After being diagnosed with breast cancer, Jessica Jones* decided to investigate what really went into her beloved beauty products.  What she discovered alarmed her - but also led her to unearth a host of brilliant all-natural alternatives.

She decided that on top of the chemotherapy, radiotheraphy, phychotherapy and green-juice therapy she would introduce a new therapy to her regine - Product Replacement Therapy.  She vowed that, as each of her products ran out, she would replace it with a new potion as natural and unsullied as angel's breath.   Only, what were the alternatives?  Where would she find them?

Since that day she's scoured the shelves of health-food shops and high-end salons alike.  What she christined 'Good Glamour' has become a subject as dear to her heart as it is to her wallet.  For safer, cleaner costmetics can be more costly than their mass-market counterparts - but that's because they contain superior, more expensive ingredients.  

From all her homework, here are some gorgeous potions to help us to kick off a beauty revolution.

Product Replacement Therapy

Body Basics
Soap: Dr Bronner's 18-in-1 Help Pure Castile Soap (£5.49, lovelula.com).  Not sure what the 18 uses are but the magic liquid is silky-soft and comes in a variety of tempting fragrances.
Body Lotion: Biona Organic's Raw Virgin Coconut Oil (£7.99, goodnessdirect.co.uk).  Raw coconut oil has antimicrobial properties and it sinks in nicely, leaving a supple- but not greasy- finish.
Deodorant nearly all seem to contain aluminium chlorohydrate, a powerful neurotoxin, but unfortunately there isn't a completely effective alternative.  However Soapwalla's Deodorant Cream (£13.80, beingcontent.com) doesn't prevent sweating. Rather it uses a mixture of natural clays, vegetable powders and antibacterial oils to absorb kmoisture and keep one's armpits acceptably fresh.  There are also Pitrok Crystal Deodorant Wipes (£2.50, goodnessdirect.co.uk) for when you're out and about. (I use Pitrock Crystal Deodorant and find it brilliant, since I discovered that it has to be wetted to apply - Jen!)

Face
Cleaners: MV Organis Skincare's Energizing 9-Oil cleanser (£57, beingcontent.com) is more a nourishing facial than just a cleanser.  
Scars: rosehip-seed oil
Wrinkles and age spots: Pai Skincare's Rosehip BioRegenerate Fruit and Seed Oil (£20, beingcontent, com) contains a high concentration of this precious elixir.  
Face cream: Pai Skincare's Avocado & Jojoba Day Cream (£19, lovelula.com).
Make up substitute: Oskia's Get Up & Glow (£64.50, beingcontent.com) has light-reflecting properties.

Makeup
Concealer: Vapour Organic Beauty's Illusionist Concealer (£20, beingcontent.com).
Skin: buff with a kabuki brush (£8.49, lovelula.com) to bring out the skin's natural oils.  
Foundation: Inika's Mineral Foundation (£27.50 amarya.co.uk) provides a natural SPF as an added benefit.
Lipstick: Organic Glam (£17.95, theorganicpharmacy.com) is velvety and moisturing with intense colour. Also Ilia Beauty luscious lipsticks (£20, beingcontent.com).

Hair
Shampoo: John Masters' Organics Evening Primrose Shampoo for Dry Hair (£16, amaryaco.uk).  Non-foaming shampoo, helps with flaky scalp and hair needs to be washed less frequently.
Conditioner: Rahua haircare Conditioner (£27.50, beingcontent.com), the best!

Top Toxics to avoid
Debate rages about which chemicals are the most harmful.  The issue is complicated by the fact that some chemicals react together to release further toxic substances, and new ingredients are being developed all the time.

Here are some common toxics to avoid.  Read the labels on your products.  If any of these ingredients are listed ask yourself.  'Whose best interests to the manufacturers have at heart: mine or their own?'

• Parabens (ethyl-,methyl-, propyl-, butyl-)
• Phthalates
• Petroatum/liquid paraffin/mineral oil/petroleum distillates
• Coal-tar dyes
• SLS (sodium lauryl sulphate) and SLES (sodium lauteth sulphate)
• Oxybenzone and octinoxate
• DEA (diethanolamine), cocamide DEA and lauramide DEA
• TEA (triethanolamine)
• Fragrance/parfum/polycyctic musks
• PEG (polyethylene glycol) compounde
• Anything ending in -siloxane or -methicone
• BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene)
• Triclosan

For more information visit: ewg.org/skindeep


*Jessica writes about natural beauty at goodglamourguide.com.


Taken from the Sundy Telegraph Stella magazine, 14 October 2012

NB I can't find beingcontent.com  on the internet...