Welcome to our "What’s New" section of the website. My opportunity to provide a newsletter-type service, we’ll be filling it with tips and updates--feel free to email offerings. Oh, and recipes!

So, where are we in our evolution as a maker of skin-care? Well, over the last seven years, we’ve grown, for a start--now stocked in Harvey Nichols in London!! What does that mean to our ethos? Well, we are still 100% devoted to your well-being. That means we still manufacture by hand, making everything with love. We still use organic and wild-crafted ingredients wherever possible--no change there, thank heaven! We are still committed to wholesome, gentle, natural-as-possible skin care. How else would we be able to meet our children’s eyes? What is very important, though, is that we are still committed to a personalised, individual relationship with you. You are VERY important to us; many of you become like part of the family, and I am constantly touched by the genuine kindness in the world. Thank you!

We are one of the very few truly family-run skin care firms out there, so let me introduce the gang. Youngest, and loudest is Asher, our three and a half year old. Full of energy and noise, he inherited the title "Chief Tester" from his ten and a half year old sister Izzy. Izzy had promoted herself to "Chief Product Lady" last year and carries the weight of such responsibilities with grace and efficiency. Lee is Operations Manager which puts him in charge of packing, dispatching, and making Coconut Cleanser (his patience makes it work better than I can). He is also my husband, and the best man on earth--the reason our house is a home. I’m Merri, and I formulate, cook things up and panic. You can see us in the "Our Gang" section--sometimes it’s very handy to put a face to a name.

Just a little reminder, our products, lovely and helpful as they are, are not medications. Any condition should be properly diagnosed and seen by a relevant practitioner. I try to do my bit by setting aside a little time each day to send out positive, healing energy to those of you who have asked for help (either for yourselves or your horses!). I know that this might sound a little "new age" but positive thinking can have a huge role to play in the recuperation process, and I do mean it very sincerely. Please don’t hesitate to let me know if I can help, ok? And try to be receptive to all the good that is out there--because there is so very much which is wonderful and, in light of the events of September 2001, it is more important than ever to remember this and believe in it.

TIPS: Tina wins the lateral thinking prize this month for offering an unexpected application for Fairy Dust Magic Powder. Now, as a very experience hair stylist, she recommends it as a dry shampoo. Simply part your hair and sprinkle a little in the parting. Carry on doing this until your entire head is catered for and massage in. Then brush out--your hair will be "puffier, grease-free, smell great and shiney". Who’d have thought????

RECIPE: Chicken Soup--We’re frequently described as makers of Chicken Soup for your skin, so I thought I’d offer my mom’s chicken soup recipe.

Ingredients: Chicken quarters, Leeks (cut length-wise into 4" long sections), Carrots (cut as the leeks), Celery (yep--cut the same way).

Methodology: Bung everything into a large stock pot, fill with water. Bring to the boil and simmer for a few hours, skimming the residue which floats to the top periodically. Top up with water occasionally. After 2-3 hours, eat poured over cooked noodles.