European brands of hygiene products ? Help please !

[missbelgium]

Mainly for health reasons but of course with the animal testing thing in mind... I want to switch back to healthier hygiene products (soap, shampoo, deodorant, ...) but don't want to buy Body Shop anymore since they "sold out" to the enemy and I don't trust them anymore. We have Weleda here which is pretty good but extremely expensive. Any other ideas ? Can I trust Kneipp for instance ? (they are sold in mainstream drugstores so I'm not sure).

(I used Body Shop a lot in the past but somehow went back to the easier option over time).

Been on this track because of suspected auto-immune problems which I have a tendency to partially blame on chemicals/additives in the usual commercial products... I have started an elimination process, hoping to tackle the root of the problem.

Thanks for any input !

[Schoska]

I've used Yves-Rocher in the past and been pleased (they're not vegan though).
Kruidvat don't test their own brand products on animals.

I can't think of any others off the top of my head at the moment.
You could try Bio-Planet, oh and HEMA.


Right, just asked a friend in Keerbergen and she says to try:

www.biteback.be

Apparently they have a searchable database of products that are not tested. Not sure about if they are vegan though.

[missbelgium]

I am primarily looking for products with a minimum of additives and chemicals. The fact they're not tested on animals is a nice bonus of course. We use Hema products a lot, but I think they're just ordinary commercial line. Correct me if I'm wrong... Will have a look at that link, too.
Kruidvat sounds like an interesting option, will have a look there, too. They have only one store on my side of Brussels though (in Woluwe Shopping Centre).

[freebird]

nature's gate, jason's, kissmyface, alba (i LOVE alba)--i can get them all at our local grocery store--HEB, Sunharvest.

[missbelgium]

None of these brands are available in Europe. That's why I asked. LOL !

[Diana]

missbelgium:

Weleda are not only pretty good as you say, but they're excellent. You can't go wrong with them. No chemicals, no preservatives, no artificial colouring, and not tested on animals. That is why they are expensive. But I trust their products 100%. Their products are also recommended by a lot of anthroposophic doctors and naturopaths. Their products are frequently not only organic, but biodynamic and that is unique I think in the world.

Kneipp uses chemicals in many of their products. I don't like them. They do not respect Kneipps philosophy. He was a great man but he's been long dead (about 100 years?).

If you want to order on-line, I have a friend who orders products from this website: http://www.spiritofnature.co.uk/acatalog/organic_cosmetics.html and she's happy with them.

Back to Weleda: What is amazing about Weleda is that they are not only interested in skin products. They are really keen on HOLISTIC care. Check out their website www.weleda.com . The Rudolf Steiner influence is very present and very powerful. So their products work not only on the cosmetic outer layer, they have a whole PHILOSOPHY behind them which works on a deeper level than just skin-deep.

[missbelgium]

Hm. Yes. Diana... You convinced me to go back to Weleda I think. I know the philosophy (my grandfather used to run the first health food shop in Belgium, back in the 1920's) and I read their pamphlets etc. when I got the bath products for my daughter (when she was a newborn). I'll have to double buy then, since my companion uses an awful lot of soap every day and I am definitely NOT going to give him Weleda to use... ugh ! (I have tried to discuss this with him many times, he has a tendency of wasting things, not just bath products but everything, but he doesn't want to change his habits...).
I had this suspicion of Kneipp, indeed. I think it's horrible how these big brands abuse of the world "natural" all the time, when they contain maybe 2% of plant extracts (they say), or simply in the brand name. Using a person's name (even a dead person) to confer some false "aura" to a range of products is even worse. I worked in PR and marketing for 10 years... worked with Reckitt & Colman, Procter & Gamble, the big soapers, so I know how it works, and find it disgusting.

[Diana]

Soap. You know if you can find a 100% natural soap where you live, it can easily replace shampoo. Most shampoos are not very good for hair and if your partner does not have long hair, it's very practical to use soap. One product for body and hair. I often use soap (I have very dry hair) and it works beautifully.

[~Luna~]

Isn`t Nivea European? Urtekram (I happened to find their Rose Conditioner in sale, yay, as I have to use quite a lot of conditioners) is Danish as far as I know. At least here in Finland they sell Finnish brands like Lumene and Herbina, which are said to be enviromentally-friendly but I`m totally unaware whether they sell those elsewhere :D

[dopedanny]

have you tried lush? http://www.lush.co.uk/index.php

all the stuff is vegetarian, lots of it is vegan, its all natural (so they say) and not tested on animals. I've spotted shops in a france and germany, but they do mail order if there isnt one nearby.

[missbelgium]

Anyone know or have experience with Lavera ? They say they are natural too...

Nivea is German I think (unless Kraft or Philip Morris bought it in the meantime) but it isn't natural by a long shot. The Scandinavian brands are not available here as far as I know. We really need a unified European market for this stuff ! (I'm all for supporting the local economy but what if there's nothing to be had...).

I have a friend who knows how to make her own lotions & stuff but she doesn't have time right now. She made all my anti-stretch mark lotion when I was pregnant and it worked wonders, I have not one single stretch mark (could be I have good skin of course, LOL).

[Diana]

I've never heard of Lavera but after reading their website, they seem pretty okay. Can you buy it Belgium?

Nivea is nasty stuff.

[missbelgium]

Yes, Lavera is available from a main chain drugstore here (Di, property of Delhaize supermarkets). They're more expensive than the regular stuff but they sounded OK to me too, organic & all. I'll probably combine Weleda and Lavera then. I'll give you all some reviews once I've tried a few products !

[Raquelle]

I don't know if you have Original Source there but it's a great brand I use. Most of their products are vegan apart from the Tea Tree and Lavender and Spearmint bar soaps. They are registered by the Vegan Society.

Please have a look at their website:
http://www.originalsource.co.uk/home

[missbelgium]

Ooooh that looks good ! I don't think they deliver/sell outside the UK but I could ask a friend of mine out there to get them for me and send them by parcel post. Thanks !

[Raquelle]

Ooooh that looks good ! I don't think they deliver/sell outside the UK but I could ask a friend of mine out there to get them for me and send them by parcel post. Thanks !

I went through the checkout process on the website and you can select which country you are in (I assume Belgium) and this was listed. I think most countries are listed. You would need a credit card obviously if you buy off their website and also you would be charged in GBP not in Euros but this would be converted by your credit card company.

The products are great. They smell so good and fresh. I use the Mint shower gel the most and boy does it wake you up!