Supplying lovers of alternative therapies and treatments is a huge industry. All manner of companies are involved from big multi-nationals down to one man bands, and the level of ethics vary enormously. Various propositions are on offer. Some, like vitamin supplements, sound science based – though the claims they make don’t always stand up to […]
Facial hair on men is a subject that provokes strong emotions. Some cultures have frowned upon beards. The ancient Romans approved of the clean shaven look. No Roman before Hadrian had a beard. Not many after him did either. In England the well scraped jaw is favoured by the upright Cromwellian maintainers of order. Beards
Summer is here and Boots have devoted a large section of their shops to what they call ‘summer products’. This is a very creative bit of marketing and got me interested enough to go and have a look. Sunscreens are important. Large amounts of sunlight generate free radicals in the skin that can cause skin
Choosing a sunscreen for children Read More »
And I don’t know where they found the fragrance, but it wasn’t very nice. In fact it was downright virulent. I have been wondering what effect the takeover of the Body Shop by L’Oreal was going to have. I think I am beginning to see.
Body Shop Coconut Body Butter Read More »
I have been working on some baby products recently which involved researching the benefits of marigold for skincare. This is generally known by the scientific name Calendula. When I was young I used to love the bright orange flowers my grandfather grew in his front garden, but Inever knew then just how interesting this plant is.
Marigold For Skincare Read More »
A health water claimed to prevent acne is launched in the UK. The evidence that it works is very weak.
Praventin prevents acne? I don’t think so Read More »
I wrote this article for my old website in 2007. As it has proved one of my most popular posts here it is again even though it is a bit out of date now. The skincare and beauty industries in Britain have been in a frenzy since the broadcast of a BBC Horizon programme in
Boots No 7 Protect and Repair Serum Read More »
There is a big movement towards natural products across the board, and certainly in the personal care market nearly everyone is going natural.
The Benefits of Olive Oil on the Skin Read More »
A report in the Independent in the UK today raises doubts about the benefits of drinking water. Well it is part of the scientific process to review your opinions in the light of new data, but this seems to be simply a review paper rather than any new research. I still don’t see any reason
Update on water intake Read More »
All cosmetic products that contain large amounts of water need to be preserved from micro-organisms. If they aren’t preserved the go mouldy. For years the most widely used preservatives have been the esters of para-amino benzoic acid. These are known collectively as parabens. The most useful is methylparaben. This is often used in combination with
What’s wrong with parabens – and a possible alternative Read More »
