Breakfast is our favourite meal of the day and we are always pleased to find new inspiration. This recipe will appeal to bircher muesli fans and has a colourful twist with the addition of ACAI and BLACK RICE BRAN.

Christa Nicola from WELL WELL WELL INC shares her favourite Soaked Purple Oats.

Soaked Purple Oats

The night before place the oats, ACAI, BLACK RICE BRAN, flaxseed and apple juice in a bowl mix well, cover and leave overnight in the fridge.

In the morning uncover and mix in the yogurt (optional), passion fruit and cinnamon then top with the grated apple and berries and drizzle with the agave to your own taste.

View the Well Well Well range here

Hormones take the rap for a lot of things…..our mood, our weight, skin problems, and that feeling of stress we all seem to be under. But have you taken a moment lately to consider how these tiny amounts of chemicals do the most incredible job of battling daily to maintain balance in our whole body? No wonder we get the odd spot! Find out what you can do to give your body a helping hand.

What is the Endocrine System?

The endocrine system in the human body plays an important role in the production of hormones, which in turn regulate everything from growth and development, metabolism, and mood regulation. This system is comprised of glands you may already be familiar with, like the pituitary gland, which regulates growth and development in children, and the adrenal glands, which produce cortisol, the stress hormone. Also acting as a part of this system are the reproductive organs in both men and women, and the parathyroid glands. The endocrine system is slower to act than the nervous system, but the hormones it releases into the blood stream have a longer lasting effect in the body. These hormones work to maintain equilibrium by regulating a delicate balance of different chemicals within the body.

We can see that the endocrine system is responsible for a lot in our bodies. So it makes sense that we would want to support it for function correctly. From the foods we eat to the amount of sleep we get - everything can affect this balance. You might be surprised to learn that this extends to the skincare you use every day. Research shows that chemicals found in skincare can impact the endocrine system’s performance and disrupt this delicate balance.

» Read the rest of this entry «

Organic certification for personal care items can be confusing. From green-washing and label lawsuits it’s hard to know which guidelines to follow. We suggest starting with learning the certification labels. An understanding of the different types of certifications and their guidelines makes your choice as a consumer easier.

Although certifying organic skincare is a similar process to that of the organic food industry, the main difference is that the organic beauty products market is not government regulated nor is there global harmonization of standards.

The best thing to do is learn the labels so you know what to look for when shopping.Get some help with  our guide to the most common organic skincare certifications.

As autumn is just around the corner, we’d like to highlight one of our favorite plant oils. After a summer of soaking up the lovely outdoors, your skin might need a little help getting back into shape. Our Ingredient Spotlight showcases an oil that has excellent rejuvenating properties and may help to reverse sun damage, as well as providing essential nutrients and moisture for all skin types.

Ingredient Spotlight: Rose Hip oil

What exactly is a rose hip?

Rose Hips are the fruit of plants in the genus Rosa, family Rosacea. There are several types of roses grown for cosmetic use. Three of the most common roses being: Rosa x centifolia, the Cabbage rose; and Rosa damascena, the Damask rose, and Rosa canina, more commonly known as the Dog rose. It is Rosa canina that most commonly provides rose hips for oil production. Sometimes rose hip oil is confused with rose essential oil (rose otto) which is a product of rose petal distillation. More to come on rose essential oil later!

At Content, rose hip oil is a frequently seen ingredient in many of our natural skincare products, as it has several amazing benefits for the skin.

What is so special about rose hips?

Rose hips contain high levels of: Plant derived Vitamin A (in the form of caretenoids), Omega fatty acids 3,6,7, & 9, Vitamin C, and Plant sterols.

» Read the rest of this entry «

The Pomegranate is said to date back to biblical times when in fact the fruit of Adam and Eve was not an apple but a Pomegranate, mistranslated from ‘the seeded apple’ (its Latin derivation pomm granatus).

Around the Mediterranean the pomegranate has thrived for several millennia. It grows in the region on wild pomegranate groves that still survive outside ancient abandoned settlements and remains one of the symbols of Armenia, representing fertility, abundance, and marriage.

Until recently, this fruit was revered as awkward to eat with its thousands of seeds, bitter yellow pith and if unfortunate enough to spill onto anything not red, its staining ability.

However, its nutritional content, although known by many, is now grabbing the much deserved limelight: as a SUPERFOOD!

It is rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin B5, Potassium and Anti-oxidiant Polyphenols.

Vitamin C – The number one anti-oxidant has many health & beauty benefits, its most important is its role in lessening free radical damage to cells, promoting renewal by helping to eliminate inflammation by stopping cell oxidation. The main cause of aging skin.

Vitamin B5 - helps your body use other vitamins more effectively especially vitamin C.

Potassium - is necessary for the function of all living cells. Its importance is in maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance in the body a vital part of keeping skin and the cells hydrated, which in turn improves firmness and elasticity of skin.

Anti-oxidant Polyphenols – are capable of slowing down or preventing the oxidation of cells, which causes free radicals that can have damaging effects. Oxidation literally puts the cell in a state of stress. With skin cells stressed it causes visual aging. To eliminate and reduce this chain reaction, plentiful amounts of antioxidants can be introduced to prevent oxidation and the signs of premature ageing and to renew, smooth and firm skin.

The Pomegranate’s properties are fast becoming an organic beauty go to ingredient for all its beautiful skin care properties.

Found in natural skincare products as Pomegranate seed oil. The fruits are commonly hand picked, juiced and deseeded, before the seeds are dried and then cold pressed for their health promoting seed oils.  The latest brand to add this oil to their organic skin care products is Weleda Skincare.

» Read the rest of this entry «