I want to share my most latest finding which is about to revolutionise anti-ageing practices: an ecological face cream acting like Botox! Being a usually rather skeptical person when one talks about miracle cosmetics, I thought that I should try this one on my fine lines to see whether the results would match the claims of 50% wrinkles reduction and 80% smoother skin texture.

I AM HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT IT WORKS!! Once again, Nature proves that all we need is readily available.

The cream is based on a recent discovery which won the Swiss technology awards in 2006: Syn-Ake®. SYN-AKE® is a new anti-wrinkle active compound based on a synthetic tripeptide that mimics the effect of waglerin 1, a peptide that is found in the venom of the Temple Viper, Tropidolaemus wagleri.

Research at Pentapharm in Brazil, has shown that Syn-Ake® is the optimum size peptide, and amino acid combination, to reduce the formation of wrinkles.

SYN-AKE® is an excellent anti-wrinkle active compound with a snake venom-like mode of activity. Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow have adopted it as their daily cream... and with fabulous results only after 2 weeks of using it morning and evening (wrinkles are smoothed and the skin feels moisturised and balanced), there is no doubt we will hear more about this cream soon...

You can read an article written in the Daily Mail in February 2008, boasting the merits of this cream and showing that Harvey street cosmetic surgeons are not really happy about this discovery.

NOTE: No snake is harmed to create this cream. Only the venom is extracted (in the same way as for a vaccine) and transformed in the cosmetic laboratory.

Les Parfums d'Isabelle is an authorised reseller for Syn-Ake face cream. Why pay £50 in high street stores. Our unique price is: £38.99 only. For more information or to order, contact Isabelle by using the 'Send a message' option on this blog.

Ecological sandalwood

The organic and Fair Trade movements are wearing off... At least to the European public who is getting more and more confused with the so-many associations promoting organic and Fair trade products.and who do not seem to see where the 20% overprice on organic products is going.. While those associations - mostly European ones - are gradually removing vital essential oils from their list on the grounds of either endangered species or sensitising effects, one should also consider the possible endangering of the 'mankind' - The question is: 'would you say it is FAIR to affect the revenues of some of the poorest countries in the world'? Despite the philosophy and ethics behind most of those associations, one has to question their real intention when it seems that they are only interested in jumping on the current political and green bandwagon. I believe that it is time that we start doubting what is said to us and start making a move - ourselves - to really help those who need our changes of habits the most.

Amyris sandalwood from Haiti (the poorest country in the world) is the one I know from my childhood on tropical islands. It does not smell as strong and as 'religious' than the Indian one but has a subtle slightly smoked scent and is coming out greatly in fragrances for any purposes. 
It is interesting to know that the recommended sandalwood species to fight against the endangering of the existing Mysore sandalwood from India are those from Haiti , Vanuatu and New Caledonia although the Vanuatu quality depends on whether it is extracted from plantations in the North or South of the island. According to the research, in New Caledonia, the sandalwood is grown ecologically i.e. for 1 tree cut, 3 are replanted. In Haiti, the production of sandalwood is a major source of revenue for this poorest country in the world and therefore buying theirs is encouraged. It keeps most of the young people on the island in employment. Their earnings are a mere $3 per day but a few 1000 people are able to survive thanks to the Amyris.
 
All this to say that since the Soil Association, Ecocert and other associations of the kind, seem to actually be working against small producers in poor countries, I am more and more taking the view that those associations are actually endangering the revenues and living conditions of producers from poor countries by being so drastic (i.e. wanting to ban sandalwood all together) and through their behaviour, have the countereffect of what they are supposed to promote.
 
According to a UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) report on Amyris, the existing trees can produce essential oils for the next 10 years and the plan is to start reforesting soon. Amyris is only produced in Haiti and is grown biologically and organically. UNCTAD confirms that the distillation process is extremely long (120 hours) and no chemical is added in the production process. Also UNCTAD is trying to make sure that the production of Amyris, vetiver and mango from Haiti are recognised as biological products. 
 
On the other hand, Indian and Australian sandalwood, due to the production processes are indeed endangering a whole forestry ecosystem since the worldwide demand has reached incredible levels and this is why if we, European and industrialised countries consumers want to show our ecological and organic interest, we would be well informed to actually start using sandalwood from Haiti and New Caledonia.
 
In 2002, an organic agency has been set up in Haiti in collaboration and sponsored by the UNCTAD and they are trying to ensure that they become recognised in Western countries. Have we ever heard of it? No. Makes me wonder what organic SA and Ecocert are actually promoting. It seems we have not evolved since the 70's when the American attitude of promoting sunflower oil rather than coconut oil led to the end of the production of coprah (and coconut oil) in many countries such as the Seychelles islands and Vanuatu. At the time, it was announced that the sunflower oil was better for health (when in fact it was all about promoting US sunflower production). Since then, numerous scientific reports have proved that coconut oil was one of the best oils for health as it contains all we need such as the lipids, proteins and glucids.

 

In the search of long lost scents being rediscovered, I choose a popular soap in France in the 20th century. Do you know BEBE CADUM?

It might be a paradox to talk about 'French' soaps in the UK, since the French people seem to have the reputation of not taking care of their own selves as much as the British!

For over a century, the French cleaned with the one and only soap they knew would desinfect, soften the skin and last long: BEBE CADUM... The story of this soap begun in 1907 when an American businessman visiting Paris stopped in an apothecary shop to try to relieve him from the eczema he was suffering from. The apothecary, Louis Nathan, offered him to try a handmade balm. The American businessman was so impressed by the effects, that he offered Mr Nathan to market the 3 products existing then including BEBE CADUM SOAP, a pomade to treat eczema and itches and a toothpaste. By 1930, BEBE CADUM had added a few more products and held 50% of the marketshare for soaps in France, also exporting to countries such as Spain and Latin America. Colgate-Palmolive bought the Bébé Cadum company in the 50's and got rid of the baby's face to replace it by pictures more adapted to the general public, mostly women.