FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What makes Lavera different to other skin care and cosmetic brands?
To produce truly natural cosmetics is a must for Lavera. The strict standards of BDIH for truly natural cosmetics and Na true for certified organic ingredients are followed during production in Germany.
- Lavera is especially designed for sensitive skin types and allergy tested for sensitive skin.
- All lavera products are free from: - Synthetic preservatives (e.g. parabens)
- Synthetic colours
- Synthetic fragrances
- Petroleum ingredients (e.g. mineral oils)
- Irritating emulsifiers (e.g. PEG)
- Irritating detergents (e.g. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate)
Q2. What is the German BDIH symbol?
Natural Cosmetics has become a trendy phrase in recent years. But only products that meet the strict standards of the BDIH Guideline in Germany are able to display the BDIH Certified Natural Cosmetics seal on their products. The criteria in the BDIH label are very strict and include ingredients, packaging and production standards:
- Ingredients have to be from a plant or mineral source.
- Plant ingredients should be obtained from organic growth or wild harvest wherever possible.
- Most petroleum based or synthetic ingredients are not allowed.
- Genetically modified ingredients are not allowed.
- Packaging has to be ecologically conscious, so recyclable and minimalist.
- No animal testing is allowed.
More information is available online on the BDIH website
Q3. How are Lavera products preserved?
Lavera products are free from any synthetic preservatives and instead are preserved through a number of factors: Careful selection of the purest raw materials, essential oils, vitamins, grain alcohol, production in a sterile environment with airtight equipment and packaging design helps to preserve the products. For example tubes with small openings are used for skin care products instead of jars with large openings where bacteria will be able to thrive. Every batch is tested for stability and is good for up to almost 3 years.
Q4. Is alcohol in cosmetic products unhealthy?
The determining factor is the pureness of the raw material alcohol. Alcohol is a natural ingredient. Natural 100% alcohol is often denatured for lower costs. In the conventional market denaturing agents are mostly from synthetic source and make the alcohol undrinkable. The denatured alcohol is a cheap raw material for cosmetic production because the companies avoid the expensive drinking alcohol tax. This so-called cosmetic alcohol can cause allergic reactions to the skin because of the synthetic denaturing agents. Lavera only uses 100% alcohol suitable for human consumption in the production of our products, where the alcohol has been denatured it is by natural pure essential oils. For the production of the Neutral and Baby & Kinder Neutral products Lavera uses pure natural alcohol that has not been denatured.
Q5. Why do we use alcohol in Lavera products?
Lavera uses two types of alcohol in all the ranges;
- 100% pure natural alcohol
- 100% pure natural alcohol which has been denatured with pure natural essential oils
Due to its antibacterial qualities alcohol is an important ingredient. In the Faces range; alcohol is used in the toners to help eliminate excess oil in the skin. The alcoholic component of the deodorant spray has a deodorising effect.
In our Baby & Child products we use a very small amount of alcohol. The natural alcohol in these products come from the natural plant extract and has a percentage of approximately 0.1% in the whole product. This small quantity is not dangerous for your child. Also alcohol evaporates in the moment of application.
Q6. Does alcohol dry up the skin?
This depends on the percentage of alcohol in cosmetic products. Dermatologists suggest 10 - 20% depending on the skin type. The suggested amount for deodorants is much higher. Lavera formulations are based on these suggestions and a high dehydration, skin damage or irritation is not expected.
Q7. What are fatty alcohols?
Fatty alcohol is a component of natural fats and oils. An example; lauric acid is gained by distillation from coconut fat. Under pressure hydrogen is attached to the fatty acid. The end product from fatty acid and hydrogen is the fatty alcohol; a compact waxy substance. It cannot be compared to pure alcohol in its characteristics. In its emulsions Lavera uses different vegetable based fatty alcohols and emulsifiers and consistency agents.
Q8. What is the difference between the BASIS SENSITIVE and the NEUTRAL lines?
Basis sensitive products contain pure natural essential oils, plant and flower extracts from certified organic farming which provide balancing and healing properties. However, sometimes even pure natural essential oils can cause irritation on extremely sensitive skin, therefore, for this reason, in the Neutral range there are no flower or herbal extracts or pure natural essential oils used. It is fragrance free.
Q9. Are lavera products safe for gluten intolerances/Celiac Disease?
Gluten is found in wheat, rye, oats and barley. The following ingredients could be problematic:
Wheat Germ Oil, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Oat Protein.
The following lavera products do contain Wheat Germ Oil or Wheat based moisturizing factor:
- Baby and Children - Almond Bath Oil
- Basis Sensitive - Cleansing Gel, Protection Face Cream, Q10 hand cream, Balm Shampoo, Regenerative Shampoo, Conditioner
- Faces My Age - Concentrated Lifting Serum, Cooling eye roll on, Restoring day cream, Regenerating night cream, intensive eye cream
- Hair - All Shampoos, All Conditioners and Mango Milk Treatment.
- Men - Men Care Face Wash and Scrub.
- Neutral - Cleasning Gel.
- Sun - Family Sun Spray SPF 15, Kids Coloured Sun Spray SPF 25, Baby and Child Neutral Sun Spray SPF 30, Self Tanning Lotion Self Tanning Shimmer Spray.
Please see intolerance list in each product.
Q10. What are Parabens?
Parabens are synthetic preservatives that are usually used in combination of methyl-, propyl-, and butyl parabens. They are known to cause irritations to sensitive skin types. They were also found to cause heart tissue problems over an extended period of time. They are known to have oestrogenic effects in the body and are under discussion whether they influence breast cancer.
Lavera products are 100% free from all parabens.
Q11. What is 100% mineral based sun protection?
Mineral based sun protection uses only titanium dioxide and zinc oxide as the active ingredients. These natural minerals build a physical protection layer on the skin and reflect the sunlight naturally without transforming into a toxic compound. There are several advantages to 100% mineral based sun protection:
- It works immediately when applied. No waiting time necessary.
- It is 100% non-toxic and is safe for children and babies.
- It does not accumulate in the body and also does not interfere with the hormonal system.
- It gives a full spectrum UVA, UVB and UVC protection.
Q12. What are PEGs/Polyethylen Glycols?
Polyethylen Glycols are commonly used as synthetic emulsifiers and combine the water and oil phase in skin care products. They are very problematic chemicals as they have been found to open the pores of the skin and facilitate environmental toxins to enter the body more easily. Examples of these environmental toxins are DDT, DDE and have the ability to influence the endocrine and reproductive systems.
Please note Lavera DO NOT use any of these ingredients in their products
Q13. Why are hydrogenated oils used in Lavera products?
By hydrating oil, the physical and nutritional aspects are being changed. In this chemical process hydrogen is added on to the unsaturated fatty acids. The results are very stable, fully saturated or partially saturated fatty acids. The new properties make them very useful for colour cosmetics.
The use of fully hydrogenated oils in cosmetics and skin care products is in accordance with the strict BDIH standards. In contrary to the use of partially hydrogenated oils in food products, fully hydrogenated oils are being used in our cosmetic products. They give stability and consistency, which is achieved in conventional products with the use of mineral oils and the very problematic emulsifier PEG.
Q14. What is Carmine?
Carmine is a natural colourant, derived from insect source. It is commonly used to achieve bright reds and pinks in lipsticks. The synthetic alternative to carmine can irritate lips, dry lips out and are very problematic. Many synthetic colours are also known to be carcinogenic.
Q15. What products do Lavera recommend for rosacea?
To calm redness and irritations, we recommend the Neutral Range. Neutral Facial Fluid with sea buckthorn for moisturising your facial skin in the morning and evening. Neutral Face Cream can be used on drier areas, or as a night cream.
It is highly recommended to consult a physician in case of severe rosacea problems.
Q16. What products do Lavera recommend for acne skin?
Lavera offers a special skin care treatment system for acne skin; Young FACES for oily and impure skin.
In the make-up line, the very light Tinted moisturiser Transparent and the concealer for spot treatment.
Q17. Statement Animal Testing
Ever since the foundation of the laverana company we have neither been conducting animal testing nor have asked others to do so. Being a manufacturer of natural care products animal testing is certainly incompatible with our company philosophy!
Of course, laverana makes every effort not to use any raw material which was tested on animals - as requested by the German Society for animal protection. laverana's suppliers are expected to prove by means of spot check their non-animal testing.
Unfortunately, lavera as a producer of natural care products cannot give legally valid guarantee for the products of its raw material suppliers. Recently skin irritations have occurred more and more frequently. Now we have to find out whether raw materials that were tested 20 years ago today are still well tolerated by human skin. At the same time the urgency of the use of innovative raw materials becomes more and more obvious. For lavera this means that test periods of established ingredients may be 20 years ago, for innovative products this period most likely is much shorter.
In addition, laverana is a member of BDIH. This is an organization the members of which vouch for following the strict guidelines of "Controlled Natural Cosmetics". These guidelines include the requirements of societies for animal protection
Q18. Why use Paypal?
PayPal is the largest and most respected online payment processor on the Internet with well over 7 million users. Many people are hesitant to provide credit card information over the Internet. PayPal provides a secure server (SSL) so your transaction is safe, but moreover, when you make a purchase through a PayPal merchant, you have additional security because only PayPal, not the merchant, is provided with your credit card information. This helps to reduce the incidence of credit card fraud due to unscrupulous merchants.
Lavera wants your online shopping here to be safe and give you peace of mind.
Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous merchants on the net, and off. Lavera uses PayPal to provide you with the peace of mind and security every consumer should have when making a purchase with their credit card.
When you proceed with making your online purchase, you will be transferred to the PayPal site where your transaction will be processed.
Signing up for a PayPal account is now optional.This means your customers can complete their payments first, and then decide whether to save their information in a PayPal account for future purchases. The checkout is more convenient, resulting in more completed sales and satisfied customers.
Q19. Does Lavera use shark liver oil (Squalene) in any of their products?
No, we do not use shark liver oil in any of our products, we only use natural plant ingredients. The Squalene we use in our products is an active ingredient from olive oil which helps to keep your skin smooth. We also use Squalane again from olive oil which leaves the skin feeling velvety smooth.
Q20. What type of Sodium Fluoride is used in Lavera Basis Sensitive Mint Toothpaste?
The sodium fluoride lavera use is gained from a salt and the technology and the ingredient itself is permitted by the BDIH, the certification body for natural cosmetics. Sodium Fluoride is only in the Basis Sensitive Mint Toothpaste.
Q21. How do you know that the cosmetics you use are natural?
Natural cosmetics made from pure natural raw materials help to care and tender the most important organ we have, the skin.
Natural cosmetics help stimulate and nurture the skin biological functions.
For these reasons we should only use natural ingredients in our everyday cosmetics. But how do we as the consumers really know which cosmetics are natural?
Lavera's first priniciple is to produce 100% natural products and so therefore abide by the strict regulations of the BDIH which is an association of German Industries and Trading Firms for pharmaceuticals, health care products, food supplements and personal hygiene products. The BDIH working together with leading natural cosmetic producers developed comprehensive guidelines as a control system for natural cosmetics keeping in mind the expectations of consumers and only those products that are absolutely natural can be certified by the BDIH. The certification symbol can be found on the packaging.
The BDIH criteria contain the following specifications:
- Use of Special Raw Materials
- No use of synthetic ingredients
- Natural Preservative System
- No radioactive and genetically modified ingredients
- Animal Protection
- Against Animal Testing
More information is available online www.bdih.co.uk
Q.22. Do you have a toothpaste without fluoride and glycerin?
Lavera Basis Sensitive Propolis and Echinacea Toothpaste does not contain glycerine and fluoride.
Q.23. Do Lavera products contain Bismuth Oxychloride?
Some of the Lavera Trend range contain Bismuth Oxychloride to obtain the shimmer effect. The following products contain Bismuth Oxychloride:
- Lipsticks
- 2 in 1 Compact Powders
- Mineral Compact Powders
- Sun Glow Powders
- Highlighter - Pearly White
- Loose Mineral Powder
- Powder Rouge
- Soft Eyeliners
- Eyeshadows
Q.24. Do Lavera products contain Bismuth Oxychloride as a filler?
Lavera products only use Bismuth Oxychloride for the shimmer effect. The high aspect ratio is for shimmer effect and the low aspect ratio is used for fillers in cosmetics. Lavera only use the high aspect ratio in accordance to the strict guidelines of the certifying bodies BDIH and Na true.
Q.25 Do Lavera products contain MSG or Free Glutamates?
Lavera products DO NOT contain MSG or Free Glutamates.
