Simply ethical. Simply fair trade and eco chic » organic

News from the Waterfront …..

Sabine — Sun, 24 May 2009 14:45:39 +0000

It has been a little while since my last post. Mea culpa – I have been very busy
sourcing new products, raw materials and developing new ideas as well
as new skin care products made with fairtrade, vegan and organic oils,
butters and herbs. Many of you have left comments for me and told me
what you are looking for, what you think is missing from my skincare
range and how certain products have helped you improve your skin’s
condition. Thank you so much for this input. It is very much
appreciated.

My lovely aromatherapist Helen Hammond has assisted me in developing a luxurious body oil made with only the finest African oils – fairtrade and produced under organic principles. It then took us 6 months to create an exquisite essential oil blend made from wild African and English grown herbs. The result is very exciting. The unscented version is called “Afrika Safi“. The aromatherapy oil infused oil is called “Afrika Umoja“.
Both come in a stylish glass bottle with dropper and recyclable
aluminium cap. Both oil versions are 100% vegan and don’t contain any chemicals or preservatives. I am selling this oil on my portal World of Good for now, so pop over and have a look.

There is a range for rosacea sufferers in the making. I am currently trialling the toner but can report excellent results with the serum. I suffer from thread veins on my cheeks and the use of the serum over the last 6 weeks is already showing results.

I am also launching a toner for blemish skin soon, as well as a vegan liquid mineral foundation in three pre-made shades and custom colours (i.e. you can ask me to mix a colour for your skin tone). My foundation is comes for two types of skin: one is for oily, combination and acne skin. The other is for combination to dry and mature skin.

I have decided to opt for the liquid mineral makeup because I have fine lines on my face around the eyes and mouth and powders enhance those. This liquid foundation glides on and is sheer and matte but can be applied in several layers to deepen the tone slightly or offer more coverage if needed. I recommend the use of a foundation brush to apply it in tiny blobs and then smooth it over your face with your fingers. You can’t do anything wrong and you won’t get an accumulation of colour on one part of your face, as the foundation is really very smooth and can be “worked in” before leaving it to settle. You can use a finishing powder dusted lightly over the foundation – I personally don’t use one but a powder offers a great fixation of the liquid makeup if you suffer from oily skin (in the t-zone for example).

The best thing is that you don’t have to use a base cream or a primer. For oily skin this is heavenly. Just cleanse and tone. Wait a couple of minutes and then apply the foundation. It will stay put all day (under normal conditions).

I know what I am talking about as I have a combination of skin that really is the curse for all women – very oily t-zone, very dry cheeks, rosacea on my cheeks and blackheads in the t-zone, fine lines around the eyes ….. with this foundation I don’t worry any longer. I glides on like a second skin, hardly noticeable, stays put, no need for powders and the best bit – it covers my blackheads and the rosacea but doesn’t creep into my fine lines.

You will have to wait a little while longer as I am just testing it with various other people and the safety assessment certificate needs to be completed. Sorry!

What you see at the top (the picture at the top of this newsletter) is a fundraising activity for the Orang Utan Foundation Borneo that I started 4 weeks ago. I really hope to be able to donate at least £1,000 by the end of this year as the foundation is in dire need of more funds to save more orang
utans and reintroduce them to the wild. It is very sad what is happening to these magnificent apes and also – I want the world’s rainforests saved, not chopped down for palm oil plantations. With that in mind I created a palm oil free soap
in 7 different aromatherapy blends, one of which is unscented and eminently suitable as a face soap. Again – 100% vegan and free from preservatives. Please spare a few pounds and get a lovely, long lasting soap in return. I promise that I am not making any profits on this product and that each soap is handmade and worth every penny you pay for it. Thank you.

This lovely handbag is made from felt and comes in two colours: natural and brown. The felt is made by Mongolian herders. The bag is lined and closes with a button. The strap is made from braided wool and the handbag is of medium size – not too small and not too big. I sell this bag as part of the Snow Leopard Conservation Shop and 35% of the proceeds from my sales help to protect the Snow Leopard.

Our popluar sisal handbags, made in Kenya, are back in stock. They are fully lined with an inner zip pocket and a sturdy zip closure on a leather top to which the leather shoulder strap is attached. It comes in four colours, but stock is limited.

If you are still unsure about what fairtrade means and how it helps producers not only in developing countries but also locally, where you live, then go to my website – I have uploaded an excellent video and given a short but concise explanation. Visit “Why Fairtrade” on the Cebra website.

A new incentive for my existing customers is my “5 % discount” for subsequent orders that you place on the Cebra website. When you purchase something you will receive a confirmation email advising you when your order has been dispatched and contained in this email is your 5% discount voucher code that you can use on any product purchase and as many times as you like. If you are an existing customers then send me an email and I let you know the voucher code by return email.

And finally please remember that you can follow me on Twitter – www.twitter.com/cebraonline.
I may not twitter every day, but if you like what I have to say then this is the place to catch up with my latest news, projects, ideas, tips and offers….

What is Cebra up to?

Sabine — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 17:48:17 +0000

I support the Snow Leopard Trust and to that effect I created a shop section on cebraonline.com. Every month new products are added and in February there will be a range of new adult slippers, children’s booties, handbags, rugs, coasters and heat pads as well as a few toys such as felt balls.

The adult slippers have proven such a success that the Inilchek version is sold out now until new stock arrives in July. Pop over and have a look. The baby booties are particularly cute….

The arrival of our chocolate brown fair trade alpaca wool ponchos and a fab range of alpaca wool, hand knitted women’s sweaters is awaited by us with eager anticipation. Ponchos area such great clothing items. When the days get longer and warmer, they are the ultimate “coats” – just pull over and go. They keep you warm and cosy and look chic and trendy and this colour, chocolate brown, can be combined and worn with any outfit. Our ponchos are hand knitted in Peru from the finest alpaca wool and can be worn for years to come.

Hand knitted, soft alpaca sweaters in black, chocolate brown and cream – a great choice of colours and superior quality. These are the type of jumpers I have been searching for for a long time and finally I found them. Hand knitted from the finest alpaca wool in Peru, they complement your wardrobe perfectly and make for an elegant and sophisticated fashion statement. Available from mid February, so please check back regularly.

New in our vegan registered range: bath fizzies, aloe vera gels with seaweed and essential oils, organic fairtrade shea nilotica from Uganda (our own range), hand crafted shea butter soaps with herbs, shea butter moisturiser bars and in the body care section we are launching a new 100% vegan hairbrush as well as a new, slightly larger baby hair brush.

And finally – our weavernest tealight holders handmade from coloured glass and fairly traded with an Indian community were featured on Good Morning America.i Very briefly I must say with just a pointer at them by the presenter, but nevertheless. They were on American television – hey! If you look very closely they are on the video picture to the right behind the presenter, hanging up on a bamboo stick……and they are listed on page two – scroll down to the middle of the page.

Clear skin with pure, glacial mud

Sabine — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:41:27 +0000

I have a new skin care product in stock that is absolutely fabulous.

The Alaska glacial mud masque. Suitable for all skin types. Sustainably harvested from the remote waters of the Copper River Delta in Alaska it detoxifies, exfoliates and softens skin. It contains more than 60 nourishing major and trace elements required for the body’s natural balance and healthy skin cell regeneration among them magnesium, copper, zinc, sulfur, silver, silica, calcium, sodium, potassium and iron that promote anti-aging, help skin hold moisture and form collagen resulting in radiant skin.
This pure mud is gentle and balanced. It is further enriched with a special combination of certified organic and wildcrafted botanical extracts from the Pacific Northwest including kelp, nettle, horsetail, elderflower, yarrow, cranberry, blueberry and vitamins e and b5 that are chosen for their moisturizing, skin-softening, anti-aging and immunoprotective properties.

Our glacial masque relaxes the mind while detoxifying, exfoliating and softening the skin. The micro-fine silt in the mud is a natural and gentle exfoliant while the electromagnetic properties of the clay attract oils, draw impurities from the skin, and promote circulation. Our mud masque does not clog pores and deep cleans skin from the outside in and the inside out.

The Alaska glacial mud is great on the body and face. The electromagnetic properties of the clay attract oils, draw impurities from the skin, and promote circulation which results in smoother, softer, cleaner skin that does not feel washed out from chemicals. Registered with the Vegan Society in the UK.

This fantastic product is now available exclusively from Cebra – ethical skin care. Your 120ml Alaska glacial mud masque comes with an exclusive mask brush which makes it easy to apply the mud in just the right quantity.

Sustainable, vegan, organic – Cebra ethical skin care

Sabine — Mon, 26 May 2008 19:02:21 +0000

Launching my own skin care label has been a challenge. I wanted to make sure that all my products come from fair trade sources using sustainable resources and ingredients harvested under organic principles. Furthermore I wanted my skin care to be packaged in environmentally friendly tubs, jars and bottles – and I wanted to offer refills for most products.

It has been an interesting journey along which I found out that glass bottles aren’t as eco friendly as what some people try and make you believe. The energy that the making of glass bottles requires is enormous. Also did you know that most glass ends up in land fill sites rather than being recycled? PET jars on the ohter hand – clear ones that is – are far more environmentally friendly. The aluminium screw caps that are used to seal these jars are sought after by recycling centres and the jars themselves are also a coveted products. However, it is always best to reuse all jars as often as possible…..

So, here goes: my first skin care product from the “Cebra – ethical skin care range” is whipped shea butter made from West African fair trade unrefined shea butter. Nothing else. Just that. It is unscented (i.e. without added essential oils or aroma oils) and it has two functions:

a) it is en excellent cleanser for very sensitive skin. Just moisten your hands, rub a little of the whipped shea butter in your palms and a lather will ensue with which you can cleanse your face. Take the product off by splashing your face with plenty of warm water (fill your sink, don’t just let the water run!). Pad your face dry.

b) Whipped shea butter is absolutely brilliant for skin that is prone to eczema and dermatitis outbreaks. It is a great soother for sensitive skin and it acts as a very mild UVA/UVB shield. Just take a small amount, rub it in the palms of your hands and distribute evenly over your face and neck. The butter is quite rich but you will be surprised how quickly the skin absorbs it. Regular use will leave your skin (face, hands, elbows, knees, feet….) soft and supple. Fine lines will disappear and if you suffer from couperose you will notice a difference in your skin’s texture within just a few weeks.

My whipped shea butter comes in a clear PET jar with an aluminium screw lid and this contains 200ml of unrefined fair trade shea butter whipped to a smooth cream. Price: £9.00 incl. free UK delivery.

New: Scrumptious Fair Trade Cocoa and Shea Butter Lotion

Sabine — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:31:08 +0000

New: intensive hand & body lotion with Handcrafted Cocoa and Shea Butters. The extra virgin cocoa butter in this lotion is hand extracted from shade grown cocoa beans from small farms in southern Togo. Our cocoa butter has not been refined in any way and retains its natural beneficial properties and chocolate scent. Intensive formula with Unrefined Shea Butter and Avocado Seed Extract absorbs easily, leaving soft and supple skin. Natural mocha scent of cocoa butter is sweetened with vanilla. Size: 235 ml. Price: £11.95

Made by Alaffia – sustainable skin care and available from Cebra now. Support local co-ops in third world countries – buy with a clear conscience, buy fair trade.