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.

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.

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.