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The Green People Organic Spa
Who and What is The Green People?
The Green People was launched in 1997 as a result of founder Charlotte Vøhtz discovering that chemicals found in food and the home were a cause of her two-year-old daughter's allergies and eczema. After eliminating chemical products from her home and supplementing her daughter's diet with a herbal tonic and essential fatty acids, the allergies cleared up. Charlotte says, "From that moment, I realised that we all are children of the chemical age and that man-made chemicals found everywhere, combined with changing dietary habits, profoundly affect us all."
The Green People's range of over 100 chemical-free, highly concentrated, natural products include moisturisers, cleansers, sun creams, toothpastes, and ranges for men, children and babies. They contain over 90% active organic ingredients and have been certified by the Soil Association.
In 2007, The Green People launched their deluxe Organic Spa range: natural and organic skin, body and hair-care products that offer the same high levels of active organic ingredients as the usual Green People goodies, only with more of a home-spa feel. We're talking serious organic pampering. How did the range stand up to scrutiny from our seasoned Good Spa Guide spies? Read more below!
They say:
"The Green People Mission is to promote an organic lifestyle and provide high quality, truly organic, natural health and home-care formulations... Green People are committed to offering products that are 100% natural, certified organic and highly effective. We will maintain our quest for excellence, creativity and innovation at all times, and will not compromise the quality of any Green People product.
"We believe that you have a fundamental right to know exactly what is contained in the products you are buying and therefore give full ingredient disclosure on all of our products. We also support charities with related environmental concerns and each year 10% of our net profit is donated to charitable causes linked to 'green' or environmental issues. The Green People team is a small group of dedicated people all working together for a healthier future and a less polluted world."
We say:
"You'd be hard pushed to find a more ethical company than The Green People. We love the way that all the product ingredients are clearly listed on their website - no hidden nasties here. Their Organic Spa range is sophisticated and effective: doing your bit for the planet has never been so pleasurable!"
Green People Products - What have we tried?
Hydrating Body Lotion 150ml, RRP £16.50
Swedish Spy:
This light and fragrant body lotion has several big plus points, but may not appeal to everyone. I like it: the light texture makes it very easy to spread onto your skin and it absorbs beautifully (I was never a fan of body lotions that turn into white smear on your skin and take 15 minutes to rub in - my arms get too tired!). In spite of its lightness, it moisturises very well. My skin type is best described as "parchment", and it is sufficiently moisturising for all parts of my body apart from the soles of my feet. I can't possibly dish out any criticism for that - the only thing that works on my feet is a combination of high-grade gunk and socks.
Being accustomed to essential oils, I like the fragrance. Someone who prefers more mainstream perfumes may find the aroma a little unusual, but I think it wears very well. It has a "green" robustness with a sensual edge, the heady sweetness of the ylang-ylang is balanced by the mandarin, and is not overpowering.
For its price range, I think the packaging offers good pamper feel, and it handles well. It lies nicely in the hand, dispenses easily and looks pleasant on your bathroom shelf.
If I were looking for a light, yet efficient body lotion in a mid-price range, and enjoyed organic/natural products with a degree of sophistication and a natural fragrance, I'd be very pleased with this.
Sensuous Sugar Scrub 245g, RRP £17.50
Sensitive Spy:
I knew I liked this product when I started disobeying the "use twice a week" instructions on the box and sneaking in extra scrub sessions!
The scrub comes in a good-sized white tub. You scoop out a handful of the fresh-scented, granular scrub and apply it to wet skin. The exfoliating agent is raw cane sugar, which scrubs beautifully, with a rough texture for a vigorous scrub on initial application, becoming more gentle as the sugar dissolves away in the water.
Shea butter and coconut, jojoba, rosehip, pomegranate, cranberry and avocado oils provide an intense moisturising effect - no need for body lotion afterwards. I'd neglected my knees and elbows for months and this scrub left them soft and smooth. I kept fondling my newly revealed A-List elbows for days afterwards.
Be warned: if you use too much of this product, it is very slippery and you will slide from one end of the bath to the other. Over-zealous application also results in a thick layer of shea butter and oils which makes you look like a cross-channel swimmer.
That aside, this is an excellent scrub, which delivers great results.
Green People Sensuous Body Butter 175ml, RRP £17.50
Sensuous Spy:
Initially, I was slightly un-nerved by the body butter's furniture-polish wax texture. During the test period, however, I grew to like this product. Like furniture polish, it becomes less viscous and more like a thick body oil or balm when applied. Containing pomegranate extract, the body butter has a strong, fresh aroma - not dissimilar to tea tree or eucalyptus - and feels cold/fresh on the skin.
I think the thing that appeals to me about this product is that it's like an all-round emergency repair balm - OK, with the exception of any sensitive areas - it worked well on dry feet, knees, elbows, hands and legs. I also tested out Green People's claim to it working as a massage oil: it does, but refer to bit about sensitive areas. By the end of the test period, I had put my trust in this product to the extent that I found myself massaging it into my split ends. A non-petroleum alternative to Vaseline?
Green People Hydrating Cleanser 150ml, RRP £16.00
Student Spy:
It's a cream and, since it is made for sensitive skin, it feels very soft on your skin. It smells lovely, too, and it contains pomegranate and hibiscus. To rinse it off, you can either use water or the purifying spa cloth, which is also part of the range.
Purifying Spa Cloth RRP £9.50
Student Spy:
You soak this blue cloth in hot water and it removes all traces of make-up and cleanser. It felt to me rather like an exfoliant. However, that's good as it exfoliates but is still suitable for sensitive skin.
I like Green People products as they use very high levels of organic ingredients, plus 10% of their net profits are donated to charity. So I like the company and the products.
Where can I try Green People products?
You can try Green People products at these spas:
Where can I buy Green People products?
* Visit the Green People website for further details and to purchase their products online.
* The Green People range is available from many independent health food shops.
See also:
* Scrubs
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