The green wave
Whereas such products used to be stored on the back shelves of health food stores, cosmetic institutes and elegant department stores display them right up front nowadays.
The selection of top-quality products from natural raw materials has become so large in the meantime that even confirmed users of natural cosmetics have to pass as they do not know all the brands off by heart. Whether for the face or body, the shelves with natural cosmetics in health food stores, in department stores and drugstores are becoming ever longer. And what was unimaginable just a few years ago: more and more make-up items are among the selection.
Professional care
Those who would like to use natural cosmetics professionally ought to entrust the services of a beautician.  Many beauticians have done additional training with a focus on natural cosmetics. Treatments with natural cosmetics – this means genuine handiwork. Many of the masks and creams are mixed shortly before being applied and tailored exactly to the needs of the customer. The knowledge about the variety of natural raw materials and their effects have to be sound, just as do the massage techniques.
Some of the cosmeticians orientated towards natural cosmetics have specialised additionally in different areas such as the precious stone treatment, Ayurveda or the sound massage therapy. The repertoire of treatments in a natural cosmetics salon is just as diverse as in conventional cosmetic institutes. One thing you will seldom find at a cosmetician’s who uses natural cosmetics is high-tech gadgets that counteract wrinkles and the like.
Stylish well-being oases in the cities
Day spas are currently the absolute trend. Natural cosmetics have managed to position themselves here, too.  For example, Berlin’s elegant department store KaDeWe offers exclusive treatments in stylish cubicles from Dr. Hauschka. The Mineral Day Spa of Ahava in Fasanenstraße in Berlin opened just recently. Those planning a quick trip to Paris should make a note of the well-being oasis L‘Espace from Weleda; the fashion metropolis of Milan also has a showpiece: the City Spa of the Borlind Group. One can even spoil oneself and indulge in a natural cosmetics treatment in exceptional drugstore markets such as Budnikowsky in the Europapassage in Hamburg. And incidentally: the ambience of the furnishings is in keeping with the Zeitgeist everywhere and there is hardly a difference in comparison to other conservative trendy cosmetic addresses.
As with conventional cosmetics, it is difficult to say which natural cosmetic products are the right ones. The philosophy which is behind natural cosmetics plays a crucial part in the purchase decision. The buyers want to be able to identify with the product.
Many providers of natural cosmetics commit themselves to the countries from which they procure their raw materials. Fair trade projects involving natural cosmetics providers aim at setting up equal partnerships with the suppliers worldwide.
Quality label
 The label “controlled natural cosmetics” marks products which fulfil the minimum standards with regard to the extraction or the creation of the cosmetic raw materials as well as their processing. The Federation of German Industries and Trading Companies (BDIH) has established these requirements together with leading manufacturers  of natural cosmetics. More on this topic can be accessed at www.kontrollierte-naturkosmetik.de. Many care products bear the Demeter label and are produced in a biological, dynamic way. The trademark “rabbit with a protective hand” indicates cosmetic products that have been developed and manufactured without the use of animal experiments. The neuform label denotes products from health food stores which fulfil the minimum standards in production and processing.
Franka Hänig
KOSMETIK international
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