Our homes and lives wouldn’t be the same without batteries – the tiny dynamos that provide all our favourite gadgets and modern conveniences with the power they need. From torches and electronic toys to the TV remote control, we rely on batteries to keep things running smoothly. And then when the juice runs out, we just pop them out, toss them in the bin and put some new ones in their place – right? Wrong! Batteries that get thrown away will be left in landfills, where they’ll start leaching their chemical contents into the earth and the atmosphere over time. These nasties include lead, plastics, sulphuric acid, mercury and cadmium. Considering the amount of batteries the average household uses, we’re looking at a very small product causing a very big mess. So, while our latest newsletter and blogs are focused on the topic of green cleaning, we thought we’d give you a few quick tips on keeping your home’s electronics that much cleaner and greener, by being more responsible about your battery use.

olive-oil-soap

What if we told you that you could clean your home beautifully, from top to bottom, using little more than pure olive oil? You might think it’s reserved for use as a healthy cooking oil or natural moisturiser – but our green cleaning gurus  swear by the magical multi-purpose olive oil cleaner also known as castile. If this is all sounding a little too good to be true, we’ve got news for you! Here’s everything you need to know about this natural cleaning must-have:

You put so much effort into keeping your family’s home space clean, safe and hygienic – but how “clean” are your household cleaning products really? When you think about the loads of harsh chemicals that go into most commercial detergents, we’re sure you’ll agree that the only real “clean way to clean” is with pure natural alternatives! And the best news is, natural cleaning needn’t be expensive or fussy; it can be as simple as opening up your medicine cabinet and choosing your favourite essential oils. These little beauties aren’t just sweet-smelling – they’re also loaded with highly concentrated antibacterial, antifungal and antiseptic powers that would put any commercial cleaner to shame! A few drops of essential oils go a long way, and one oil can do the job of several ordinary cleaners - so not only are they healthy and safe, they're also highly economical. There are so many wonderful, delicious-smelling essential oils available to help you clean your space the natural way; we struggled to choose our four favourites, but here they are:

summer-ready

Can you feel it? Spring is in the air! The days are getting warmer, sunsets last that little bit longer and we're all tingling with excitement in anticipation of summer. Of course, the warmer months also mean we need to be more careful about sun exposure and seasonal allergies. That's why we've rounded up a list of our most popular and trusted natural supplements, to help you feel that healthy summer glow from head to toe.

healthy-pregnancy

From the moment you feel that brand-new little life growing inside of you, you’ll want to do everything you can to keep yourself and baby healthy throughout your pregnancy. Of course, with so much conflicting advice out there, choosing the right supplements can feel like a daunting task! Our green team is home to some wonderful natural mamas and moms-to-be, who will all tell you that natural is best. So, here’s a look at our top natural product picks to help you enjoy a truly happy, healthy and exciting pregnancy!

Active children need the right kind of food - healthy, clean fuel to power growing bodies and minds. Wholesome lunches and snacks help to keep them focused in class and fighting-fit for after-school sports. But nobody likes opening up a lunchbox to be greeted by soggy sandwiches, crushed crisps and mushy fruit! And of course, busy moms often find themselves using single-use plastic baggies and foil to wrap up leftovers, which can lead to a lot of waste and expense. Luckily, our green team has just sourced a fantastic solution designed to make your little ones school lunches tastier, healthier and even greener.

MEDITATION & YOGA

Our green team is so excited to tell you about the latest range we’ve just added to the Faithful to Nature store! These goodies are all about helping you enhance and enjoy your meditation sessions or your yoga exercises. Whatever your reasons for practicing yoga or meditation – be they physical, spiritual or psychological – both disciplines offer amazing health benefits for the body and mind. To find out more about each product suggested, click on the image and follow the link to our website. 

We recently published “The Natural Glamour Edition” of our popular weekly newsletter – and while this beauty product spotlight covered all the usual goodies like lipstick, nail lacquer and foundation, it included a few surprises as well. One of these was castor oil – the undisputed underdog of the natural beauty world! Castor oil is a thick gloopy plant oil best-known for its use as a natural constipation remedy; you’ve got to admit it’s not something that springs to mind when you’re talking glamour and beauty. However, castor oil is loaded with nourishing fatty acids, making it an amazing natural beauty-booster for your hair, skin and nails.

This post is especially for the ladies; a super-simple DIY home recipe for giving your “bosom buddies” some TLC. Breast Cancer Awareness month is coming up soon – a time when we all become more aware of our feminine health care needs – but of course, we all know how important it is to take proper care of our “girls” all year round. This ultra-nourishing natural masque helps to strengthen and firm your breast area, combating sagging and leaving your skin beautifully supple and soft.