Our first lesson. Product overload.

We were counting up the myriad of products we are seduced into buying for our beauty regimes.

We counted (and this was on a good day) the following classic line up we probably all own.

A cleanser, face wash, facial exfoliator, toner, moisturiser for day, moisturiser for night, serum, pre make-up base, hair conditioner, intensive leave-in conditioner, hair serum, body exfoliator, body lotion, body oil, hand and nail cream, nail treatment oil, foot cream, intensive foot treatment, lip balm, eye cream.

Exhausting just to think about it. Not to mention the daily application.

That's when we thought, well, how can we come up with a one-stop fix all. I mean, getting past the classic line up of products (20 and counting) is there anything that could replace them. All.

And we have done it. Ok, so you might wonder how. But it is simple really. Your challenge? To replace all of the aforementioned, even if only for a month, with just one product. How? Well the answer is right here on the website. We promise you won't be disappointed. But you may be pleasantly surprised. Go on, get beyond the hype and use something that Mother Nature intended. And don't think it's all about you. You can use it on your babies, on your partner, recommend it to family and friends even.  What is the ANSWER?

Our second lesson. Colouring your hair

There comes a point for many of us when either we want a bit of a change, a complete re-vamp or just hide the onset of the grey hairs. Dyeing your hair is the quickest route for impact. But in order to de-mystify the process we have written extensively about our hair colours here. Simply put you can choose between either a permanent hair colour or a temporary hair colour.

• Permanent hair colours work on the basis of opening up the hair shaft and depositing colour pigments inside the hair. The colour then grows out and you need to do the roots every few weeks.

• Temporary hair colours are temporary pigments that sit on the hair and wash out over a few washes.

• Permanent hair colours (salon types and home use) are permanent colour pigments (PPDs or paraphenyelendiamines) that are deposited by way of Hydrogen Peroxide. Whilst the ingredients used in the products are to some extent naturally occuring it is, in the case of Herbatint, the absence of Ammonia that allows the process to be as gentle as possible. The herbal extracts in the product lend natural conditioning qualities to the hair. We therefore don't claim either the process or products we sell to be 'Organic'. I mean, when was the last time you saw hair colours growing on trees?

So what do you choose?

Choose our Vegetal range of temporary colours if you want to naturally enhance your hair tone or experiment with a darker shade. Vegetal may or may not give complete grey cover and as it does not contain Hydrogen Peroxide it cannot lighten either. But it is a good product to start with if you don't want to use PPD-based permament hair colours.

Choose Herbatint if you wish to cover grey hair, darken or enhance your hair tone or possibly slightly lighten your hair. However a word of wisdom. Trying to lift hair by more than a tone is best left to the professionals. If you are currently a brunette yearning to be a baby blonde shade then this is something for a salon, so try the ColourHerbe salons around the UK.
And Always Skin Test Prior to use. It goes without saying that anything put on your body could possibly give rise to a sensitivity or allergic reaction. Hair colours are no exception so be colour safe and skin test. Still not sure what is right for you? Then call the Herbatint Freephone Helpline on 0800 594 7706 who can talk you through your options.

Our third lesson. All Polished Up

When it comes to manicures and pedicures it is probably fair to say that us ladies fall into one of two categories. High maintenance and low maintenance. High maintenance are those that enjoy their weekly manicures that are either salon or home based and encapsulate the full on base, polish and top coat to give a high sheen finish. To these ladies I salute you because I fall quite clearly into the second category of low maintenance. For me it's a quick swipe of colour for a special occasion if time constraints and the likelihood of having to do too much with my hands (ie washing up, scrabbling around in bags for keys etc) is likely to be at a minimum in a 24 hour period.Fortunately a lovely lady, Ying, at Suncoat cosmetics has come up with a solution for both types and created with a unique water-based formula - this is nail adornment for the healthy and wise.

For the high maintenance amongst us, choose from the Suncoat water-based polishes for full on, opaque and sheer tones of colour that require no base coat but a slick of the clear top coat is advised for longevity. Perfect for manis and pedis. And a gem of a unique gel- based polish remover is at hand too.

For the low maintenance amongst us, choose from the sophisticated hues of Polish and Peel or the SuncoatGirl range for easy to apply, then peel off nail colours that are, frankly, foolproof. Perfect for a quick fix nail colour that will even see you through the washing up (with no gloves on). Even better they are great and safe for children to use too (from 3 years +). ALL Suncoat products are also, where applicable, approved by the UK Vegan Society. So extra green points there too!

Our fourth lesson. Imagine if...

This week's inspiration comes straight from the bathroom shelf. I have been dabbling in DIY lotions and potions that are frankly good enough to eat. Let's face it if it's ok to put it inside our bodies then why not apply the same concept to stuff we put on our bodies.

First up: busy bee. Yes the deliciously sweet amber nectar we know and love. Next time you are in need of a facial cleanse, try honey in place of your normal cleanser. I can't get over how it leaves your skin feeling so, so soft. Particularly if, like me, you live in a hard water area. You can google for its inherent benefits and whether you try your kitchen cupboard stuff or invest in high grade agave types this is skincare goodness to behold. (NB the runny squeezy plastic jar types a bit easier than the harder, glass jar types).

Next: Cider with, well, not necessarily Rosie. Ok, I know. Vinegar doesn't exactly have the most enticing aroma, but its acidic virtues are unparalleled and a drop of this stuff (Apple Cider Vinegar) mixed with water and then rinsed through your hair post-shampoo will not only cleanse your scalp, but will help sweep away the detergent and, because of its acid pH will close your hair cuticle down leaving it soft and shiny. The key to conditioned hair is the acidity of the product used which is of most benefit to the protein in your hair.

Third: Sweet and Sour. Either salty flakes or sugary browny grains can, when mixed with some oil provide instantaneous exfoliating action. Yes you can buy the shop bought stuff, but since they take their inspiration from this most basic of concoctions why not try it yourself?

Fourth: Bittersweet. Lemons too provide the necessary acidity which forms part of great skincare. A few drops added into your own conditioner will help acidify its contents which, as explained above, is of great help to your hair. Yellowy nails can also benefit from lemon, so cut in half and use to wipe around nails and restore to whitened glory.

Fifth: Totally Tropical. Find some pineapple, extract the juice, pop into an ice cube dish and put into freezer. Et voila pineapple juice cubes to rub over your skin and the power of the AHA's (alpha hydroxy acids) contained within will help slough away dead skin cells to reveal a brighter complexion. Truly.

Sixth: Oil you need is love. We can't stress how much oils are of benefit to everyone. We champion Camellia oil here because of its huge benefits to skin, hair and nails and because oil formulations carry more vitamins and anti-oxidants naturally into the skin than their lotion and cream counterparts are able to (because of the absence of water). Clever stuff huh? That's it for this week, back to viewing the sporting antics and glories that have swept the nation recently. Going to be lost without all the action when it's gone! Oh and as for the ingredients above. Well you won't find most of them here, but you probably already have them in your kitchen...

Our fifth lesson. Word up.

So if last week’s beauty notes were all about getting back to nature and raiding your kitchen cupboard for skincare goodies, then this week is the ‘cor blimey’ validation moment. Big name cosmetic companies have finally seen the light and all I’m saying is check out this link: http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2199375/johnson-johnson-to-eliminate-toxic-chemicals Good to know some of us are ahead of the curve, huh? Since the magnificence of the recent Olympics is now over, and I know I have been suffering from the post-Olympic blues this week, it’s off to some sunnier climes for a few days to grab some UV rays and Vitamin D. Until the sporting antics return of our super human Paralympics later this month, I thought I would give you the customer this week’s platform. Here then is a roundup of the latest vlog reviews of our products by way of that YouTube phenomenon. You telling it like it is. Which is just what we like.

Our sixth lesson. Back to School.

Ok, so back from the beach and just spent the first week of September with that delightful Back to School feeling coarsing through my veins. Amazing how even after all these years you still feel like it's the start of a new school year in September. New bag - tick. New pens and pencils - tick. New pencil case - tick. New beauty product - tick. New... actually that last one is here. Just landed. Straight outta Canada. And all I am going to say about it is this. It. Just. Works.

Our seventh lesson. Hair Salvation.

You've asked for it and now we've got it. From the makers of our ever-popular Golden Silk Oil comes the 100% Natural Saponin-derived Classic Hair Wash. This is a sachet of powder full of plant natural goodness that you simply mix with water to a paste. When cooled simply apply to your hair, massage in well and then rinse. Whatever paste mixture you don't use can be kept either at room temperature for a week or in the fridge for 3 weeks. We haven't got all the full earthenware jug pots that can accompany the Classic Hair Wash but they will be available from us later this year. In the meatime why not try this all natural product that will not only leave your hair and scalp in great condition, but, with continued use, will reduce the frequency with which you need to wash your hair. And an added bonus? No extra conditioner required. This product is simply all about the wash n go!

Eighth lesson: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

It's October which means only one thing. Only 13 weeks till Christmas! Actually that's not all. It is also Breast Cancer Awareness month which is the most common cancer in the UK affecting both men and women affecting about 50,000 each year (300 of which are men). Catch the signs, or rather feel any changes such as lumps, early and your chances of treatment and recovery are vastly increased. Whilst the causes of breast cancer are not known, the lovely people at Macmillan Cancer Support and Breast Cancer Care provide all you need to know about detection, treatment and care. So why not take the time before you do anything further and check yours.