can increase the skins sensitivity and cause dryness.
• Parabens - They can increase your risk of skin cancer.
• Phthalates - They can cause hormonal disruptions and are dangerous to the environment.
• Toluene - Can hamper the immune system.
• Dimethicone - Prevents moisture entering the hair and can block pores.

How to use a solid shampoo soap bar

For best results, especially with long or dry hair, use Organic Hair Conditioner after the final rinse.

Can you use a shampoo soap bar on your skin?

Some shampoo soap bars have a higher concentration of oils, which act as surfactants, these kinds of shampoo bars are not designed to be used on the skin. However a Glycerin-Based soap bar is kind on both your hair and skin, so if you're looking for a low fuss all in one cleanser for your hair, face and body this kind of solid soap bar is a great choice. Here at New Dawn Organic we have created a range of Glycerin-Based solid soap bars made with all certified organic ingredients including Essential Oil, Coconut Oil and Aloe Vera, which makes them pH balanced with healthy skin & hair. As a result they are wonderful for washing your face as well as your hair and the rest of the body. Naturally healing, soothing and hydrating while they cleanse, leaving your face, body and hair soft and glowing with health. 

Reducing your plastic waste.

In the UK alone 520 million shampoo bottles are thrown away every year and according to the World Wildlife Fund only 31% of all plastic waste is recycled. If you are at the beginning of your journey towards zero waste then shampoo soap bars are a good place to start.

New Dawn Organic Solid Shampoo Soap Bars: Plastic free and 100% compostable packaging.

Kind to our planet and good for our skin and hair too!

As if hot flashes and mood swings weren’t enough, during perimenopause and menopause the skin can change dramatically. For many women, the skincare they have been using for years doesn’t seem to work anymore or even starts to irritate the skin, and it can be difficult to know which products to use.

What happens to your skin during menopause?

The most common skin conditions associated with menopause are dry sensitive skin, dullness, skin thinning, loss of radiance and breakouts. Here at New Dawn Organics we have created a Menopause Skincare Range specially selected to target these conditions.

What is the best skin care for menopausal skin?

During Menopause skin can become very sensitive so it is recommended that you use natural organic products to limit damage and protect the skin from imbalances often caused by synthetic chemicals.

With the right natural skin and hair care routine you can bring out the best in your skin and hair as it changes.

In this menopause skin care guide, we will cover:

1. Acne breakouts
2. Restoring your glow
3. Dryness and wrinkling
4. AM & PM skincare routine

1. Acne breakouts during menopause

Why does acne return in menopause? Hormonal changes are one of the biggest reasons for acne. During menopause oestrogen levels drop, which leads to a relative surplus of testosterone. This imbalance can lead to conditions such as Acne, Hirsutism (excess hair on the face) and Alopecia.

Typical treatments for acne contain retinoids, benzoyl peroxide and azelaic acid. However, all of these can irritate the skin. Acne can be very distressing, so to help combat this, in the new Menopause Range, we have included our Organic Patchouli Wash. It naturally heals, soothes and hydrates while it cleanses, leaving your skin soft and clear without causing irritation.

2. Restore your glow

As hormone levels drop, your skin can become dry and dull looking. To help restore your skin's natural glow it is important to keep it moisturised. Our Patchouli Light Moisturiser contains ingredients that have been specially selected to deeply hydrate and restore your glow in the gentlest, most effective way.

Wonderful organic ingredients such as Essential Oils, Coconut Oil, Aloe Vera, Shea butter, Cocoa butter and Rosehip Oil are used not only for their extraordinary healing and rejuvenating qualities, they are also skin brightening and help lower the risk of scaring to maintain happy, healthy, vibrant skin.

3. Extreme dryness, wrinkling and loss of skin laxity.

During menopause, the protective skin barrier starts to weaken and loses its ability to hold on to water. This can lead to dryness, loss of firmness and wrinkles. For this, we suggest a deeply nourishing moisturiser to combat extreme dryness.

Our Rose Geranium Rich Moisturiser makes a wonderfully nourishing Night Cream. The cream sinks into the layers of your skin, deeply nourishing, healing and rejuvenating. A thin layer is left on the surface to keep moisture in, resulting in hydrated, naturally soft healthy skin. If you have very dry skin, this moisturiser can also be used in the daytime to relieve itching. Rose Geranium is also stress relieving and uplifting.

4. AM & PM skincare routine

We have created a simple natural organic menopausal skincare routine, designed to target the plethora of changes that occur at this time of life. 

All of the products in the New Dawn Menopause Range are made with Natural Organic Essential Oils. Artificial fragrances may cause skin irritation, so we use organic essential oils with beautiful aromas and specific health benefits instead.

Feel free to reach out to us with any skin and hair care queries.

Browse our website to find the perfect products for you, and do not hesitate to contact us via email or call us on 07905 451 466.