Most cosmetic companies advertise how good their products will make you look, but what they generally avoid is a complete list of ingredients in the products. In other words, you may look great on the outside for a while, but on the inside all manner of nasties could be for ever working their way into your body - maybe causing allergies, ailments and untold damage to the system as you get older.

Because over half of what we put on our face, lips, hair, hands, body and feet enters the blood-stream, more and more people are using natural, pure and organic skin care products, to avoid the unhealthy effects of harmful ingredients. However, just because a product is labeled 'natural' or 'pure' or 'organic' doesn't mean all the ingredients are indeed safe.

For example, with a name like Herbal Essences, one might think that these products contain natural ingredients, but the brand uses fragrance, sodium laureth sulfate and other chemicals linked to cancer and reproductive problems in its body wash, shampoo and conditioner.

Some of the most toxic ingredients may not be on the label. Fragrance, for example: Watch the Environmental Working Group video A useful link is Campaign for Safe Cosmetics To find out what's in what, a good place to explore is Cosmetics Database - for starters, search on Aveda, Boots No. 7, Body Shop, Clinique, etc. Do have a look at our News section, too.

Eczema? We quote the founder of pure-potions: "when my one year-old daughter developed chronic eczema, I struggled to control her raging flare-ups with a variety of tactics. Within months she had to be wrapped from head to foot in bandages every night to protect her sore and bleeding skin. Conventional approaches did not not work and although steroids improved her condition, I knew that their long term use could lead to thinning of the skin and other side effects.

Finally out of desperation I researched and experimented with oils and herbs in my own kitchen. It took many months, and lots of help from some special friends to fine tune a recipe. Finally, I formulated a beeswax based salve combined with oils and herbs - and in a very short space of time, my daughter's skin had improved dramatically. Now our salve is used by thousands of eczema sufferers all over the country. Although Skin Salvation can alleviate the symptoms of eczema and other sore skin conditions, it is important to remember that finding the underlying cause is extremely important. During my research discovered that most products produced for managing eczema contain petrochemicals, preservatives and artificial fragrance. Some companies cleverly market these products to have us believe they are pure."

Naturally, you will find Skin Salvation salve and bath oil at Muse Organix.

Here is what we wrote in two articles that were published in Ledbury Focus:

One day warm and sunny, next day freezing, a biting wind, a heavy shower, the weather takes its toll on our skin.

To look your best every day, despite the weather, a deep-cleansing facial and moisturizing cream or lotion of natural ingredients can make your skin silky, smooth and soft: you’ll feel as if you’re pampering yourself, even though you’re merely taking care.

Using a hand-cream regularly will prevent chapping; and damaging side-effects of synthetic ingredients in lipstick and make-up can make pure natural ingredients a must.

Men’s skin suffers shaving drag and razor burns; and for a refreshing experience use natural antiperspirants for protection without perfume.

Fragrance mixtures, exempt from product labeling laws, can comprise hundreds of individual ingredients, and are common human allergens.

Bad hair days, never again. The condition of our hair varies with the seasons. In winter, the scalp is tighter and hair grows more slowly. Central heating can cause drying and make hair dull and static. In summer, the sun has a damaging and drying effect, hair may become bleached and lose vitality. Swimming can damage the hair, because of chlorine or salt in the water.

Most shampoos contain foaming agents, such as sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), that can be absorbed by the scalp, stripping away natural oils, causing dryness and itchiness or excessive oiliness until hair becomes unmanageable.

Dandruff and eczema can result from over-use of toxic ingredients, such as parabens, denatured alcohol, para-phenylene diamine (PPD), benzoate, ammonia, chlorides, peroxide. Also, resorcinol, artificial colours, fragrances, preservatives in hair dyes, hairsprays (liquid plastic!) and styling gels can contain all manner of nasties.

Most shampoos coat hair with silicones making it appear shiny, clean and manageable but, for really healthy hair, the secret is to only ever use shampoo and hair-care products made entirely from pure, organic and natural ingredients that are scalp-friendly.