August 10, 2021
Our oils: From the plant to the bottle – a look behind the scenes
by Lena Severin
Honesty is one of our three core values. This starts with the fact that we want to give you honest advice, provide you with information and help so that you can find the perfect care for you. But honesty also means that we give you as much insight as possible into the procurement and processing of the raw materials for our products. And that's exactly what we're going to talk about today!
- CSR – an important part of our philosophy
- So how do the products get into the bottle?
- Plain text: The product path of our oils
- Honesty: For us, the way forward
1. CSR – an important part of our philosophy.
If you're confused by the abbreviation CSR, don't worry! Corporate social responsibility is an area that is particularly important in companies that operate sustainably, but is also becoming more and more common in companies that are not (yet) green. CSR management is responsible for ensuring that business is carried out sustainably. This includes, for example, social projects, climate protection, and the optimization and alignment of the entire company according to the best possible sustainable standards. For us as a company that always strives for the greatest possible sustainability, this is an absolutely essential area!
Our CSR team has been working on a new website section over the last few months: an overview of all the ingredients we use in our products, with detailed and easy-to-understand information about their origin, effects, sourcing and much more. In addition, our team, together with product development, has mapped out our decision-making process in a diagram to show you which conditions must be met and which steps must be completed before we actually use a raw material. Check out our decision tree now!
CSR is therefore a business area that also serves to give you transparent insights. So that you really know what goes into your care, how it came about and where it comes from. Which brings me to the core question of this article:
2. How do the products get into the bottle?
In general, the supply chain (= procurement chain, for all non-business people like me) for our raw materials works like this: We work with suppliers who form an interface between the farmers or producers and their customers, i.e. companies like us. The suppliers place orders with the farmers or producers or buy the raw materials directly at the request of the companies. The suppliers usually work according to certain processes along the supply chain, so that the companies can see how the raw material is processed step by step from the starting product and ultimately becomes a usable ingredient. This makes it easier for us to understand the processing process and decide whether our quality and sustainability standards are met. This means we can recommend our products to you with a clear conscience and conviction!
Still too abstract? It can be even more precise! Using our oils as an example, you can see how your favorite oil goes from the plant into the bottle!
3. Plain text: The product path of our oils
almond oil
The oilseeds from which our almond oil is made are grown in Spain under controlled organic conditions. During further processing, conditioning takes place. This is a process in which the seeds are treated at high temperatures to increase the antioxidant effect of the polyphenols contained in the oil. The oil is of course not damaged in the process. In the next step, the seeds are then cold-pressed, which extracts the rich oil. All that is missing is filtering so that it can become your oil in your bathroom cabinet.
castor oil
From agriculture (kbA: controlled organic cultivation) to production, our castor oil is made in India. The ripe seeds are harvested, purchased from the dealers and processed in a factory. There, the quality of the harvest is checked before the seeds are cold-pressed and the oil is filtered several times.
Jojoba oil
Jojoba oil is similar to castor oil. The only difference is that the seeds are organically grown in Peru and processed in Panama. The processing is the same as for almond oil: buying the oil seeds, conditioning, cold pressing and filtering. This is how the oil comes to Germany and can be bottled here.
Argan oil
The seeds for our argan oil come from Morocco and are processed using the same cold-pressing process right up to the last step. The current batch is therefore virgin argan oil. For our new delivery, we have ordered the argan oil deodorized again. What does that mean? After the seeds have been cold-pressed and the oil has been filtered, it is mixed with steam at around 180°C under vacuum. On the one hand, it increases the quality of the argan oil because it lasts longer and reduces the oil's own smell.
Rosehip seed oil
The seeds for our rosehip seed oil come from Argentina, also from controlled organic cultivation. The seeds are then further processed in Spain and later Germany. After the seeds have been purchased and delivered, the conditioning process begins. However, the rosehip seed oil is not cold-pressed. It is extracted using CO2 extraction. The special extraction process means that the active ingredients are better preserved than with cold pressing, which means that the dark orange wild rose oil retains the full load of benefits for your skin. Only after extraction is it filtered and ready for bottling.
“Our rosehip seed oil”
Relieves redness, cares for irritated, sensitive and dry skin areas.
4. Honesty: For us, the way forward
From our perspective, it is essential to present our processes as transparently as possible. Our goal is to share knowledge about our products, our business practices and the needs of our skin with you. Because that way you get all the information you need to decide which care product is right for you. We want you to be able to understand where your products come from and what is in them. We simply want to give you more than just a good feeling about your skin. And we want you to have a good feeling with us.
Your Lena
