After the apparent success of Karen’s last little jaunt to QVC HQ over Easter - on the premier Saturday Night Beauty slot, she’s just been back in the saddle and will be gracing our screens on the QVC channel on May 30 so check her out… (Nb. Karen turned 49 last week and well if you need any proof that SOPHYTO works as an anti-ageing treatment, she’s it!!)

Karen will again be talking about the fabulous new Dual Action Exfoliating Treatment. If you haven’t tried it yet, we have a few samples left so drop me a line and we’ll try and send one your way.

I’ve always been wary of abrasive treatments but this is so silky and light - I absolutely love it. And, more importantly, so does my skin… I even persuaded my (increasingly metrosexual!) boyfriend to have a go and I definitely felt a difference! But, if you’re still on the fence when it comes to exfoliators (and let’s face it, there are a fair few harsh ones out there) check out what Jaime, one of our friendly customers, has to say about the latest addition to the SOPHYTO stable:

“First off, I really love how easy it is to apply! The design of the container is wonderful for a product like this, it makes it effortless to apply - no mess! I also love the texture and the smell. I apply it 2-3 times a week and each time can noticeably tell a slight difference in the smoothness and appearance of my skin. Another thing I love about it is that you can’t tell that you have it on - unlike other exfoliating solutions with big beads in them or masks that are green or white. I love that I can sit down right next to my fiance while I have it on and he can’t tell! It is also very gentle. I have very fair skin with freckles (aka sensitive!) and it is so gentle with my skin type, which is a big plus. Overall, love this product and feel like using it every day!”

Well, that’s a pretty good billing, eh? Smoother, softer, clearer skin is only an email away…

Happy exfoliating folks!! And don’t forgot - MAY 30: QVC - Check us out.

Wahey! We did it! The SOPHYTO Polyphenol Skin Drops beat all the other natural anti-ageing treatments out there to win one of US Elle magazine’s Green Beauty Awards…

We are not surprised as we’ve been saying it’s the best organic skin care out there for ages! But we’re still extremely chuffed, of course. If you haven’t seen this month’s issue yet, here are the important bits…!

and inside….

Da daaaaaa…

If you haven’t tried this 2009 Green Star-winning product yet, maybe now’s the time, eh…?

At last, there’s a quality online magazine about all things green and chic - that has the crisp elegance of a print mag. Enter COCO ECO - a classy bi-monthly online glossy that aims to speak to the eco warrioress in all of us.

COCO ECO features all things ethical, sustainable, organic and gorgeous, proving you can still have flawless skin - made up or nude, dress couture and have a conscience. Organic beauty, organic skin care, organic fashion, organic lifestyle… they’ve got it covered.

The fashion spreads would give Vogue’s finest a run for their money and they’ve got real high-end advertising too.

All in all, a seriously classy read. We likey!

For some reason Organic Beauty popped into my head and it occurred to me that since the hype surrounding its launch, there’s been nothing about the mag in the media at all… But, that’s probably because - according to the website - the next issue isn’t due out until November! (It will feature an Annual Directory of Green, Natural & Eco-Friendly Beauty Companies, though… which sounds pretty good.)

So, sounds like we’re looking at more of an annual, than a magazine. Nevermind. Anyway, has anyone read the first issue? Any thoughts? Being a UK-ite at the moment I haven’t managed to read it yet but would be interested to see if it lives up to the big billing it got before it was launched…? In the meantime, there are plenty of great organic blogs and websites to feast on… including the previously mentioned Ecorazzi. And organicauthority.com, too.

You may be cutting back on some luxuries at the moment, but organic body wash needn’t be one of them because Dr Bronner’s lovely Magic Soap is not only fantastic but at £2.49 (or $2.49 if you live in the US!) for a small bottle, it’s pretty affordable, too.

The company has been going for 60-odd years and the traditional-looking labels give you a great sense of the company’s rich heritage… the scents are pretty powerful, too. Lavender, Peppermint, Rose, Eucalyptus - there’s something for every occasion.

Dr Bronner was alas a few sandwiches short of a picnic - he took the ‘cleanliness is next to godliness’ truism a little far in his mission to cleanse the earth of all faiths but one, unifying belief system… But as a result of this ‘determined spirit’, his soap labels are delightfully quirky. One girl has even been inspired to write a song based on the words on the Peppermint bottle! It’s pretty melodic - check it out!

We all love a bit of gossip, especially of the celeb variety. But, while reading about how many pounds so-and-so has lost/gained/lost again, the great thing about Ecorazzi.com, is that you get to read about the good - green, and sometimes organic - things celebs are up to…

Such as the lovely Paul Rudd appearing on Sesame Street as an all-singing, all-dancing planet earth for its up-coming Being Green special.

There is some naming and shaming too, such as the Obamas’ reneging on the decision to rescue a shelter dog, rather than get one from an illustious breeder… In their marginal defence, the dog they’ve gone for was bought from the breeder and then returned so he is technically second-hand, as it were!

Anyway, Ecorazzi - check it out. Looks like any other gossip site but you get a bit more grit with your tittle tattling…

Move over Weight Watchers, there’s a new club in town and it’s all about helping you save £s of energy rather than losing Ibs of fat… Enter ‘Watt Watchers’ - a new club set up by a small parish in Hertfordshire (the quaintly named Brickendon Liberty), in the UK, which aims to help members cut carbon emissions.

But, rather than actually weighing themselves, members will ‘weigh in’ their electricity bills at quarterly meetings - and compete to win a prize as the ‘slimmer of the quarter’ for the largest % Kwh (kilowatt hour) household electricity reduction, sharing information on what has worked best.

The parish council has been awarded £6,924 to provide all Watt Watchers households with British-made ‘eco-eye’ real-time electricity monitors (usually cost £49.99).

Sounds like a cracking idea - nothing like a room full of energy-saving enthusiasts waiting to name and shame to make you think twice about using that extra lamp or 5, eh? Here at SOPHYTO we shall be forming our own energy-saving club to make sure everyone in the team is on the green track. We’re a competitive bunch, you see, so any excuse really…

According to the Soil Association’s latest marketing report, UK sales of organic beauty products and other non-perishables have seen ‘dynamic growth’, while overall sales of organic products are down when inflation is taking into consideration - with fruit and veg purchases down in particular. However, the SA reckons the overall drop indicates a panic switch away to cheaper options in the face of the terrifying prospect that the recession may get worse before it gets better. And the association is confident that sales will pick up again in line with the economy. Plus, it has been suggested that having experienced 20% growth year on year for a decade, the UK’s organic boom was bound to plateau eventually. Meanwhile, sales are holding steady or even increasing in the US and globally.

If you read the comments at the bottom of the page, however, it’s clear that the organic message still means diddly squat to some people, however educated they may be. Shame. Although those that bring up the issue of air-freighted produce have a valid point. It just goes to show that ‘organic’ means such different things to different people…

Anyway, organic products definitely seem to have loyal followers, and as for the rest, well, they’ll come around. If a product is excellent and worth its value, it will sell. Thankfully SOPHYTO skin care is amazing at getting results as well as being organic. So no need to panic just yet.

Yectli Xocolatl (beautiful chocolate)

This organic beauty ritual blends SOPHYTO organic skincare with delicious ingredients from Central America that will make your skin really happy - provided you can resist eating the chocolatey mixture first!

The word chocolate comes from Mexico’s Aztecs and is derived from the Nahuatl word xocolatl which is a combination of the words; xocolli: bitter, and atl: water (bitter water). The Aztecs associated chocolate with Xochiquetzal, their goddess of fertility. Chocolate is also associated with the Mayan’s god of fertility.

Ingredients:

• 4 Guayaba (Guava) slices
• 1 tsp organic Cacao (Cocoa) powder
• 2 tsp mashed Chicozapote/Nìspero (Naseberry/Sapodilla) pulp
• 2 sets of Sàbila (Aloe Vera) thin discs
• 1 sachet of SOPHYTO Purifying Active Mask (or as much as needed)
• OPTIONAL: SOPHYTO Ultra Mild Silken Cleanser and/or SOPHYTO Deep Pore Foaming Cleanser; SOPHYTO Purify & Energise Super Bioactive; SOPHYTO Polyphenol Skin Drops, SOPHYTO Skin Energising High Potency Concentrate; SOPHYTO Mega Omegas Day Face Moisturiser.

Step by Step Application: (Suggested leave on time — 10 to 15 minutes)

1. Blend cacao and sapote pulp, add Purifying Active Mask then set mixture to one side; (if you are not using the full SOPHYTO range skip to step 3)
2. Thoroughly cleanse skin with either Ultra Mild Silken Cleanser and/or Deep Pore Foaming Cleanser.
3. With 1 guayaba slice in each hand, gently massage fruit over face, neck and décolleté. (if you are not using the full SOPHYTO range skip to step 7)
4. Gently wipe skin clean with Purify & Energise Super Bioactive.
5. Using a light circular motion, apply Refining Peel Active Mask to face, neck and décolleté. Massage the product for 1 minute onto the skin. Leave on 5 minutes.
6. Gently wipe skin clean with Purify & Energise Super Bioactive.
7. Either steam for 2-3 minutes or apply a hot towel (not burning) on the face. Follow with extraction of impurities if required. Apply Purify & Energise Super Bioactive to sterilize the area.
8. Apply Purifying Active Mask fruit mixture. Leave on skin for 10-15 minutes. TIP: Using a piece of Sàbila, cut 2 sets of thin discs then chill. To apply to eyes, rest 2 discs on the lower eye socket bone, leaving space between the eye and the disc and rest 2 discs on the upper eye socket,
   but do not cover the eye itself.
9. Massage skin with remaining 2 guava slices and gently wipe with steam towels or wipe skin clean with Purify & Energise Super Bioactive.
10. Dampen skin with Purify & Energise then apply Polyphenol Skin Drops, Skin Energising High Potency Concentrate and feather-in Mega Omegas Day Face Moisturiser.

Fresh Ingredients Glossary:

Guayaba/Guava (Psidium Spp.): Contains more than 5 times as much Vitamin C as an orange. Its natural AHAs (Alpha hydroxy acids) can improve the texture of the skin by removing dead cells from its surface, revealing a brighter, younger complexion. Guava acts as an astringent, helping to tone and tighten loose skin. Guava is also very rich in vitamin-A, B, and potassium which are very good antioxidants and detoxifiers.

Cacao (Theobroma Cacao): Contains 50 times more antioxidant than Vitamin E and 20 times more than Vitamin C (high in flavanols), smooths and softens the skin, increases hydration, decreases roughness and scaling and helps supports the skin’s defense against UV damage. The high flavonol content also improves blood flow to the surface of the skin.

Chicozapote (Manilkara Zapota): This fruit rejuvenates, firms and exfoliates the skin (removes dead cells) due to its high content of natural glycolic acid.

Sàbila (Aloe Vera): Effectively penetrates the skin, transporting healthy substances through. It provides numerous benefits to the skin, including excellent moisturisation that keeps the skin flexible by giving oxygen to cells, which in turn increases the strength and synthesis of skin tissue, preventing premature aging. Rich in mcopolysacharides (a natural moisturizing factor that keeps the skin hydrated and plump), minerals, amino acids and enzimes. Aloe Vera also has renowned soothing, anti-inflammatory and healing properties making it beneficial for cuts, grazes, insect bites, sunburns, acne, dermatitis and  sensitive or irritated skin.

Go forth and experience the Central American riches - but do try and get a bit of it on your face as well as in your mouth!

SOPHYTO’s lovely bioesthetician Ishtar Magally is going to guide us through the whys and wherefores of  - the good, the bad and the in between. First up, we have the infamous BOTOX…

What is it?

Botox is the most common commercial name for the highly neurotoxic protein produced by the Clostridium Botulinum bacteria. It has been used in mild doses to treat several ailments, including Strabismus (Crossed eyes) and Blepharospasm (uncontrollable blinking). It is also used for Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), Migraine, diabetic neuropathy (nerve disorder), vocal cord disfunction, anal fissure and other nervous/muscular problems.

Botox was granted FDA approval for cosmetic use in 2002 after cosmetic surgeons Drs Alistair and Jean Carruthers observed how patients’ frown lines softened following Botox treatment for eye muscle disorders.

How does it work?

Cosmetically speaking, Botox works by paralyzing the muscles that control facial expression. The effects last approximately 3 to 6 months. The common areas for treatment are the frown lines between the eyes, the platysma muscle (causes tightened bands of skin on the neck), the glabellar (the area between the eye- brows just above the nose), hands and underarms (for excessive sweating). Some doctors use Botox to improve wrinkles around the lips, although this can immobilize them.

What are the side effects?

Side effects from Botox are considered minor and generally arise from over-treatment. They include: nausea; muscle weakness; drooping eyelids; headaches; pain; heartburn/indigestion; tooth problems; hypertension/high blood pressure; dry mouth; flu-like symptoms; bleeding at the site of injection; focal facial paralysis; dysphagia (difficulty swallowing); sore throat; facial immobilization; allergic reactions (rash, hives, swelling or wheezing/difficulty breathing).

One of the most worrying side effects is muscular atrophy. If a muscle is paralysed, it cannot contract and so starts to lose tone. Long-term use of Botox can result in overly thin facial muscles that will require physiotherapy (facial exercises, alternating and micro-currents) to restore tonicity. And research suggests that if users discontinue Botox injections, they can end up with deeper wrinkles than they had before.

Also, studies using cats and rodents have found that the Botox toxins can pass easily to other nerves and muscles surrounding the point of injection - ie. to other parts of the face, or even up into the brain.

Death by Botox is extremely uncommon. The FDA reports 28 deaths ocurring from Botox injection between 1989 and 2003 - and these are attributed to unlicensed (fake) botox or extra-strong doses for non-cosmetic reasons, where the effects have spread beyond the intended site.

Are there any safe, natural, non-invasive alternatives?

YES!

• Topical Hyaluronic Acid: also known as Sodium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid is the king of hydrators. It is not an acid but a plant-derived carbohydrate capable of holding up to 1,000 times its own weight in water (that’s more water than any other natural or synthetic polymer). Hyaluronic Acid is also produced naturally by the body. It is extremely lubricating, and acts as a natural wrinkle filler as well as providing continuous moisture and plumpness to the skin. With age, the the skin produces less Hyaluronic Acid, leaving the skin wrinkled and sagging. Much of the moisture loss can be replenished using HA in serum form, revitalizing ageing skin. You can find bio-fermented Hyaluronic Acid in SOPHYTO’s Skin Energising High Potency Concentrate.

• Peptides: short polymers (macromolecules) formed from the linking, in a defined order, of amino acids. Skin-wise, peptides work by stimulating the production of new collagen, which helps diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. They renew the skin’s outermost layer to reveal smoother, younger-looking skin. Pentapeptides, unlike AHAs, BHAs, retinoids, etc, plump the skin, diminish wrinkles, get rid of fine lines, without irritation. SOPHYTO’s Purifying Active Mask contains high concentrations of naturally occurring marine (algae-derived) peptides.

I don’t know about you but, after reading all this Botox information I have come to a conclusion: I have yet another reason to frown!

Ishtar Magally Mobarak

Don’t forget, if you have a question for our lovely bioesthetician, Ishtar, just drop me a line and I’ll pass it on…