We recently paid a visit to Green People, one of our top brands when it comes to organic bodycare products. We were invited to take a look behind the scenes and also received a number of intensive and exciting product training courses. Calling on Green People immediately reminds us why we have included the company in our range.

Why Amanvida loves Green People?

Green People came into being when the daughter of founder Charlotte Vohtz started to suffer from skin problems. Amanprana was found on the same motives, as the company was born out of the research that Bart and Chantal conducted into allergies and concentration problems in order to cure their daughter, Maxime. And that surely the best and most sincere incentive there is.

Green People is a pioneer in the field of organic cosmetics, and the brand has been around for almost two decades. Charlotte was already convinced of the importance of natural bodycare products before there was even a demand for them.

Green People only uses active and organic ingredients. The product developers combine the best of Mother Nature with the best of science. In other words, the company only uses natural ingredients whose efficacy is supported by scientific research.

Green People focuses on good cause, and 10% of its net profits are donated to organisations such as Penny Brohn Cancer Care and the Marine Conservation Society.

Green People markets itself as ‘sensitive skin experts’ because their products are perfect for everybody, no matter how sensitive your skin.

Green People and Pondtail Farm

The Green People headquarters is located in Horsham, a little over an hour from London. The company is based at Pondtail Farm, a small, idyllic and vacant farm where butterflies are raised and animals graze freely, allowing all the companies on the farm and their staff to operate in a tranquil environment. In fact, a weekly yoga lesson is offered to the staff on the grassy fields next to the Green People house!

Sue Losson, our contact at Green People, bid us a hearty welcome and introduced us to all the staff. The team that keeps their online whop up and running was very impressive. After a great lunch we were introduced to Ian Thomas and Emily. Ian is the chemist who, together with Charlotte Vohtz, develops all of Green People’s products and he clearly explained the company’s underlying philosophy to us. Then Emily, a six year veteran of Green People, conducted a number of product training courses with us.

Green People means No Nasties

You may have already seen it stated on the lists of ingredients for Green People products: Green People always proudly lists what their products don’t contain. No nasties. This aspect is as important to them as what the products do contain.

What does No Nasties mean for Green People?

Green People products are never tested on animals and never contain SLS (sodium lauryl), parabens, lanoline, phthalates, propylene glycol, alcohol (ethyl alcohol, ethanol), harmful chemical foaming agents, skin-irritating emulsifiers, synthetic fragrances, petrochemicals, methylisothiazolinone (MI), urea, DEA, TEA or PEGs.

SLS: a foaming agent that is frequently added to shampoos, shower gels and toothpastes. Constant use of products containing SLS results in an irritated, itchy and dry skin as well as mouth abscesses.

Parabens: a chemical preservative that is included in 90% of cosmetics and bodycare products. In Denmark, where Green People manufactures its products, the use of two types of parabens is prohibited by law in products intended for children. Parabens have oestrogen-like effects and have been linked to breast cancer.

Phthalates: a plasticiser used in plastic to prevent it from hardening. Phthalates disrupt the endocrinal balance (studies on animals have shown that male animals exhibit female characteristics as a result of phthalates). They also affect the development of the nervous system, which makes it even more important that the products you buy for your baby or child are free of phthalates. You can rest assured when you buy Green People’s Organic Babies and Organic Children: they are free of plasticisers.

Ethyl alcohol: used as a preservative but dehydrates your skin. It dissolves the natural layer of oil on your skin, causing it to dry out, become more sensitive and increasingly susceptible to bacteria and other harmful organisms and elements.

Petrochemicals: when you apply petrochemicals to your skin it is just like wrapping yourself in cling film – your skin cannot breathe. Petrochemicals are added to bodycare products because they make your skin and hair feel soft and ‘water resistant’. But the result is that they block your pores and dehydrate your skin.

Synthetic fragrances: synthetic fragrances are the most common cause of skin allergy reactions. These synthetic fragrances are often described as ‘perfume’ in the list of ingredients, and the skin absorbs them very easily so that they quickly find their way into your bloodstream.

When we were trained to use the different products it was explained very clearly that Green People does not use these products because they are detrimental to the moisture content of the skin and its workings. The moisture in your skin contains nutrients that nourish new skin cells, and the objective of Green People products is to bolster this nourishment.

Why choose Green People?

We certainly won’t deny that our visit to Green People and the fact that we have been selling their products for years have maybe made us a little biased. To be honest, every member of the Amanvida team has at least a few Green People products in their bathroom cabinets.

Even if you’re still not a dedicated Green People fan, we’d like to point out a few facts to make it clear why organic bodycare products are so important – even if you don’t automatically select Green People.

With thanks to Sue, Charlotte, Ian and Emily for their wonderful welcome and fascinating product training courses.

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