We love interviewing holistic business owners, learning more about what inspires them. One business we were thrilled to highlight in our Summer 2021 issue was Wild Rose Botanicals, creators of some truly amazing, all natural skincare products.
By Alison McEvoy
Born of the combined passion of its co-founders for genuine, natural skincare and fair principles, Lavera celebrates its thirtieth birthday this year. Co-founder Thomas Haas had suffered from the itchy skin condition, neurodermatitis, since he was a child.
He began his skincare journey by cultivating plants and developing formulae for natural products that might help
his skin. After ten years of research he launched the original company, Laverna. At around the same time, in Germany, Klara Ahlers had set up a natural cosmetics speciality retail business named Cremetopf (‘Cream Jar’). It wasn’t long before these two joined forces and in 1997 they set forth together as Lavera – ‘the real thing’ in Latin.
Lavera now produces a massive range of skincare products, from deodorants and make-up, to skin care for babies and children, which it ships to over forty countries worldwide. This global distribution thread remains rooted in the Hanover region in Germany, meaning that production can stay thoroughly regulated to ensure organic, cruelty-free and eco-friendly manufacturing standards are kept. Ingredients are also locally harvested in that region; “Some 300 organic extracts are obtained from natural sources such as flowers, freeze-dried fruits and herbs, hence a high level of quality control is possible, which has been confirmed many times by top ratings from independent testing bodies.”
Given their history of pioneering work in Germany, having been involved in the creation of the first certifying body
for natural cosmetics, NATRUE, and being the first world-wide producer of 100% mineral-based sun protection, Lavera will no doubt continue to grow and innovate over the decades to come.
From Heatwave to Moonsoon
By Gavin Ryan
I just love lying out in the sun with a good book and some music playing. Now that the summer is here, I’ll be grabbing every opportunity that comes my way. If you see me down by the seaside with my swimming togs, umbrella and wooly hat, you’ll know that I’m ready for anything the Irish summer can throw at me. One thing it’s easy to forget in an Irish summer is suncream. Sunburn at any age is no fun. Staying hydrated and knowing how best to avoid sunburn ensures you can make the most of those precious days outside in nature. Here’s a handy formula when you’re trying to work out how much suncream you need for you and your family: Skins own protection time x sun protection factor (SPF). For example, for fair skin this means approx. 10 min x SPF 20 = 200 min= 3 hours of sun exposure time.
As each skin type has its own natural protection time, it’s wise to use suncream in a way that works best for you. Organic mineral suncreams reflect both UVA and UVB rays and are effective immediately. Maybe it’s worth packing some next time the sun pays us a welcome visit. The Organii sun range are organic mineral-based creams for the whole family.
By Kath Clements
One woman will menstruate around 500 times in her life: marking out a rhythmic tempo from menarche to menopause. Rather than seeking to deny this deeply feminine cycle, or shun it as ‘the curse’, what if we were to re-vision its physical and psychological feedback as guidance? Psychotherapist and menstrual health expert, Alexandra Pope, calls us to at first just listen to its intimate message.
“Our menstrual suffering, that’s so often passed off as ‘normal’ is neither normal nor our lot. The menstrual cycle is the stress sensitive system in women. When we experience distressing symptoms, it’s a signal to attend to our overall health and place in the world.”
Away from the call of responsibilities to others, the very act of observing the menstrual cycle and how you feel at different stages can help in being more authentically embodied and present. As we grow to act in alignment with the inner promptings of this innate personal coach – urging us towards space, creativity, rest or productivity – so we may also find greater empowerment and even relief.
Consciously choosing the right sanitary product for you is a step towards positive periods, so it’s encouraging that feminine hygiene advertising’s language of shame, embarrassment and secrecy is also giving way to a playful new conversation. Check out Hello Flo’s ‘Camp Gyno’ and the Tampon vs Mooncup rap on YouTube for some real game-changers.
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