Articles from March 2019

The UK wellbeing and organic beauty market is riding high. Meanwhile European beauty products certified with Soil Association COSMOS in 2018 doubled to stretch to over 10,000 products from among 794 brands. The clean beauty trend is now becoming mainstream.

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Defining clean beauty

A focus on detoxification and wellness is fuelling a demand for ‘clean’ ingredients in beauty and diet products, with consumers reading labels more carefully. Mintel suggests that 21 per cent of US customers seek skincare products with the lowest possible number of ingredients.

To say that something is ‘chemical-free’, ‘green’ or ‘natural’ is no longer useful – there is no set definition for clean beauty, and such terms can be open to misuse. Victoria Buchanan at The Future Laboratory remarks that ‘zero-irritants’ are going to set a new beauty standard.

Among firms getting on board, Clarins cosmetics now boasts a vegan skincare line (with recycled packaging), while Wella Professionals has introduced plant-based hair colour.

Toxic ingredients to avoid

Steer clear of synthetic chemicals and aggressive ingredients. Mineral oils (petrolatum, petroleum, paraffinum liquidum) and artificial colours, silicones (like dimethicone), sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), phthalates (DEHP, DBP, DEP, BPA) and parabens (ethyl-, methyl-, butyl-, propyl-) can all cause skin problems.

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Some skincare ranges omit the ‘suspicious six’: alcohols, essential oils, chemical screens, silicones, SLS and fragrance/dyes and a rise in sensitive skin caused by exposure to pollution and stress is driving a shift towards honest, natural ingredients.

Natural versus organic products

‘Natural’ products contain plant and natural ingredients and are minimally processed. ‘Organic’ products go further: they use non-GMO ingredients that have been produced without herbicides, pesticides, antibiotics or fungicides.

Vegan products

A properly vegan product has no ingredients derived from animals – including collagen, honey, albumen, carmine, cholesterol and gelatin. In hair care, the use of vegetable ingredients – including algaes, wheat protein, shea butter and argan oil – has replaced keratin, beeswax and lanolin.

Clarins cosmetics is among brands going vegan.

The Guardian explores the clean beauty trend here: https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2019/feb/04/is-clean-beauty-a-skincare-revolution-or-a-pointless-indulgence.

The environmental impact

In 2018, Zero Waste Week reported that 120 billion packaging units are produced each year by the worldwide cosmetics industry, much of which can’t be recycled.

Promoting sustainability, glass can be reused many times. Plastic resin derived from corn is a renewable resource instead of petroleum, while soy-based ink can be used for printing.

The tradition of oak building in the UK is a long one and people love its rich character and versatility. It can be used in both traditional and contemporary homes and yet there are still many misconceptions surrounding oak. Here are some of the questions people ask about before choosing oak frames:

Is it difficult to get insurance for oak-framed houses? Is there a higher risk of fire?

There is no increased risk of fire with an oak-framed building. Every house or building must adhere to the same Building Regulations whether they are constructed with timber, bricks or oak. The rumours about problems with fire risk and insurance date back to the Eighties when regulations weren’t as strict and there was a problem with softwood construction.
Oak is highly fire resistant and, in a fire, the outside of the wood will char and protect the inner core. Using a reputable oak supplier means that there should be no problem whatsoever with finding insurance.

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Is oak more expensive?

Building with oak doesn’t have to be expensive. It depends on the amount of oak you use, and you can mix it with other types of timber to keep the cost down. Perhaps you can introduce a little of the warmth of oak by adding traditional oak beams in the living room and different wood in the rest of the house. Choosing Bespoke Oak Frames for a porch or carport is another economic way to enjoy the look and feel of this popular wood. For more information, visit  http://www.bespoaktimberframes.co.uk

If you suffer from allergies, are there any benefits to building with oak?

Oak frames contain no chemicals or preservatives so can be used in any area of the home, including as a flooring option.

Is building with oak energy efficient and sustainable?

Oak is both sustainable and has a low environmental impact. The brilliant thing about oak is that it’s carbon neutral, meaning the emissions created by preparing, transporting and constructing oak is offset by how long the oak frames last.

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Can you add an oak frame extension to a brick house?

Of course you can. An oak extension is in no way different to any other type of extension and adds huge amounts of charm and character to a property.

There is a rumour that green oak frames can shrink and move. Is this true?

Green oak is used sometimes as it contains a high moisture content, making the timber easier to cut to exact shapes and sizes. When oak frames are first fitted, it’s good for them to move a little as they settle. Q. We’ve heard that green oak frames move and shrink, is this a problem?
A. We build in green oak because of the high moisture content, which makes the timbers easier to cut and shape to exact sizes. We want the oak timbers to move a little when they’re first fitted to allow them to settle into place. Over time, oak will season and shrink back, causing the joints to tighten and improve the overall structural strength of the frames.