All of our products are vegetarian, meaning without extracts from dead animals.

Our non-vegan products contain beeswax as a non-vegan ingredient, for example. You can find out which of our products are vegan in our online shop using the filter function. The Vegan label offers additional orientation and security, as does the overview of ingredients on the product page and box.

Click here to find all the vegan products from ANNEMARIE BÖRLIND.

When unopened, our products have proven to have a shelf life of 30 months. If that was not the case, we would have to indicate the “use by” date on the packaging, similarly to food. The batch information has nothing to do with shelf life. It is an internal company code which does not indicate a date.

A small jar with an open lid is visible on every product. On that symbol, “12 M” etc. is included. It means that the product can be used for at least 12 months after opening.

Natural cosmetic products should be used within the time indicated because contact with the environment changes them. In extreme cases, oils can become rancid or microorganisms can cause the product to become contaminated. Ingredients such as PEGs, paraffins, oil derivatives, silicones, and polycyclic musks can extend their shelf life, but they are harmful and not easily biodegradable. We made a conscious decision to make do without them.

You should always use up sun protection products within 12 months, because their sun protection filters may become less effective after a year.

The word “comedogenic” is derived from comedo = clogged hair follicle (pore). Therefore, comedogenic means “pore-clogging.” Typically, comedogenic substances are those that clog pores over a period of time. There is no definitive list of comedogenic substances.

For cosmetics, we recommend testing the finished product to determine whether it is comedogenic in conjunction with the user’s skin. If clogged pores do not appear within four weeks, the cosmetic cannot be considered comedogenic. When used for the intended skin type, our products have not exhibited comedogenic tendencies.

We decided to completely ban microplastics from our product line some time ago. Although some manufacturers use the minute pieces of plastic in exfoliants, they cannot be completely filtered by sewage treatment plants and end up in the environment. And they are not biodegradable there. The microplastics that remain in (drinking) water end up in the food chain – in humans as well – and the consequences are as yet unknown. We only use natural ingredients in our exfoliant products.

 

We only use natural colorants to dye our care products. The color of the relevant product can also be the result of the ingredients it contains. After all, natural dyes and ingredients can display seasonal, weather-related or environmental discolorations that have an impact on their processing. In addition, natural colorants and ingredients are not colorfast. They may lose the intensity of their color over time or through light irradiation. This does not have an impact on the quality and effectiveness of the products.

Day creams and night creams have different functions, which we take into consideration in the formulations. For example, a day cream protects against environmental influences during the day that do not play a role at night. In turn, nighttime care supports the skin’s regeneration process, which can only effectively take place during its resting phase. That is why we recommend using a product harmonized with the time of day.

Of course, you can combine all BÖRLIND series or products to yield the best results for your skin. However, we recommend using products from one care series since they are formulated to satisfy the needs of the relevant skin type and the ingredients are harmonized with each other.

To achieve positive skin and care results, we recommend a systematic care series for any skin type and any age. Our systematic care series typically consist of five care steps whose active ingredient combinations perfectly supplement each other. This ensure that the products tap their full potential. As needed, you can supplement your systematic care series with individual products such as our serums as a treatment, for example.

Yes, all our mascaras and eye creams are suitable for contact lens users.

We never use soluble aluminum salts, which are called Aluminum Chlorohydrate on the list of ingredients. The aluminum compounds we use are not health hazards because they are not water-soluble and as a result, cannot be absorbed by the skin or body. Soluble aluminum salts are often used in antiperspirants and actually do pose a risk of the aluminum being absorbed by the skin. In that case, the safe quantitative limit specified by the European authorities for food safety would probably be exceeded. And such aluminum salts may lead to toxic or inflammatory skin irritation. We want to exclude the possibility.

Our day creams contain neither a UVA nor UVB sun protection filter. Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on sunscreen products stipulates that if a product advertises UV protection, it must contain both types of sun protection filters. Most of our daytime care products contain a natural ingredient that protects the skin against both aging due to light and UV damage: for example, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, sea buckthorn, or golden kelp.

Waterproof mascara can still only be produced with petroleum-based ingredients. We cannot and will not use such ingredients in our natural cosmetics.

Sorry, that won’t work. Our cleansing products are specifically harmonized with natural ingredients, in other words, with formulations without mineral oils or plastics (also see waterproof mascara). Our cleansing products contain cleansing oils that simply do not deliver the effectiveness of conventional make-up remover when it comes to waterproof make-up.

ANNEMARIE BÖRLIND sun protection products contain a mixture of several chemical UV filters. It is technically impossible to develop a sun cream with only one filter. We need a mix of UV filters to effectively protect skin against damage from the sun and skin cancer. The EU regulations on sunscreens are very strict and rightfully so. The filters we have selected comply with Öko-Test guidelines and are safe.

If you haven’t opened the product yet, it is still possible to use it. But if the seal was broken last year, you should observe the recommended use-by date after opening. Sun protection filters can become less effective after the period indicated.

We do not use any nano particles in our sun protection products.

All of our sun protection products are suitable for your face and your body.

You basically should use a suitable sun protection product to avoid a sunburn. But if your skin happens to soak up too much sunlight, we can absolutely recommend our after-sun products. They cool, add moisture, and help skin to regenerate faster.

Our PURIFYING CARE series is oriented to younger oily or acne-prone skin. If you have mature skin, find out in advance what is causing your skin to be oily or acne-prone. If you have rosacea, for example, acne products are not recommended.

Our EXFOLIATING PEEL with jojoba wax beads is a mechanical exfoliant. Our product range also includes an ENZYME EXFOLIANT (Peeling Powder) and FRUIT ACID EXFOLIANT. That means all 3 types of exfoliants are available from ANNEMARIE BÖRLIND. By the way, none of our exfoliants contain microplastics.

Regardless of your skin type – from dry or sensitive to oily –, you can use an exfoliant as long as it is harmonized with your skin’s individual needs.

For normal to oily skin and combination skin, our EXFOLIATING PEEL is suitable. It removes dead skin cells, opens up sebaceous glands and improves the flow of sebum Uneven areas and pores are smoothed and refined. Shea butter ensures that the skin remains supple. The result: a fresh, rosy complexion and refined pores.

For normal to dry and sensitive skin, we recommend our ENZYME EXFOLIATOR. It supports cell regeneration and thanks to certified organic aloe vera, supplie the skin with amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Your complexion will be clear and rewarded by an appealing glow!

For oily or acne-prone skin and acne, our FRUIT ACID EXFOLIANT with five different natural fruit acids such as lactic acid extracted from blueberries and glycolic acid from sugar cane. With an acid concentration of less than 10%, this product is a low-concentration fruit acid exfoliant. It is therefore suitable for beginners. By the way, dermatologists use higher fruit acid concentrations in their treatments.

The FRUIT ACID EXFOLIANT from ANNEMARIE BÖRLIND contains natural fruit acids from maples and blueberries. With a concentration significantly below 10%, our Fruit Acid Exfoliant is ideal for first-time users. The fruit acid content of dermatological exfoliants is much higher.

ANNEMARIE BÖRLIND’s FRUIT ACID EXFOLIANT is a low-concentration product (significantly below 10%), making it ideal for first-time users. Thanks to the low concentration, the exfoliant can be used 1-2 times a week.

Alongside the fruit acid concentration, the pH value is also important. Only low (acidic) pH values can promise good results. High (alkaline) pH values cancel out the exfoliating effect. ANNEMARIE BÖRLIND’s FRUIT ACID EXFOLIANT has a pH value of 3.5 to 4.5.

The product contains a mixture of five botanical extracts, which together represent five natural fruit acids (AHAs). Lactic acid, a moisturizer and anti-aging substance, is the main ingredient. Extracted from blueberries, it adds moisture and is an anti-aging raw material. The product also contains malic acid and tartaric acid from maple, which have a tonifying effect, meaning they help plump the skin and increase its elasticity. In addition, it contains glycolic acid from sugar cane, which is an outstanding exfoliating raw material since it has an instant skin-softening effect and supports cell regeneration. Citric acid from oranges and lemons is also used in the exfoliant. It has a slight bleaching effect.

Wherever possible, we use product packaging (tubes, bottles, and jars) made from plastic based on renewable raw materials such as sugar cane. The material of the labels on our plastic containers is also based on sugar cane.

We source the sugar cane for our containers from responsible cultivation sites in Brazil. A byproduct of sugar cane processing, ethanol, replaces the petroleum in the plastic.

Unfortunately, we have not yet found a way to make the pumps in our pump bottles out of renewable raw materials. To ensure the long shelf life, quality, and user-friendliness of our products, we still have to use petroleum-based plastics for the pumps. The plastic from renewable raw materials has the identical visual and chemical properties, but its dimensional tolerances are subject to restrictions. This might cause the pump to seize up and function only partially. We collaborate closely with the producers of sustainable plastics, and hope that their research in this field will soon show signs of progress. After all, our goal is to only use plastics based on renewable raw materials.

We use as little plastic as possible in order not to waste this renewable raw material. For example, the BODY CARE Body Butter jar now has a single wall and not the double wall it used to have. This allows us to save over 1 ton of plastic per year on this product alone.

Alongside plastics based on renewable raw materials, we also use glass: for example, for our BODY CARE deodorants. Glass weighs more for transport considerations and its production process consumes more energy. These factors affect our carbon footprint negatively, but it can be easily recycled. As you see, right now each of the available packaging materials has advantages and disadvantages that must be checked and evaluated.

The paper we use for the boxes is FSC-certified. This certificate is conferred by the Forest Stewardship Council ® (FSC). FSC verifies and guarantees with its seal that the wood for the paper came from sustainable forestry. We have used paper with the FSC certificate for our boxes for quite some time, and also use it for promotional materials such as brochures.

We have consciously reduced the amount of paper we use with our BODY CARE products. For important information, we use the inner surfaces of the box and refer to the more detailed information on our website.

The plastic for the waterproof, recyclable labels in the BODY CARE series are made from renewable raw materials. When the plastic is produced, the petroleum component typical of conventional plastic is replaced by ethanol made from sugar cane. Ethanol is a waste product from processing sugar cane into food. The sugar cane is not cultivated for plastic production only, but instead is used twice.

“I’m green” is the seal of the company in Brazil that produces sugar cane-based plastic. It can only be printed on products when independent institutes have analyzed (according to the ASTM standard) and documented the proportion of renewable raw materials in the inner container material. The logo refers only to inner containers such as tubes, jars, and bottles, and not to boxes or the product content.

BODY CARE Shower Cream, Body Oil and the deodorants do not bear the “I’m green” logo for the following reasons:

The bottles of BODY CARE Shower Cream and Body Oil are 20% plastic from renewable materials. But the plastic comes from a supplier that is not connected to the “I’m green” certification system. The containers satisfy the requirements but are not permitted to bear the seal.

BODY CARE Deo Roll-on and Deo Spray are packaged in glass. “I’m green” only refers to plastics.

With ClimatePartner, our cooperation partner, we have precisely determined how much CO2 we consume as a result of manufacturing BODY CARE products. This affects the packaging and all the other company activities related to manufacturing the series. They are summarized in the Corporate Carbon Footprint. The raw materials for our products are still not acquired using climate-neutral means. In the future, we would also like to procure the raw materials that we receive from our socio-ecological projects with climate-neutral means.

Since we cannot manufacture the BODY CARE products without emitting carbon, we compensate by supporting a climate protection and drinking water project from ClimatePartner in Cambodia.

2-phase products consist of two liquids. One is the oil phase, a mixture of what are known as lipophilic substances. The other is a water phase, also known as the hydrophilic phase.

Water and oil always form separate phases, or layers, with the less dense oil forming the upper layer and water the lower layer. The phases can be briefly mixed together by shaking. It would only be possible to permanently create a homogeneous mixture with the aid of an emulsifier, we consciously decided not to use in these products. This is why the two phases separate again. The speed of separation depends on the strength of the mechanical influence, i.e. shaking.

Since our 2-phase products contain natural ingredients, color deviation in the respective phase is possible. The color of the natural ingredients may decrease in intensity over time or through irradiation from light. This does not impact the quality or efficacy of the products.

To optimally prepare, gently clean your face and then tone your skin with the second care step of our systematic care series.

The 2-PHASE ALOE VERA SHAKE can be used as a supplement before the day or night cream if your skin needs more nourishment. The shake can also be used as a substitute for day or night cream.

To use the aloe vera shake, you must combine the two phases. To do so, shake the bottle well. Then pump once or twice and apply evenly to your face.

The 2-PHASE ALOE VERA SHAKE contains a water phase and an oil phase. The transparent water phase is at the bottom and the green oil phase is at the top of the bottle. Alongside organic aloe vera, the shake contains other ingredients such as jojoba oil and botanical hyaluronic acid.

Our 2-PHASE ALOE VERA SHAKE is ideal for stressed skin.

It has a soothing effect and reduces skin irritation, redness, and a feeling of tightness.

Our SOS SENSITIVE serum is primarily used as a treatment. We recommend using our SENSITIVE CREAM MASK one to two times a week. By the way, it also provides excellent after-sun care due to its soothing properties. The 2-PHASE ALOE VERA SHAKE, on the other hand, is a product designed for daily, regular use. It can be used as a supplement before the day or night cream if your skin needs more nourishment or use it as a replacement for daytime protection and nighttime care.

The oil combines anti-aging, anti-oxidant and anti-blue light properties.

No, the maximum length of protection for sun cream is calculated by multiplying your skin’s own self-protection abilities by the SPF. Protection can be renewed by applying sunscreen, but it cannot be extended. Sunscreen also regularly loses its ability to protect due to water or being rubbed off, which is why it needs to be reapplied.

3 IN 1 FACE OIL is part of our SPECIAL CARE range. These extra-care products are specifically formulated to replace or supplement your day or night skin care routine, depending on your skin type. We recommend applying the face oil alongside or as a replacement to your daily skin care routine, as your skin is mainly exposed to HEV/blue light during the day. However, it might make sense to protect your skin in the evenings when you are using an e-reader, for example.

To optimally prepare for the treatment, gently clean your face and then use an exfoliant. We recommend using the EXFOLIATING PEEL, FRUIT ACID EXFOLIANT, or oil-free ENZYME EXFOLIATOR from ANNEMARIE BÖRLIND.

We recommend spraying our Self-tanning Face Spray onto clean skin. Before applying other care products, wait until the spray has been completely absorbed.

As soon as the self-tanning face spray has been completely absorbed, you can apply make-up. It will not interfere with the tanning effect. Your skin will have absorbed the spray in approx. 2 minutes.

If the spray gets in your eyes, you should rinse them with warm water.

Do not wash your face immediately after using the spray. That would reduce the tanning effect. As soon as the spray has been completely absorbed, you can wash your face.

The self-tanning effect will last for several days and fade evenly.

To make the tanning effect more intense, you can use the self-tanning face spray every day.

Our Self-tanning Face Spray contains the ingredient DHA (dihydroxyacetone). It leaves the complexion looking summery and nourished – without any sun at all. The ingredient reacts with the protein components of the keratin in the skin’s outermost layer, dyeing the cells there brown.

Not necessarily. However, we recommend including eye care as a fixed components of your daily care routine in order to optimally nourish your eye contour area.

We recommend using the EXFOLIATING PEEL once or twice a week.

Our PEELING POWDER is very gentle and can therefore be used every evening. By the way: This product is also particularly suitable for sensitive skin.

The capsule of our INTENSIVE CARE CAPSULES consists of polysaccharides of red algae and wheat starch. We do not use animal gelatin. The packaging is 80% degradable within 30 days.
Another advantage of encapsulating the oil is that it is better protected against oxidation and spoilage. In a bottle, on the other hand, you may have to throw it in the trash while it is still slightly full, because oil will spoil and become rancid when in contact with oxygen. Our INTENSIVE CARE CAPSULES have a very long shelf life of 30 months for an oil due to the capsules.

Collagen is the most common protein in the human body. Our bodies make collagen fibers from the protein. They stabilize our bones, cartilage, teeth and even our skin. In the skin’s middle layer, the fibers interweave to create a collagen framework that supports the tension in the outer layer. The more strands providing support, the firmer our skin!

Our skin has a high proportion of collagen, which has the key function of supporting the layers of skin and the adjoining connective tissue. Because it is a protein, collagen is able to bind water and thus keep our skin firm. But as part of the natural aging process, our collagen content decreases by approximately one percent per year.

ANNEMARIE BÖRLIND uses natural, vegan collagen from maize, soy and wheat protein in the NATUCOLLAGEN BOOST products. Those sources have even better moisture-storing properties than conventional collagen.

A fibrous protein, collagen is essential for maintaining skin strength and elasticity. Until now, it was only available from animal sources such as cattle, swine and fish or available synthetically. ANNEMARIE BÖRLIND is the first natural cosmetics brand to use plant-based collagen that has been obtained via biotechnology (naturally) in a cosmetic product. Plant-based collagen obtained from maize, soy, and wheat protein has better moisture-storing properties than conventional collagen.

Our NATUCOLLAGEN BOOST products are suitable for all skin types; age 30+. That is the age when our bodies’ natural collagen production decreases.

The word “BOOST” in the names stands for an efficacy accelerator. The products accelerate the skin’s own collagen production and can be integrated into the daily care routine as systematic effect boosters or used individually.

“PCR” stands for post-consumer recyclate. The packaging material consists of plastic that is produced from household waste, among other materials.

To optimally prepare, use a gentle cleanser on your face

Our vegan NATUCOLLAGEN BOOST FLUID can be used a supplement before day or night cream if your skin needs more nourishment. You can also use the fluid as a substitute for day or night cream.

We recommend using 7-10 drops of NATUCOLLAGEN BOOST FLUID to adequately nourish your skin.

To optimally prepare, use a gentle cleanser.

Our vegan NATUCOLLAGEN BOOST Neck & Décolleté Serum can be used as a supplement before body lotion if your skin needs more nourishment. The serum can also be used as a substitute for body lotion on your neck and décolleté.

The serum’s roller tip helps you to apply the serum evenly and has a massaging effect. The roller also cools your skin and ensures that the serum is optimally applied.

Marula oil nourishes the skin and provides intensive care. It leaves skin soft to the touch. ANNEMARIE BÖRLIND sources the oil from a social and ecological project in Namibia. In 2015, Oshituthi shomangongo, the marula fruit festival, was added to UNESCO's Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage. For centuries, the Ovambo people have maintained their tradition around the marula fruit. With this project, ANNEMARIE BÖRLIND supports the many women who harvest marula fruit in the traditional manner.

To optimally prepare, use a gentle exfoliant. Our Exfoliating Peel yields excellent results.

To adequately nourish your lips, we recommend using 1-2 drops of NATUCOLLAGEN BOOST Volume Lip Serum. That is about the size of a grain of rice.

Alongside natural collagen, NATUCOLLAGEN BOOST Volume Lip Serum contains Szechuan pepper. It supports circulation, makes lips visibly plumper and enhances lip contour definition. The tingling sensation is harmless.

Wakame reduces wrinkles, makes lips visibly plumper, and enhances lip contour definition. It also nourishes the lips and leaves them supple.

Taurine revitalizes skin cells and has protective, rehydrating properties.

Our research and development team is always on the lookout for new, innovative ingredients. To keep our carbon footprint low when it comes to raw materials transport, we also search for regional ingredients. And that’s how juniper came to our attention. It is used to flavor gin. Gin has been a popular drink for a while now, particularly among men. That is why this special ingredient – which just happens to be regional – simply had to be part of our MEN care series.

We source the gin, which is enriched with organic juniper extract produced especially for us, from the Heckengäu distillery in the Black Forest. In combination with the organic juniper extract, the gin in our MEN products has an anti-oxidative effect on skin.