Soap is never the most exciting product to talk about, until it comes to Lush of course. The Mechanic Soap has been something of a saviour of late and has really helped my poor over-worked hands.
Bright purple in colour and decorated with a silver spanner, there is no missing this soap in any Lush store. It also smells just amazing, not at all manly and can be used by either sex. Using pumice powder for exfoliating, this soap, when used in warm water, creates a lather of bubbles and when you rub your hands together, you can feel the pumice working its magic. Add to the pumice is Rosemary which works as both and antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. There is also fragrant Orris Root, Bergamot Oil, Ylang Ylang Oil and Fair Trade Vanilla Absolute to create the amazing scent and Fair Trade Olive Oil to hydrate and soothe your hands leaving them feeling soft, smooth and moisturised.
Unlike other bars of soap that I use, this one is exfoliating, making it perfect for dry hands that need a bit of help removing dead skin or for just giving them a good deep cleanse to remove any ingrained dirt, or in my case printer ink which has got into the grooves of my skin. This has to be one of the longest lasting soaps that I have ever had, ive been using it for months now and it never seems to get smaller.
This soap is perfect for exfoliating and cleansing your hands and it is still available at Lush for £4.95.
Don't you think it is amazing when you read about companies who do something more than their brief? Companies who go that extra mile to make those less fortunate than ourselves better off?
Send a Cow are a UK based charity, help thousands of families in Africa. By helping those families to grow enough food to eat, sell what they grow and develop a small business that lasts. Farming is no longer enough for a family to just 'get by' if we want to offer hope for generations to come and that means by having their own small business, their income begins to grow and with that increased income are opportunities. Those opportunities give families a chance to invest no only in farm improvements, new livestock and equipment, but also in their children's education, something many of us are lucky to have but perhaps take for granted.
Finally, we have the brilliant site known as Bath and Unwind which is one of my favourite websites for browsing when I need inspiration for gifts because they have an amazing selection of products to choose, from an amazing range of brands. As abeehive has been donated to Africa in my name via Send a Cow and the lovely people over at Bath and Unwind have very kindly gifted a Burt's Bees Naturally Bee-utiful Collection Gift set in keeping with the Bee theme, for one of my readers to win, all you need to do is complete the Rafflecopter widget below.
Anyone who knows me will know I am proud of the fact I have all my own teeth, have never had a filling or a tooth removed. I have a huge phobia of false teeth (think Grandma having them in a glass on the bedside table) and this article is one of my biggest fears and one of the reasons I look after my teeth. What is periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease is one of the two forms of gum disease – the other one being gingivitis. These two diseases affect the tissues supporting the teeth, and cause swelling, soreness and pain, and infection.
Gingivitis is the first stage of periodontal disease. The gums immediately around the teeth become swollen and red and may bleed easily when the teeth are cleaned.
If gingivitis is left untreated for a long time, it turns into periodontal disease, spreading beyond the gums into the bone anchoring the tooth, as well as the tough ligaments holding it in place. Teeth become loose as bone is lost and may fall out eventually.
Who suffers from periodontal disease? Most adults have some gum disease, which is a major cause of tooth loss. Thankfully the disease progresses very slowly and with good treatment and hygiene, people can retain most of their teeth for life.
What’s the basic cause of periodontal disease?
In a word, plaque. Plaque is the almost invisible film of bacteria that forms on the teeth each day. Most of these bacteria are harmless, but some contribute directly to gum disease. To prevent gum disease you need to brush the teeth at least twice a day to remove the plaque. Cleaning between the teeth is also vital.
Does smoking make it worse?
Yes. Smokers produce more bacterial plaque and smoking also leads to a drop in oxygen levels in the bloodstream, making it harder for gums to heal. Additionally, smoking can affect bone health, so it’s essential to stop smoking to avoid and treat gum disease.
What happens if periodontal disease isn’t treated?
Gum disease causes hardly any pain, so people might not notice anything wrong until they see blood when brushing. Occasionally infected gums may ooze pus and – rarely – abscesses might develop. Bone density in the gum is lost, loosening teeth, which eventually will be lost.
How can I tell if I have it?
The first signs are blood when brushing, or bleeding when eating. You may also develop bad breath.
What do I do if I think I have it?
You need to see your dentist for an assessment, which will involve measuring the gum around each tooth for signs of disease. You may also have an x-ray to see if any bone density has been lost. This assessment is vital as there are different periodontal disease treatments and you need to make sure you get the right ones.
If disease is found, your dentist will remove plaque and tartar, as well as show you how to maintain high levels of hygiene at home – a vital part of treatment.
If periodontal disease has spread to your tooth roots, you’ll need to have plaque scraped from them, under a local anaesthetic. You can expect some pain for a day or two afterwards.
Will I be cured after these treatments There is no cure for periodontal disease, but you can slow it down or stop it progressing if you remove plaque every day and have regular check-ups.
Did you know that in Morocco over 3 million people make a living from the argan tree and at Melvita, it is the only source for the best-selling Argan Oil, in which over 400 argan kernals are used. From the tree to the bottle, Argan Oil is created by local Berber women. Their tradition and culture oversee its production and over 200 Berber Women farm and source these kernals. With that in mind, Melvita is committed to the Argan Fair Trade in Morocco and has recently announced its latest sponsorship initiative for the working women of the Argan Oil industry - The Argan Bees Project.
I am a huge supporter of Bee's and like to think I do my bit to encourage them by planting bee friendly flowers. Having seen a decline in argan bees, the Argan Bees project aims to reignite the beekeeping trade by offering women the chance to boost family income and here is how - for every Melvita Argan product purchased €1 will be donated to the initiative which will be investing in bee keeping training and raising awareness of the skill. It is hoped by doing this and planting Melliferious plants (those which produce honey) will help to increase and encourage the bee population and help poorer communities to flourish by giving them a a steady income.
There are four amazing products currently within the Melvita Argan Range and I have been using the Repairing Oil which works to repair, protects and strengthen skin, hair and nails.
The nuts from Argan trees yield the Argan oil which is exceptionally rich in essential fatty acids and sterols. For centuries, it has been renowned for its repairing properties, ideal for dry and fragile skin, and for its softening and protective benefits and is also traditionally used to massage joints and to care for the nails and hair. My hands have been really dry lately, possibly due to the lack of glove wearing in the cold weather, using chemicals to clean without gloves and at work, I have been doing a lot of paper work and printing many letters, all of which do nothing for my hands and you would have assumed I would have, by now, learnt my lesson. Anyway, I have been using this oil on my hands and on my feet after having a bath or shower and the effects are amazing, it is not only soothing buy incredibly moisturising.
The bottle has been designed with a pump dispenser which means only a small amount is dispensed at any one time. One pump is enough for both hands or feet and once massaged into the skin, it sinks in leaving little trace it was ever there.
