Pure Nuff Stuff

Well we're back and what a break it was, we're all refreshed and feeling frisky again instead of frazzled. While we're busy de-Christmasing the shop and getting the orders out, we're all talking about our favourite presents. I got a fantastic book on Free Food (hedgerow dinners for us from now on, a great way to beat this credit-crunch nonsense) and Helen is still delighted with her electric toothbrush. What was YOUR favourite present then?

posted by Emily @ 13:52

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Wednesday 7th January 2009

Consumer Antibacterial Soaps: Effective or Just Risky?

The above is the title of a review article by Aiello, A.E. et al published in the journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases 45:S137-047 in 2007. The authors were based at three US universities. This review assessed twenty-seven previously published studies on a comparison of hand washing products containing triclosan versus plain soap in the community setting from between 1980 to 2006. Triclosan has been used in OTC preparations in the US since the 1960s. One criteria was that the studies must have assessed soap containing triclosan at concentrations of between 0.1 and 0.45 % wt/vol i.e. those concentrations present in OTC preparations. The results of this review were that when triclosan was present in soap at the above concentrations it was ‘no more effective than plain soap at preventing infectious illness symptoms and reducing bacterial levels on the hands’. Also, laboratory based studies indicated evidence of triclosan adapted cross-resistance to antibiotics i.e. exposure of some bacterial species to triclosan could cause resistance to antibiotics. Exposure to triclosan also caused some species of bacteria to become more tolerant to triclosan itself at least in the laboratory setting. However, it is important to note that there was no evidence of increased bacterial resistance to triclosan in the community setting (but studies are few). This review essentially calls upon the US government agencies to further evaluate the effectiveness of triclosan in the community setting. However, I must stress that triclosan used in hospitals etc at higher concentrations was not assessed and it may very well serve its purpose in such settings. Well, I hadn't read a lot about triclosan before you mentioned it on the blog so when I came across this article I thought it was worth sharing. MY OPINION IS THAT THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN A GOOD BAR OF PNS SOAP TO WASH YOUR HANDS WITH.

posted by PNS Fan @ 21:40

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Thursday 22nd January 2009

HUGE apologies for note replying sooner

But hello and I hope you're very well. I've not been ignoring you, we've been wildly busy here this past few weeks, a few of us have been ill so I've been busy packing and doing the dreaded paperwork for a bit, sorry if you've felt neglected.

But back to that article, how interesting is that? So, a chemical with lots of side-effects and huge promises actually doesn't live up to the claims made about it? Well, forgive me if I sound cynical, but why is it in so many things and why did the companies involved in including it in products use it? I could pop when I hear things like this - thanks so much for forwarding that bit of info, I'd love to see the whole article if it's not too much trouble, do you have a scanner?

I've always thought that having "wonder ingredients" in a hand soap would make people less likely to wash properly, or to clean properly if the same ingredients are in surface cleaners for example. But it's great to see the confirmation of it. Shame it took more than 40 years of exposure to the chemmical for it to be discovered though, eh?

posted by Emily @ 18:21

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Monday 5th January 2009

..and a Happy New Year to you too...

....and to everyone else at PNS and Heleng. Well apart from some good old cash so that I can buy what I want as the givers told me - I'm not complaining, I also got a couple of watercolours which I was able to choose myself before Xmas. Just framed them. Well pleased! You will be hearing from me soon re: over the counter antibacterial hand soaps. Got to rush. Bye for now.

posted by PNS Fan @ 17:13

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Monday 5th January 2009

Oh that sounds lovely!

And how canny of you in these tough times, buying art as investment are you? Or was it just some things you loved? Very happy for you either way. And nice to hear from you - very happy you had a lovely time too.

Is your hand antibac question about triclosan by any chance?

posted by Emily @ 17:38

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Wednesday 7th January 2009

Buying art as an investment....

....oh no, I'm not that sophisticated. I've been told that I need to broaden my horizons by my lovely father. Life isn't just about science he said - what about literature, music and art. OK, fair enough I thought - so I started to read more, listen to music more and take more interest in art! Good advice - I'm enjoying it! However, when I told him that I had treated myself to a couple of watercolours as an Xmas pressie from him to me I think that he may be now regretting that very good advice that he gave me. Its my birthday soon and I think he's starting to get worried!!!! Anyway, on to triclosan I will put this as a separate section as I can't do paragraphs from my end.

posted by PNS Fan @ 21:27

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Friday 9th January 2009

Paragraphs

No I can't do them either!

posted by Heleng @ 21:49

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Monday 2nd February 2009

Hey there :)

I've passed this comment on to our developer, he's going to work on this for you. The reason you can't at the moment is something to do with spamming protection, but he'll let me know when he's cracked this problem :)

posted by Emily @ 18:13

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Monday 5th January 2009

Right back at you!

Well happy new year to all of you...may this one be prosperous for all. I got the biggest (bearing in mind I am tiny) fluffiest dressing gown ever and a food processor...I have never prepared veg so fast!!! Hurrah, just got to get my head around the work thing now!

posted by Helen G @ 16:39

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Monday 5th January 2009

Thanks for that :)

I've got a mental picture of you now preparing veg and trying to keep long fluffy sleeves out of the top of the magi-mix :) Good to hear from you and thanks for the good wishes, that's a toast I could definately raise a glass to (no, I didn't make any New Years revolutions about drinking). Speak to you soon no doubt, but in the meantime, all the very best x

posted by Emily @ 17:42

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2011/12/14 - You can now review us, give us stars and everything
2011/12/05 - The story of Keep Balm and Carry On
2011/09/05 - Things that make my face scrunch up.
2011/07/11 - Bath Bombs and Salts
2011/06/06 - It's been a while, quite a while
2011/03/16 - Dare I say it yet? Well, yes, it's looking like Spring might be on the way!
2011/01/06 - New Year, New You?
2010/11/25 - Cervical Screening
2010/10/20 - Eczema and aqueous cream - don't basically
2010/10/11 - How many times do you wash your hair?
2010/09/29 - New Products
2010/09/17 - Exfoliation - the Emperor's New Clothes
2010/06/24 - Pure Nuff Pirate Punch
2010/06/03 - Lafe's deodorants - why our stock is currently on sale
2010/05/07 - Are you a bit bored?
2010/04/23 - Ethical Consumer Magazine BEST BUY
2010/04/14 - Things we liked at the Natural & Organics Show last weekend
2010/03/23 - Heaps of things....
2010/02/25 - Palm Oil
2010/02/17 - Sunscreen Lotion, why it's not on the site any longer
2010/02/11 - Our Rowing Boys have made it half way!
2010/01/18 - Good news for us geeks...
2010/01/04 - Happy New Year
2009/12/22 - Happy Christmas to you ALL
2009/12/03 - PNS and Makeup
2009/11/11 - Our rowing boys are close to going - wish them luck!
2009/11/03 - Facebook, we now have a page
2009/10/29 - Don't throw away pumpkin pieces
2009/10/24 - Are you ready for the clock to go back yet? No? We're not either....
2009/09/21 - I've been reading again
2009/09/10 - MEEP! We're getting excited!
2009/09/09 - Autumn is in the air here
2009/09/01 - Magazines
2009/08/21 - Home pedicures, like a day at a spa, but without the weight loss in the pocket...
2009/08/20 - It's been a while again, holidays and all that
2009/08/04 - PNS and the Fish Mish
2009/07/20 - Sorry it's been a touch quiet on the blog front...
2009/07/13 - We have a new brochure
2009/07/06 - Our interests are hitting the mainstream press, well I never...
2009/06/24 - We've had fun, very, very silly fun
2009/06/19 - We have produced a TON of this beautiful stuff this year :)
2009/06/15 - Perhaps it's just Monday, but I'm a little cross
2009/06/05 - I've been having a clear out today
2009/06/03 - Last Friday Kevin arrived, today we rescued Steven Seagull
2009/06/01 - Glamour and more glamour
2009/05/29 - We have a new member of the PNS team
2009/05/28 - Back from Gardening Leave
2009/05/22 - How We Are!!!!!!!!!!!
2009/05/14 - Essential Oils
2009/05/13 - PNS perfumes, possibly
2009/05/06 - We now have a "Home" section on the site
2009/04/27 - "She smells of lemons!"
2009/04/21 - What are your thoughts on natural deodorants?
2009/04/07 - We've just come back from the Natural & Organic Exhibition at Olympia
2009/03/30 - Botanicals - Do you think it's safe to Grow Your Own Drugs like the telly programme says?
2009/03/26 - Our Big Announcement - PNS has won a Natural Health Magazine Award
2009/03/26 - Our Big Announcement - PNS has won a Natural Health Magazine Award
2009/03/18 - The Kasbah Box
2009/03/13 - We've made some big changes in the soaps
2009/03/10 - Grow your own drugs - did you see that on telly last night?
2009/03/05 - If you've ever had trouble getting to sleep, read this.
2009/03/02 - A day in the life of a whiteboard....
2009/02/23 - Twitter, we have succumbed
2009/02/18 - Goodness, it's been a while
2009/02/10 - Mobile phones, I'm now properly scared
2009/02/05 - Good reference books on the subject of vile chemicals in toiletries
2009/01/29 - Hormone disrupting
2009/01/22 - That didn't take long....
2009/01/05 - Happy New Year!!!
2008/12/23 - Happy Christmas to everyone
2008/12/19 - Quick hello and apologies for recent quietness
2008/12/10 - Exfoliation. Did anyone see Horizon last night?
2008/12/02 - We're doing our elf impressions now
2008/11/27 - Two local men doing a trans-Atlantic row
2008/11/25 - Our mums approve
2008/11/20 - Green is now mainstream - it's official
2008/11/16 - The links page has been updated
2008/11/11 - Back to the natural cleaning discussion again
2008/11/04 - So what do you think of the new site please?
2008/10/24 - Are you ever tempted to get false nails put on?
2008/10/22 - Meep! We just had a famous person in the shop, we're all starstruck
2008/10/20 - Borax a RESOUNDING success - I have finally banished bleach from the house forever!!
2008/10/09 - Onward and upward now, an explanation of why we hate phthalates
2008/10/07 - We're a bit sad at the moment
2008/09/29 - All this has got me thinking again...
2008/09/16 - Another question
2008/09/10 - I feel like Jesse from the Fast Show,
2008/09/04 - Conditioner, Creams and Christmas
2008/08/29 - So, what about nail varnish then?
2008/08/23 - I am not ignoring the blog, I promise
2008/08/12 - Update on the Washing Question
2008/08/04 - Another washing question
2008/07/31 - Green Fatigue
2008/07/28 - What do you use to wash your clothes with?
2008/07/16 - Natural Toothpastes
2008/07/15 - We're just ordering some new brushes and scrubby things
2008/07/07 - Oh we love summer
2008/06/26 - We have sand in our toes and ice cream on our faces
2008/06/25 - I'm all alone :(
2008/06/20 - Friday and we're shattered
2008/06/16 - A Blip
2008/06/02 - Well THAT was fun!!
2008/05/28 - Well how exciting....
2008/05/21 - Animal Testing of Cosmetics - PLEASE HELP
2008/05/12 - Organic companies finding thier teeth
2008/05/08 - Channel 4 - Dispatches, The truth about Beauty Creams I think the programme's called
2008/04/30 - Today we are mostly smelling of frankincense....
2008/04/25 - Baby Wipes
2008/04/22 - Tuesday and we have our brains back again
2008/04/21 - Mondayitis
2008/04/14 - An exciting phase
2008/04/08 - Hello and Welcome, oh, and spots