Join the green party

Do you dream of throwing an amazing Christmas party for your friends, that’s also great for the environment and your budget? Read on for some handy tips

Awareness of green issues is growing all the time and most of us want to take steps to reduce our carbon footprint. However, many of us are often stuck for ways to make a difference without it taking too much effort, money and time.

Anyone who has ever organised a party (or attended one – so that’s pretty much everyone!) will be aware of the amount of waste that can be generated - empty bottles, invitation cards, paper plates, plastic cutlery and lots, lots more. There are many other environmental effects that we might not think of too. These simple tips should help anyone who wants to have that fabulous house party that everyone talks about for ages, without making an enormous dent in the environment.

Throwing an eco-friendly, stylish bash

• Buy organic food for the party – many supermarkets also offer organic wines and spirits. Or, if you are buying a large quantity, browse the web for a wider choice. If there’s food left over at the end of the night, make up doggie-bags to send your guests home with.
• Skip the paper cards and save a tree or two. Use word of mouth or send an email invite to let people know.
• Don’t choose paper plates and plastic cutlery. Use your own crockery and cutlery, and when it comes to washing up, use an ecologically sound washing-up liquid. Why not ask a friend to help you and it won’t feel like such a chore
• Recycle all bottles and cans after the party.
• Cut down on the energy you use by lighting
  the rooms with candles. Use glass candle holders to prevent any damage to furniture – and remember to blow out the lights once your guests have finally headed home!
• Decorate the room with small organic plants. Not only will they help clear the room of carbon dioxide, you can also give them away at the end of the night for your friends to plant and nurture.

Make yourself naturally beautiful

A couple of days before the party, invest some time in a DIY makeover. Why not try these simple steps to revitalise your skin and hair:

• Give your hair a boost with a DIY deep conditioning treatment. Beat an egg yolk until it’s frothy, then add a couple of teaspoons of Natracare baby massage oil and a cup of warm water. Pour over hair and massage into the hair and scalp. Leave on the hair for 10 minutes, then rinse well with warm water.
• Grape juice makes an excellent cleanser for any skin type. Simply split one or two large grapes, remove pips and rub the flesh over face and neck. Rinse off with cool water.
• For a natural face mask, take 2-3 teaspoons of raw oats (not the precooked type) and crush into smaller bits, either by hand or in a grinder. Mix the dry oats with pure honey and quarter of a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar until it forms a smooth mixture. Then add 1 drop of basil oil to the mixture – or tea tree oil if you are prone to problem skin. Gently smooth onto the face and massage into the skin. Lie back and relax for 15 minutes, then rinse gently with lukewarm water and pat your face dry gently with a towel.
• While your mask is working, place slices of cucumber over the eyes – they are great for reducing puffiness underneath the eyes.
• Mix up a toner with 100ml rosewater, 1 drop of camomile oil and 1 drop of geranium oil, then gently wipe over your face.
• Finally, Natracare baby lotion, which contains aloe vera and essential oils, makes a great moisturiser for smooth, supple, skin.

Natracare is available nationwide from Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, independent health and natural stores, and independent pharmacies.