I have been obsessed with natural beauty and skin care for decades once I found out about all the toxic formulations that are in “everyday” personal care products and the affect it has on our health. There have been many days that I have made my own natural beauty products from items in my kitchen. Winter can be harsh on your skin especially if you live in the colder climates. On a recent visit to my local Aveda Salon and Spa, I was treated to the most luxurious facial to take care of the precious skin I am in.
If you are not familiar with Aveda, they started in 1978 with a mission to care for the people and the planet, naturally. They are extremely conscious about the quality of their products and how that is translated to the environment and the people that use them. Their products are 100% vegan, not tested on animals and don’t have the junk that is in most conventional products on the store shelves.
The legacy of Horst Rechelbacher extends far beyond the creation of Aveda. a pioneer of holistic beauty, and a champion of environmental responsibility, Horst’s purpose and passion have taken on a momentum of their own as part of a greater global movement toward balance and harmony, both individual and collective.
Born in Austria in 1941 to an herbalist mother and a shoemaker father, Horst began working in the salon across the street at the age of 14. “I was not a good student at all but I was very eager to be something different,” he said. Horst was a natural talent, and by 17 he was working as a stylist at a prestigious salon in Rome, tending to international celebrities. By the young age of 20 he had won the European Hairstyling Championship, which he used as a springboard to tour Europe and the United States. “What is a calling? It’s like almost a fire inside me and it keeps me alive,” he said. (aveda.com)
You can watch a video on aveda.com to take a peak into the life and legacy of the founder, Horst Rechelbacher, who has shown the world the power of living from a place of love, to make the world a more beautiful place. Horst has received numerous prestigious awards, including in 2007 the Rachel Carson Award for a Lifetime Commitment to Environmental Ethics & Integrity. Rachel Carson and her inspiration that created the Silent Spring Institute was woven into the 2019 documentary TOXIC BEAUTY.
A world-class stylist in his teens, Horst ended up in Minneapolis, Minnesota by accident. Literally. During a stylist competition in 1963, Horst’s car was hit by a drunk driver. He decided to settle in Minneapolis, as a European hairdresser, and opened his own salon, Horst & Friends and then several others, becoming a successful salon entrepreneur in his twenties. In the late sixties, Horst suffered burn out from overwork and recovered thanks to herbal remedies prepared by his mother, as well as to the practice of yoga and meditation. Following a retreat in India in 1970, Horst integrated Ayurveda in his lifestyle and his salon business model. He adopted a holistic thinking, the belief that individual beauty is directly linked to the beauty of the world around us. His were ideas that would revolutionize the beauty industry.
“We are the earth,” he said. “We are soil. We are water. We are everything. So go organic if you can. So become a farmer. Grow in your own house. Grow peppermint and make your own tea. Celebrate life.”
5,000 years of results in Aveda’s earliest roots lie in ayurveda, the indian healing tradition based on the knowledge of life and the interconnectedness of all things. It has proven, over 5,000 years, that treating the whole person leads to greater balance and well-being. They considers the effects of their products not only on hair or skin, but on body, mind and emotion. You can also read more Ayurvedic Winter Wellness Tips in Annie Reed’s article.
I am pleased to say that my maturing skin is in great shape. I was reminded of the importance of my skin care ritual and routine to age gracefully- naturally. Thank you to Akeya Dudley at the Varuna Aveda Salon in Annapolis, Maryland for taking such good care of me.
Cleanse, exfoliate, tone and moisturize.
I highly encourage you to clean up your personal care products as a form of health care and self care. If you are feeling creative, you can even make some simple natural potions in your own kitchen. You can find organic and natural ingredients from our wellness partner, Mountain Rose Herbs.
Cassandra Bellarei is the Founder and Chief Creatrix of Holistic DIVA Wellness. Her mission is to help people LIVE LIFE WELL with a community of holistic wellness writers, experts, creatives and change makers from all over the globe. Write For Us.
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