Abi Weeds, co-founder of Odylique
We caught up with Odylique co-founder Abi Weeds, to find out why they choose organic.
Hi Abi, can you tell us more abut how you got started?
The story of Odylique goes back to 1980s. Margaret (my mother and co-founder) began formulating products for our family’s eczema-prone skin. She felt there was a healthier and more effective alternative to conventional cosmetics, so armed with qualifications in herbal medicine and aromatherapy, she began formulating her own.
Fast forward to 2003 - the brand was first set up under the name Essential Care. We have grown literally from the kitchen table, to our current production facility – where we still make all the products in-house by hand. We now export to 20 countries and have around 40 products formulated for sensitive skin, including makeup, shampoo and sun cream.
So why organic?
Quite simply because we believe that organic gives better results. Choosing organic skin care does not mean a compromise on quality. For example, research shows that plants grown organically have a higher level of free-radical fighting anti-ageing antioxidant vitamins than non-organic. Plants grown organically yield the purest oils and extracts, free from herbicide and pesticide contamination.
And why certified organic products?
Certified organic skin and hair care also provides a good way of decreasing your toxic load – it’s so easy to forget that much of what we put on our skin is absorbed into our body. Choosing certified organic body care is as important in decreasing the toxic load on the body as choosing a healthy organic diet.
Also, protecting people and the planet is also very important to us. Using organically grown ingredients, as well as responsible packaging is the best way we as a company can support the sustainability of our environment.
Right from the outset we wanted to give an independent guarantee that we are genuinely organic so we opted to put our products through organic certification.Abi Weeds
What role does the Soil Association play for you?
Right from the outset we wanted to give an independent guarantee that we are genuinely organic so we opted to put our products through organic certification. We chose the Soil Association for the rigour of their Health and Beauty standards. Our entire range has been certified by the Soil Association since 2003 and we plan to keep it that way! We’re also really proud to have had a number of Soil Association ‘firsts’ like the first ever organically certified shampoo back in 2004 and some of the first certified makeup in 2011.
