How did you come up with the idea of ​​developing a cosmetics line made from natural products?

The idea for bepure was born during a two-year trip around the world that took my husband and me through Asia, Europe, and North Africa. On our journey, we saw and experienced many amazing and impressive things, such as wild and untouched nature, for example on the Karimunjava Islands in Indonesia. But the trip also included unpleasant impressions, such as enormous mountains of plastic waste on dream beaches, vast palm oil plantations, poverty, environmental pollution, and endangered species. Our connection with nature, however, grew even stronger as a result. Furthermore, this trip permanently changed our attitudes toward consumption and how we use our planet's resources. During the trip, I realized how difficult it was for me to find healthy skincare products while traveling.

What happened next?

We were particularly captivated by Morocco, with its people and beautiful landscapes. We spent about eight months there. There, we learned about the wonderful effects of argan oil and were able to test it ourselves. This enthusiasm and the desire to use healthy, environmentally friendly products gave rise to the idea for our own natural cosmetics line, bepure.

Your brand bepure not only works with purely natural ingredients, but you also have a very holistic approach to sustainability. Can you tell us something about that?

Sustainability has become a buzzword and is often used in connection with environmental protection. However, true sustainability should also extend to economic and social areas. At bepure, we strive to implement this in our holistic concept. It starts with the careful use of resources. The main ingredients in our products are argan and prickly pear seed oil. Both the argan almonds and the prickly pear seeds are organically grown in Morocco and are gently cold-pressed in a certified laboratory in Marrakech. We deliberately source the prickly pear seeds from Morocco rather than Mexico, which is the world's largest prickly pear growing region. This way, we avoid long transport routes. Other ingredients in our products include orange and rose blossom hydrosol. Both are by-products of the distillation of orange or rose oil. We obtain our cranberry seed oil from seeds that would otherwise be discarded as waste from cranberry juice production. We also use sustainable packaging materials and avoid unnecessary outer packaging. With the bepure recycling program, we reuse empty containers to minimize waste on the planet.

When it comes to social sustainability, your business also strongly supports women.

Yes, many women are involved in the entire process, from raw material extraction to distribution. Berber women in Morocco collect the fruits of the argan tree. Because the argan tree has very long thorns, it must be shaken until all the ripe fruits fall off. These are then collected by the Berber women. They remove the pulp by hand and take out the kernel. This is then cracked open by hand until you get to the almond. In a laboratory, the almonds are then cleaned again by women and cold-pressed. The kernels of prickly pears are also extracted from the pulp by hand. Our production facility in Marrakech is also run by a woman. We also work with a woman at our Swiss producer for research and development. Our products are later sold in studios, shops, and drugstores, which are also mostly run by women. We also support girls and young women in Morocco and help them get a good education.

While using your creams, I noticed that I need much less for my face than with conventional products. Why is that?

Conventional creams consist of 70 to 80% water. Bepure products are much more concentrated. Our customers therefore need much less of the product for the same effect. This also puts the slightly higher retail prices into perspective.

What advantages does natural cosmetics have compared to the conventional, well-known product lines that we are otherwise familiar with?

I wouldn't say across the board that conventional skincare products are always inferior. However, many of these products contain mineral oils. While they feel good on the skin, they completely seal off the permeable skin. This restricts various self-healing and metabolic processes of the skin. The skin can no longer excrete certain waste or toxins. This weakens the immune system, the skin's pH changes, the skin's natural protective layer becomes cracked, and harmful germs can penetrate. The result is blemishes or skin irritation.

The basis of natural skin care products are plant oils or plant butters – ideally unrefined, cold-pressed, and, if possible, organically grown. Plant oils are more similar to the skin's own natural oils than mineral oils and therefore not foreign substances to the skin. They support skin regeneration, help retain moisture, and do not interfere with metabolic processes.

Who mainly buys your cosmetics?

Although we also have a very loyal male clientele, women make up the majority of our customers. These are primarily women between the ages of 35 and 65 who have sensitive or problematic skin. Our customers often tend to be minimalists and prefer to use fewer, high-quality skincare products. They also prefer subtle fragrances to overly intense ones.

What is your current favorite product?

I always start the day with BALANCING TONIC rose water to cleanse my face, as our tap water is very hard. Then I apply a facial oil, such as INTENSIVE DAYCARE , with a little MIRACLE BEAUTY Balm for the eye area and décolleté. When the weather is warmer, I love applying our new moisturizing serum, SOOTHING NECTAR , in the evening because it feels so light on the skin and has a lovely cooling effect.