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- Click on the attached links to view the Australian brand listings for River Veda and The Organic Skin Co.
- Click on the attached links to view the New Zealand brand listings for River Veda and The Organic Skin Co.
With expertise in natural remedies and herbs being in the family for almost 150 years and six generations, it was little wonder that World Organic founder Megan Douglas became involved in the family tradition. Beginning with Douglas’ great, great grandmother Getrude Anderson, the family’s herbal obsession started with Anderson dispensing herbs and natural remedies to the local town of Preston, England in which she lived. Anderson’s knowledge was then passed down to Douglas’ great grandfather, who moved from England to New Zealand and created a company called Red Seal. The great grandfather then trained the grandmother, who in turn trained Douglas alongside her aunty. Thus, a vast heritage of herbalists was bred in the family.
Building on the family knowledge, Douglas went on to obtain a degree in Herbal Medicine and Naturopathy. After seeing a lot of patients experience skin problems due to the toxicity in their systems, Douglas decided to create a range of skincare products that were therapeutic, pure and organic. Drawing on her family history, degree and after three years of perfecting the formulation and packaging and constant communication with the suppliers in India, Douglas launched The Organic Skin Co. (NZ) and River Veda (NZ) in New Zealand in 2011. In September 2012, the two brands expanded into the Australian market.
Founder Megan Douglas at the World Organic launch at James.
Supercritical extractions
Despite both coming under the company umbrella of World Organic, there are differences between the River Veda and The Organic Skin Co. (NZ) brands. River Veda (NZ) is a premium skincare range that uses a lot of Ayurvedic herbs, while The Organic Skin Co. (NZ) is targeted for everyday use and incorporates more Western herbs. A common theme running through both ranges is being ethically-produced, organic, and incorporating supercritical extractions.
Supercritical extraction is a unique technique for extracting herbs and essential oils that is highly potent and therapeutic. It’s much stronger than you’d normally get,” explains Douglas. As a herbalist, it’s something that I’m really passionate about. I think it’s the future of using herbs and oils in skincare.”
Generally when herbs and oils are used in skincare, it’s extracted in an alcohol or glycol solvent that is then put into the skincare. Supercritical extraction is a method of extracting the whole plant without using solvents. Co2 gas is recirculated and then goes through the herb at such pressure that the herb melts into a concentrated form.
The advantages of it is that you get all of the fat soluble parts of the plant or the root or the flower, which you don’t get through the other methods, and you don’t get any of the solvents,” explains Douglas. Supercritical extraction is about 100 times stronger than the normal extraction method and is therapeutic as it has an oil component. River Veda (NZ) and The Organic Skin Co. (NZ) currently use 24 supercritical extractions throughout the ranges.
Discovering about extraction plants in India during a trip in 2006.
Direct-selling
While they are available online, River Veda (NZ) and The Organic Skin Co. (NZ) products are mainly sold through direct-selling consultants. It was decided to go down this route due to two reasons. One was because the products are quite experiential and it’s a large range so the company wanted to give people the opportunity to try all the products and take their time while trying them. It’s a bit difficult sometimes in a retail environment to really explore your skin type and get the proper advice and then have someone look after you long-term on your skin,” says Douglas. Secondly, the company wanted to help support other women to have businesses of their own to get some extra income.
The future
The future is looking extremely bright for the The Organic Skin Co. (NZ) and River Veda (NZ), with things on the go for both brands. World Organic is looking at moving into Europe, there are plans to grow the company’s network of consultants, extensions to the product ranges are continously in the works and The Organic Skin Co. (NZ) will be delivering a range of certified organic make-up incorporating the supercritical extractions. Not bad for a brand that’s only been on the scene for two years.
The brands generated a lot of interest from top European shops at the Organic and
Natural Expo in London.
- Click on the attached links to view the Australian brand listings for River Veda and The Organic Skin Co.
- Click on the attached links to view the New Zealand brand listings for River Veda and The Organic Skin Co.