Biodynamic® VS Organic – What Exactly is the Difference and What Does it mean for Skincare?
The Skinsmith | 15th May 2023
Where does Organic end and Biodynamic® begin?
Working with nature and not against it can never be a bad idea even if it may make things take a little longer and cost a little more to get there. The proof, as they say, of the pudding is in the eating, the end product is worth the extra effort and investment and there can be no denying this. Eminence sources premium ingredients from organic farms worldwide to ensure products are the purest and most potent. Organic skin care is rooted in a holistic approach to farming and production. Unfortunately, modern agriculture robs the land of nutrients and often results in genetically modified ingredients. Choosing organic ingredients ensures that there are no harsh chemicals added. Eminence products do not contain harmful chemicals like added Parabens, Petrolatum, Mineral Oils, Propylene Glycol or Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. USDA Organic is a leading global standard committed to recognizing organic agriculture, produce can be called organic according to this strict regulatory body if it's certified to have grown on soil that had no prohibited substances applied for three years prior to harvest. Prohibited substances include most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
The dictionary definition of Organic in relation to farming is “relating to, yielding, or involving the use of food produced with the use of feed or fertilizer of plant or animal origin without employment of chemically formulated fertilizers, growth stimulants, antibiotics, or pesticides”. So organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation, the food, plants and flowers farmed are produced using natural substances. Unlike intensive farming, organic agriculture is characterized by its positive impact on soil health and fertility, which contributes to preserving the ecological balance. Additionally, organic farming supports biodiversity protection and animal welfare as it works with ecological systems and cycles, helping to sustain them.
Biodynamic® takes this a step further, it is organic, ecological and spiritual in fact we like to call it Organics on steroids!! The practice began in 1924 rooted in the Biodynamic® teachings of Rudolph Steiner who believed the farm to be a living, breathing organism.
In order to seek a quality of excellence in our crops, we must listen and understand the needs of the farm itself. It is through the harmony of the Farmer, the Earth, and the Cosmos that the farm can know longevity."
– Mezei, Award-Winning Biodynamic® Farmer and President of Biodynamic Public Benefit Association, the Hungarian Chapter of Demeter International
Biodynamic® farming shares many aspects with organic agriculture as both take good care of the soil, avoiding artificial fertilizers or chemical pesticides, insecticides or fungicides. While the starting point for Biodynamic® growing is always organic, the main difference between biodynamic and organic agriculture is that biodynamics take into account the rhythms of nature. For instance, Biodynamic® growers study solar and lunar movements to choose the best time to cultivate and harvest plants, flowers and foods to ensure their best qualities. With spirituality playing an important role in biodynamic agriculture, biodynamic growers are particularly aware of the intangible and unseen forces at work in nature: from the effects of the sun and moon movements to the interconnectedness of all things below and above the soil surface. The farm is treated as a living, breathing self-sustaining ecosystem with special dedicated space for wildlife. Natural farming techniques are used to build healthy, nutrient-rich soil. No harsh chemical pesticides or fertilizers are used.
Eminence is certified to USDA Organic, Organic Trade Association and Demeter.
Eminence Certified Organic Farm
The mission of the Eminence Certified Organic Farm is to enhance wellness naturally by growing certified organic ingredients while providing education, healing the earth and honouring Eminences Hungarian roots. At the Eminence certified organic farm, the power of nature is harnessed based on the harmony of the seasons and the alignment of the earth, the moon and the stars. All products are made with fresh fruit pulps, plants and exotic spices, plants are harvested at the peak of the season to ensure that nutrients remain in their most potent form when harvested in this vital state and gives the best possible ingredients for Eminence skin care products.
Many flowers, plants and herbs that are grown at the Eminence Farm, it is a beautiful place and wonderful to spend some time walking around seeing, smelling and even tasting the gorgeous plants, fruits and herbs growing there. This beauty is passed on to us as users through the amazing range of organic and biodynamic products, you can even book a tour if you are visiting Hungary! So many different ingredients are grown here such as Calendula, Lavender, Poppies, Chamomile, Stone Crop, Peppermint, Strawberries and Rhubarb to name a few!
Picking out a few favourite products which contain ingredients that are grown on the farm I have come up with the following list:
Eminence Linden Calendula Treatment is an absolute favourite of mine, this treatment cream can be used either as a masque or as a night treatment. The extracts derived from fresh linden and calendula plants deeply nourish and refresh the skin’s appearance, and fine herbal oils and honey restore the look of youthfulness and elasticity.
Lavender Age Corrective Night Concentrate is an overnight treatment that hydrates and replenishes your skin’s appearance. Rich argan oil, jojoba oil and shea butter improve the look of your skin’s density and aid in reducing the appearance of wrinkles.
Eminence Soothing Chamomile Tonique is a calming and soothing Tonique which infuses skin with comforting herbs to restore the skin’s balance. This tonique can be applied after Eminence home use peels to neutralise and restore the skin’s balance.
Eminence Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Hydrator is a lightweight gel-cream with a soft, dewy finish. It is a vegan hydrator which is bursting with vitamins and antioxidants and has a fresh, delicious scent of strawberries and rhubarb. Botanical Hyaluronic Acid Complex with multi-weight hyaluronic acid delivers deep hydration whilst locking in vital moisture to reveal radiant, plumped skin.
Eminence Stone Crop Serum helps your skin achieve a younger appearance after just one application! It is an intense hydrator that relieves the appearance of signs of ageing as you benefit from its super antioxidant benefits. Stone Crop is a key Eminence collection and is a best seller year after year due to it’s suitability to all skin types including sensitive and pigmentation.
So, they are not only the healthiest choice for you, but also the most effective, results-oriented collection around. Vitamins are captured in their all-natural fresh base, offering dramatic results as actual seeds, pulps and peels impart regenerative and healing powers that only nature can produce.
The precious ingredients are combined with thermal hot spring water to create products that contain potent healing and beautifying properties.
Through organic and Biodynamic® farming practices, powerful beautifying ingredients are gained while also healing the earth – not just for our generation, but for future generations to come.
Demeter Biodynamic®Certification
Founded in 1928 and operating in more than 50 countries, Demeter is the official certifying body for Biodynamic® products. This non-profit organization holds the world’s oldest ecological certification system for the farming, manufacturing and labelling of Biodynamic® ingredients. Biodynamic products are subject to extremely strict certification standards. For example, the farm producing the raw product must be certified by the Demeter Association, and the product must meet the required percentages of Demeter Certified Biodynamic® ingredients. In addition, all packaging must be free of fungicides, preservatives, fumigants and insecticides.
Are Biodynamic Ingredients Better For Your Skin?
Biodynamic® farming yields pure and potent ingredients that are beneficial to the skin. With the farm, plants and animals all working together as a self-supporting cycle, this system produces the most effective ingredients possible. When seeds are planted and crops harvested following the lunar cycle, plants receive the most moisture and goodness. Plus, only natural medicinal herbs and mineral composts are used to enhance the soil and ignite powerful growth in the plants, making the flora void of all chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This farming approach grows produce that is unusually high in nutrients and active compounds, as well as free from chemicals.
Beyond Organic Collection
Eminence Organics has harnessed the power of these pure and potent ingredients in the luxurious Beyond Organic Collection, which is hypoallergenic and suitable for even the most sensitive of skin. This skin care collection includes products formulated with ingredients from Demeter International Certified Biodynamic® farms as well as products that are certified Biodynamic, like Eminence Facial Recovery Oil. Blended with natural herbs, the Facial Recovery Oil provides deep hydration, revealing a healthy glow. The Bearberry Eye Repair Cream harnesses active ingredients to hydrate the delicate eye area, dramatically reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Philosophy and Science Combined
Biodynamics® is at its core a philosophy that continues and improves on the more scientific based Organics. If a farm is certified Biodynamic®, it means it has met the requirements of organic, with some additional measures. For example, while organic permits imported organic fertilizers and pesticides, Biodynamic® requires that a farm system itself produce its own fertility – meaning compost and nutrients – as much as possible through the integration of livestock and the rotation of crops and there are limits to the amount that can be imported from the outside.
Also, while organic certification allows for organic feed imported to the farm from anywhere in the world, biodynamic certification requires 50% of livestock feed be grown on the farm. Biodynamic® also requires that a farm set aside 10% of the total farm acreage for biodiversity, and strive for a balanced predator/prey relationship. So Biodynamic® takes organic a step or two further.
Where a conventional farm could bring in synthetic fertilizers, and an organic farm would substitute non-synthetic alternatives that are allowed under the NOP (National Organic Programme), a biodynamic farmer might be thinking about the reasons why their farm needs additional fertility and ways in which they can come up with a solution out of the farm system itself instead of being imported from the outside. Again, at the heart of the philosophy is the treatment of the farm like a living organism, self-contained and self-sustainable. As a result the produce of a Biodynamic® farm could be said to have an extra potency, sourcing fertilisers and pesticides from within the farm envir
It's easy to misunderstand that problems are part of the art of farming and solutions can come from the farm itself by responding to it, living and breathing it. We are in real danger of losing produce of real value in this rat race to produce cheap food, skincare, drinks or clothing. Respect and care are not just desirable components of creating quality goods that deliver real results but we need to fully understand that they are essential. This respect and care are necessary for the creation of both organic and Biodynamic® products, to put it in a nutshell organic is the science of goodness and Biodynamic® is this too with a little very effective fairy dust sprinkled on top!!
Discover The Benefits of Organic and Biodynamics® By...
You can also learn more about the key benefits of exfoliation by speaking to a member of our experienced and friendly team today on 01305 300950 or by emailing [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you.
