It’s natural, effective and specifically formulated to soothe tough skin.

Founder, Narelle Chenery says,

“Men’s skin is thicker than women’s, giving the males the advantage of aging more gracefully. But they also tend to have larger pores and more active sebaceous glands, making them naturally dirtier. Good skincare is important for men who work in air-conditioned offices or physically demanding conditions, but a sunscreen for outdoor workers is imperative for protection from sun damage.”

The miessence® Mens range is a quick, no-fuss solution to maintaining male skin: shaving is no drag with miessence® Shaving Gel – the combination of organic aloe vera and safflower will help make nicks and cuts a thing of the past. Follow with miessence® After Shave Balm for baby smooth skin that’s soft to touch.

Not only will a soft, clean complexion offer you massive brownie points with your better half, you’re doing the Earth a favour too: choosing a green brand like miessence® means you’re doing your bit for the environment.

“miessence® helps make the world greener by utilising certified organic products and processes, the benefits of which are: an independent third party guarantee of quality and purity of ingredients; safe, clean and potent plant extracts of high vitality; sustainable agriculture that respects supports and nurtures the complete ecology and energy of our planet; and the prevention of damage to the environment and humans by the poisonous chemicals used in conventional agriculture” says Narelle.

miessence® works with suppliers who are committed to environmental
preservation and ethical fair trading. All miessence products are handcrafted in the company’s Australian manufacturing plant and are never
tested on animals.

After completing her Applied Science degree in 1993, Narelle discovered that the ‘natural’ cosmetics she was using were not all they claimed to be and began making her own products in her kitchen.

She teamed up with her husband Colin Chenery and business activist Alf Orpen to create a successful business from her creations. After 18 months of research, Narelle revolutionised the beauty industry with the world’s ?rst certifed organic skin care products, ‘miessence® ’, in 2001.

Seven years on, industry giants like Estee Lauder are following in her footsteps, launching their own organic products.

Narelle, a mother of three, is a passionate educator and activist for social and consumer change, speaking worldwide to business leaders, entrepreneurs, cosmetic industry professionals and government bodies. She has also written articles for leading health publications.

Empowering & Educating
Narelle is passionate about empowering and educating consumers on how to avoid harmful chemicals in their products.

“Education is the key. If we know how to see through the green-wash, we can choose to avoid toxins.”

“We, as consumers, are incredibly powerful; we just need to own it! Most of the multi-billion dollar cosmetic industry turnover supports the use of toxic chemicals. If we tell those chemical-peddlers we will no longer put up with the toxins they put onto our bodies and into the environment (by refusing to buy them) they will have no choice but to make the changes we wish to see.”

Narelle goes on to quote Gandhi, “Non-co-operation with evil is a sacred duty”.

Narelle is a member of the Australian Society of Cosmetic Chemists and continues to develop her miessence® products, speak to consumer groups and  industry and campaign for integrity in international organic standards.

A personal care product use survey of more than 2,300 people, conducted by EWG and a coalition of public interest and environmental health organizations, shows that the average adult uses 9 personal care products each day, with 126 unique chemical ingredients.

More than a quarter of all women and one of every 100 men use at least 15 products daily. But there is guaranteed way to protect your health and beauty – go organic!

miessence® use no synthetic fragrances or colours in their products. Every cosmetic product has been speci?cally formulated to maintain the skin’s natural pH balance, so it’s suitable for even the most sensitive skin types.

All miessence® cosmetics are made from pure minerals – unlike many commercial lipsticks, it does not contain harmful heavy metals, such as lead, and the natural colours are obtained from iron oxide (not crushed cochineal beetles, which gives many lipsticks their red colouring!).

Founder, Narelle Chenery says,

“After creating miessence® , the world’s ?rst certi?ed organic skin and body care range, our progression into cosmetics occurred naturally. As our customers learned more about the undesirable ingredients in skin and body
care products, they insisted that we help them replace toxic colour cosmetics with a pure alternative.”

miessence® works with suppliers who are committed to environmental preservation and ethical fair trading.

All miessence® products are handcrafted in the company’s Australian manufacturing plant and are never tested on animals.

“There’s a growing number of Australian women who want the ultimate in natural and certified organic anti-ageing skincare products. They want results but they also want to be assured that they’re not exposing their bodies to potentially harmful ingredients,” says founder of miessence®, Narelle Chenery.

miessence® products are infused with a potent blend of certified organic, natural ingredients to help defend against the ageing process and improve skin tone, texture and hydration levels. miessence products provide a protective barrier against free radical damage and moisture loss – the primary causes of wrinkles.

Described as Australia’s “Queen of organic cosmetics” Narelle says,

“miessence® products are like herbal medicine for the skin. They are 100% bioactive and 100% beneficial, standing apart from even professional brands that boast 25% active ingredients. Our certified organic products are full to the brim with highly potent and healing organic aloe vera, herbal extracts, fruit oils and butters. It’s this powerful blend of active ingredients that work synergistically to renew and repair damaged skin, defend against further signs of ageing and reveal a clearer, brighter, firmer complexion.”

“Our products are popular amongst professional women who are highly educated, who want to protect the environment and their families, and who are prepared to invest in the best certified organic skincare products,” says Chenery.

The award-winning miessence® products were the first comprehensive range of certified organic skin, hair, cosmetic and personal care products in the world.

miessence® skincare and cosmetics are certified organic and free of any synthetics and chemicals. Formulated to fight the common signs of ageing, such as pigmentation, enlarged pores, dryness and fine lines, miessence® is leading the way in combining science and nature to effectively fight the signs of ageing.

Using Organic produce is the first step in living an organic lifestyle. This could involve buying from an organic farmer or growing your own nutritious organic food in your own back yard.

In addition to eating Organically grown food you will want to consider using organically produced skin care, hair care and health supplements.

Miessence was the first company to produce an Internationally Certified Organic range of Hair, Skin, Body, Oral, Health and Cosmetic products using only the purist essential oils and naturally derived ingredients.

Based in Queensland, Australia, Miessence operates a Carbon Negative – Earth Friendly operation that benefits you as a consumer and the Environment. It also demonstrates the attitude and commitment of the founding directors in the way they manage the Miessence Business.

With today’s busy lifestyles, it’s easy to get distracted and miss a step in a good skincare program. It may be that you remove or a void one of the steps altogether.

This article discusses the steps to a quality Facial Skincare program. In addition to these steps its also important to consider…

• Choose a quality organic range of skincare products. Check that the products contain Certified Organic Ingredients. There is a difference between the Dictionary definition of Organic and the Chemical Free Definition.
• When using a new product test in an inconspicuous place such as behind the ear or on the inside of the wrist. If you have a mild reaction it won’t show up as a mark or rash on your face. Organic skincare is less likely to cause skin irritation.

1. Exfoliation

Exfoliation is not usually considered the first step in a skin care routine. Exfoliation works by removing dead skin cells and opening up pores to allow them to breathe.

Exfoliation is usually done weekly but this can vary depending on the individuals personal circumstances such as work environment, location etc.

The skin naturally replaces skin causing old skin to flake and become stuck in pores.

Exfoliating the skin too much or with too harsh a scrub can do more damage than what you are trying to repair or remove. Choose a good quality organic mild exfoliate that offers a mild to deep exfoliation.

2. Cleansing

Traditionally and still the most common first step in the skin care routine. Cleansing removes dirt, oils, and left over loose flaking skin.

Choose an Organic cleansing solution or gel, which is much milder on your skin. You should aim to do facial cleansing at least 2 times a day, most likely morning and night.

Harsh soaps or body washes should be avoided during facial cleansing. These products can be drying to the skin and provide minimal benefit.

3. Toning (Conditioning)

Facial Toning is an important step in the Skin Maintenance procedure, though it is not as common as it should be but. Conditioning the skin provides 2 important purposes. Firstly, using a good quality organic toner it can feed the skin with nutrients and secondly, it provides a conditioned base for your next step… Moisturising.

4. Moisturising

The final step in facial skin care is moisturising. Moisturising is perhaps the most important step in facial skin care. With modern day air conditioners, work environments or when working long hours in outside areas. Moisturisers prevent your skin from drying out too much.

Finding a quality chemical free shampoo and body wash suitable for bathing a disabled child is not any easy task. Most Shampoos available, even those labelled as safe for babies had chemicals in them I wouldn’t use on my own body let alone a child’s. Sodium Laurel Sulphate seemed to be the base ingredient of every product we found in the Supermarket.

When our now 11 year old daughter was born we spent hours searching for chemical free shampoo for her to use. We tried several different brands. Some unfortunately did contain chemicals we were not in favour of. We were still trying to find an ideal tear free shampoo when we received the news our daughter had a disability that would warrant life long support.

Our daughters fascination with water and constant desire to mouth objects gave us even more reason to find a shampoo that was not intended for babies but would allow us to wash her hair without concern she would consume chemicals as we washed her.

When we discovered the Desert Flower Shampoo and trialed it with our Daughter we discovered it was the perfect choice.

Some of the reasons we continue to use this product on her today:

1. Desert flower shampoo, made by Miessence, is an organic product without synthetic chemicals.
2. It is made to Organic Food grade standards. Something very rare in the Cosmetic and Body care Industry. This was important to us because she consumes a lot of the product when she is being bathed. Kids love to chew on wash cloths and sponges. Although we don’t encourage her to consume the product, it is good knowing if she does it won’t harm her.
3. Desert Flower Shampoo is a family shampoo. We don’t need to purchase a separate product for the kids and one for us. On occasion it has also doubled as a body wash when we have run out.
4. No chemicals mean it’s a Tear Free shampoo. The look and Laughter on her when the lather runs all over her face with eyes wide open, that is worth an article on its own.
5. Desert Flower Shampoo comes in a Travel Size and Sample sachet size, which make it easy when we have to go out or for when she goes to Hydrotherapy with her school.

The smell of Desert Flower shampoo is very mildly citrus. It is in no way overpowering and she gets compliments every day about how lovely her hair smells.

Globally, sales in the personal care market, including natural personal care, reached USD$122 billion in 2000 and are growing at 1.6% per annum. In the USA, the entire Health and Beauty Care market is almost USD$40 billion and is expecting 3.4% annual growth.

In contrast, the trend towards natural ingredients is running through every segment of personal care, with sales in the USA in this area reaching USD$1.56 billion in 2001 and growing at 10%. This segment is expected to grow 6%-7% annually over the next few years.

USA
Consumer sales of organic products in the US reached US$5.6 billion in 2000, a rise of 19% from 1999. If this annual growth is sustained (and there is no indication it will not as sales in 2001 reached US$9.4 billion) the organic segment will be worth between US$13 – US$18 billion by 2005.

EUROPE
Research across seven European countries found that organic spending would nearly double over the next five years. By 2006, 58% of European consumers will choose to use organic products. During 2000, 29 million people in the UK said they had consumed organic food, a figure that represents almost half the population. There are 142 million consumers of organic food in Europe, showing that organic food has hit mainstream after many years in “alternative” niche markets. The UK, which had organic sales of GBP 605 million in 2000 and now exceeds GBP 1 billion, will continue to be a key market.

JAPAN
The Japanese are the largest per capita consumers of organics in the world and are substantial importers of organic consumer products. Japan had a national market value of US$1.5 billion in 1998 and has a current estimated value of US$3.2 billion. Currently, the majority of organic products in Japan are distributed through a “tei-kei” arrangement, which is a type of cooperative.