Vancouver Loves Natural Beauty: Éminence Organics

You may remember a blog miniseries I did in September, Vancouver Loves Natural Beauty, which highlighted the natural and organic beauty brands founded right here in our fair city. Little did I know then what a positive reaction it would receive. Readers emailed me eager to share their favourite local and organic or all-natural skincare labels, leading to a few more installments in the miniseries. Enjoy!

The limited edition Vanilla Almond Gift Set contains a travel-size Hand & Cuticle Cream and Shimmer Body Lotion. The vanilla and sweet almond oil-scented hand lotion is the perfect pick-me-up all day long, while the shimmery body lotion adds a bit of radiance along the collarbone and decolletage during the festive season.

Éminence Organics counts Grace Coddington and Gucci Westman as fans and is beloved in spas and resorts around the world. In other words, this organic label (founded in 1958 and based on old world skincare remedies) is doing something right. Éminence Organics makes its products in Hungary using ingredients from European farms, and combines a holistic old world approach with the best of cutting-edge beauty science. However, the company is headquartered in Vancouver, where Hungarian-born founder Boldijarre Koronczay settled in 1998 and decided to build his life and his company. (You may have spotted the head office's sign on the corner of Cambie and Broadway.)

The Detox Kit is a facial-in-a-tube that will help undo the effects of holiday overindulgence, re-hydrate, and restore radiance to the skin.

As brand representative Elisa Kosonen tells the story, when Koronczay began his business, cosmetics companies made bold claims and ineffective but expensive products full of synthetics. Koronczay--a firm believer in the power of natural remedies--concocted some samples based on old Hungarian recipes and showed them to spas. Aestheticians scoffed at the little pots of jelly-like substances, but the proof was in the pudding (or rather, the jelly): the products boasted wonderful results and clients loved them. Today, the full 180-odd product range is still available exclusively through spas and resorts. (Check the website for a retail location near you.)

Impressive results aside, Éminence Organics has quite the green pedigree. Products are made in small batches to coincide with when ingredients are at their peak of freshness. What's more, Éminence Organics farms practice biodynamic farming, a holistic approach to agriculture that goes a step beyond organic farming. Biodynamic farming seeks to replenish the land of lost nutrients through natural solutions and gives crops the best growing conditions possible, sans pesticides or chemicals.

Navigating through the site's selection can be a bit daunting. So many botanicals, so many products, addressing a bewildering variety of skin concerns. I'll be taking the plunge test-driving a few of their products in the coming weeks (including the ones pictured here). Stay tuned.