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Expert in Creating Green and Balanced Spaces |
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Product Review and Interview with Eve Stahl, Owner and Creator of Garden of Eve
Product Review I've been using numerous Garden of Eve products for about a month now and love them! I have acne-prone skin, so have been using the cleanser, toner and moisturizer for my skin type. I have been using natural/organic skin care products for years, but I like Eve's products more than what I have been using and plan to switch to them. For example, the moisturizer is light, absorbs easily and smells great. Also, the mud mask is fantastic! The mask removed excess oil and left my face feeling bright and clean. I tried a number of the hand and body creams and liked them all very much. All absorbed easily, did not leave any greasy residue and they really made my hands soft--no small feat for winter abused skin. The Rejuvenating Eye Cream is another winner. Absorbs easily, and easy to apply because it's light weight. I highly recommend Eve's products! Interview Norma: Why did you start Garden of Eve Skin Care? Eve: As a health consultant and herbalist clients came to me with persistent symptoms of allergies, bronchitis, skin rashes, headaches and other minor annoyances that pointed toward sensitivities to synthetic chemicals. Regardless of cleaning up their eating plan, it was only after switching to body care products that did not contain synthetic chemicals that their symptoms would clear. Being chemically sensitive myself I knew there was a need for clean products, free from harmful synthetic ingredients. Norma: How did you become aware that you were chemically sensitive? Was there an event that set it off or made it apparent? Eve: While I was working as a program analyst, the office suite that I worked in was refurbished with toxic carpet fibers and glue. The carpeting project continued for more than a month. I soon found that I was going home from work with a headache, stomach ache, nausea, blurred vision. I was truly not safe driving on the road. Each day fellow employees were asking one another ‘How did you feel last night?’ Responses were ‘I had a headache, my stomach hurt.’ They would conclude “It’s just the glue.” Meanwhile I was thinking “It’s definitely the glue! That stuff is toxic!” I would spend my entire weekend trying to detoxify from my 40 hour toxic work week. I had become very ill. My immune system was overwhelmed. I realized that the sick building had set off numerous health problems and my immune system was too challenged for me to regain my health while I remained at that office. I developed fibro-myalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, a wide range of chemical and food sensitivities and borderline diabetes. I knew that I had to work quickly to regain my health. It was a long and eventful road back to health. Although I have lived a life focused on good health practices, eating quality whole foods free from synthetic ingredients and preservatives and kept my home free of toxic cleaning products, at that point I needed to learn more about how to repair health as opposed to maintaining good health. I focused on cleansing and rebuilding. I realized the importance of the vital life force in everything we eat and put on our body. It was clear to me that what doesn’t build health will break it down. The use of nature’s plants made the most significant improvements for me. I studied herbalism in depth and the use of the essential oils of plants. Today, I always seek foods and herbs that are available in a form that retains their vital force uncompromised. This is what I teach people to look for in their food; and this is a prime criteria when I choose ingredients for my Garden of Eve skin care products. Norma: Many people understand that what they eat impacts their health, but they don’t understand the importance of choosing equal purity in what they put on their skin. What are the benefits of using natural and organic skin care products? Eve:The benefits of using products that are free from harmful synthetic chemicals are both immediate and long term. Short term benefits are less likelihood of skin irritations, allergies, headaches, asthma. As for long term benefits, there is scientific evidence that many synthetic ingredients used in body care products may cause cancer, birth defects, infertility, kidney and liver disease. In depth information and references can be found on the environmental working group’s cosmetic database http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/ Whatever we put on our skin enters the body through our pores and courses through our circulatory system having the potential to reach every cell in our body. Therefore it is especially important to scrutinize ingredients when selecting body care products just as we do when choosing our food. What is special about using plants for our skin care is that they are living substances. They contain a vital life energy. It is what differentiates living matter from synthetically derived matter. Plants are composed of the same vitamins, minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids, enzymes and hormones that we are. Our body recognizes plants as nutrition. We can safely eat most of them, use them in body care products and diffuse their oils for therapeutic benefits. Plants are best used in their natural whole form. All of the constituents of the plant must be present in their proper, natural balance for them to be in optimal support of our purpose. When elements of a plant are extracted or compromised during processing, the plant no longer acts as was intended. The wisdom of the plant is lost. Side effects may occur because it is no longer the true plant. A primary principle to consider is life responds to life. Our bodies receive and respond to the energies of plants. When the energy of the plant interacts with our energy our vital life force is enhanced. On the contrary, synthetic ingredients are “man made” chemicals devoid of life. The body recognizes that they are different from nature’s plants and one’s own chemistry. The immune system registers this as foreign, possibly toxic matter and may respond with an allergic reaction. Anything you put on your skin you should be able to eat…you actually are ingesting it! This is why many of the ingredients in natural skin care products are the same wholesome foods included in a holistic health plan e.g. vegetable oils, pure water, honey, oats, herbs, seaweed. Using natural ingredient products is also important for the health of our planet. Synthetic chemicals that are used in body care products, household cleaners and laundry products eventually ends up in our streams and rivers from the discharge of wastewater from sewage treatment which does not remove petro-chemical compounds. This not only contaminates our land and water, it in turn ends up in our food supply ..and so the cycle continues. Norma: How do you develop your formulations? Eve: My work is based on both historical information of therapeutic plant properties and my experience working with these plants. Intuition and guidance play into the process. As an herbalist I have an understanding and appreciation of nature’s plants. I believe by going to nature for our beauty care we can nourish the skin in a totally wholesome, non-toxic, risk free manner. My guiding natural principle is to give the skin the nourishment it needs and it will balance and rebuild itself. Tuning in to how plants work synergistically is both a valuable art and a science. This is the essence of the magic of Garden of Eve. Norma: I noticed that you offer non-scented products which I think is great. Can you give me any customer feedback on them? Eve: First, please understand that none of my products contain synthetic scents or fragrance oils. Garden of Eve products are formulated with all natural steam distilled essential oils and hydrosols of plants that are organically grown or wild crafted. I choose each ingredient for the beneficial skin properties; their scents are incidental to my formulas. This form of scent is harmless to most people and in fact it is beneficial. However, some people’s systems are highly sensitive and easily overwhelmed by scent – even natural scent. Therefore I make all of my products available in a no scent version. Here is one customer’s comment. “I am very sensitive to scents. Eve’s Wise Woman Emollient – no scent keeps my skin supple, toned and looking refreshed. I am grateful to find a ‘no scent’ product that is so effective.” Sheena G. Charlottesville,VA Norma: Why do you offer products specifically for expectant and lactating mothers? Are their needs different? Eve: During pregnancy there are safety considerations worth heeding in order to protect the health and stability of the fetus. Where the use of the essential oils of plants is concerned, there has been some confusion and some misleading information. Pre- pregnancy and pregnancy is a special time to honor the health of a new life coming in. Proper selection and use of herbs and flowers can enhance the health and strength of mother and fetus. Some plants’ functions are considered to be contrary to the optimal support of life during this precious time. Herbal plants are specialized foods. It is important to respect the specific functions of each herb. Some herbs function as emmenagogues which bring on menstruation. This is not a good choice while wanting to conceive or during the first trimester. Some herbs are beneficial during labor. I therefore formulated products that would not possibly interfere with maintaining a safe, healthy pregnancy. They are delightful blends and suitable for all skin types. Norma: What green efforts do you take in producing and packaging your products.? Eve: Starting with the product ingredients, we use natural ingredients that when washed down our drains will not contaminate our soil and waterways. We source our ingredients from fair trade and sustainable companies. We package our products in glass containers that can be reused or recycled. Our packaging materials for shipping are mostly reused – either from what comes in with our supplies or collected from local stores. When it is necessary to purchase packaging materials, biodegradable or recycled materials are selected. For printing in house we use post consumer waste paper. Out sourced promotional materials are printed on post-consumer waste paper with soy base ink. That is what qualifies Garden of Eve as ‘Skin Care that Cares for Our Planet.’ Norma: Where can people find your products? Eve: My products are available online at www.garden-of-eve.com . Companies seeking an affiliate relationship can visit www.gardenofeveskincare.com .
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Harmonious Environment |
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