Demeter certification
In general, natural cosmetics means products made from more natural raw materials and, by that claim, gentler on people and the environment than conventional cosmetics. Non-natural ingredients such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), silicones, parabens, synthetic fragrances, paraffins and other petroleum products are excluded. Martina Gebhardt defines natural cosmetics even more narrowly: all of her products come from biodynamic agriculture – so they are Demeter-certified. What does that mean? “Demeter works to strict guidelines that go back to Rudolf Steiner’s agricultural course in 1924,” explains Martina Gebhardt. “The Demeter cosmetics guidelines are regarded worldwide as the strictest rules for high-quality organic products.” Customers looking for mild, well-tolerated, sustainable care from biodynamic Demeter raw materials particularly value these products.
This association keeps people and their needs in view and meets ecological, economic and social responsibility equally. Demeter-International currently has 18 members and five guest members from Europe, Asia, America, Africa and New Zealand. It stands for around 5,000 producers with more than 170,000 ha of farmland in over 50 countries. Fair prices and social commitment are shared fields of work.
For Demeter it is not only about working in harmony with nature, but also with the cosmos. Sowing, harvest and production take the course of the stars, such as the sun and moon, into account. Paracelsus, Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, and Rudolf Steiner studied this in different ways and showed how these energetic states can be used. For biodynamic farming, the effects can be demonstrated scientifically through long-term research (the DOK trial).
The Demeter guidelines for natural cosmetics require that at least 66% of the ingredients come from certified biodynamic agriculture. The remaining ingredients must be organic quality. Exceptions: water, minerals, salt and emulsifier. These are the strictest guidelines worldwide for food and cosmetics. We are the only natural cosmetics manufacturer in the world that offers 100% of its products in Demeter quality.
Cosmetics without animal testing
The “Hare with the protecting hand” seal, which MG Naturkosmetik also uses, is awarded by the Internationaler Herstellerverband tierschutzgeprüfte Naturkosmetik, Kosmetik und Naturwaren e.V. (IHTN) and was introduced as an internationally registered trademark in 1979. It was created for the cosmetics industry, with a focus on natural cosmetics, but also for decorative cosmetics and detergents. Companies whose products carry this seal produce entirely to strict guidelines. The basic requirement is production without animal testing. No product may contain raw materials obtained from animals that were killed or made to suffer. Companies must also submit a full list of raw materials with suppliers and declare all ingredients on the products or in catalogues.
If you want to be sure about natural cosmetics, look for certified natural cosmetics. Martina Gebhardt relies on Demeter certification and the IHTN seal: the “Hare with the protecting hand” guarantees that all products with this seal are 100 percent free from animal testing. Every certified natural cosmetic must follow that seal’s rules. Permitted ingredients and animal testing are regulated separately by each seal.
Not all MG Naturkosmetik products are vegan. Many creams contain animal-derived ingredients such as beeswax, honey or lanolin as a natural emulsifier. They are natural and vegetarian, but not vegan. All tonics, lotions, cleansers, masks, oils and the dental care range are 100 percent vegan. The IHTN seal still guarantees that all products, vegan or vegetarian, are made without animal testing.
Animal testing and the marketing of products tested on animals have been banned in the EU since 2009 under Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
COSMOS Natural
The COSMOS Standard signature is a consumer guarantee for organic and natural cosmetics you can trust. To date, over 22,000 products in 70 countries bear the COSMOS ORGANIC or COSMOS NATURAL signature.
ÖKO-TEST
Green Award 2022
