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Product Review: Tamu Skincare, My New favourite Brand

Akwaaba! Hope you all had a fab weekend!

Check out this great review from Eco Chick on Tamu products!!

(The original can be found here http://blog.missecoglam.com/2010/01/tamu-african-organic-skincare.html, written by Anna Rogers )

Once in awhile, I stumble across a brand of products that ticks all the right boxes. Tamu Skin care is one of those brands that does that and much more.

Every single part of this product is completely ethical, from the way it was made, to how the people that made it were paid and treated, right down to the brochures being printed on recycled paper.

This is the type of brand that really deserves to be supported because it is just plain wonderful, in every way.

Tamu, was created by Afriyie Boateng who was born in the UK spent a few years of her childhood in Ghana, Africa.

Her mother instilled in her a deep sense of connection with nature and an appreciation and understanding for the healing power of plants and trees. In many cultures, particularly indigenous ones, grandparents taught the children certain things about their surroundings which were passed down through the generations. This is what western society is missing, I really do believe that. We need to remember our roots!

Along my journey as Miss Eco Glam, I am realising more and more that we all need to get back to nature, connect with the land and understand the use of these wonderful ingredients that were put on the earth to heal us and keep us healthy.

Afriyie had an idea to create an organic range of products that could incorporate all the knowledge that was given by her mother and her elders and the healing power of ingredients such as shea butter, coconut and african black soap.

Before starting the brand, Afriyie returned to Ghana and took a trip to question the African ladies about how they kept their skin so beautiful without the use of chemicals.

I find black skin so beautiful, it has a lovely healthy sheen and now I know why! Its because they smother ingredients like coconut oil and shea butter all over the skin on a regular basis.

Everything they used was completely organic, natural and simple.

So inspired by these women, that she offered them jobs with fair pay and good working conditions, to help hand make her products. She even uses cocoa butter that is from her very own Uncles farm in Ghana!

And so Tamu Skincare began!

The range consists of the most beautiful body butters I have ever tried, wonderful cleansing soaps, scented bath salts and an exotic body oil with Moroccan rose. I am sure this is the first of many products that will be added to the range in future.

The creams contain luxurious hand whipped pure shea butter (no water used either) which has long been used in African cultures for skincare. I immediately fell in love with the texture of the creams, with some being so similar to rich buttercream icing. I was reminded of my favorite hummingbird cake!

Afriyie has really done her research to create these products and it really shows, with each product truly doing what it says it will do. Nothing is heated to a hot temperature so the enzymes are intact.

She never uses any of these additives in her products:

• Parabens
• Sodium Lauryl sulphate
• Petro Chemicals
• Mineral oil
• Petroleum Jelly

• Perfume / Artificial fragrances
• Phthalates
• Triclosan

Tamu has been given the Soil Association stamp of approval.

I got to try quite a few things! I tested out the bath salts which made my bathroom and my house smell likes roses as I was filling up the bath. There are cute tiny little rose petals that will float around in the tub with you. The bath was really soothing, and detoxifying because of the Himalayan crystal salt and left my skin very clean yet soft.

I also tried the African Black Soap with Honey and Teatree which has a slight exfoliating texture – great for keeping the skin smooth. I have little bumps on my arms (they say from clogged liver!) and this soap really helps with them. What I love about the soap is how big the bar is and it lasts quite awhile! It lathers up beautifully as well and I will admit, I even use it on my face, something you shouldn’t really do with most soaps!

My absolute favorite product is hard to choose, there were about three. I don’t think I can now live without the Cocoa Vanilla Body butter, words can’t really describe that well enough just pure yumminess really. Even my husband, who will tell me if I get into bed with a cream on that smells like something he doesnt like, said to me, oh what is that you have on, yum! The texture of this cream is truly like the whipped icing I was telling you about, it is so luxurious and glides wonderfully over the skin.

It leaves a slight film on the skin, but in a good way, its not sticky and gives the skin a real glow. I love that you can keep smelling the cream even after its been on your skin for a while.

I also absolutely loved the Coconut and Lime body butter, I showed it to a friend who loves all things citrusy and she thought it smelt incredible. The ingredients in these products smell like they should because they are made with pure, unrefined, natural and REAL fragrances.

The Moroccan Rose Body oil is wonderful to use at night when you want to slip into bed with something decadent on your skin. Rose is one of my favorite smells and Moroccan Rose extract is thought to be the best quality. You can use this during the day as well, all of the products are for day or night or both!

I also tried out the Moroccan silky cream, Almond Brulee and Lemongrass and Ginger. All were fantastic!

Without a doubt, this range is just amazing.

Its my new favorite skincare range and I will definitely be buying more in the future. I love everything it stands for.

I get sent so much stuff to test out but I only have a few products that I can’t live without! My cocoa vanilla whipped body cream and coconut and Lime are added to that list of must have products.

I really hope you take a look at Tamu’s website, that in itself is lovely to look at you get a really close look at the products with enough info to describe how they are made, whats in the products and what they will do for your skin.

Hydrating Facial Mask

Akwaba!

Hey beautifuls! Thought I’s share one of my favourite skincare recipe to protect against the harsh cold weather we’ve been having lately.

Problem:

Suffering from dry skin? Don’t worry, head to the kitchen and start mixing up a natural hydrating face mask to revitalise your skin.

Solution:

Avocado & Egg Hydrating Facial Mask

Why it works:

Raw eggs and avocado contain moisturising proteins, making them a super combo for fresh, luxurious skin. Adding coconut oil provides a boost of anti-oxidants.

Method:

• In a small bowl mix one avocado, one small egg and one teaspoon of coconut oil to form a creamy paste.
• Apply the paste to your face and let it work its magic for 25 – 30 minutes.
• Rinse with warm water and voila! A fresh faced you courtesy of natural ingredients from your own kitchen cupboard....lol you are what you eat :0)

Product Review: Tamu Organics "Beauty with Responsibility"

Akwaba!

Our products have been reviewed (positively I should add) by a London blogger over at Love, Life & Locks.

Another glowing report, looks like we're picking up momentum here - go Tamu!

Little pots of luxury.

That's how I'd describe the range of 'decadent' whipped body butters Tamu has to offer. I like to support local businesses and Female entrepreneurs and this company ticks all the right boxes for me.

Founded on principles of social responsibility, fair trade and ethical investment; Tamu not only walks the walk but talks the talk: all the products are handmade and the ingredients are sourced from Tamu Founder, Afriyie's village in Goaso, Ghana.

These women personify what Tamu is about: economic empowerment for the historically underdeveloped, giving them a fair chance at an equal footing on the financial ladder.

The product range is based around shea butter and black soap (more on the latter later); the process of growing, harvesting and 'processing' the shea butter is a personal and labour intensive one - this is reflected in the high quality of the products. Furthermore (and much to my delight), they contain no petrochemicals (no mineral oil, petrolatum, paraffin etc.), artificial fragrances or parabens; and the soaps contains no SLS.

So what's in the body butters? Only the finest organic ingredients, mostly Ghanaian Shea butter and fragrant essential oils. Hmmmmm....

"Rich, thick and whipped" that's how they're described on the website, and yet, less is more with these butters as a little bit goes a long way; the butter is so light and fluffy and it literally melts into your skin. How sumptuous is that?

Clients can choose from five luxurious creations:

• Lavendar & Ylang Ylang
• Lemongrass & Ginger
• Cocoa Vanilla (which smells like chocolate!)
• Coconut & Lime and
• Almond Brule (which will delight any marzipan lover).

You can also opt for the straight up 'simple' (if you can call anything in this range 'simple') - unrefined shea butter. My favourites are the Cocoa Vanilla and Almond Brule (which my daughter loves and therefore stole from me!)

Everything comes beautifully packaged and you can understand why the savvy Beauty Spas have begun clamouring for stock!

Not into whipped body butter? You can still pamper yourself with the luxurious Moroccan Rose Silk cream - which is absolutely divine. (Sorry, to gush - but it really is, unless of course you don't like roses!)

The Moroccan Roseline sits at the top of the Tamu product range and includes a Luxury Silk Body Bar, Sensual Body Oil and Himalayan Bath Salts which I tried out with HRH one evening and 'relaxing' just doesn't do justice as a description of the experience - trust me on that one! It was as if all the stress and strain of the day vapourised into the steamy rose scented air around us. Sleep was inevitable and oh so sweeeeeeeeeet! (Especially after a day of sliding around in the snow and running around behind the kids!)

I must also mention the handmade soaps. Yes, this phenomenal woman makes these herself. How'd ya like 'dem apples? Not counting the Moroccan Rose bar I've already mentioned, you have three choices:

• Shea Butter and Rooibos Tea which is great for dry and/or sensitive skins and contains healthy lashings of virgin olive and coconut oils as well as the ever faithful shea butter.
• African Black Soap (with Frankincense & Shea Butter) and
• African Black Soap (with Tea Tree and Honey) which is superb for oily, blemished or acne prone skins.

I love the way, Afriyie (aka Lady Tamu) has taken time out to provide suggestions on which products will be suitable for what skin types and each product page is chocked full of information on the ingredients and how to get the best out of the products. Just lovely! (I'm going to shut up now before you think I'm a sales rep or something lol).

So, if you're looking for something different this year (and still have some leftover copper from xmas just waiting for the January Sales) - you could do a lot worse than to invest in a few Tamu products. Pamper yourself and empower someone at the same time - sounds like a win-win to me :) (Shipping is worldwide, yes that means Barbados too lol).

If you do try them or have already tried them - do post a comment and let me know your thoughts.

With Love from London,

xx

TAKE ACTION!

Akwaba! I was reduced to tears watching Channel 4’s Dispatches program "Saving Africa’s witch children In Nigeria"

Innocent children were blamed for misfortunes and branded witches! As a result they were abandoned, tortured & murdered!

The program really affected me and moved me to take action and use my business as a tool to help the innocent children of Nigeria.

Find out how you can TAKE ACTION and stop this abuse to innocent children!
http://www.tamunatural.co.uk/Take-Action

Or You can visit Channel 4's dedicated page to this cause:

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/articles/saving-africas-witch-children-help-and-support

You can also watch the episode again on Channel 4's website: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/episode-guide/series-8/episode-1/

Why Shea Butter?

Akwaba! Today, I thought I'd share with you an article on why my Ghanaian people use Shea Butter. The benefits speak for themselves!

In Ghana, Shea Butter is traditionally used to treat the following ailments:

• Dry skin conditions
• Eczema / psoriasis
• Dermatitis
• Cell renewal
• Dry scalp
• Skin rash- including nappy rash
• Blemishes and wrinkles
• Itchiness
• Minor burns/sunburn
• Razor irritation
• Small skin wounds
• Dry feet / heels
• Stretch marks
• Sun and wind protection
• Uneven skin tone
• Blemishes and scarring
• Scalp irritation from dryness or chemical processing
• Bumps after shaving
• Reduced skin elasticity
• Dull, lacklustre hair

Shea butter from the nuts of the Karite tree, or "tree of life" as it is known in West Africa, is the ultimate oasis for dry skin conditions. Ghanaian mothers use it to moisturise their newborn babies, as its purity makes it gentle and non-drying to their sensitive skin.

In Ghana, destruction of the shea tree is prohibited because this little nut provides a valuable source of food, medicine, and income for the population. In fact, shea butter is sometimes referred to as 'women's gold' in Africa, because so many women are employed in its production.

Shea butter protects your skin from both environmental and free-radical damage. It contains naturally occurring vitamin A and vitamin E as well as complex fatty acids which feed and nourish your skin. Shea butter also contains cinnamic acid, a substance that helps protect you from harmful UV rays, and has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Shea butter can also help treat skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis, however, you should always consult a physician or dermatologist about serious or persistent skin problems. Shea butter is not recommended for people with latex allergies.

Visit our website for more on the women who make our Shea Butter or to browse our products.

Ethical sales triple over decade, says Co-operative Ban

Akwaba!

I'd like to share this article on the UK Ethical Market, written by Rebecca Smithers at The Guardian.

Original link to story

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/dec/30/co-operative-bank-ethical-sales-triple-report

Excerpt below:

Sales of Fairtrade products have grown from £22m in 1999 to £635m, and could break the £1bn barrier in 2010. Photograph: Andy Butterton/Empics

Consumer spending on "ethical" products from Fairtrade food to eco-friendly travel has almost tripled in the past decade, a survey reveals today.

The Co-operative Bank's annual ethical consumerism report, which measures ethical spending, shows that overall the ethical market in Britain has expanded from £13.5bn in 1999 to £36bn a decade later.

The rate of increase in household spending on ethical products outstripped the growth in overall consumer spending, which increased by 58% over the decade.

But overall, the total market for goods that were environmentally friendly, sustainable or supported poor communities remained a small percentage of the £891bn spent by households last year.

Some sectors enjoyed huge growth, including Fairtrade goods, which pay a premium to farmers and producers in poor countries to help them work their way out of poverty, according to the survey.

The Fairtrade market, which now covers products from developing countries ranging from chocolate and coffee to cotton, was worth £22m in 1999. Last year sales of Fairtrade products had grown to £635m and the Co-operative is predicting it could break the £1bn barrier in 2010. The Co-operative was the first major supermarket to support the concept of Fairtrade 15 years ago.

The survey also reveals that spending on "green" products for the home, from energy-efficient boilers to rechargeable batteries, has increased fivefold in the past decade, up from £1.4bn in 1999 to £7bn.

Average household spending on measures tackling climate change has also increased over the decade, from £23 a home to £251, but spending on renewables and eco-travel has remained relatively low. At the same time, the mature financial services market has seen ethical banking and investments triple over the course of the decade.

Neville Richardson, chief executive of the Co-operative Financial Services, said: "Although the report shows that the idea of ethical purchasing is now well established amongst many consumers, there is still a long way to go if we are all going to adopt the low-carbon lifestyle needed to avoid cataclysmic climate change. The growth in energy-efficient products such as boilers, white goods and more recently light bulbs, has been underpinned by government intervention."

He said that in order for Britain to reduce its carbon emissions by 30% by 2020 "there will need to be a step-change in take-up of low-carbon technologies and this will need a new contract between business, government and the consumer".

The report showed that average household spending on ethical food and drink had increased from £81 to £244 over the decade, spending on cosmetics had risen from £7 to £20, and clothing had increased from £21 to £49. Overall, average family spending on ethical goods and services increased from £241 to £735 since 1999, and now one in two UK adults say they have made a purchase primarily on ethical grounds in the past year.

Relaxing Bath Salts for the Winter Chill

Akwaba! They have forecasted heavy snowfall this evening and a continuing cold snap for the rest of the week - so to get over the winter chill I thought I'd share this bath salt recipe with you.

You will need

• 1 cup of sea salts (preferable dead sea salts),
• a teaspoon of sweet almond oil or olive oil (or any other natural oil you kind find in your cupboard),
• a pinch of crushed dried rose petals (optional),
• a pinch of oats (optional) and
• 5 drops of your favourite essential oil, I recommend lavender, rose or geranium.

Mix all the ingredients together and toss into bath under a running tap.

Light some candles, lock the bathroom door and, whilst your soaking your tired chilled bones, meditate on the good things you have in your life, let go of the past and look forward to the future.

Stay blessed xxx

Happy New Year!

Akwaba! Happy New Year Beautiful People!

Back to school and back to work Monday - I know it can be difficult after having time off over xmas - so here's wishing you all the very best start to the week! Stay warm and healthy and don't forget - moisturise, moisturise, moisturise!

With the turn of the new year, it's always a good time to celebrate life and to reflect on what you did and didn't like about 2009 - what do you think you'll do differently in 2010? What are your New Year's resolutions? Whatever you decide, stay blessed and strong this year.

Tamu