Natural Organic Skincare, Haircare, Sunscreens and Make Up

The Penders family tradition of formulating beauty products has existed for more than a century. More than 60 years ago, Paul's mother blended unique herbal facial treatments based on her father's secret formulas for clients visiting her beauty salon in Holland. These formulas were passed down to Paul and their popularity spread throughout the world.

THE MAGIC OF LevensESSENTIE.
Guided by the family tradition, Paul created LevensESSENTIE (meaning life's essence), an intensly concentrated herbal extract containing 23 organic or wild herbs collected from around the world. Paul's frequent travels around the globe in search of pure ingredients for his products, led him to the rainforests of Malaysia where natural plants and exotic species are abundant. The Malaysian government's active stance on forestry conservation prompted Paul to set up a production facility in that country. Cosmetic chemists teamed up with experts from the University of Technology of Malaysia to combine LevensESSENTIE herbal extract with the locally sourced Malaysian rainforest herbal treasures - revealing the secrets of amazing skin care! Because of the wonderful healing, nurturing and nourishing properties of LevensESSENTIE it is now incorporated into every Paul Penders product, including shampoos and cosmetics.

 NO ANIMAL TESTING POLICY  None of Paul Penders products has ever been tested on animals.  This cruelty-free stance has been a company policy since 1974.  Most of their products are now suitable for vegans.  For a complete list of vegan products, please visit our Vegan section.

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The Penders family have a history of cosmetology dating back over 100 years. Paul's great grandfather developed a secret family formulation which is the foundation for the current unique products. Paul's Mother was a beautician and over 60 years ago she incorporated and blended the unique secret formula developed by her father and used it in her beauty salons in Holland. The formulation was passed on to Paul who has developed them into the range that we have today.

Paul has carefully refined the formulation using the family tradition and principles to create the LevensESSENTIE (pronounced layvens-ee-sen-see). It is an intensely concentrated extract of 23 herbs including Chinese and Malaysian Rainforest botanical blessings.

Paul refused to test his products on animals. He first encountered acts of cruelty to animals at a testing lab in the 1960's. Paul vowed to seek a more humane way to test his products and this has been the company policy since 1974.

His first non-chemical shampoo was tested on two volunteer nuns in a nearby convent and today all products are tested only on human volunteers. In fact Paul was so passionate about not using animals for testing that he was forced to leave Holland after the Dutch government closed his factory down for his refusal to use animals in testing the products.

Paul's frequent travels around the globe in search of pure ingredients for his products led Paul to the rainforest of Malaysia where natural plants and exotic herbs and species are abundant. The Malaysian government's active stance on forestry conservation since 1900 prompted Paul to relocate his production facility to Malaysia. Cosmetic chemists teamed up with experts from the University of Technology of Malaysia, to combine LevensESSENTIETM herbal extract with the locally sourced Malaysian Rainforest herbal treasures - unveiling the secrets of amazing skin care.

Creative product development is a hallmark of this small, innovative company. Even large cosmetic companies have copied some concepts.

Paul Penders was: 

• First in no-animal testing. This policy started in Holland in 1976. The name Paul Penders has stood for no-animal tests for over 25 years. In the early days in Europe, Paul rapidly became known as "the animal right activist" and was the centre of a notorious fight with the Dutch FDA. These developments were followed by radio, newspaper and television. He vigorously fought to ban animal tests for cosmetic products and their ingredients. In 1996, Paul's native Holland became the first country in the world to make it illegal to conduct animal tests for cosmetics. As an animal rights activist he became involved with animal rights organisations around the world.
• First in No-FD&C colours in colour cosmetics; started in Florida in 1989.
• First in a natural AHA's product; introduced in Paris in 1993.
• First in a product concept called ICT. This consists of two separate components that need to be mixed together prior to application in order to spontaneously develop fresh oxygen. Introduced in Malaysia in 2000, currently sold on QVC Japan.

  The name "Paul Penders" stands for natural purity in his product formulations. Natural products that also deliver results fast. In the USA in 1995, two MDs researched some 100 cosmetic brands; the results were published in a book called: "The Safe Shopper's Bible". Paul Penders products came out as the most safe & natural in all their product categories.

  In 1996, "Paul Penders" products were being sold on national television through an infomercial that featured 2 movie stars. Dr. Bermann, the noted Hollywood plastic surgeon from Santa Monica, California gave testimonials for Paul Penders products.

  In May 2001, America's trusted health publication "Doctor's Prescription for Healthy Living" wrote a cover story about Paul Penders lipsticks, paying special attention to the hidden health dangers of the chemicals in today's lipsticks. The article is a scathing attack against major cosmetic companies, who just provide lip service (pun intended) and talk politically correctly. They sponsor breast cancer awareness programs while letting women use their toxic lipsticks that are proven to be carcinogenic by independent studies in the USA & Japan. Dr. Steinman M.D. raves about Paul Penders natural lipsticks.

  Used by beauticians in the US, UK, Holland, Japan Malaysia and France.

  Company Statement
  'To be seen as a positive, trustworthy, enthusiastic, friendly, pioneering, environmentally conscious company that practices with loyalty and integrity and supports humanitarian causes; to continue providing unique, high quality products combined with personal customer service to achieve exceptional consumer satisfaction.'

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