While many cosmetic products advertise with slogans like "inspired by nature" or "naturally beautiful," a look behind the scenes often reveals a sobering truth: there's only a hint of nature, but a lot of chemicals.
This type of greenwashing deceives consumers and creates the impression that these are sustainable and skin-friendly care products. But if you look closely, you'll find synthetic preservatives, artificial fragrances, and many other problematic ingredients that are good neither for your skin nor for the environment.
I have decided to take a different path – with pure, natural ingredients and a purely natural preservation based on undenatured Demeter wine spirit. Because pure alcohol in cosmetics, when used correctly, is not skin-drying and is much better than its reputation suggests.
Alcohol as a natural preservative – and why other substances are problematic
Preservation is a must in cosmetics. Without it, products could spoil quickly or develop germs. The problem: most manufacturers resort to unpronounceable chemical preservatives, whose side effects are often kept quiet.
Although alcohol is the best-known preservative, conventional cosmetics often use alternative chemical substances that are less in focus and cheaper. However, many of these substances can trigger allergies, irritate the skin, or even have long-term health effects.
One example is "denatured alcohol," which is standardly used in the industry. This is treated with chemical additives to make it undrinkable, which makes it cheaper and more fiscally attractive. But these additives have no place in my cosmetics – I exclusively use undenatured Demeter wine spirit, which is free from such burdens.
That's what makes the difference
My approach is simple but consistent: I use only as much alcohol as necessary – and as little as possible. Depending on the product, the alcohol content varies slightly, and only enough is used to safely preserve the cosmetics without unnecessarily burdening the skin.
Not all alcohol is the same:
- Undenatured Demeter Alcohol: The wine spirit in my products comes from organic Demeter grapes from our own vineyards. It is pure, natural, and free from chemical additives.
- Minimal Skin Burden: The high-proof alcohol largely evaporates in the palms of your hands when applied, so there is only minimal contact with the skin. This makes my products well tolerated even by sensitive skin types. Due to the volatility of the alcohol, you should use up the products within four months after opening.
- Smallest Amounts for Maximum Effect: The formulations are developed so that only the minimally necessary amount of wine spirit is included to make the products durable and safe.
Tip for sensitive skin
For particularly sensitive skin types, I recommend warming the cream briefly in your palm before applying it. This allows the alcohol to evaporate even more and not come into direct contact with your skin. This makes the application even gentler.
Greenwashing in Cosmetics
Many cosmetic manufacturers rely on clever marketing strategies: they adorn their products with terms like "naturally inspired" or "with plant extracts," but a look at the ingredient list reveals something else.
Often behind such promises:
- A drop of nature, a sea of chemicals: A tiny proportion of natural ingredients is mixed with synthetic substances to save costs.
- Critical additives: Microplastics, mineral oils, and synthetic preservatives not only burden your skin but also the environment.
- Deceptive terms: Terms like "natural" are not protected and can even be used for products that contain little or nothing natural.
Good for you and good for the environment
I am proud that my organic cosmetics not only benefit your skin but also the environment. The natural wine spirit from my own vineyards is an example of how quality and sustainability can be combined:
- No chemical pollution: The absence of synthetic preservatives protects not only your skin but also your organism.
- Purity through Demeter cultivation: The organic raw materials guarantee that no pesticide or fertilizer residues end up in my products.
- Short transport routes: The raw materials from our own vineyards have the shortest transport routes and are processed locally.
- Minimalism in the formulation: Usually fewer than 10 ingredients per product – each one carefully selected to offer maximum benefit without unnecessary additives.
I consciously chose a path that makes no compromises. The skin is our largest organ and is confronted daily with countless external influences – so cosmetics should help, not burden.
Enjoy my handmade, Demeter-certified care products
dieNikolai
