Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients for a truly happy holiday.

Best wishes for the coming year from all at SOPHYTO. We thank you for all your interest and support and look forward to sharing some more great organic ideas with you in 2010.

Mimi R! Congrats and a very Merry Christmas to her Thanks to all those who entered and helped spread the good SOPHYTO Organics word to your nearest and dearest. (Just occasionally) we have some useful flashes of info to share, so it’s very gratifying to know you want to hear them!

If you weren’t lucky enough to win this time (ie. your name isn’t Mimi!) fret not because we will be up and running with more exciting organic skin care offers in the new year, so watch this space….

For a great many of us, winter spells pretty bad news for our skin: the cold, wind and snow outside combined with heating inside, can leave skin feeling rough, dry, tight, irritated, and itchy - not to mention prone to fine lines and wrinkles. So, what to do? Shelter your skin from the elements where possible, use a gentle skin care routine with richer moisturisation (of the mildly acid variety) and pack a load of antioxidants and fatty acids into your diet, says SOPHYTO’s bioesthetician, Ishtar Magally.

How to nourish yourself on the outside

• Always bathe/shower with warm water. Cold water causes further vasoconstriction (constriction of the veins/arteries which stops blood flow to skin, making it look pale.) Hot water strips your skin’s natural oils more easily so keep bathing time to a minimum.

• Purchase a shower filter, if possible. Unfiltered water contains high amounts of chemical compounds such as chlorine and fluoride which alkalize water. Alkaline water severely alters the skin’s pH causing more dryness.

• Bathe/shower with a mildly acidic gel. Soaps are usually very alkaline and will disturb the skin’s pH balance. Sante, Logona and Dr Bronner are all good options.

• Rinse soaps and gels thoroughly as any residue can irritate the skin and prevent active ingredients from penetrating.

• Tone skin after showering/bathing with a mildly acidic solution. This is extremely important as it will hydrate the skin and restore its normal pH. You could use one of the SOPHYTO Organic Super Bioactives if you have it. Or, you can make up your own pH balanced toner by mixing 70% purified water + 30% apple cider vinegar.

• Exfoliate frequently (2-3 times times a week) to help remove all surface cellular debris and keep your skin soft and smooth.

• Moisturise with a lightweight, ultra-nourishing, mildly acidic lotion. Oils and butters with a heavy molecular weight can’t readily penetrate the skin and will likely clog it. Logona does lovely body butters that shouldn’t clog your skin. It is important to replace the natural oils that have been stripped after showering/bathing with a good moisturizer as these oils are responsible for hold-ing much of the Vitamin C stored in our bodies. If Vitamin C is allowed to escape, you will be more susceptible to colds and other viruses. Apply moisturizer at least twice a day, emphasizing face and hands. Use fragrance-free moisturizers because fragrances can sensitize the skin.

• Wear sunscreen daily (SPF 15 minimum). Even though winter sun is less intense it can still burn your skin; remember that snow reflects up to 85% of sun radiation. Re-apply every 2 hours.

• Dry brush skin everyday. This is an excellent way of massaging your skin. Dry brushing will not only remove all skin debris but it will also stimulate circulation and help flush toxins through the lymphatic system. Pay special attention to the rough areas: elbows, knees, feet, etc.

• Pamper yourself. Once or twice a week, apply a living food facial using nourishing fresh ingredients, to prevent surface build-up and provide deep moisturisation… not to mention, make you feel relaxed and refreshed.

• Do not forget your neglected areas. Apply 2-3 layers of moisturizer on the rough areas. Use emollient lip balms liberally and exfoliate your lips at least once per week with a toothbrush soaked in the vegetable oil of your choice (preferably organic). Moisturize your hands whenever you wash them. Smear organic coconut oil on your hands and feet at night and cover them with a pair of gloves/mittens and socks, respectively.

• Dress warmly to prevent further vasoconstriction and encourage healthy blood flow which, in turn, keeps skin cells oxygenated.

• Exercise regularly to increase blood flow to every single organ of your body, including the skin.

• If possible, purchase a humidifier as these can help combat dryness caused by indoor heating.

How to nourish yourself on the inside

• Drink at least 8 glasses of water per day. Water is the most important nutrient and it also helps transport other nutrients throughout our system.

• Eat more water. The water from fresh fruits and vegetables is more easily absorbed by our cells than drinking water and so are the nutrients they provide.

• Go easy on alcohol and caffeinated drinks. For every glass of alcohol/cup of coffee you drink, have an extra glass of water to avoid possible dehydration.

• Increase your intake of EFAs (Omega-3)-rich foods such as: salmon, flax seeds, walnuts, chia seeds, hemp seeds, purslane, scallops, cauliflower, cabbage, cloves, mustard seeds, halibut, shrimp, cod, tuna, tofu, kale, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, spinach, romaine lettuce and winter squash. These foods will keep the skin moisturized from the inside out.

• Supplement your diet if necessary. If the aforementioned foods do not meet your EFAs needs, then take mercury-free fish supplements. For vegetarians/vegans, you can now find several algae-derived Omega-3/DHA supplements available.

• Skin-boosting foods for winter include: avocados, bananas, blood oranges, chestnuts, clementines, cranberries, grapes (red), grapefruit, kiwi, kumquat, oranges, passionfruit, pears, persimmons, pomegranates, pommelos, radishes, rhubarb, winter squash, sweet potatoes, tangelos, tangerines, and ugli fruit.

So, go forth, tone, moisturise, wrap up warm and eat lots of colourful, (preferably organic) skin-nourishing foods.

Who knew one little spice could pack so much of a healthful punch? Well, apart from the Ayurvedic practitioners and a great many people in India, that is… According to the good Dr Mercola, organic, unprocessed turmeric is just about the healthiest addition you can make to your diet.

And as well as being a potent antioxidant, and therefore great for boosting your immune system and circulation, promoting good heart, blood and nervous health, turmeric is also particularly beneficial to the skin.

As well as being able to strengthen all of the body’s cells against external stressors, turmeric is considered ’skin food’ because it cleanses the skin and helps it maintain elasticity; provides nourishment; and helps balance the effects of the skin’s flora (healthy and harmful bacteria). In addition, by working to support blood and liver function and the body’s overall well-being, the Curcuminoids (the components that make Turmeric yellow), help promote radiant, supple skin.

So, basically, with turmeric, you can cleanse and nourish your insides and your outsides at the same time. Sweet. In fact, I am going to order some of Dr M’s capsules right now and see how my skin fairs… will report back in due course.

For more info, click here.

Apologies for the title but I can’t get that Campbells soup jingle outta my head and these energy shakes are way worthier of such jubilant celebration.

Anyway, as the good Doctors Frank Lipman and Joseph Mercola have told us, eating protein for breakfast is infinitely more beneficial to our health than the carb-heavy cereal grains we have come to cherish. And a nutrient-laden protein shake is a mighty fine option. Both doctors say whey protein is the best protein you can get as the body can assimilate it very easily. However, like an increasing number of people, milk doesn’t sit very well with me. I’m not a big fan of un-fermented soy either, so protein shakes have never really appealed… until now, that is.

Peaceful Planet Rice-Protein energy shakes by Veg Life are the bees knees of protein shakes. Not only are they all natural, vegan, mindful of the planet, pretty tasty AND contain 14g of protein per serving, but they also provide and often exceed the daily recommended intake of most common vitamins and minerals, as well as loads of other important stuff, such as Selenium, Chromium (v. important for balancing blood sugar), spirulina, a vegan enzyme blend and a fibre blend.

The two flavours I have come across are Caribbean Cocoa and French Vanilla. The Cocoa is a little rich and gritty by itself, but if you blend one cup of each together, it’s seriously good.

These shakes are great for breakfast or a snack anytime, especially after exercise, for uber quick replenishment.

I found them in my local health food shop but there do seem to be a few sites selling them online. Eg. ethicalplanet.com

Just try it and see - if nothing else, it’s like an incredibly low fat chocolatey milk shake… and what’s not to love about that?!