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Titanium dioxide is a physical barrier of the sun, which blocks UVA and UVB rays, as well as UVC rays. It is a natural inorganic pigment that, when in a cream, coats the skin with a reflective and protective layer. Anyone that wants to protect the skin entirely from the sun should look for titanium dioxide in the ingredients labels of sun blocks. Moreover, thanks to its inorganic origin, titanium dioxide is one of the most inert and antiallergenic sun filters. This is an important aspect, taking into account that many synthetic, organic substances can irritate the skin and cause allergic reactions. In comparison with other filters, the allowed maximum amount of titanium dioxide in a product is 25%, while the larger part of chemical substances are limited to 2-10%.

Another popular substance, equal to titan dioxide, is zinc oxide. Check the labels of sun blocks - if Titanium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide is mentioned, you can be certain that this cream protects you from both UVA and UVB rays.
Alongside inorganic pigments, other great UV filters can be found in nature. Carotenoids (red and yellow pigments) found in plants have a dual effect: they block the sun's rays and also, as an antioxidant, lessen the damage already done. For example, sea buckthorn, which is one of nature's more powerful antioxidants and contains all forms of vitamin E, was lauded in ancient Greece as a wonderful agent to keep skin looking young. The extract from the yellow berry not only protects the skin, but also facilitates the renewal processes of cells and eliminates free radicals created by the rays of the sun. Other plants that are well known to contain carotenoids are calendula, sweet briar, and tomatoes. A popular antioxidant from far-away lands is green tea. Combining these and other plants together with inorganic pigments, a powerful sun-protection and anti-aging cream is made. And all the better - it's completely natural.

"Opening the first ever MÁDARA store is the fulfilment of a long held dream. This is a place where we can finally meet our clients in person and get a better insight into what people actually want," explains SIA MADARA Cosmetics Chairman of the Board, Lotte Tisenkopfa. "We're delighted that MÁDARA is continuing to grow in this difficult climate. MÁDARA is one of the companies whose export results and future prospects strengthen the Latvian economy. We hope that our growth will also inspire other entrepreneurs to look to the future with optimism!"

The store's opening ceremony was attended by a number of guests including Latvia's 'first lady', Lilita Zatlere and other well known public figures including musicians, celebrities and media representatives in a show of support for products produced in Latvia and the natural lifestyle.

"Being here today is an emotional experience for me. I've always supported natural and economically clean things. In this industrial era, people are far removed from that which is natural and real. And yet here, we see a return to these basic values which it is clear that people do appreciate. True values don't disappear. They're our future," said Lilita Zatlere commenting upon MÁDARA'S achievements.

The layout of the MÁDARA store has been created using environmentally friendly paints and economic light bulbs. The store's furniture, wallpaper and décor have all been produced in Latvia. MÁDARA is particularly proud of its ceiling lamps which were produced by the new Latvian lighting designer, "mammalampa". In an attempt to persuade the public to care for nature more actively, the MADARA store also contains a collection point where old MÁDARA cosmetics packaging units are collected from customers for recycling. For every item of packaging they bring along, customers will have the chance to acquire the same product for a significant discount.

It is a misconception that only the most advanced technologies can produce ingredients for cosmetics that ensure the best results. In fact, the opposite is true: natural ingredients carefully selected and included in the formulas of cosmetics, produce great results in skin care. Large companies promise amazing transformations - to smooth out wrinkles in the span of just a few weeks, to have perfect skin without the aid of plastic surgery, and other believable and not so believable claims. Certain synthetic substances in skin care products may create a fantastic illusion of smoother skin and a youthful glow, but it's all only an artificial effect. Does anyone ever stop to think that this is achieved with irritating chemicals, which cause micro-infections and oedema, causing the skin to swell with water, but not actually smoothing out wrinkles? This effect lasts only as long as the use of the product that causes it, and there has not been enough research about the long-term effects on the health of consumers that use such products.

On the contrary, plant extracts used in creams do not create illusions, but actually nourish the skin with biologically active substances and facilitate the skin's natural protection and renewal processes. "Metabolic processes at the cellular level are similar in plants and humans," says Vija Eniņa, Associate Professor and Dean of Riga's Paula Stradiņa University Pharmacy faculty. "Just like a human being, the plant's life processes are maintained by chemical reactions, in which enzymes, vitamins, and minerals are involved. When they come in contact with the human body, many active substances work in the same way as they do in plants. For example, antioxidants improve the well-being of a person's cells and give them energy. The human body accepts the plant cells as similar to its own, rather than as foreign bodies. The plant cells are therefore biologically able to engage in the life processes of the person's cells."

Refresh your body

Spring is the most popular season to start cleaning. Purification can aid in freeing oneself from extra kilograms and can improve energy and liveliness. In accordance with Chinese medicine, spring is associated with the liver - an organ that has a vital role in digestion and ridding the body of toxins. Especially harmful to the liver is alcohol, chemical substances, medicine and antibiotics, fried foods and meat. Symptoms of an overworked liver are exhaustion, stress, changes in mood, and various infections.

Methods of cleansing are various, but a universal and simple one is a three-day diet, consisting of fresh fruit and vegetable juices, while also drinking a lot of water. By increasing physical activity and sweating, the body can more easily rid itself of toxins. By adding to the diet greens, for example, sprouted wheat, radish, and other seeds, the body is fortified with the rich nutrients and energy of the sprouts. Cleansing of the liver will be well aided by drinking water with lemon, or freshly cold-pressed linseed or olive oil.

Put on a mask!

Beauty comes from inside - a pure and healthy body. Still, we can help bring it out! After the greyness and cold winds of winter, the skin has earned a little treat. Natural masks can be used to cleanse and nourish the skin. Masks can be made of various natural substances - clay, mud, etc., as well as foodstuffs found at home - milk, yoghurt, oatmeal, fruit, yeast.
Clay and mud are excellent purifiers of the skin. They can be mixed with still mineral water or green tea in order to make a soft, easily coating mass. If the skin is dry, a teaspoon of vegetable oil can be added, or milk or yoghurt used in the place of water. The mass can be coated not only on the face, but also on the décolletage, chest, shoulders, and upper back. The mask should be allowed to harden and to remain on the skin in such a state for at least five minutes in order to activate the skin's circulation. It should be removed by means of gentle massage, so that the small granules can exfoliate the skin.
When preparing nourishing masks, creativity is key. One could grind oatmeal, mix it with warm tea, add mashed avocado, a few drops of linseed oil. Or mix yoghurt with banana, or finely grated carrot with a little oil. Yeast with warm milk. Fresh potatoes can be put in a blender and then the mass in cheesecloth and on the eyes to get rid of dark circles. Everything that is rich with vitamins and biologically active substances will stimulate and refresh the skin. It's important to massage the face with lotion after washing off any mask so that it's moisturised well. Of course, it's best if the lotion, just like the mask, is natural and fresh!
Don't forget about the skin of the body! A refreshing, cold shower in the morning will awaken your body and mind. One should wash with natural soap that cares for the skin. The best skin-cleansing product known to civilization is real soap, made with traditional methods and from pure vegetable oils and alkali. The fatty acids of the vegetable oils bond with alkali, creating soap. In this process, the vegetable oils secrete glycerine, a substance that moisturises the skin. Soaps of good quality retain glycerine, and this moisturises the skin during washing. Cheaper, mass-produced products have less glycerine, because it's lucrative for manufacturers to sell it separately as an ingredient of cosmetics. Moreover, cheap soap is made mostly of animal fat, synthetic foaming agents, and perfumes, which isn't very green, and can actually dry out the skin.
In order for beauty care to render the biggest effect, it's advisable to take note of moon phases: the body and skin cleanse best during the waning moon, and best take in nutrients during the waxing moon. That's why one should use masks and peeling agents during a waning moon, but renewing and nourishing courses during a waxing moon.
This year, April 1st is the first day of a waxing moon, which will be followed by a full moon on April 2nd, and the waning moon from the 3rd to the 16th. The moon will wax full again from April 17th to May 1st. The skin reacts very well to beauty care procedures when the moon is in Capricorn, which is from April 9th to the 11th, and cleansing procedures during these days will be most effective.

Clean your mind and home

We spend most of our time indoors during winter, which often is the cause of havoc in the home. An overflowing worktable, closet, or bedroom is usually the sign of havoc within the mind as well. We often cling to material things that we no longer need, and these create energy blocks both in our lives and homes. Feng Shui teaches that an orderly house is connected to an orderly mind. One could make every object in the room go through a "test of orderliness", by asking oneself questions like, "Does this object enliven me when I think about it or see it? Do I really like it? Is it useful or necessary to me?" If the answer to any of these questions is "no" or "a little", free yourself of this object. Throw it out, or, better yet, give it to someone who needs it. Create space in your mind and environment for new things. This principle could also be applied to memories, creating space for various ideas. If certain memories do not aide you in life for a goal, free yourself of them.
When changing from one's winter wardrobe to warm-weather clothes, put everything you haven't worn in a long time into bags and donate them to charity. A general rule of thumb is to weed out everything you haven't worn in a year's time, since you probably won't even notice that it's no longer taking up space in the closet.

Feed your soul

The soul or spirit is what connects us with something higher - Nature and our innate creative spirit. Feeding one's soul is different for everyone. Someone might see this as spiritual holidays or friendship with people who share their views. Others find relaxation in yoga, Tai Chi, or meditation. Others still can enrich their souls with a walk in the park, a day at the beach, an afternoon of weeding the garden, or shared laughter with children. Whatever may be your soul-feeding activity, find time to connect with your inner Self. Breathe deeply, keep a diary, and ponder the meaning of your life.
When the soil of your life is rich, what kinds of seeds will you sow? Allow yourself to dream, yield to this activity that is so often forgotten in childhood. In truth, it's of great importance to each of us. A flight of fantasy is the best way to get to know one's real self, creative goals, and desires. Visualise the life you would like to lead. Create a plan of action and take the first small steps. The spring rain will help your dreams grow and bloom, the summer sun will give them strength and endurance, and the harvest time of autumn will bring you success and accomplishment. But only if you start today.

The Shape of Beauty Awards: the very best good-for-you products on the market, chosen by Shape readers and beauty experts. Products were judged on overall performance and the science behind the ingredients, as well as each product's smell, feel, look and effect. Overall, 22 brands participated with 170 products in 20 categories.

Every year, countless new beauty products hit the market. Some are destined to become classics; others will fade quickly into oblivion. It can be tough to sort through what's worthwhile and what's not even worth trying. So again this year, for the 3rd time, Shape joined forces with their readers to pick the best of the bunch.

To select their winners, 130 readers voted via mailed surveys. Then, Shape's own editors, chief editor of Latvia's largest women's magazine SANTA selected their favorites and, finally, our beauty advisory Agnese Zeltina (a celebrity - nationwide known actress) weighed in.

Products were assessed in three groups: selective cosmetics, mass-market cosmetics, organic cosmetics.

The University of Wales Institute Cardiff held the DME award ceremony on October 13th, 2008. Senior management and design teams of some of the most innovative companies and organisations across Europe attended the ceremony, which was the central event of the Cardiff Design Festival. Design giants such as Virgin Atlantic and the Italian firm, Industreal, also received awards.

"This award is an international recognition of the Latvian manufacturers' ability to create and sell strong and competitive goods world-wide, which are remarkable in both the fields of technological solutions and design. Receiving the award has motivated us to keep striving to come up with new design, marketing, and technological ideas, while continuing to provide consumers with cosmetics products that have a deeper design and style value," says Lotte Tisenkopfa, director of MÁDARA Cosmetics Ltd.

Ms. Marija Popovic, representative of the Unit Innovation Policy Development at the European Commission, stated: "We fully support the aim of the award in raising awareness and rewarding the value of design management for the European economy. It links design and creativity with business and innovation strategies. Implementing design management at a strategic level can be a key driver for business success and guarantee a stronger competitive position for Europe in the future."

About DME

The Design Management Europe Award, or DME, is the first of its kind, drawing attention to the role of management in design and the successful introduction of innovation. The goal of the award is to popularise the best examples of this kind of success to a larger public.

In all, 203 companies and organisations from 22 countries registered to compete for the DME award, marking this as a European-wide event. This was the second award ceremony, and the applicants competed in 7 categories: best management of design in a large company, a medium-sized company, a small company, a micro company, a public or non-profit organisation; best management of a first-time design project, and best implementation of a design strategy for sustainability.

Amidst the candidates chosen by the jury were world-famous brands such as Virgin Atlantic, TNT post, KTM power Sports, Roca, Eva Danmark, Senz Umbrellas, EDF, Madara Cosmetics, Gemeente Amsterdam, RATP, and SoBor.

In order to earn a certificate, the product must contain at least 95% natural ingredients. The remaining 5% of ingredients are strictly regulated, monitoring the presence of minerals, organic acids, and other materials. A minimum of 95% of the plant-based ingredients (for example, plant extracts and vegetable oils) must be biologically certified. ECOCERT prohibits the use of synthetic perfumes, synthetic preservatives (for example, parabens), mineral oil, propylene glycol, and other synthetic raw materials. A certified product is clearly marked on the packaging with an ECOCERT symbol, allowing the consumer to distinguish a truly natural product from the rest.

"European Union and Latvian legislation do not currently define the concept of natural cosmetics. Because of the lack of a definition, deception of the consumer is possible, and exists. The ECOCERT standard helps defend the interests of the consumer, as well as aid the clarification of the concept of natural cosmetics. MÁDARA is the first brand of Latvian-produced and ECOCERT certified cosmetics products," says Valérie Lemaire, Head manager of ECOCERT's Eco-products and cosmetics department.

Its goal is to discover and pay homage to outstanding design and print work and its creators in Latvia. MÁDARA received 3 awards:

• 2nd place in category "advertising campaign materials" for brand brochure,
• 1st place in category "Indoor/Outdoor print" for exhibition stand desig;
• 1st place in category "industrial packaging" for product packaging.