Here are
questions regarding Living Nature questions that Living
Nature and ourselves have found answers to. Enjoy!
Please review
our skin care chart from Martina on the left column
link bar for help in suggestions on what to use.
WHAT IS
MARTINA'S CRITERIA FOR
QUALITY?
1) Martina uses only 100 percent natural raw materials
2) She does not use synthetic raw materials like soloring
substances and fragrance, preservatives, emulsifiers, sun
protection filters (no titanium oxide, for example) paraffin
or tensides
3) No raw materials for which animals are tortured, tested
or killed
4) Almost all raw materials (and not only herbs) are
obtained from "certified organic growers" or
5) They use spagyric essences from their own production
6) They apply rhythmic, biologic-dynamic principles in their
production
7) They use environmentally "sensible" glass containers and
no aluminum or plastic tubes.
8) Member of BDIH
WHAT IS BDIH?
BDIH - Using natural cosmetics is one of the many ways in
which MG can apply a complete understanding of nature to the
everyday objects they use - and at the same time behave
responsibly in relation to our environment. To this
end, MG is proud to be affiliated to BDIH, having fulfilled
all the requirements contained in their 'Standards
Guideline' and allegeable to carry their trade-mark. An
independent control body from Europe ensures that the
quality seal criteria are fully complied with.
BDIH stands for Bundesverband Deutscher Industrie- und
Handelsunternehmen (Federation of Germany Industries and
Trading Firms) for pharmaceuticals, health care goods, food
supplements and personal hygiene products, registered
association.
In order for MG to be affiliated with BDIH, they have to
meet strict criteria standards in order to term our products
"natural cosmetics". Some of theses standards include :
- Take into account users' expectations with regards to safe
and ecological products.
- Definite standards how raw cosmetic products should be
extracted and/or created and how they should be processed.
- When raw products for cosmetics are extracted, measures
are taken to ensure that damage to nature is minimized and
that no living things are killed, particular attention is
paid to the protection of animals and species.
- Interference in the genetic make-up of plants through
genetic engineering is rejected.
- Raw materials should be produced in such a way as to
protect the environment and minimize the use of chemical
processes.
- Packaging should be both economical and environmentally
friendly.
- It is forbidden to disinfect organic raw materials and
completed cosmetic products using radioactive radiation.
The reason natural raw materials are preferred is their
ecological superiority, particularly when they are obtained
through controlled cultivation or other responsible means of
using natural resources. Moreover, natural substances have
evolved alongside mankind, which means that the potential
toxicological risk is low. Products containing raw materials
which are insufficiently transparent, are not given the
certification trademark.
HOW DOES MARTINA GEBHARDT PRESERVE
HER PRODUCTS?
At Martina's production facility, there are only natural
preservatives in action. Glass containers are sterilized in
a sterilized environment much like a hospital. Then each
formula has its own essential oils and oil component that
will naturally preserve the product - they have an
anti-microbial effect. Nothing can grow until you open it.
This leads to the next step. Since there are NO synthetic
preservatives in Martina's products, lotions and cleansers
benefit further from the use of pumps as "technical"
protectors, since the pump will not allow air or bacteria
back into the container, as it rests in your home. This is
unlike aluminum tubes, which can be easily contaminated. We
also advice keeping them in a cool air and out of the sun.
WHAT IS THE
SHELF LIFE OF THESE PRODUCTS?
The shelf life is approximately 1 1/2 years. But sometimes I
see products go off sooner. So keep them stored in a
cool place and use them completely up.
WHY DOES SHE USE LANOLIN OR (WOOLWAX)?
Lanolin or wool wax as Martina calls it, is a proven
ingredient with hundreds of years of use. It seems that with
the invention of synthetic paraffins and glycerine in the
1960's that lanolin went out of fashion in cosmetics. But it
much more beneficial for the skin than even vegetable
glycerine.
IS IT SAFE TO
USE LANOLIN (WOOLWAX) DUE TO
INSECTICIDES AND CHEMICAL DE-WORMING PASTES?
Martina has gone to great care to contract for the lanolin
manufactured from the wool of free range sheep raised in the
wilds of New Zealand. The sheep in her lanolin project live
a happy life on an uninhabited island, where they are never
treated with insecticides or chemical de-worming pastes!
They are carefully shorn once a year, and the wool is washed
with an organic wool wash to extract the "wax." They believe
that all animals have the right to live free and be treated
with care and respect, and are proud to support this
project. It is also noteworthy to add, that in Germany, to
say lanolin could refer to a product which has paraffin
added, up to 13% without disclosure. But Martina's has none.
We certainly think the US has something to learn here.
MARTINA USES A LOT
OF ALCOHOLS IN HER PRODUCT. IS THIS
SAFE FOR THE SKIN AND IS IT DIFFERENT?
All these alcohols used are distilled from fruits. They are
non-denatured ingredients, and retain the energy of the
fruit from which they came. The term pure, or genuine ethyl
alcohol refer to the same ingredient, as does the term
'spirit of wine.'
DOES MARTINA
GEBHARDT USE ANIMAL TESTING?
Martina has always believed that all creatures have the
right to live a happy life. For this reason there are no
substances used in any of the products for which animals are
tested, tortured or killed. The special "Bunny" logo on the
product certifies that MG is opposed to animal testing in
any form, and gives our membership number in the
International Society that sets standards and monitors
animal testing.
WHAT IS THE
FLOWER LOGO AND DEMETER SYMBOLS ON
HER LABEL?
The flower logo that appears on her stationary, products and
literature indicates that the company is a member in the
Demeter Association. It is this association that monitors
all producers of Demeter certified agricultural products.
Demeter standards include the principles of organic farming
and take them further to encompass the bio-dynamic
principles as outlined by Rudolf Steiner. This method of
growing honors the rhythmic cycles of nature and promotes
the production of higher quality fruits, herbs and
vegetables that are used in their products. Primavera Life
Essential oils are of this same quality.
IS MARTINA'S
LINE A WATER BASE OR OIL BASE LINE?
Martina's line is not a water based product, it is an oil
base. The better skincare lines are always oil based.
Microbs have a hard time growing in an oily medium as well.
This is not the only reason she is using an oil based
formula, its just better for the skin. See next question.
ARE MARTINA'S
PRODUCTS HARD TO ABSORB WITH SO MANY
PLANT OILS SHE USES?
Martina's Cremes are formulated with a higher content of
rich moisturizers, such as shea butter, lanolin, beeswax and
organically grown oils. The oils of these ingredients
interact with the hyro-lipid coat to nourish the skin,
reduce fine lines and plum up the cells. These rich cremes,
a bit slower to absorb, also give your skin the additional
benefit from the gentle massage that can increase
circulation. As the creme connects with the cells in the
hydrolipid coat, it enriches the skin with delicious
moisture from pure, organic sources.
WHY AREN'T
THERE MORE AGGRESSIVE
INGREDIENTS IN HER LINE?
Ingredients like hylauronic acid, which is a synthetic
pseudo-estrogen, can cause allergies. The hormone like
substances pass through the skin membrane rather
aggressively. Another controversial ingredient are the new
liposomes of soy extracts made into tiny pills the size of a
nanometer that enable these molecules to pass easily through
the skin membrane. This molecular action takes not only the
fats, but all kinds of other ingredients from the formula
INTO the skin and blood stream. Educated consumers will want
the facts to make a conscious choice before they use a
commercial cosmetic that is specifically designed to
aggressively penetrate their skin and pull preservatives or
fragrances directly into the blood vessels. Our skincare
lines use some ingenious organically grown and wild crafted
ingredients so that the products get visible results on all
types of skin. These herbal ingredients have a long history
of use, and though no claims can be made, are highly
effective components. Other herbal ingredients that put
moisture in the skin and relax the skin are: sage, ginseng,
hops, fennel, clover, calendula. OE products use beta glutan,
MSM and ceremids from plants to aid skin balance.
WHAT DOES THE
TERM GENUINE ESSENTIAL ROSE
OR OTHER OIL MEAN? AREN'T ALL THE OILS SHE USES PURE?
This term appears on Martina's labels as a particular
designation that this is an oil which has not been processed
further after distillation from it's original plant matter.
It is common practice, even in natural cosmetics, to
standardize oils by adding or removing ingredients so that
the essential oil always smells the same in the formula. The
organically grown oils in Martina's products are the native,
pure essential oils without subtracting or adding any other
fragrance components. All our companies share this policy.
You can rest assured that any skincare your purchase will be
using genuine essential oils.
WHY DO HER
LABELS MENTION ESSENTIAL OILS BUT DO
NOT LIST THEM EXACTLY?
In a formula where there are five or more essential oils
blended together for a special signature scent, the labels
say only 'essential oils.' This formula is proprietary, and
is withheld so that it cannot be copied. All oils used in
the proprietary blends are genuine, pure essential oils as
described above.
WHAT IS
SIGNIFICANT ABOUT CONTROLLED
ORGANIC FARMERS?
Controlled means certified, to distinguish the growers
during a time when it was possible to say organic - when it
wasn't. All ingredients that are organic have a
certification paper trail to validate their status.
WHAT IS THIS
SPAGYRIC METHOD SHE REFERS TO
IN HER BROCHURE?
Spagyric (spah-geer-ik) refers to a very old system of
production that promotes healing by balancing the 5 elements
of the body: air, fire, water, earth and ether. The most
famous advocate of the spagyric tradition lived in the 15th
century and went down in history as Theophrastus Bombastus
of Hohenheim, better known as Paracelsus. The polarity of
our habitat means that both plus and minus forces are
contained in the plants, i.e. both beneficial and
destructive energy. This fact is best expressed in the Yin
and Yang signs familiar in Asian philosophy. Each organism
contains the Yin and Yang forces, plus and minus, i.e. the
forces from both poles. Spagyric essences are created by
using all the parts of the plants: flower, stems, leaves,
fruits, and roots to produce special extracts. These
extracts are then used in minute dilutions to potentize the
effects of the herbs, and added to the cosmetics.
The Greek word spagyria contains the two concepts of divide
and combine. Usual brews or tinctures only take part of the
plant’s powers. A new approach to nature and its effect is
needed to understand the alchemical purification process and
associated "power enhancement". Accordingly, if the pure is
separated from the impure, the fine from the rough and the
spiritual from the material, this essence provides us with a
natural aid which has been enhanced a thousand times and is
unique in its effect. Spagyric processing is practised
according to the following system: separation ,
purification, reunification (cohobation).
Martina's spagyric process involves fermentation,
distillation and evaporative proprietary methods to get the
highly bio-active mineral ingredients that contribute to
make Martina's formulas highly effective and unique.
CAN YOU
EXPLAIN THIS SPAGYRIC FERMENTATION
PROCESS BETTER?
This is a very costly and work-intensive process; purified
plant leaves are pulverised and fermented by adding a
special yeast. This alcoholic brew is distilled and the
residue dried and incinerated. The ashes are then added to
the distillate again and, after dissolving the mineral
salts, filtered. After a maturing process of four weeks this
essence can be potentiated again. Only healthy organically
grown plants are used for processing just as only pure
spring water is used to dissolve the ashes. Another point
worth mentioning in conclusion is that in preparing
(harvesting and processing) these spagyric essences, the
influences of the planets and cosmic rhythm (moon phase) are
used to attain the optimum result.
WHAT WOULD
YOU SUGGEST FOR ROSEACEA?
It depends on the person. Everyone is different and reacts
different. Roseacea is overreactive. You would
need something calming. Rose (except the toner), Sensina and
Lemon Balm Cream would be an option. Camelia Seed oil,
Evening Primrose Seed oil is another option.
|
