Organic September ‘One Small Swap’ – Mother & Baby Skincare

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As a mum of two I know that the choices we make during pregnancy affect us and our babies. From what we eat, to our beauty products and household cleaning products.

For me making a conscious decision to switch to an organic lifestyle is the best choice for mother and baby.

We are exposed to numerous environmental contaminants that can cross the placental barrier.

“To a disturbing extent, babies are born pre-polluted.”

Researchers have discovered that some pesticides are known to affect developing and newborn babies. One study examined the umbilical cord blood of 10 babies and found a total of 287 industrial chemicals. Of those, 180 were carcinogens; 217 were toxic to the brain.

That is astonishing, it is vital that we make natural and organic choices for mother and baby and avoid unnecessary toxins in our bodies and our environment.

What can we do?

Organic Beauty & Wellbeing Week is a week-long annual campaign, aiming to raise awareness of certified organic beauty and wellbeing products and the importance of certification and making sustainable choices.

Making one small swap to your self-care routine is the first step to making a world of difference. Find out how small changes to your lifestyle can contribute to a system combating our climate emergency and biodiversity loss – starting with what’s in your wash bag.

One small swap can make a world of difference.

It’s never more important to swap to a clean, natural and organic beauty regime than when carrying a baby. 60% of what you put on your skin is absorbed into your bloodstream within five minutes.

Babies skin is 20-30% thinner and more delicate than adults skin so it’s important to choose products that are safe and gentle.

Organic baby products are better because they include more natural ingredients and include less pesticides, chemicals and other harmful ingredients.

There are lots of organic skincare options for mother and baby so I’ve put together a few Soil Association certified products.

It can be rather daunting so rather than trying to change your whole regime at once, try replacing your beauty products one-by-one with certified-organic alternatives as they run out. This way, you’ll only have to get used to one new product at a time, rather than a whole new routine.

Odylique Essential Care Organic Bump Butter (175g | £23)

Non-greasy and readily absorbed, this nourishing butter is naturally high in skin essential vitamins and rare plant omega 7 from sea buckthorn, shea butter, coonut and olive oils to help keep skin supple and maintain optimum elasticity as your baby grows. Lightly complimented with an uplifting blend of organic citrus peel and tropical flower oils.

Smooth on gently as required on your growing bump and breasts to help healing and prevention of stretch marks and promote healthy skin.

As your bump grows during pregnancy your skin can feel quite uncomfortable and tight and also become itchy and dry.

This is a lovely butter great for bump and beyond. It is easy to apply and absorbs easily leaving the skin nourished and supple. I love the gorgeous uplifting scent.

Fushi Organic Hand Made Shea Butter (Unrefined) 200g | £12

Handmade and 100% pure, our nutritious premium grade of whipped creamy organic unrefined Shea butter is superbly moisturising and healing for the skin. Sourced from the Yumzaa Women Association cooperative in the Northern Ghana, this is Shea Butter made in traditional way, leaving all it’s active nutrients intact.

Shea butter is a good all rounder which is incredibly moisturising and healing for the skin. It has a multitude of uses – from soothing dry, chapped or sun damaged skin, to treating stretch marks, scars, eczema, nappy rash and hair conditioning.

It is rich in Oleic, Stearic and Linoleic acids that help protect, nourish and keep the skin beautifully soft and moisturised. It is also rich in essential vitamins A, E and F. Vitamin F protects the skin, particularly from the suns harmful UV rays.

I use shea butter regularly and I love this one from Fushi as 100% pure organic, unrefined, completely unbleached, non-deodorised and contains no additives.

It has a natural earthy and nutty scent which mellows after applying to skin. The texture is smooth, creamy and non-greasy making it easy to apply and absorb into the skin.

It leaves the skin softer, smoother and more supple.

Nom Nom Organic Stretch Butter – Camellia and Vanilla (100ml | £23)

A nourishing butter for use throughout pregnancy and beyond. A blend of oils camellia, almond, baobab and evening primrose with shea and cocoa butter. Eases dry, itchy, tight skin, helps prevent stretch marks and leaves skin feeling wonderfully soft and supple.

Ingredients:

Butospermum parkii (Shea) butter*, Camellia oleifera (Camellia) seed oil*, Theobroma cacao (Cocoa) butter*, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) oil*, Prunus amygdalus dulcis (Almond) oil*, Oenothera biennis (Evening primrose) oil*, Adansonia digitata (Baobab) seed oil*, Vanilla planifolia (Vanilla) fruit extract*, Tocopherol (Vitamin E from Sunflower)

*from organic agriculture

99.5% Organic of total. 100% natural origin

Nom Nom brings together Nutrition Organic and Massage to nourish you and your baby from Without and Within.

During pregnancy you can apply this stretch butter to your tummy, upper thighs, buttocks and breasts where stretch marks most commonly appear. Beyond pregnancy it is a lovely nourishing body butter.

The consistency is smooth and buttery and it melts on the skin. A little goes a long way, it leaves the skin super moisturised, soft and supple without any greasy residue.

The scent is so lovely, a delicious, soft and gently lingering vanilla aroma. Absolutely divine!

Nom Nom Relax Oil – Lavender, Chamomile and Frankincense (100ml | £23)

A nourishing blend of almond, apricot and calendula base oils combined with beautifully scented essential oils to soothe and calm during pregnancy, labour and beyond.

Ingredients:

Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) seed oil*, Prunus amygdalus dulcis (Almond) oil*, Prunus armeniaca (Apricot) kernel oil*, Calendula officinalis (Marigold) flower extract*, Tocopherol (Vitamin E from Sunflower), Lavendula angustifolia (Lavender) oil*, Anthemis nobilis (Roman Chamomile) flower oil*, Boswellia neglecta (Frankincense) oil*, Citrus sinensis (Orange) peel oil expressed*, parfum*, Limonene**, Linalool**, Geraniol**, Citronellol**

*from organic agriculture ** naturally occurring in essential oils

99.5% Organic of total. 100% natural origin

This relax oil is a gorgeous blend of oils that is incredibly soothing for the body and senses. The consistency is light and silky and it nourishes the skin without any greasy residue.

It can be used as a massage oil or swished into a warm bath to ease aching muscles and calm during pregnancy and labour or apply as a luscious body oil.

It is perfect for winding down before bed thanks to the wonderfully calming scent of lavender, chamomile and frankincense oils.

Odylique Baby Gentle Wash & Shampoo (200ml | £11.50)

Baby’s sensitive skin needs a wash pure enough to clean without irritating or damaging its delicate pH balance. With our organic, natural wash for baby you can trust that your newborn’s delicate skin will be protected and nurtured.

This extremely gentle moisturising bath wash with soothing organic aloe vera, chamomile and extra virgin olive oil maintain the natural oil and acid balance of a baby’s skin. Bath-time play is the perfect time to allow the aloe vera in the Wash to soothe any skin soreness.

This is a lovely non-toxic, safe and gentle wash and shampoo. It is suitable for babies over 3 months. My kids have eczema and this is a great wash and shampoo for them as well. I love the delicate scent of chamomile and lavender and use it to create a relaxing and soothing bath soak.

It leaves the skin clean without stripping or leaving it dry and uncomfortable.

Odylique Baby Repair Lotion (60ml | £13.50)

A powerpack of natural skin healers traditionally used to alleviate distressed, itchy, irritated or allergy-prone skin. With cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil to moisturise and soothe; a therapeutic concentration of aloe vera to heal; chickweed to relieve itching; plus a bio-active chamomile with a proven anti-inflammatory effect.

Suitable for sensitive, eczema prone skin and for babies over 3 months.

This lotion is wonderfully soothing and hydrating for babies and beyond. The consistency is creamy and it absorbs quickly without any greasy feel afterwards. For my kids with eczema, this soothes those dry and itchy patches giving much needed relief.

Odylique Baby Organic Soothing Salve (50g | £14)

Pure, creamy and rich in moisturising shea butter, this beautifully-textured salve protects baby’s sensitive skin from dampness and chafing. It contains an incredibly pure, bio-actiive chamomile extract to help calm and soothe away any minor soreness.

This soothing salve is a multi-purpose wonder that you can use not only as a nappy cream, but also for massage, to moisturise dry skin areas, to help cradle cap and even as a lip balm.

I like to apply it to damp skin, it literally melts into the skin and absorbs well. It is incredibly moisturising and soothing and the scent is earthy, nutty from the shea butter.

Nom Nom Organic Baby Butter – Calendula and Evening Primrose (60ml | £15)

A rich multi-purpose healing butter with a subtle natural coconut aroma. Gently soothes patches of dry or irritated skin and protects your baby’s face and bottom.

I love multi-purpose products and this can be used by the whole family.

For babies

On the bottom at nappy changes to protect against wetness and calm irritation.
To protect delicate skin around the mouth and in the neck folds from teething dribble.

For babies and older kids too.

On the body to soften dry skin.
On the face – protect and soothe chapped winter cheeks.
Runny noses – pop a little under the nose to prevent sore skin.

For grown ups

To nourish dry skin patches
As a body butter
On cracked heels and rough elbows
As a lip balm
To remove make up
To tame frizzy hair.

This baby butter is an absolute favourite of mine. I have used it as a nappy cream and my kids eczema and it is super effective.

The consistency can be solid, depending on the weather but melts on the skin once applied. It absorbs well and doesn’t leave the skin greasy. The scent is gorgeous, absolutely love it.

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