Weleda Magazine (Winter/Spring 2011 (#8)) by Weleda North America

Winterâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Spring 2011 | 90th Anniversary Special Edition

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POMEGRANATE FIRMING FACIAL CARE Regenerates your skin for timeless beauty

ALMOND SOOTHING FACIAL CARE SENSITIVE SKIN

Comforts and calms so your sensitive skin can rediscover balance The sweet almond’s delicate oil is a miracle of nature. Nurtured within the safe haven of its protective shell, the almond develops an oil rich in essential fatty acids and vitamin E—ingredients your skin welcomes because they’re so compatible with its own natural makeup. Our Almond Soothing Facial Care is formulated with this precious, organic sweet almond oil and other pure ingredients carefully selected to be soothing and kind. Together, they calm your sensitive skin, reducing irritation and redness while they restore its natural balance and replenish its protective barrier. And since our formula is fragrance-free and hypoallergenic, even the most sensitive skin develops the clear, even beauty of truly comfortable skin. WHAT WOMEN EXPERIENCED USING OUR ALMOND SOOTHING FACIAL LOTION: +27%*

INCREASED FIRMNESS INCREASED SMOOTHNESS LASTING MOISTURE

+24%* +45%*

100% CERTIFIED NATURAL SKIN CARE

90 Years In harmony with nature and the human being

90 Years and Counting... These days we are so “connected,” we

hardly have time to really connect. Recently a cab driver told me that since people have begun carrying smartphones, they’ve stopped talking to him. No more chitchat, no more spontaneous conversations. It seems we’re so linked in with the whole world that we are losing touch with the people we meet every day. But I think this situation is changing. Our disconnection is making us long to feel a connection to others, and also to the earth, our communities, our food and even to the products we use in our homes and on our bodies. At Weleda, we believe in making the connection. That’s why we create this beautiful magazine, full of stories about our brand and advice you can apply to your own life. And it’s why we connect you with the most potent natural ingredients for your skin. This is a celebratory issue of we, because this year, Weleda turns 90. Dr. Rudolf Steiner founded the company in 1921, yet Weleda still lives by the same mission and values—centered around respect for human beings, nature and

sustainability. We’re convinced we can make a difference by growing our ingredients in Biodynamic® and organic gardens, and by offering you truly natural skin care, baby care and medicines that tap into your body’s self-healing abilities. Our dedicated team is incredibly inspired and motivated to bring our 90-year mission to life every day, for every one of you. Over 90 years Weleda has grown into a global brand, and through experience, quality and authenticity, we hope to continue growing by being a company you feel connected to, with products that are effective and good for us and the earth. While rooted in the past, we are continually investing in research and introducing new offerings, and we never forget our mission to protect ecology and create meaningful products and partnerships. We hope you enjoy this celebratory issue of we. And remember to stay connected!

Jasper van Brakel, Chief Executive Officer

1995

Weleda, Inc. in North America becomes a fully-owned subsidiary of its Swiss parent and a part of the international Weleda Group.

POMEGRANATE FIRMING FACIAL CARE Regenerates your skin for timeless beauty

Look for the interesting facts about Weleda in the margins of this issue. You never know what you may learn!

Welcome to this special edition of

we—the Weleda lifestyle magazine. As communications manager at Weleda, I write about our amazing products on Facebook, Twitter, our blog, and now, in my new role as editor in chief, in this magazine. Last July I had the chance to visit our Biodynamic® gardens in Germany and see firsthand why Weleda products are truly special. The timing was perfect: Our calendula flowers were in full bloom and ready to be harvested. At dawn I met up with a team of seasoned Weleda gardeners, and as we meandered through rows of myriad healing plants, a rooster crowed and honeybees buzzed. Soon we came upon countless numbers of dazzling orange calendula flowers, stretching toward the morning sun as far as the eye could see. We got to work carefully snapping off the blossoms, which soon filled dozens of crates. Before lunchtime, the beautiful flowers were delivered to the neighboring processing facility to be made into tinctures for our Calendula Baby Care. After enjoying a scrumptious salad at the Weleda Naturals Café, I went looking for the flowers we had

just picked to take more pictures. Not possible, I was told. The plants had already been processed, so as to capture their nutrients and energy at their freshest and most vital point. Weleda is 90 years old this year, and still we work with the world in the same beautiful, sustainable way we always have, economically, socially and environmentally. In this issue of we, you’ll read about our newest cultivation project (p6), learn about our unique facial care philosophy (p12), and discover how to create your own sustainable garden (p26). You’ll even pick up a few tips for how you too can live beautifully and sustainably to 90—and beyond (p22)! We thank you for taking this journey with us, and we’d love to hear from you. Email us at editor@weleda.com, share your stories at facebook.com/Weleda and twitter.com/Weleda. We may have been around for 90 years, but one thing is sure: We couldn’t have gotten here without you.

Carrie Ruehlman, Editor in Chief

90 YEAR S OF NATU R AL I NGR EDI ENT S

ingredients we, Winter–Spring 2011 | Issue 8 (published since 2007) Published by Weleda North America: 1 Closter Road, P.O. Box 675 Palisades, NY 10964 we is a free biannual publication we editor in chief: Carrie Ruehlman for Weleda North America Tel: 1.800.241.1030 Fax: 1.800.280.4899 usa.weleda.com editor@weleda.com Reprinting of articles is not permitted without permission editorial contributors: Julia Angstenberger (ja), Cristina De Oliveira (cdo), Carrie Ruehlman (cr) photo contributors: J. Aragon, 10, 12, 14. G. Dawson, 26, 29. M. Peuckert, 6, 7. M. von Postel, 19. Weleda Archive (Germany), 31. cover photos: J. Aragon, 71, 72, 76, 79, 82, 90. J. Barckley, 43. G. Dawson, 54, 86. A. Hancu, 34, 74. I. Kalan, 57, 65. M. Kelly, 46. M. Peuckert, 56, 58, 63, 67, 68, 69, 75, 81, 88. N. Rissman, 33, 40, 42, 50, 64, 77. A. Rizzuto, 89. RPCA, 49, 85. C. Ruehlman, 83. A. Salomon, 28, 30, 38, 41, 61. D. Ulmer, 37. B. Varrasso, 36. M. von Postel, 80. A. Weber, 60, 62. Weleda Archive-NA, 32, 48, 51, 55, 59. Weleda Archive-Germany, 1-25, 31, 39, 44, 45, 47, 52, 66, 70, 73, 78. copy editor: Theresa Everline art direction/design: Michael Kelly Designs, michael@mlkelly.com, www.mlkelly.com printing: Allied Printing Services, Inc., an EPA green power partner Biodynamic® is a registered certification mark of the Demeter Association, Inc.

AT WORK WITH THE WORLD

6 In Morocco, a

life-giving tree SPA-IFICATION

10 Cultivating Beauty 101

NATURAL BEAUTY

12 Skin care through the ages COVER

18 90 beautiful years 22 90 starts here BIODYNAMICS ®

26 Biodynamics® in your own backyard AU NATUREL

31 Boosting baby’s health

2009 Weleda begins a partnership with a family-owned business in Morocco to source organic argan oil.

In Morocco, a Life-Giving Tree In the semi-desert of southwest

Morocco, where the hot sun beats down on the brown earth and rain rarely falls, the crack, crack, crack of splintering nutshells echoes through the valley. Here in the Arganeraie region, a broad basin in the shadow of the High Atlas Mountains, Berber women obtain argan oil using the same method they’ve used for centuries. They gather the dried argan fruits from the ground and use two stones to break open the hard nutshells. The seeds inside are stone ground to produce an oily paste, which is then cold-pressed and filtered to yield what is often called the “liquid gold” of Morocco. The rest of the world is now catching on to what the wise women of Morocco

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have known for centuries: argan oil, from the argania spinosa tree, boasts remarkable nutritional and cosmetic benefits. Long used by indigenous Berber women in beauty recipes for healthy hair, skin and nails, argan oil contains more than 80 percent unsaturated fatty acids and has more antioxidants than olive oil. Research shows that it can help regenerate damaged skin, treat acne, moisturize deeply and soothe inflammation. More Than Skin Deep But argan oil isn’t only prized for its beauty benefits. It’s also an important source of income for Moroccans in this rural region. Weleda recently formed a

partnership with Sidi Yassine, a locally owned, family-run business, to source organic argan oil for use in its new Pomegranate Firming Day Cream, Night Cream and Eye Cream. The partnership allows Weleda to obtain pure, wild-harvested argan oil and to track the source of the seeds and the quality of oil to ensure its standards are met at every stage of the production process. Like all of Weleda’s ingredient-sourcing initiatives over its 90-year history, the partnership with Sidi Yassine focuses on the long-term sustainability of the project from an environmental, economic and social perspective. The collaboration ensures a steady income and fair wage for the more than 500 harvesters, almost all women, who work for Sidi Yassine and are paid a guaranteed wage according to the number of argan nuts they process. Argan—this gift from nature—enables them to earn a livelihood; without it, they would have few other economic opportunities. It’s fitting, then, that the locals call argania spinosa the “Tree of Life.”

the wood for building materials, charcoal and firewood. The argan groves also sustain a complex ecosystem that would disappear along with them. Crops, herbs and medicinal plants like barley, lavender and thyme would scorch in the hot sun without the shade of the trees to protect them. Honeybees and animals that depend on native grasses would also perish. What’s more, because of their deep roots, the argan trees prevent soil erosion and allow for the replenishment of aquifers, which all serve as a buffer against the everencroaching Sahara Desert. Fortunately, efforts are being made to conserve the argan groves and safeguard the incomes of the Berber families. In 1998, UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) stepped in, designating almost 10,000 square miles of argan forests in southwest Morocco a UNESCO

Sustaining Life The squat, gnarly argan tree is the symbol of Morocco. With deep, broad roots that draw water from far-reaching depths, the tree is well adapted to the harsh, dry climate. It grows wild, can survive temperatures of more than 120°F and can be traced back more than 2 million years. Some of the stock in the Arganeraie region are estimated to be 300 years old. Sadly, though, the number of argan trees has dwindled over the years, and it’s become endangered. Countless efforts to cultivate argania spinosa in other regions have failed. If the argan forests were to disappear, life in the region would likely be unsustainable. The local Berber people use not only the fruits to make oil but also

Above: A Berber woman gathers dried argan fruits from the ground. Opposite: The argan forests and the squat, gnarly trees are a symbol of Morocco.

winter-spring 2011

400 million organic roses are harvested for Weleda’s Wild Rose Smoothing Facial Care and Wild Rose Body Care each year. That’s more roses than there are people in the United States!

90 YEAR S OF WOR K I N G W I T H T HE WO R LD

IRIS HYDRATING FACIAL CARE YOUTHFUL SKIN

Hydrates for perfect moisture balance Just as the beautiful iris stores moisture in its roots, our Iris Hydrating Facial Care helps your skin keep its own natural moisture. Blended with Biodynamic® iris root and other hydrating organic ingredients, this pure, natural formula protects your skin from moisture loss while promoting your skin’s ability to regulate and preserve its best moisture levels. This long-lasting hydration also protects your skin from dehydrating environmental elements so it keeps the fresh radiance of beautifully moisturized skin. WHAT WOMEN EXPERIENCED USING OUR IRIS HYDRATING DAY CREAM: INCREASED MOISTURE

+9% after 14 days

100% CERTIFIED NATURAL SKIN CARE

90 YEAR S OF WOR K I N G W I T H T HE WO R LD biosphere reserve, helping ensure continual reforestation and production of treasured argan oil. The protected area helps foster a balanced, harmonious relationship between the local Moroccans and nature. As the sun sets on the stony ground and the argan trees cast long shadows, the sound of cracking nuts has stopped—but only for the time being. Thanks to sustainable efforts

from Sidi Yassine, continuing demand for organic, high-quality argan oil from Weleda, and UNESCO’s vital conservation programs, the work will begin again tomorrow. Just as it has for centuries. cr Travel around the world—to Tuscany, Turkey and Germany—to experience Weleda’s cultivation projects from the comforts of home. Visit the Weleda film center: usa.weleda.com/media/films.aspx.

ARNICA {Organic and wild-crafted} Apuseni Mountains, Romania. Weleda teamed up with

started its project with the local farmers and residents of the Turkish village of Senir by helping 30 farmers convert their lands to organic. It has grown to nearly 300 farmers.

the World Wildlife Fund to protect endangered arnica and help teach locals to collect the plant in an environmentally sustainable way. 2

ROSE {Organic} Isparta, Turkey. Weleda

IRIS {Biodynamic®} Tuscany, Italy. Nestled in the mountainside of the Italian Apennines is the Ca ’dei Fiori farm, Weleda’s indispensable iris cultivation partner for more than 15 years.

CALENDULA {Biodynamic®} Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany. You’ll find calendula across

6 6

40 acres of Weleda’s very own gardens in Germany, where 3,500 pounds of calendula blossoms are handpicked each year.

IRCH {Organic} Cseke Budejovice, Czech B Republic. Weleda’s partnership with farmer Leo Taraba has created real change—with our technical and financial support, Taraba developed a birch processing facility and started a program to teach local children about sustainability.

JOJOBA {Organic} Argentina. Weleda’s endur-

ing partnerships with several Argentinean cooperatives have supported the re-greening of more than 17,000 acres of desert.

EA BUCKTHORN {Biodynamic®} Tuscany, S Italy. Weleda partnered 10 years ago with Kurt Künzi, a pioneer in the cultivation of Biodynamic® sea buckthorn.

LAVENDER {Organic} Moldova; June-July. In this region where many live in poverty, Weleda provides up to 200 farmers the reassuring promise of long-term demand for their crops.

winter-spring 2011

In Turkey, Weleda employs around 600 small-scale farmers to grow organic wild rose petals. There would be no cultivating beauty without them.

ver our 90 year history, Weleda has always placed great importance on ecological, social and economic responsibility. We grow dozens of acres of herbs, flowers and fruits ourselves, but it’s not everything we need to cultivate beauty in the world. Read on to discover some of our beautiful projects.

2005

Weleda’s first and only store and spa in the United States opens in Palisades, NY.

CULTIVATING BEAUTY 101 I am in my 30s and my With this year marking Weleda’s LS: Weleda’s Wild Rose skin is slightly oily, but 90-year anniversary, you can be Smoothing Night Cream I’m starting to worry certain that we’ve accumulated is perfect for the 30s, when about wrinkles. Should quite a bit of knowledge about skin those first lines are just I be using a night cream? care and the natural world over the beginning to show. Like –K.R. years. And if there’s one thing we all of our night creams, know for sure, it’s that nature has it’s deeply rich and noureverything our skin needs to be its ishing, made with evening most radiant, healthy and beautiful. primrose oil and myrrh to We’re happy to share our timecounter first signs of aging tested knowledge and expertise with you through and with organic olive oil to provide moisour products, this magazine, our website and blog, ture during your skin’s nightly regenerative as well as on Facebook and Twitter (see inside cycle. But since your skin is on the oily side, back cover). On these pages, we pose your questions the Wild Rose Smoothing Night Cream to Lilith Schwertle, our European holistic skin care may feel a bit rich. If so, you can use Wild expert and esthetician. So read on, and then send Rose Smoothing Facial Lotion as your day your most pressing skin care conundrums to us at and night cream—the formula’s organic editor@weleda.com. cr rosehip seed oil will maintain your skin’s

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My eyes are puffy, and youth and vitality without feelLS: The skin around fine lines seem to be ing heavy. That said, depending our eyes is fragile, so becoming more prominent. on where you live, you may find it’s important to use a Do you have an eye cream that the extra-nourishing Wild specially formulated you would recommend? Rose Smoothing Night Cream is eye cream that will –P.Y. better suited for the job of caring keep the skin healthy. for your complexion in the Weleda makes two winter, despite the oil. No matter frag rance-free eye which product you choose, your creams. Those in their skin will be smooth and radiant 30s will benefit from in the a.m., so you can concentrate your our Wild Rose Smoothing Eye Cream, a worries on some- delicate cream made with organic rosething a little more hip seed oil and organic orpine extract to important than a soften first lines and reduce puffiness. Our mely extre My skin gets few fine lines. new Pomegranate Firming Eye Cream is in ted dry and irrita more suitable for aging skin. Antioxidantcan t Wha the winter. hy? LS: Keeping our rich organic pomegranate seed oil and healt it I do to keep skin healthy and organic argan kernel oil help firm and –K.L. happy during the protect from damaging environmental winter is no easy influences, while extracts of organic suntask. Fortunately, flower petal and organic millet seed boast Weleda makes a anti-inflammatory properties and vitamin few products that A to help smooth skin. To use, start with a are excellent for restoring skin to its pearl-sized dollop on the pad of your ring most beautiful, healthy state. Cold finger. Beginning at the outside of the eye, Cream, for merly known as Everon gently pat the cream under the eye toward Face Balm, is ideally suited for dry and the nose, then over the eyelid—morning very dry skin that’s exposed to extreme and evening. conditions. Perfect for skiers and other cold-weather outdoor enthusiasts, it’s For additional skin care tips, visit usa.weleda.com. made with pure beeswax, which leaves a breathable layer on the skin that helps protect from moisture loss. Weleda fanfavorite Skin Food is ideal for cracked hands and heels, or wherever dry skin needs some serious TLC. Our Almond Soothing Facial Oil is also helpful for added protection. You can add a drop or two to any of our moisturizers, or use it to give yourself a gentle, comforting facial massage. After the massage, cover your face with a hot towel and let the nourishing oils work their magic on your winter-weary skin. Now, doesn’t that Weleda holistic skin care expert and esthetician Lilith Schwertle sound warm and cozy? winter-spring 2011

Weleda launched its most powerful body care line, Pomegranate Regenerating Body Care—in 2009.

90 YEAR S O F SPA-I FI CAT I O N

Weleda launches its first facial care product: Iris Cleansing Lotion Classic.

1925

Skin care through the ages… If there’s one thing that’s certain in our lives, it’s change. It’s true in nature, where flowers bloom

and fade away, thunderstorms roll in and out, and tides ebb and flow. And it’s true in our own lives. At age 40, or even 30, we’re not the same person

we were at 20, and the changes are reflected in our lifestyle, our personality and, of course, our skin. As we journey through our life stages, our skin changes and renews itself with each passing decade. And although aging is inevitable, we can enhance our skin’s natural beauty by using products made with ingredients that help our skin function at its best—and that are specifically created for various periods of our lives. Weleda Facial Care, for instance, harnesses the incredible healing power of plants to provide our skin with a blueprint for beauty, giving it what it needs to stay in balance—the key to healthy, radiant skin—from one decade to the next. “Weleda’s Facial Care formulas actively impact the skin to strengthen it and improve its self-regulation qualities,” says Weleda European holistic skin care

expert and esthetician Lilith Schwertle. “When you use the products over time, you will see there is a certain radiant glow that somehow seems to travel from within.” . . . . . . . . Follow that Plant . . . . . . . . Every plant in nature is unique, but some have extraordinary healing qualities, and these are what make Weleda’s Facial Care philosophy so exceptional—that, and the fact that there are 90 years of experience in the products. The company’s first facial care product, Iris Cleansing Lotion Classic, was introduced in 1925. Then as now, each product was developed with a lead plant—almond, iris, wild rose or pomegranate—in accordance with a specific skin type and to

winter-spring 2011

At the Weleda compounding pharmacy in Palisades, NY, more than 1,000 homeopathic remedies are available, mostly by prescription.

answer the question, What keeps us and our skin healthy? “By closely observing how a plant grows in nature, we can learn the impact it will have on our skin,” says Schwertle. “Because we all share a special connection to nature, our bodies have the ability to take in the message the plant is telling us and put it to good use. With the almond, for instance, the message to our skin is, ‘Just calm down,’ while the pomegranate says, ‘Get up and go!’” The lead plant, with its special story to tell, is just the beginning. Weleda formulas are created with a potent blend of oils from nuts, plants and seeds, as well as plant extracts and juices, which work in harmony with the lead plant to enhance its effectiveness. Weleda sources Biodynamic® and organic ingredients whenever possible and carefully monitors every step in production, from cultivation through to harvesting and processing. . . . . Sensitive? Almond is for You . . . . No matter our life stage or age, we all feel sensitive sometimes, and so can our skin. Whether the cause is an external one (pol-

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lution, dry air) or internal (allergies, stress), sensitive skin is typically dry, red, itchy and uncomfortable. Sensitivities may also come in the form of eczema or rosacea. Sweet organic almond oil, the key ingredient in Weleda’s Almond Soothing Facial Care, is just what our sensitive skin needs to develop the clear, even beauty of deeply comfortable skin. The almond is truly a miracle of nature. While other trees in the almond family use all of their energy to develop their fruits into sweet, juicy peaches or plums, the almond tree stops these development processes and directs its entire strength and energy toward the seed that’s inside the fruit. Eventually the sun dries the outer part of the fruit, and it becomes a hard shell. The seed is nurtured within this protective shell by the heat and sun for six months, resulting in the formation of a nutrient-rich and edible kernel: the almond we all know— and love! The almonds Weleda uses in its Almond Soothing Facial Care are organically grown in Spain. The oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E, making it ideal for sensitive skin. It helps restore a healthy balance and revive skin’s natural barrier, protecting against external influences, much like the almond shell protects its precious seed inside. . . . . . . Iris: Made for Your 20s . . . . . . Between the ages of 20 and 30, our lives are filled with change. Each moment is a thrill; we’re curious about what the world has to offer, and our emotions are constantly in flux as we discover who we are. Similarly, our skin is teetering between oily and dry, striving to maintain balance amidst life’s changes. “In our 20s, our skin is strong, resilient and functioning well, but there can be

breakouts and a tendency to dryness or oiliness,” says Schwertle. “This is the time to build a strong, healthy foundation for beautiful skin long into the future.” The iris root—the rhizome—is a true master of balancing extremes, which makes it perfectly suited for fluctuating 20-something skin. The iris root has an extraordinary ability to regulate its own moisture balance, providing additional hydration to the plant or storing water in the root as needed, which allows it to survive through long, fluctuating periods of drought or rain. These same moistureregulating qualities in the iris root are what make Weleda’s Iris Hydrating Facial Care so effective for young skin. Weleda Iris Hydrating Facial Care contains Biodynamic® iris root extract from Italy, which is combined with other carefully selected organic ingredients, such as organic jojoba seed oil, organic cocoa seed butter and witch hazel. “In our 20s, our skin begins to memorize its experiences and take note of what has happened to it,” says Schwertle. “It’s important to develop a regular skin care routine during this time, using natural products that help protect, strengthen and balance the skin.” Schwertle suggests washing away dirt and makeup nightly using a deep-cleansing product like Weleda’s Gentle Cleansing Milk. Follow with Weleda’s Refining Toner to remove

any remaining traces of dirt and makeup and to refine and tighten the pores. . . . . . . Rose: Made for Your 30s . . . . . . The rose is considered the symbol of harmony, beauty and truth, and this makes it a perfect complement for our skin during our 30s. During these years, our head and heart finally begin to find peace with each other. We seek to maintain our light-hearted, youthful energy, while also reaching a new level of maturity filled with a greater sense of inner calm and clarity. As we reach this point, our skin is beautiful, yet fine lines begin to show, especially around our eyes and mouth. “In our 30s, our skin becomes drier, and environmental influences, coupled with stress and lifestyle choices from our earlier years, make themselves visible,” says Schwertle. “It’s a good time to begin using products, like Weleda’s Wild Rose Smoothing Facial Care, that are rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants to help fight the environmental damage that leads to fine lines and wrinkles.” Weleda’s Wild Rose Smoothing Facial Care is made with organic rosehip seed oil, which is high in antioxidant vitamins A and E. Schwertle recommends using the Wild Rose Smoothing Facial Lotion or Day Cream in the morning, depending on your skin’s level of dryness. “Then use the Wild Rose Smoothing Night Cream to soften fine lines and help skin repair itself during its nightly regenerative cycle,” she says. “And apply an eye cream regularly, morning and night, to help firm the delicate area around your eyes— one of the places where fine lines first begin to appear.” As we try to find a balance between our relationships, our families and our careers during our 30s, the delicate scent of the products, derived from the essential oils found within the petals of the Rosa damascena, conveys to

winter-spring 2011

Since 2002, Weleda has won 22 beauty awards in national magazines, including Natural Health, Elle, Natural Solutions and Time Out NY.

90 YEA R S O F FACI AL CA R E

Weleda grows 250 varieties of plants in our Biodynamic® Medicinal Plant Gardens in Germany, the largest of their kind in Europe. It’s bumblebee heaven!

us a feeling of harmony and peace. It’s just what you—and your skin—need during your 30s. . . Pomegranate: Made for Your 40s . . Throughout our 40s and beyond, we gain a clearer perspective on life. For many, this is a time to reinvent ourselves and rediscover joie de vive. The pomegranate, an incredibly exceptional fruit, is perfectly suited to care for a woman’s skin in this stage of her life. Just as the pomegranate stores its energy inside its jewel-like seeds, a woman in her 40s is full of wisdom, with life and energy inside. The nutrients packed within the pomegranate’s seeds are symbiotic with this time in her life and the needs of her skin, which is why Weleda chose the pomegranate as the lead plant in our new Pomegranate Firming Facial Care. “Weleda’s Pomegranate Firming Facial Care imparts energetic qualities on the skin, telling the skin to get active,” says Schwertle. “It helps increase elasticity, so skin is firmer and more resilient.” The essential fatty acids and antioxidants in pomegranate seeds help promote skin renewal, fight free radicals and support the skin for timeless beauty. Schwertle says that a potent serum is a great addition to your skin care routine in your 40s. “Weleda’s new Pomegranate Firming Facial Serum is like a refreshing, vitamin-rich fruit cocktail for the skin. The deeply nourishing Day Cream and Night Cream in the line support the skin’s renewal, moisturize and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.” Teeming with organic argan oil, borage seed oil, organic millet seed extract and organic sunflower petal extract, Pomegranate Firming Facial Care gives aging skin what it needs to be its most radiant and beautiful. Like all Weleda Facial Care, it’s your blueprint for beauty. Follow it for naturally beautiful skin—at every stage of your life. No matter where life takes you. cr

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WELEDA’S NATURAL BEAUTY GUIDE Whether your skin is sensitive, dry, oily, prematurely aging or naturally aging, caring for it can be simple. Use this guide to understand which products may be helpful for you. With the right daily care your skin can glow with health and radiance—every day, at every stage of your life.

In the fall and winter seasons your skin may benefit from the richer formulations of Weleda’s Day Creams and Facial Creams for extra protection. For extra dry skin, apply Facial Lotion followed by the Day Cream or Facial Cream.

90 YEA R S O F FACI AL CA R E WILD ROSE Smoothing Facial Care

POMEGRANATE Firming Facial Care

ALMOND Soothing Facial Care

For Your 20’s

For Your 30’s

For Your 40’s

For Sensitive Skin

Regulates and preserves moisture balance

Softens fine lines

Regenerates aging skin

Restores balance to sensitive skin

LINE BENEFITS

Gentle Cleansing Milk, Cleanses without drying

Almond Soothing Cleansing Lotion, Gently cleanses without drying

STEP 1 CLEANSE

Refining Toner, Gently clarifies and perfects

STEP 2 TONE

Iris Hydrating Facial Lotion, normal to combination skin

Wild Rose Smoothing Facial Lotion, normal to combination skin

Pomegranate Firming Day Cream, all aging skin types

Almond Soothing Facial Lotion, sensitive combination skin

Iris Hydrating Day Cream, dry to very dry skin

Wild Rose Smoothing Day Cream, dry skin

Iris Hydrating Night Cream, all skin types

Wild Rose Smoothing Night Cream, all skin types

Pomegranate Firming Night Cream, all aging skin types

Wild Rose Smoothing Eye Cream, all skin types

Pomegranate Firming Eye Cream, all aging skin types

Almond Soothing Facial Cream, sensitive dry skin

Almond Soothing Facial Oil, sensitive skin use: morning and night as an intensive treatment in combination with the Almond Facial Lotion/ Facial Cream or as an alternative. It’s also ideal as an eye makeup remover.*

INTENSIVE CARE

winter-spring 2011

STEP 5 EYE CARE

*Just add a few drops to damp cotton pad and wipe gently over the eye area.

STEP 4 NIGHT CARE

Pomegranate Firming Serum, all mature skin types use: morning and night before your Firming Day and Night creams

STEP 3 MOISTURIZE

IRIS Hydrating Facial Care

1921

b e aut I

It was 90 years ago this year that

Dr. Rudolf Steiner and Dr. Ita Wegman planted the roots of a new company— Weleda—in Switzerland, with the aim of using nature to help people heal and be well. The company was founded out of a movement Dr. Steiner created called anthroposophy, which encourages the individual to see his or her body, mind and spirit as intrinsically linked to our world. Steiner and Wegman teamed up with other like-minded scientists and doctors to determine how they might use this philosophy to take care of their patients’ needs. They developed a personal approach to health care using ingredients from nature

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that can holistically work with and support our own body’s healing tendencies. The name they gave to the pharmaceutical company in 1924 couldn’t have been more appropriate: Weleda, after a Celtic goddess of healing and wisdom. To grow the ingredients they needed for their remedies, they created one of the world’s first Biodynamic® gardens. Patients were healed, health and balance were restored to them, and never once was a synthetic chemical or lab-made preservative used in the process. Skin care went hand in hand Then: Weleda’s old offices in Arlesheim, Switzerland, built in 1930. Now: Weleda North America’s headquarters in Palisades, New York.

2011

ful

years

with wellness, so in 1925, they introduced Iris Cleansing Lotion Classic, replaced just this year by Weleda’s new Gentle Cleansing Milk. Arnica Massage Oil launched in 1926 and to this day remains a bestseller. Word soon spread about the innovative, effective work Weleda was doing, and the company expanded from Switzerland to Germany and then into North America and the world. With some 400 employees until 1990, Weleda remained fairly small. In the early ’90s, however, a more strategic approach to marketing and the rise in popularity of natural cosmetics accelerated the company’s growth. Today, Weleda operates on five continents, with

20 direct subsidiaries, partnerships in 53 countries and close to 2,000 employees worldwide, all united in passionate commitment to cultivating beauty and working in harmony with nature and the human being. And we still put your health and well-being above all else. WHAT 90 Y E A R S M E A N S TO U S

A look back on 90 years reveals a theme that runs throughout Weleda’s rich history: sustainability. Truly farmers at heart, Weleda has been a steward of the environment through the careful way it harvests its ingredients. But for Weleda, sustainability is not just environmental—it’s also social and economic. Taking care of the earth,

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Weleda Through the Years

1939: A pharmacist

by the name of Dr. Schiller begins making Weleda remedies at Goodman Pharmacy on New York’s Upper East Side.

1921: Drs. Rudolf Steiner

and Ita Wegman establish Weleda in Switzerland, and the world’s first Biodynamic® gardens are created.

The shelf life of a Weleda product is just a short two years. The formulas are preserved using only natural ingredients, like organic grain alcohol, essential oils and pure plant extracts.

1959: Weleda

introduces Calendula Oil, our first product made especially for wee-ones.

1926: Weleda Germany

creates this advertisement for the launch of its new coldweather cream, Everon Face Balm, now known simply as Cold Cream.

1930s: Weleda opens a research laboratory in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany, where its Biodynamic® gardens are located today.

1927: Skin Food

launches and it’s the best-selling Weleda product in North America today, 83 years later.

our customers, our colleagues, our business and the communities where we work is deeply rooted in all aspects of what we do. For example, Weleda decided long ago to help finance the conversion of conventional fields to organic by paying farmers organic prices while they are still in the process of converting their farms. Because this process of transitioning from conventional to certified organic takes at least three years, it would be financially impossible for many of the farmers to switch to organic without this support. Our efforts ensure the farmers get a living wage and better health for themselves and their families. The added bonuses: We get better crops, the earth gets more

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sustainable harvesting practices, and you get the most amazing natural products available. Through efforts like these, we help sustain not only our business but also the local communities where we have created partnerships. Weleda currently has more than 10 fair trade projects around the world, where we pay a fair price for the crops, then guarantee the quantities we’ll need from year to year to help the farmers—and their communities—thrive. When it comes to caring for the environment, we’re working to decrease our environmental impact through various ways, including water conservation. We’ve installed green roofs on our production and

90 TH A N N I V ER SA RY SPECI AL

2001: The fair trade

Rosa damascena project in Turkey commences.

2011: Weleda

launches its new Pomegranate Firming Facial Care.

2010: Weleda North

America’s headquarters become 100% windpowered, and the company takes to the road on our Honestly Natural, Truly Beautiful tour.

1969: Weleda begins its

2007: The

first issue of we debuts in North America.

2005: Weleda

North America moves its offices to its current home, Yonderhill.

administration buildings in Switzerland and Germany. The roofs in Germany collect rainwater for use in our Biodynamic® gardens and allow two-thirds to evaporate back into the atmosphere. We also aim to increase our water efficiency by 5 percent each year. In addition, we are reducing our carbon footprint through the use of renewable energy. Solar panels on our visitor and production center in Germany generate enough electricity to power our production and general operations there. Closer to home, the offices of Weleda North America in Palisades, New York, are now 100-percent powered by wind energy.

We know we still have a long way to go to further reduce our environmental impact, but the earth can’t wait, so it’s our priority now. Like our founders said, we are all linked to our world—we depend on its resources for our products, our health and our livelihood. We hope that by being economically, socially and environmentally sustainable in the way we do business, we will help strengthen the roots of the company—the ones that were put down so long ago by our founders. With such strong roots, there’s nowhere to go but up. And we’ll be spreading our passion for beauty, wellness and environmental respect around the world as we flourish—together with you. cr

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This is the eighth issue of Weleda’s we magazine. Stay tuned because the best is yet to come! Subscribe online at usa.weleda.com.

first fair trade project in Peru to source ratanhia— the key ingredient in our Ratanhia Toothpaste.

1922

Weleda expands to the United States, one year after being founded in snow-capped Switzerland.

Ninety Starts Here NURTURE YOURSELF & OTHERS UNTIL 90 AND BEYOND Like a fine wine or a comfortable pair of jeans, some things really do get better with age. As Weleda celebrates its 90th birthday, we explore the best ways you can age gracefully until 90 and beyond, while nourishing your body, soul and spirit—as well as the world around you. Recent research suggests that the secret to youth and wellness is really no secret at all: living healthily and happily will add years to your life and life to your years. Genetics certainly play a part, but positive lifestyle choices are just as powerful. As the world grows smaller and we realize how connected we are to all living things, aging gracefully has become less

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about outer beauty and more about developing wisdom in the way we relate to our inner selves, the people around us and the natural world. EXERCIS E F O R A BA L A N C E D B O DY

When it comes to aging well, the body’s health is crucial. The USDA recommends 30 minutes of daily activity as part of a healthy lifestyle, but many people don’t

9 Tips for Living ’Til 90 Healthy aging is not about one big decision, but rather a hundred small ones made every day. Practiced regularly, the simple ideas in the boxes on the following pages take little time but will make a big difference in your long-term wellness.

90 TH A N N I V ER SA RY SPECI AL

—1—

Bypass the center of the grocery store. Stick to the market’s periphery, where you’ll find the produce and refrigerated sections, which are chock-full of nutritious whole foods.

—2—

realize that regular movement can also improve our minds. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, that same half Start with trying to stand on one foot for hour of activity will also reduce the risk of 20 seconds, and then stand or kneel on an memory loss later in life. unstable surface such as a Bosu ball. Getting outside can be an inexpensive EAT PLANTS, PREFERABLY ORGANIC way to get needed exercise. “There are Most sources agree that a plant-based benefits to simple things like daily walks, diet is best for longevity. According to a yard work and playing tennis or golf,” says recent study in the journal Diabetes Care, fitness and nutrition expert Aileene Palm. older adults who stick with a diet rich in “These help to keep the body limber and plant-based fats are less likely to develop to keep the blood flowing.” diabetes than seniors who follow a low Regular exercise also improves bal- fat diet. ance. A study by the Oregon Research The good news is that eating mostly Institute and Willamette University found plants is a win-win situation for both that senior citizens who your health and Mother walked on a cobblestone Nature’s. According to a —3— mat lowered their blood United Nations Food and Spend time with pressure and improved Agriculture Organization a fluffy friend. their balance more than report, livestock production Owning a pet has proven health benthose who walked only on is a primary contributor to efits, which include flat surfaces. global warming, accountreducing anxiety and Seattle-based personal ing for almost one-fifth of increasing immunity. trainer John Verd keeps this the country’s total carbonresearch in mind, especially dioxide emissions. when working with mature For fruits and vegetables clients. “Balance training without thick protective improves core strength and skins, research suggests confidence,” he says, “but it we should buy organic. also can greatly reduce the risk of injury in Naturopathic physician Wendy Wells the event of a fall.” advocates eating organic, antioxidant Verd recommends simple and cost- rich foods like berries, broccoli, tomatoes effective exercises for staying balanced. and whole grains. “For longevity, a lowwinter-spring 2011

To date, Weleda has more than 80 confirmed celebrity fans, including actors, models and fashion designers.

Take the stairs. Skip elevators or park farther away at shopping centers. You will instantly build minutes of walking into your day.

calorie, nutrient-dense diet is best,” she says. “This gives you better sugar control, lower cholesterol, and balances hormone levels.” P UT YO UR BEST FACE FORWARD

If you’re going to be out in the sun, apply a natural sunscreen. While we can mitigate the signs of aging, we must accept that it is nevertheless a part of life. There is a beauty that comes from having lived through our experiences, and our skin care choices should complement this wisdom. Skin has different needs as we mature, and skin care regimens should be adjusted based on these needs. For example, Weleda’s antioxidant-rich Pomegranate Regenerating Body Care products are ideal for mature skin. According to Pol, the products boost the production of collagen, nourish dry skin and increase elasticity.

Each year, Weleda handpicks 36 million rosehips, yielding 9 tons of precious rose oil for our Wild Rose Smoothing Facial Care and Wild Rose Body Care.

Labels on many beauty products these days read like a high-school chemistry final. If ingredients on products sound overly complicated, they probably are. A regimen —4— that embraces the bounty Bury the hatchet. of nature is the safest Learning to forgive and most effective path can be a great stress reliever. to maintaining beautiful, healthy skin. “We have everything we need in natural skin care,” says Weleda estheL E A R N TO S T R E S S L E S S tician and natural skin- In today’s world, everything from financare expert Patricia Pol. “Our skin absorbs cial turmoil to a hectic workday can add much of what we put on it. It’s like eating stress to our lives—and in the process often organic. You make the choice not to shorten them, experts say. introduce pesticides and chemicals into “Stress triggers an inflammatory proyour body, and now you are choosing not cess in both the body and the mind, which to introduce them through your skin.” is responsible for disease, poor digestion According to Pol, if we nourish our and sadness,” says Debbie Mandel, author skin with pure plant, seed and nut oils, like of Addicted to Stress: A Woman’s 7 Step Program those found in Weleda skin care products, to Reclaim Joy and Spontaneity in Life. we will be helping our bodies look, feel and One way to instantly de-stress is by stay healthier. Pol suggests a three-part rou- communing with nature. “Tuning into tine: wash your face with Weleda’s Gentle the rhythms of nature decreases stress Cleansing Milk, refine pores with the and boosts longevity,” says Sarah Kinbar, Refining Toner, and moisturize with a day or night —5— cream best suited for your Treat every day like skin (see chart on page 17 for it’s a journey. Stash travel-sized products more details). Use a gentle in your purse, such as approach to skin care. Avoid —6— Weleda’s Pomegranate scrubbing and extreme exfoSleep it off. During Regenerating Body liation, which will only break shuteye, your body Care Kit, and always goes to work repairing down the skin and strip it have beauty on hand. itself at the cellular of its natural, protective oils.

level. Sufficient zzz’s will keep your memory sharp and even help control your appetite.

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90 TH A N N I V ER SA RY SPECI AL

former editor-in-chief of Garden Design and the founder of GoodGardenIdeas.com. “Sustainable gardening is an activity that connects us to the earth and slows us down to nature’s time. Digging in the soil, nurturing plants: these ways of engaging the natural world have been shown in studies to benefit us psychologically and strengthen us physically.” Traditional stress relievers, like massage and meditation, can also contribute to a longer, more peaceful life. Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles found that a single 45-minute Swedish massage decreases the stress hormone cortisol and increases immuneboosting white blood cells. GIVE TO OTHERS AND YOURSELF

New research shows that one of the best ways to help yourself is by helping others. According to a report by the Corporation for National and Community Service, people who volunteer for a cause they believe in enjoy greater longevity, lower rates of depression and less incidence of heart disease. “Just two hours of volunteering a week can bring meaningful benefits to a person’s body and mind,” says Robert Grimm, director of the corporation’s office of research and policy development. A new trend among travel-loving

Thousands of dry elbows, heels, knees and hands have been nourished with Skin Food since it first launched 84 years ago.

—7—

Take a soothing bath. Adding a splash of essential oils to warm water will nourish the skin and relax the mind.

do-gooders is using vacation time to give back. In her book The 100 Best Vacations to Enrich Your Life, Pam Grout details many such opportunities to help others, from vol—8— unteering on an organic Stay hydrated. farm in Hawaii to helpCoconut water, rich in electrolytes, ing build eco-friendly magnesium, calcium, homes with Habitat and potassium, is a for Humanity. After stellar alternative to such a vacation, “you regular water and probably won’t look will tantalize the different to the naked palate. eye, but you’ll be different—guaranteed,” says Grout. “Your heart will be bigger, your purpose will be clearer, the petty things that used to seem so overwhelming will eventually disappear.” Volunteer vacations provide an attitude-boost that leaves you happier than spending a week in a five-star hotel. These vacations, like the aging process itself, are all about making the most of an exciting journey. As Weleda turns 90, we invite you to join us in embarking on a personal voyage of peace, health and sustainability by incorporating these simple suggestions into your life. Remembering that we are all connected, and that simple decisions can make a big difference, is the true secret to aging well on your own path to 90 years, and beyond. cdo

—9—

Indulge in a daily dose of treats. A 5-ounce glass of red wine and a 2-ounce serving of dark chocolate can reduce blood pressure and prevent inflammation. Opt for organic.

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1921

Weleda establishes the first Biodynamic® gardens in the world.

Biodynamics ® in Your Own Backyard If you love wine, gardening or Weleda

products, there’s a good chance you’re familiar with the word Biodynamic®. It’s a holistic, sustainable method of agriculture that goes beyond organic to treat the farm or garden as one complete ecosystem, and it’s just one way Weleda has been working in an environmentally sustainable way for the past 90 years. Weleda founder Dr. Rudolf Steiner developed the concept and created the first Biodynamic® gardens in Switzerland to grow the ingredients needed to make Weleda’s anthroposophic remedies. Some aspects of Biodynamics® may seem new-agey—like using the natural cycles of the sun, moon and stars to guide planting and harvesting—but they actually encompass methods that our ancestors utilized thousands of years ago.

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Surprisingly, after nine decades, the key principles of Biodynamics® have not changed much. One difference is that farmers from countries with disparate growing conditions have adapted the techniques to their own environments, depending on what they find works best for their soil and climate. Also, the focus on details may differ depending on the farmer’s own personality and his connection with the land, as well as the location of the farm and the items cultivated. Today, Weleda grows the largest Biodynamic® gardens in all of Europe, on more than 135 acres, with 250 species of plants. Biodynamics® has become a buzz word—it’s especially popular among forward-thinking wine producers who believe it produces the best-tasting, highestquality grapes.

90 YEAR S O F BI O DYNAMI CS ®

Q. What are some essentials for creating a self-sustaining garden?

A Biodynamic® garden or farm should function as a self-sustaining organism, where all parts contribute to the whole. For example, the farm should have just the right number of animals to provide manure for fertilizer, and these animals should, in turn, be fed from the farm. Most of us don’t have cows or horses at home to provide natural fertilizer for our gardens, but we can start a compost pile in a worm bin or with food scraps. Compost will help naturally vitalize the soil, and good soil is important for growing a healthy garden. Ideally the soil should be a mixture of sand and clay—but not too much of either—and the garden should get plenty of sunlight. One of the most important elements of a self-sustaining garden is biodiversity,

like plant and insect diversity. The opposite of a diverse farm or garden is a monoculture, and from our experience, we know that monocultures create an unhealthy environment for plants—it can work, but only with the help of many additives like pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. If you cultivate a variety of vegetables, herbs and flowers, and make an inviting home for ladybugs and lacewings, beneficial insects that help control the pest population, your garden will thrive. At Weleda’s Biodynamic ® gardens in Germany, we made a home for beneficial bugs from stacked wood, cinder blocks, sticks, pine cones and dried leaves, and you can do the same at home. Q. About that compost: Just how important is it for a backyard garden? Can I have a healthy garden without it?

You may have heard the gardeners’ old adage, “Feed the soil and the soil will feed the plants.” In Biodynamics®, compost is integral to the self-sufficiency of the farm, and it will certainly contribute to the health of your garden. Compost, which can be made from fallen leaves and food scraps, has many different functions: It improves the structure of the soil and gives it vitality and fertility by feeding it with minerals and nutrients; it helps suppress plant diseases; and it supports micro-organisms

Eva-Maria Walle harvests Biodynamic® euphrasia, a key ingredient in Weleda’s Wild Rose Smoothing Eye Cream.

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Weleda North America has 40 employees, is sold in more than 10,000 natural health food stores, and has about 10,000 Facebook fans (as of press time)!

At first glance, the method may seem too complicated to undertake in your own backyard, rooftop or container garden. (What do you mean I need to plant according to cosmic cycles? How will I ever find time to compost?) But many of the central principles of Biodynamics®—crop diversity, beneficial insects, even compost!—are, in fact, easy to do at home. With a little Biodynamic® know-how, you can create plentiful, self-sustaining and environmentally friendly gardens that will offer up wholesome vegetables and bright, beautiful flowers for years to come. To celebrate Weleda’s 90 years of sustainability, we tapped Eva-Maria Walle, manager of Weleda’s Biodynamic® Medicinal Plant Gardens in Germany, to provide you with a few tips for adapting this age-old but forward-thinking method in your own backyard. Read on for her expert answers to our gardening questions.

9 Reasons to Grow an Organic Garden Here are a few simple reasons—one for each decade Weleda has been in business—for growing an organic garden in your backyard, on your fire escape or just tucked into a windowsill.

The peppermint plants Weleda uses in its toothpastes are grown in Peru, 12,800 feet above sea level. That is almost double the height of Mt. Mitchell, the tallest peak east of the Mississippi.

Rejuvenate your spirit. With

the sun on your back and the dirt running through your fingers, gardening can help you connect with nature—its rhythms, sounds and signs—like few things can. And nothing is quite as rewarding as feeding yourself and your family the wholesome, nutritious fruits and vegetables you cultivated yourself, right in your own backyard.

Tantalize your taste buds.

According to The Organic Center, among the many well-designed studies that have compared the tastes of organic and conventional produce, organic consistently wins out. In fact, in a recent study by Washington State University, organic strawberries were consistently judged as sweeter. It makes sense—wellbalanced soils produce robust, strong, superiortasting plants.

Protect our waterways. Since

organic gardens use no chemical pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers, none of these chemicals can run off and find their way into the water supply and estuaries.

Get a workout. Like any other

physical activity, gardening can help reduce your risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure. From harvesting the seeds to digging up weeds, you’ll burn calories—and it won’t even feel like work!

Save money. By growing your

own organic produce, you save money at the store. And you won’t have to make as many trips in the car to buy perishable items, which means more gas money in your pocket and a smaller carbon footprint.

Avoid chemicals. Many EPA-

The same study showed that organic strawberries have more antioxidants, health-promoting phenolic compounds and vitamin C than their nonorganic counterparts. Seconds, anyone?

approved pesticides were registered long before research showed a possible link between these chemicals and diseases like cancer. Organically grown fruits and vegetables are free of potentially toxic chemicals, because they are not treated with any pesticides, growth hormones, fertilizers or artificial additives such as flavorings, colorings or preservatives.

Nourish your body.

Build a healthy community.

Sharing your bounty of freshly grown vegetables with your neighbors and friends is a special way to give back to your community and strengthen your connections.

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Create diversity. The lack of

chemical run-off means that small animals, birds and beneficial insects will not be harmed by chemical use, and the ecosystem in your backyard can thrive.

and earthworms, which naturally add nitrogen and healthy microbes to the soil. Compost will also cause the soil to warm faster in the spring, and that’s good for the healthy development of your seedlings.

Growing plants organically does not necessarily require more time and effort than conventional gardening, but it will help to be knowledgeable about how plants, soil, insects and weather interact and influence each other. After the conversion of a conventional farm to organic cultivation, which usually takes about three years, the yields may sometimes decrease a bit as the soil rebuilds its natural vitality. But in time, the yields will rise to their initial levels, if not greater than before. It’s also important to remember that organically grown fruits and vegetables taste superior, are more nutritious and are better for the planet than those that have been grown with pesticides, herbicides and artificial fertilizers. Q. Do you have any suggestions for naturally keeping pests away?

Although you can never eradicate pests completely in a Biodynamic ® garden, robust and strong plants will naturally have a high tolerance against them, much like the way a person with a healthy immune system will sometimes get a cold but can easily fight it off. Plants that are native to the area and well-adapted to their surroundings are better able to withstand pests and diseases, especially if they are nourished

with rich compost, brimming with microbial life. You’ll know your garden is resilient and productive when you see the ladybugs crawling, the earthworms burrowing and the bees buzzing about. This is a sign of a healthy, sustainable ecosystem. Q. Do you have any simple tips for first-time gardeners?

It may be surprising, but remember that there is such a thing as too much water. It’s easy to under- or over-water, so learn to read the garden to get a sense of how much H20 it needs. Also consider what kind of sunlight your garden gets. Hardy plants like basil can take full sun and little water, but others—mint, for example— are tender and delicate. If you’re growing fruiting plants like tomatoes that need pollinating, attract bees with marigolds and sunflowers, and protect your garden’s ecosystem by avoiding chemical insecticides that harm the good bugs along with the bad. Think of your work in your garden as a journey with the land and a chance to connect with nature and the earth. Farming can be humbling; embrace setbacks as learning experiences and keep on cultivating. There’s a whole world to discover right in your own backyard. cr

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If life gives you lemons, make skin care products! Weleda works with 100 Biodynamic® lemon-cultivating farmers in Italy who grow lemons for the company’s Citrus Body Care.

Q. I’ve heard that organic gardening takes more time and doesn’t produce as much yield as conventional gardening. Is this true?

WILD ROSE SMOOTHING FACIAL CARE FIRST LINES

Awakens your skin’s youthful vitality Pure, organic rosehip seed oil—rich in antioxidant vitamins A and E and exceptionally high in unsaturated fatty acids—is the perfect companion for skin that’s experiencing its first lines. Because this remarkable oil works in harmony with your skin, it helps stimulate its natural healthy functions and soften fines lines - all to counter first signs of aging. Your skin can hold on to its elasticity and vitality longer. With our Wild Rose Smoothing Facial Care, your skin’s youthful vitality awakens.

WHAT WOMEN EXPERIENCED USING OUR WILD ROSE SMOOTHING FACIAL LOTION: WRINKLE REDUCTION

+29% after 28 days

INCREASED MOISTURE

+39% after 30 minutes

100% CERTIFIED NATURAL SKIN CARE

90 YEARS O F AU NAT UR EL

Weleda’s 100-percent natural Calendula Diaper Care is introduced and thousands of baby bottoms are instantly soothed.

1985

Boosting Baby’s Health Few things are more exciting than

welcoming a new baby into the world. From the moment they learn the happy news, new parents-to-be feel a tremendous responsibility to their baby’s health and well-being. Most moms-to-be avoid alcohol and shun cigarettes in their attempts to follow their doctor’s many recommendations. But we are now learning that expecting women should be conscious of potential toxins in the environment not only during pregnancy but even before conception. Studies have shown that the

umbilical cord, which delivers vital nutrients to the baby, can also transfer pollutants from the mother’s environmental exposure. In 2005, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) tested umbilical cord blood from 10 babies born in the U.S. and found the samples contained an average of 200 chemicals, including industrial pollutants, pesticides and flame retardants. “During the nine months in the womb, the developing body undergoes rapid change, making it especially susceptible to toxic exposure,” says Janelle Sorensen

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of the nonprofit Healthy Child Healthy World. “There is increasing evidence that in utero exposure to environmental chemicals, at levels commonly found in our homes, may alter a child in ways that may not be apparent until later in life.” Fortunately, simple actions before and during pregnancy can help ensure your baby a good start and boost his or her health from day one.

It takes 5,000 tons of organic pomegranates to yield just 350 ounces of rich pomegranate seed oil for Weleda’s Pomegranate Regenerating Body Care.

Be Picky with Your Personal Care One easy way to decrease exposure to toxins before you even conceive is to use 100-percent natural personal care products. Synthetic ingredients commonly found in cosmetics, like parabens and phthalates, can disrupt hormones your baby will rely on for proper development. Natural ingredients, preferably grown in organic and Biodynamic ® gardens, are the safer option. Look for products certified natural by third-party agencies like NaTrue, NSF, USDA and NPA. In general, Sorensen recommends choosing products with a short natural ingredient list and an expiration date, which means they’re likely free of synthetic preservatives. Weleda’s Calendula Oil, for example, has only three ingredients—sweet almond oil, Biodynamic® calendula extract and chamomile extract— plus essential oils. Calendula Oil was the first product Weleda created that was made especially for a baby’s delicate skin. Developed with midwives and physicians, it was introduced in 1959 and is still one of the company’s most popular baby care products. It was soon followed by the Calendula Baby Cream. Like all Weleda products, their shelf life is a short two years.

Another easy way to cut down on chemical exposure is by using fewer products overall. Let your skin glow with a simple routine of cleansing, toning and moisturizing, with certified-natural products like those from Weleda.

Choose Your Food Wisely A diet low in pesticides, artificial additives, preservatives, food colors and other chemicals will support the healthy development of your growing baby. “Today’s modern diet is grown, processed and packaged using toxic chemi cals,” says Sorensen. “The easiest way to eat healthier is to start making your own. Buying whole foods reduces your expos ure to many synthetic additives.” The growing consensus among scientists, according to the EWG, is that small doses of pesticides and other chemicals can cause lasting damage to human health, especially during fetal development and early childhood. The good news is that you can lower your pesticide exposure by 90 percent simply by avoiding the twelve most contaminated fruits and vegetables, as identified by the EWG. (Get EWG’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce at foodnews.org.) Midwife Elizabeth Davis, author of Orgasmic Birth: Your Guide to a Safe, Satisfying and Pleasurable Birth Experience, suggests buying organic whenever possible, especially dairy products and meats, to reduce exposure to hormones that could affect your baby’s development. As mentioned before in this special 90-year anniversary issue of we, sustainability is one of Weleda’s most important values. People need nature, and when you choose food and personal care products

Parents-to-be feel a tremendous responsibility to their baby’s health and well-being.

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made from organic ingredients, you help support the long-term health of our planet, and future generations.

Clear the Air Surprisingly, the air inside our homes is often more polluted than the air outside. Perfumes often contain phthalates, so when possible, choose fragrance-free products or those made with only natural essential oils, which also boast aromatherapeutic benefits. Another good idea is to choose candles made from oils of soy and coconut instead of paraffin, and open the windows often to let in fresh air. It’s especially important for momsto-be to steer clear of fumes from household cleaning products, which have been linked to health issues, says Davis. Fortunately, many eco-friendly options exist, or you can make your own at home with vinegar and baking soda. Remember that the type of paint you choose for the nursery matters more than the color: Opt for zero-VOC formulas that will not release potentially

harmful volatile organic chemicals into the air. To avoid tracking pesticides indoors, Sorensen recommends taking off your shoes. If pests are a problem, prevent them through good sanitation and food storage habits and by structurally barring their entry. Most importantly, enjoy this special time and remember that no one can do everything, but everyone can do something. “Start out by choosing a few simple steps to take in your own home, and when they become habit, move on to a few more,” says Sorensen. “Just take it day by day. Remember that a healthy diet and regular exercise will help ensure a strong body that’s better able to fight off the effects of environmental exposures.” After all, it’s never too early, or too late, to start reducing your exposure to toxins in the environment—for your health and your baby’s. cr To learn more about Weleda’s Calendula Baby Care and read baby care tips from other parents, visit usa.weleda.com/babytip.

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Approximately 3,500 pounds of Biodynamic® calendula blossoms are harvested every year in Weleda’s Medicinal Plant Garden in Germany.

90 YEARS O F AU NAT UR EL

POMEGRANATE FIRMING FACIAL CARE AGING SKIN

Regenerates your skin for timeless beauty As we get older, our skin seems to slow down. But what if we could help our skin continue to function at its best? We can. Containing a blend of highly effective natural ingredients, Pomegranate Firming Facial Care is the ideal companion to your skin’s natural aging process. Containing organic golden millet, rich in vitamin E, and precious organic pomegranate seed oil, rich in antioxidants and essential fatty acids, it actively aids your skin’s own ability to regenerate and helps reduce signs of aging while protecting from damaging free-radicals. No wonder our Pomegranate Firming Facial Care improves your skin’s elasticity and makes visible wrinkles disappear. It gives your aging skin a new beauty that lasts and lasts.

WHAT WOMEN EXPERIENCED USING OUR POMEGRANATE FIRMING SERUM: WRINKLE REDUCTION INCREASED MOISTURE

+29% after 28 days +39% after 30 minutes

100% CERTIFIED NATURAL SKIN CARE

>Grow with Us!

If only Drs. Rudolf Steiner and Ita Wegman could see us now. When they founded Weleda 90 years ago, they never could have dreamed that one day we would be connecting with thousands of fans every day online. Yes, we may be 90 years old, but we’ve fully embraced Web 2.0. Come be part of our community at facebook.com/weleda and twitter.com/weleda. Let’s grow together! ja

Weleda Pomegranate Firming Facial Care & Regenerating Body Care Get $5.00 OFF any one Pomegranate Firming Facial Care product with the purchase of a full-size Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil. M A N U FA CT U R E R ’ S C O U P O N

EXPIRES 8/31/11

MK-4

Retailer: Weleda will reimburse you the face value of this coupon plus 8¢ handling, provided you and your customer have complied with the terms of this offer. Any other use constitutes fraud. Consumer must pay all applicable taxes. Coupons not properly redeemed will be voided. NO DOUBLING and no reproductions will be accepted. Cash value1/100¢. Limit one coupon per purchase. U.S. retailers send coupons to: WELE/ Universal, P.O. Box 22510, Hollywood, FL 33022- box 222510 Canadian retailers send coupons to: WELE/Universal Unit 7-262, 91 Rylander Blvd., Scarborough, ON M1B 5M5 Canada Coupon valid for: Weleda Pomegranate Firming Serum, 1.0 FL OZ; Pomegranate Firming Day Cream, 1.0 FL OZ; Pomegranate Firming Night Cream, 1.0 FL OZ; Pomegranate Firming Eye Cream, 0.34 FL OZ

Weleda NEW Cleansing Facial Care Get $3.00 OFF the Gentle Cleansing

I’ll always sing your product praises! Your baby line is all that has touched my kids’ skin. –@Cadijordan, via Twitter

Win $150 Worth of Weleda products! In celebration of our 90-year anniversary, we’re giving away $150 worth of Weleda Natural Skin and Body Care to one lucky reader! For a chance to win, tell us: What Are You Doing to Live Sustainably to 90—and Beyond! Share your response by mail or e-mail. We may publish letters in our next issue of we. Send to editor@weleda.com or to we magazine, 1 Closter Rd., Palisades, NY 10964 .For contest rules, visit: usa.weleda.com/footer/terms-andconditions.aspx. Entries must be received by April 1, 2011.

Milk with the purchase of Iris Hydrating Facial Lotion or Day Cream, Wild Rose Smoothing Facial Lotion or Day Cream, or Pomegranate Firming Day Cream.

MANUFACTURER’S COUPON

EXPIRES 8/31/11

MK-5

Retailer: Weleda will reimburse you the face value of this coupon plus 8¢ handling, provided you and your customer have complied with the terms of this offer. Any other use constitutes fraud. Consumer must pay all applicable taxes. Coupons not properly redeemed will be voided. NO DOUBLING and no reproductions will be accepted. Cash value1/100¢. Limit one coupon per purchase. U.S. retailers send coupons to: WELE/Universal, P.O. Box 22510, Hollywood, FL 33022- box 222510 Canadian retailers send coupons to: WELE/ Universal Unit 7-262, 91 Rylander Blvd., Scarborough, ON M1B 5M5 Canada

Weleda Calendula Baby Care Get $2.00 OFF Calendula Face Cream or Calendula Oil with the purchase of a full-size Calendula Diaper Care.

MANUFACTURER’S COUPON

EXPIRES 8/31/11

MK-6

Retailer: Weleda will reimburse you the face value of this coupon plus 8¢ handling, provided you and your customer have complied with the terms of this offer. Any other use constitutes fraud. Consumer must pay all applicable taxes. Coupons not properly redeemed will be voided. NO DOUBLING and no reproductions will be accepted. Cash value1/100¢. Limit one coupon per purchase. U.S. retailers send coupons to: WELE/Universal, P.O. Box 22510, Hollywood, FL 33022- box 222510 Canadian retailers send coupons to: WELE/ Universal Unit 7-262, 91 Rylander Blvd., Scarborough, ON M1B 5M5 Canada

FREE COUPONS INSIDE

We believe beauty isn’t something that’s made in a lab; it’s something that’s cultivated right from the earth. Carefully. Lovingly. And certainly without pesticides or chemicals. Those things aren’t beautiful to us. Look through our ingredients and you will find flowers and herbs. Fruit extracts. Clays. Roots. Minerals. These come together in meaningful products that work with your body’s own natural vitality and ability to nurture and heal.

We have stayed true to our roots. We are Weleda—cultivators of beauty and 100% certified natural baby and skin care products—for you.

For 90 years…

usa.weleda.com/we

1.800.241.1030 editor@weleda.com 1 Closter Road, P.O. Box 675 Palisades, NY 10964

In harmony with nature and the human being

90 Years

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