Dr Hauschka's stance on animal testing.

I was asked today after a treatment about Dr Hauschka's stance on animal testing, and I was astonished!

I knew that Dr Hauschka didn't and don't test on animals, otherwise I would not be using the products on myself or clients, but when I came to look for the information about this, it was hard to find. When I visited the Gardens at Wala, in May this year,  where many of the medicinal plants are grown, we were again told that there is no animal testing, so I wonder why there is no statement on their packaging? 

Anyway, I tracked the information down on their website, and here it is: 

Statement on animal testing

Dr. Hauschka Cosmetics are manufactured at WALA Heilmittel GmbH. WALA Heilmittel’s experience of using natural substances to provide natural care through the biodynamic cultivation of medicinal plants extends back to 1935. The responsible and sustainable development of our products is something that has been at the core of Dr. Hauschka Cosmetics ever since the beginning, back in 1967. Today we are proud to continue to carry this philosophy forward.

Naturally, this means that no animal tests have ever been carried out either by or on behalf of Dr. Hauschka Cosmetics since our founding in 1967.

While Dr. Hauschka has always foregone animal testing, the EU Cosmetics Regulation represented a decisive step forward for animal welfare in the entire cosmetics industry: As a result, tests on animals for cosmetic products and the raw materials required to create them have been completely banned in the EU since 11 March 2013. This is a legally binding ban, i.e. all cosmetics manufacturers within the EU must comply with this legislation.

To produce Dr. Hauschka’s natural cosmetics, we rely on traditional raw materials of natural origin and the highest quality - raw materials which are also often used in the food industry. There is sufficient evidence to support the tolerability and effectiveness of the various plant extracts, oils or waxes we use.  Furthermore, we also commission independent institutes to perform dermatological testing of new cosmetic products on human volunteers prior to launch. These confirm the high tolerability of our products.

As a manufacturer of high-quality certified natural cosmetics, WALA Heilmittel GmbH is particularly committed to ethical responsibility. Within the scope of the biodynamic cultivation of medicinal plants and our controlled organic Demeter farming, we treat animals and our planet in a humane, sustainable and responsible manner.

In addition, the majority of Dr Hauschka products are also suitable for vegans! So I hope this clears that little conundrum up!

Should I have made a New Year's resolution?

Did you make a New Year’s Resolution? I am afraid that I didn’t, as I don’t like being forced into things, but it did make me think about the way we all talk to ourselves and how being kinder when we do that helps us so much. In fact, we probably wouldn’t need to make “resolutions” if we were kinder to ourselves, I think. Notice how I used that word would there? I am totally convinced that we should eliminate Modal verbs from our inner dialogues, because they are some of the ones which cause the most aggro: “I should diet/ I must drink less/ I would exercise more/I ought to work harder but…”  why do they so often get juxtaposed with but, do you think? Probably because we are still rebelling against the “should/would/could/must” that we heard from our tiniest moments: “you must clean your room/you should work harder/ you could have won that/you would have succeeded if you had done x, y or z”. We are naturally questioning and thinking people, so we questioned those statements, and when we hear them again we still question them as the emotions return subconsciously 

Modal verbs generally express theoretical possibility, likelihood, obligation and permission, all of which can be great things, but not if they are imposed on us against our wills. This also means that when we use them, we are not necessarily committing to a course of action and thus they can be delaying tactics. Not a particularly useful attribute for a resolution, I feel.  Interestingly, these verbs are defined as not “inflective” but “defective”, and I don’t think we should be using defective* words against ourselves, or anyone else!

I prefer to hear people say: “I enjoy eating healthily”,” I choose to exercise and enjoy it” “I am happy drinking less” (alcohol, not water!) ”I am enjoying taking care of my skin”.  Positive affirmations like these are easier for the brain - which is a very literal being - to process and cope with. Modal verbs cause confusion and might mess up your resolutions. Perhaps, if we stopped using them, to ourselves and others, life would be easier and more pleasant. Maybe we should?

*For sticklers: actually this just means that they don’t have an infinitive form, but I thought it was significant anyway.