Youth Enhancing Facial Care Formulas

Interested in helping your skin look vibrant and youthful? Wedge Worldwide would love to tell you about a few special facial care products from Dr. Hauschka that will bring out the beauty in your skin. Hauschka's Firming Mask is an intensive mask that hydrates and deeply nurtures the skin (the ideal thing for lack luster, end-of-winter-complexions). Personally, I also relish using this mask as a facial moisturizer on days when I'd like to look my best. Firming Mask does an amazing job at temporarily diminishing puffiness, and it softens fine lines and wrinkles. Not only will you look fantastic, you'll also be strengthening the collagen and elastin in your skin thereby supporting it's overall resilience! Firming Mask is gentle, doesn't irritate my sensitive skin and tightens my pores as it moisturizes.

Luckily for us, Hauschka, in their infinite wisdom, has also developed a moisturizer specifically for toning the delicate eye area. Their Daily Revitalizing Eye Cream contains pineapple fruit extract, which is not only rich in vitamins and minerals, but also smoothes wrinkles and fine lines. This formula deeply hydrates and is absorbed quickly and completely, so there is no need to worry about eyeliner or mascara smearing.

Firming Mask and Daily Revitalizing Eye Cream are an excellent choice for those with mature skin, but women and men of any age can happily enjoy their benefits! Wedge Worldwide is committed to offering the purest, highest quality, all natural body care available. The facial and body care items from Hauschka are a great example of what we look for in the products that we carry. Hauschka's manufacturer WALA Heilmittel has been working with healing plant and mineral extracts since the 1940s. Their thirty-five years of pioneering work in holistic esthetics have allowed them to create the purest, most effective natural skin care preparations available. Dr. Hauschka carefully chooses every plant and mineral ingredient that goes into their products based on its individual effects and the way it interacts with other ingredients. Finding ecologically and ethically sound sources for their raw ingredients is also important to this forward thinking company.

written by Shannon

Great New Products For Combination and Sensitive Skin

We are happy to announce that we have brought in yet another exceptional, extremely pure and natural facial care line at Wedge Worldwide. Allow us to introduce you to Suki Naturals, a collection of ultra-pure, facial care items that will make your skin sing.

Suki was started by Suki Kramer who grew up with severe eczema. Having difficulty finding facial and body care products that would help her troubled, delicate skin, Suki experimented with making her own herbal preparations and skin formulas. Her blends improved with each batch and eventually, her skin radically improved. Suki's holistic, effective and gentle formulas resulted in Suki Naturals, products made for all skin conditions, but with sensitive types like her in mind. Suki Natural's skin and body care line are truly natural products with pure botanical ingredients preserved with essential oils, and contain no synthetic ingredients. Extracts of the most potent parts of healing plants are used to maximize the effectiveness and strength of Suki's unique products. Standardized botanicals perform specific functions such as cell regeneration, anti-inflammation, anti-bacterial, detoxification and antiseptic action.

As always, we have tried and tested these products ourselves here at Wedge Worldwide and have a few favorites that we would love to recommend to you. Personally, I have combination skin, which means that my face tends to be both oily and normal or oily and dry, depending on the season. Naturally, I was pleased to come across products from Suki that were perfect for my skin type.

Let's start off with Suki's Exfoliating Lemongrass Cleanser with chamomile and vitamin C. First of all I love the all-natural scent of this cleanser! It brings to mind fresh lemon aid or delicious lemon curd. The gently exfoliating granules are made from grains of organic sugar and gently melt as you massage them into your skin. My face feels smooth and clean after using this cleanser, not harshly stripped of it's natural oils. Suki says that their Lemongrass Cleanser increases cell turnover & unlike damaging glycolics, utilizes natural, safe AHA's & BHA's, awakening a fresh, new layer of skin safely and gently. I found that with continued use of this product my skin tone looked more even, my skin remained hydrated and the T-zone area of my face that tends towards oiliness was more balanced and less prone to break outs.

Another thing that we appreciate about Suki Naturals is their commitment to causing the least impact on the earth in all of their business practices. They are also leaders in the personal care industry and have set standards for purity in personal care that equal our food standards. Neither Suki Naturals, nor their suppliers, test on animals. And, our vegetarian and vegan friends will be happy to know that many of Suki's products are vegan!

Wedge Worldwide Talks With One Of the Leaders In the Fair Trade Body Care Movement

Olowo-n'djo Tchala, the founder of Alaffia was in town recently to speak with several of the food co-ops in the Twin Cities area about the philosophy behind the great body care products his company produces. Olowo-n'djo is a tall, engaging, warm-hearted man who's kindness and enthusiasm are contagious. His generosity even extended to cooking us all a traditional African meal that was just delicious!

When Olowo-n'djo was developing Alaffia, he had a big vision. He sought a way to support those living in Togo, Africa, a place where he himself grew up in poverty, that would be culturally, spiritually, economically and ecologically sustainable, all while improving the community. Alaffia is the Fair Trade enterprise that Olowo-n'djo, along with his wife Rose, developed to do just this.

Even though many Africans live in a state of abject poverty, their continent is abundant in natural resources. Olowo-n'djo decided that shea butter was the answer that he was looking for. As he states on his website,"(Shea) is a renewable resource of African origin; shea trees are wild, requiring no chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Furthermore, it is an integral part of many savanna communities and, consequently, there is a wealth of local and traditional knowledge of making shea butter." In fact, Olowo-n'djo grew up collecting shea nuts when he was a child in order to make extra money for his family, so he learned through personal experience that collecting shea nuts is very labor intensive. Producing 1 kg of handcrafted shea butter takes twenty to thirty hours of work. Shea trees can be five to ten miles apart from each other which can add up to a lot of walking to gather nuts. Once the nuts are collected, they are pounded, ground, whipped and clarified over low heat by hand. Alaffia uses traditional extraction processes for their shea butter products, unlike many other commercial shea butters made with hexanes or other petroleum products.

Olowo-n'djo spoke with us about some of the grim difficulties that his fellow Africans grapple with on a daily basis. The life expectancy in Africa is 41 years of age and 50% of the people there survive on $1 per day. Many suffer from AIDS and other devastating illnesses, and have difficulty receiving the health care that they need. He also told us that deforestation has been a large problem, having lost 5.3 million hectares in the 1990's for example. Olowo-n'djo believes poverty is the true cause of these limitations. Fair Trade offers solutions by paying fair wages and being environmentally responsible. In addition, Alaffia and many other companies who are part of the Fair Trade Federation are fully accountable organizations; all of their books and profit information are easily accessible to the public.

Encountering someone like Olowo-n'djo and a great organization such as Alaffia gives me hope for the future. Alaffia not only provides Fair Trade employment for women in West Africa they are also involved in a whole slew of community empowerment projects that support African mothers and school children, and the environment. Like the African school children pictured to the left who received new school desks from Alaffia. Read more about Alaffia and their community projects here. Stop on in to Wedge Worldwide to experience the divineness of their hand-made shea butter or check out all of the great Alaffia products that include hand, face and body lotions, a variety of delicious soaps, shampoos and more. Olowo-n'djo stated during his talk that if all of the products that come from Africa were produced under Fair Trade guidelines, eventually Africa would not need financial assistance from other countries and could build a vibrant economy and stable, healthy way of life for its people. Bring this dream one step closer to reality by supporting Alaffia!

Weleda's Pure, Organic, Biodynamic Body Care

All of us who work at Wedge Worldwide feel a special fondness for the great body care products from the German-based company Weleda. Each item they produce is a super-pure, all-natural gem that is effective and an absolute pleasure to use.

Founded in 1921, Weleda has pioneered the use of biodynamic and organic ingredients in the personal care industry. Biodynamics is a holistic, sustainable form of agriculture that could be considered a step above organic practices. All Weleda formulations are free of synthetic additives, preservatives, colorants and fragrances, mineral oils, and parabens. Their pure fragrances consist exclusively of natural essential oils. For the past 80 years, Weleda has adhered to these original quality standards, continuing to use biodynamic and organic ingredients to create its unique preparations. And of course, Weleda and their suppliers do not test their ingredients or products on animals.

For instance, one of the most beautiful body care oils I have ever come across is Weleda's Rose Body Oil. I gave it to my best friend one year for her birthday and when she called to thank me she said, "My god I love this stuff, the smell is incredible! I hide it from the rest of my family and am rationing it so it will last as long as possible." This oil is a special, nurturing treat. It is divine as a body moisturizer, for massage or for adding a few teaspoons to a hot bath. The aroma is pretty delectable; a rosy, warm, scent with subtle musk-like undertones. It's like rubbing liquefied rose petals over your skin.

I'm also a big fan of Weleda's Everon Lip Balm. It is fantastic at protecting and healing very dry and chapped lips and the healthy amount of shea butter added to it packs an extra moisturizing punch. So this is the perfect item to have on hand during dry, windy and cold winter months as well as to heal lips that have been over-exposed to the sun in the summer. The delicious rose and vanilla scent derived from all-natural essential oils make this balm smell good enough to eat!!

Another extra moisturizing skin saving delicacy is Weleda's Skin Food. This is a huge year-round customer favorite for us that its devotees swear by. Skin Food can be used anywhere on the body for healing and moisturizing extremely dry skin, but many love to use it mainly as a hand cream. This formula contains lanolin which is a substance obtained from shorn sheep's wool. The wool is press between rollers in order to express this wax-like substance. Lanolin can be helpful for treating chapped lips, diaper rash, dry skin, itchy skin, rough feet, minor cuts, minor burns and skin abrasions. It easily absorbs into the skin and has even been known to have antibacterial-like properties.

I've used and loved Weleda's toothpaste for years. These products are some of the most natural toothpaste available on the market! All of these mouth care products are sodium lauryl sulfate free. SLS is a sudsing agent that may cause various forms of skin irritation and some have speculated that it could be hazardous to human health. Although this matter is still being debated it is interesting to note that when products foam or suds this is not a sign that true cleaning is occurring. There actually is no real point to those bubbles or foam except that they may give us the illusion of cleanliness. Check out my staff review (simply click on the red review link in the upper right hand corner) for Weleda's Salt Toothpaste. Once you try it, it might become your favorite too!

While we're talking about safe body care ingredients, let me mention the superb, pure and clean Weleda deodorants. These products are in an alcohol base and loaded with natural essential oils that refresh the skin and get rid of unwanted bacteria. Best of all, these deodorants are propylene glycol free. Propylene glycol is an ingredient that is often found in deodorants which makes deodorants effective by acting to block the pores in the sweat glands. Many people have started to question the safety of arresting the body's natural ability to perspire and eliminate toxins. Not to mention creating stagnation in the body's lymph systems under the arms. I have found the Weleda deodorants to be extremely effective at keeping me feeling fresh and sweet-smelling all day long. I love the elegant and easily recycled glass bottles that they come in too! Take a look at the available scents of Sage, Citrus, or Wild Rose.

And hey, men, we have something just for you! Weleda makes a wonderful assortment of body care products for men. And our customers tell us that they're excited by their high-quality, wonderful masculine scents and effectiveness. Wedge Worldwide offers Weleda's Shaving Cream, After Shave Balm and facial Moisture Cream for Men. All of these items also make great, sure to be appreciated gifts!

In addition to Weleda's products being delightful and excellent, they also are big supporters of Fair Trade. Their pure plant extracts and ingredients are harvested throughout the world, either from their own biodynamic medicinal plant gardens or through contractual partnerships with farmers. They work with local farmers, helping them to convert their conventional farms into sustainable, organic agriculture. Weleda believes that fair prices, determined and accepted by both sides, create long-term partnerships based on cooperation, mutual trust and respect. Through building Fair Trade agreements, Weleda offers economic and social support to the communities they partner with. Such practices uphold Weleda's founding virtue, "In harmony with nature and the human being."

Evanhealy Facial Care For Sensitive Skin

My skin is ultra particular about what I can put on it. Many of even the highest quality, all-natural facial creams cause my sensitive skin to easily break out and become red and irritated. That's why I love this cream from evanhealy called Blue Chamomile Day Moisturizer. It's moisturizing, yet it soaks in quickly and is not at all oily. This cream also incorporates the healing properties of essential oils like blue chamomile, excellent for inflammation, redness or puffiness, and lavender which has great toning and pore cleansing properties.

My face has combination skin that can tend towards both oiliness and dryness. It's hard for me to find a moisturizer that can treat the dryness without clogging my pores. I often recommend Blue Chamomile Day Moisturizer to customers who are looking for a natural alternative to traditional drug-store-type non-comogenic (non-pore clogging) facial creams. This evanhealy product is great for all skin types, not just sensitive folks like me! Others who may be interested in trying it would be those who suffer from eczema, psoriasis or rosacea.

I feel that this moisturizer is an excellent choice for men, too, especially those who tend to have irritated skin or ingrown hairs from shaving - and also teenagers or any of us who are prone to acne. (Speaking of break outs, I’ve tried, tested and given my thumbs up to evanhealy's Tea Tree Gel Cleanser.)

If you want to pamper and give your skin even more TLC, try adding evanhealy's Lavender Facial Tonic Hydrosol into your daily facial care routine. Simply spray this product on in the morning and evening after you wash your face, then your skin is ready to be moisturized. I press the tonic into my face and allow it to air-dry which only takes a few seconds. Toning the skin in this way helps to keep your pores clean and your complexion healthy and vibrant.

Here’s a tip for those with dry skin. Spray a tiny puddle of toner into one of your cupped palms, add a few drops of evanhealy's Blue Chamomile Rosehip Treatment Facial Oil, rub your hands together and gently press this mixture into your face. The oil and water absorb instantly into your skin adding a light, protective layer of moisture. This is an ideal way to nourish your face any time throughout the day. I also often use this method during dry winter days in addition to the cream I put on in the morning and evening or in the hot summer months when I want an extremely light moisturizer. In addition, adding a few drops of Rosehip Treatment Oil into a dollop of your face cream is a wonderful way to bring some extra moisturizing oomph to your skin when it is in need.

For dry or aging skin, I recommend evanhealy's Rose Vetiver Day Moisturizer, Rose Geranium Facial Tonic Hydrosol and Rose Vetiver Rosehip Treatment Facial Oil.

Dr. Hauschka's Rhythmic Night Conditioner

One of my all-time favorite facial care products that I'd love to tell you all about is Dr. Hauschka's Rhythmic Night Conditioner. For me this potion-like substance really has some kind of magical, mysterious effect on my skin that is actually noticeable overnight. I know this sounds over zealous perhaps, like one of those bad wrinkle cream advertisements in non-politically correct women's magazines, but I'm not fibbing! Of course results may vary from person to person and Hauschka actually suggests that Rhythmic Night Conditioner be used for a period of ten days up to one month in order for it to be most effective. But I tend to notice results immediately. Some of the effects this elixir has on my skin is it helps my face look clearer, it evens out the tones and removes blotchiness, it noticeably tightens and shrinks pores and fine lines (love this) and helps to rapidly clear up acne and minimizes break-out redness. It also reduces puffiness, under eye circles and imparts a lovely glow. Predictably after I use this product for 1-3 days people start telling me how nice my skin looks.

Hauschka recommends the use of Rhythmic Night Conditioner during changes of the season, travel, stress or any time that your skin might be going through a transition period or needing a little extra boost. For myself I tend to use it for several days before an event that I want to look great for or when I feel a tad disgruntled by my reflection in the mirror.

The substances in this product are pretty fascinating as well. Hauschka is a company that makes holistic facial and body care products that contain many organic and biodynamically grown ingredients. Their formulas are based on the innate rhythms and wisdom of nature and many of their processes and philosophies can be traced back to ideas that correspond to homeopathy and alchemy. One of the main active ingredients in Rhythmic Night Conditioner is silver which is used to promote regeneration of the skin. Dr. Hauschka feels that there is a corresponding relationship between the moon, the metal silver, and the 28-day rhythm of skin cell renewal. Hauschka says,” youthful skin cells have a 28-day cycle of regeneration, which lengthens as we mature. Rhythmic Night Conditioner supports this process, encouraging the skin to renew itself.” For those who have extremely sensitive skin or skin that tends towards rosacea, Hauschka also makes a Rhythmic Night Conditioner Sensitive formula.