I been connecting the dots, and deepening my understanding about how amazing plant based skincare is, not only for our skin but our whole body. I am fortunate that the learning never stops with my back ground in Dr Hauschka skincare and as an esthetician. I think that is a good sign. Deep and deeper levels.
One thing that many people don't know about Dr Hauschka skincare is how the plants are processed. First off, Dr Hauschka skincare has been growing their own medicinal herbs and flowers for over 45 years using a method call biodynamic gardening. I will share more about this amazing method developed by Rudolf Steiner another time, but in a nut shell, not only does this method far surpass organic methods, it produces a plant that has amazing nutrient qualities.
After harvesting the plant material at dawn the plants are taken to the WALA laboratories were they are manufactured into the skincare products. But before the manufacturing process something very special goes on.
Dr Hauschka looked for a way to capture the life force of the plant. As we know once you pick a plant, flower or vegetable it begins to lose its quality. Dr Hauschka succeeded after 20 years of experimentation and found a way that preserved the plant with out chemicals. He called this method Rhythmical processing and it increases the plants healing qualities.
I passionately believe if we are going to invest our money in skincare, we need to know not only the ingredients, and to ensure they are at the least organic...not just 'natural' or 'botanical's. We need to also know and trust the quality of the plant material being used and the methods of manufacturing taking place. This is were Dr Hauschka skincare wins hands down in my opinion. Yes, I do come across other skin care lines that use organic botanicals, but never have I come across a company that goes to the length that Dr Hauschka dos to ensure the purity and quality of its plant ingredients.
Dr Hauschka skincare products are made up of plant essences, oil extracts and water based medicinal herb extracts. Below is a brief explanation of the special manufacturing process that goes into preparing the plants for the Dr Hauschka skincare products. This is the rhythmical processing process that Dr Hauschka patiently pursued guided by the advice of Dr Rudolf Steiner to "study rhythms, rhythm carries life".
The plant essences are prepared by crushing fresh plants sourced from the company’s own biodynamic garden or harvested in the wild under managed plantations. After being crushed, the plants are placed in a large stoneware container with water and a little alcohol. Over a period of seven days, the essences are influenced by processes based on the rhythms of light and movement; these processes were developed based on Dr Hauschka's knowledge of natural rhythms and the human organism. Employees stir the mixture thoroughly – twice every morning and twice every evening. This means that the liquid, which is otherwise kept in the dark, comes into contact with light. After one week, the essences are pressed and filtered. A small part of the incinerated pressed residue is added to the filtered essences.
The Oil Extracts dried medicinal herbs are mixed with vegetable oils and may take a week to ripen. During this stage, the mixture is heated to 37 °C – i.e. normal human body temperature. The mixture is stirred thoroughly every morning and evening. In this way, the whole power of the medicinal herbs is transferred to the oil. Finally, the mixture is pressed and filtered. If your wondering why they are not using fresh herbs...try it yourself..the high moisture content contained in fresh herbs when combined with oils causes the mixture to mould, or go rancid.
Aqueous medicinal herb extracts are created from fresh herbs from the garden. They are crushed, mixed with water and left for seven days. This mixture is subjected to processes based on the rhythms of light, temperature and movement every morning and evening. At the end of the seven days, it is pressed and filtered. A small part of the incinerated pressed residue is added to the filtered extract.
Rhythmitised, water-based extracts can be found, for example, in Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream and Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream Light, and – in dilute, rhythmitised form – also in Dr. Hauschka Rhythmic Conditioners.
Essential Oil are also part the Dr Hauschka skincare formulas, creating their amazing scents and greatly aiding the skin. Freshly harvested medicinal plants go through Steam Distillation to obtain their precious essential oil.
The plant essences are prepared by crushing fresh plants sourced from the company’s own biodynamic garden or harvested in the wild under managed plantations. After being crushed, the plants are placed in a large stoneware container with water and a little alcohol. Over a period of seven days, the essences are influenced by processes based on the rhythms of light and movement; these processes were developed based on Dr Hauschka's knowledge of natural rhythms and the human organism. Employees stir the mixture thoroughly – twice every morning and twice every evening. This means that the liquid, which is otherwise kept in the dark, comes into contact with light. After one week, the essences are pressed and filtered. A small part of the incinerated pressed residue is added to the filtered essences.
The Oil Extracts dried medicinal herbs are mixed with vegetable oils and may take a week to ripen. During this stage, the mixture is heated to 37 °C – i.e. normal human body temperature. The mixture is stirred thoroughly every morning and evening. In this way, the whole power of the medicinal herbs is transferred to the oil. Finally, the mixture is pressed and filtered. If your wondering why they are not using fresh herbs...try it yourself..the high moisture content contained in fresh herbs when combined with oils causes the mixture to mould, or go rancid.
Aqueous medicinal herb extracts are created from fresh herbs from the garden. They are crushed, mixed with water and left for seven days. This mixture is subjected to processes based on the rhythms of light, temperature and movement every morning and evening. At the end of the seven days, it is pressed and filtered. A small part of the incinerated pressed residue is added to the filtered extract.
Rhythmitised, water-based extracts can be found, for example, in Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream and Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream Light, and – in dilute, rhythmitised form – also in Dr. Hauschka Rhythmic Conditioners.
Essential Oil are also part the Dr Hauschka skincare formulas, creating their amazing scents and greatly aiding the skin. Freshly harvested medicinal plants go through Steam Distillation to obtain their precious essential oil.
Here is a link to a short film that shows the Dr Hauschka gardens and how they manufature. I show this video when I do trainings for Dr Hauschka and it blows my clients away. Enjoy!
