Handing it to nature

Over the last year or so I’ve definitely noticed that my hands feel a lot drier than they used to.  Like most people I seem to be washing mine a lot more, and and over time chemically based hand wash has literally stripped my skin of natural oils leaving it dry and sore.

Swapping my usual product to one that has been made without harmful ingredients will help restore some of those lost lipids and applying a soothing hand cream will protect my skin from further  moisture loss.

The RSPB’s Revive toiletries range not only tackles the issue of dry skin but has been created with our wellbeing in mind. Inspired by the calming and restorative power of the sea, our products use coastal ingredients such as sea kelp, rosemary and sea buckthorn.

Sea kelp is rich in minerals and antioxidants and helps skin retain moisture. It also has some anti-inflammatory properties so is the perfect antidote for dry, itchy patches of skin.

Rosemary has been used for centuries to lift the spirit and stimulate the body but did you know that it helps to slow the effects of ageing on the skin? We love its wonderfully fresh smell too.

Sea buckthorn is a coastal plant which has fantastic anti-oxidant qualities. Growing in plentiful supply around our coastline means it can be harvested  with no impact on the coastal eco-system. The berries of the sea buckthorn provide a great food source for birds too.

You can be assured that all of these ingredients are responsibly sourced and in the case of sea kelp, harvested by hand under licence. We’re doing everything we can to protect the delicate eco-system where these ingredients naturally occur.

Some brands marketed as “ethical” still include chemicals that are harmful to nature, and palm oil which can be intensively farmed on cleared rainforest land. Our exclusive range is different - guaranteed free of parabens, phosphates and palm oil, these toiletries are naturally vegan-friendly and not tested on animals.

Eat chocolate and save a rainforest

Enjoy chocolate? Most of us do until you realise that producing this sweet treat is causing grave harm to the environment. Up until recently, cocoa plantations have been established at significant cost to our planet using large scale deforestation. This ensures that other species competing against cocoa trees for nutrients and sunlight are cleared from the site.  This monoculture approach reduces biodiversity and therefore natural pest control so must depend on chemical alternatives which over time degrade the condition of the soil.

The RSPB’s new range of delicious chocolate is made from sustainable and ethically sourced cocoa grown in the region of the Sierra Leone’s Gola rainforest. Using a traditional method of growing cocoa under the forest canopy and out of direct sunlight is doing more than producing good crop yields. Shade cultivation is now being shown to provide benefits for biodiversity, trees retain a higher capacity for carbon storage (great for our planet) and spreading canopies create shade and shelter for a variety of wildlife. More than 300 species of birds thrive in the Gola rainforest and in turn contribute to a healthy cocoa crop by eating some of the insect pests.

So now you can sit back and enjoy a scrummy bar of chocolate guilt free knowing that you are supporting endangered species, local farmers and communities in the Sierra Leone.

What better gift can you give mum than one that is inspired by nature or benefits it? Do pop into our shop at Titchwell and peruse our range of toiletries and chocolate or maybe pick up an organic cotton scarf or book on gardening.