The organic food phenomenon has its feet firmly under our kitchen tables. So how is committing to chemical-free eating different to the unpronounceable chemicals found in our face and body lotions? Former Wave Organic Beauty Editor Jaynie Ralph unscrews the lid on the world’s largest green beauty company, Weleda.
For many, filling our shopping baskets full of pesticide-free essentials, even if they cost a little more, is part and parcel of daily life. We feel better, cleaner and somehow purer. We’re happier using products with little or no packaging. The brown and green labels aid our virtues and appeal to our environmentally conscious eyes. Our kitchen cupboards are full of fair-trade, locally sourced food and the recycle bins are reassuringly worn.
How then, do we fair in the other rooms of the house? What about the bathroom cabinet? With our increasingly busy lives, have we thought about what we are putting onto our skin? It’s our largest organ and everything we put onto it goes directly into our body. Yes, of course we avoid anything tested on animals but do we read the label of our favourite beauty brands? Those long names like Methylparaben are like sudoku puzzles and who has the time to google them? Regardless of a growing number of experts linking these chemicals to serious diseases, we still trust those stylish, designer bottles, full of self-esteem promise. Don’t we?
What if we found a 100% natural range with just as effective products that don’t cost the earth? What if the products were biodynamic, which is after all organic with brass knobs on? One that was founded 80 years ago by famous philosopher and educator Rudolf Steiner? That could suit our ethos and our lifestyle. For so many reasons Weleda is the brand that supermodels and gardeners rave about alike. Weleda avoids all synthetics. The products look good enough to eat and are affordable. For an established global brand, they actually do work with nature not against it. Weleda grow their UK ingredients in a 15 acre Demeter-certified herb garden in Derbyshire and at other Weleda sites around the world which total 135 acres, together with their extended community fair trade partnerships.
So what’s the catch? How can their prices be so reasonable for such fantastic products? The answer is small, moderate, profit margins. It would seem that the people at Weleda do really care.
Weleda says, “We passionately believe that health is much more than a lack of disease but instead an integrated state of physical, mental, social and spiritual wellbeing. This holistic worldview is the basis of everything we do at Weleda, as we create products that respect the environment, local communities and our global customers alike. In the same way our medicines treat the whole person enabling them to take responsibility for their own health, while restoring their inner balance and strengthening their life force.”
Biodynamic means the rose leaf extract in their rose range has been picked in alignment with the cycle of the moon and the stars and harvested in its tiptop state. We then only need two sumptuous minutes to smooth their wild rose moisturiser onto our skin to smell like a rose garden in full bloom.
Their award winning Skin Food has scooped more accolades than any other Weleda product. This intense protect and repair moisturiser costs only £6.95 for a generous 75ml tube. It smells like a dream with its gorgeous unisex blend of pure oils including sweet orange, chamomile and pansy. It’s a beauty marvel for dry skin patches on elbows or flaky hands. Use it as an intense night cream or just around the eyes after a late night. Amazingly they still use the original formula from 1926. Unsurprisingly it’s a beauty secret amongst the rich and famous. They use it to combat jet lag and all night partying, the lucky things. High profile celebrity fans include Rihanna, Winona Ryder, Erin O’Connor and Claudia Schiffer who was swearing allegiance to their Sea Buckthorn body lotion in October’s Elle magazine.
Of course natural, organic, biodynamic ranges could never replace a balanced diet of organic whole grains, proteins, seeds, vegetables and fruit; alongside early nights, sun avoidance and plenty of water. It is always about balance. No one understood that better than Steiner himself.
Most importantly it’s about knowing that you’re beautiful already, before you open your eyes each morning; the bathroom cabinet or the fridge. When you nourish yourself with nutritious delicacies, grown respecting the laws of nature, you can’t help but look and feel absolutely gorgeous.
Weleda are offering Mevolution readers a fabulous 20% celebratory discount to mark the opening of their new online store at www.weleda.co.uk
Offer terms and conditions:
This offer is open to all Mevolution site visitors
The offer runs from 14 October 2009 to 15 November 2009 inclusive
The offer is valid for any purchase from Weleda’s online store.
Simply select purchases and then go the Checkout and key in the promotional code MEV8 and the discount will show.
The discount is only valid on the first order for customers new to Weleda.
For orders of £40 and over members additionally benefit from FREE p&p (normally £3.95)
XML Feeds
Jaynie Ralph