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Dr Tiina Meder August 09, 2024

Holistic Skincare: Myths vs Truth

“A human being is a part of the whole called by us Universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us”. — Albert Einstein.

Holistic has become a fashionable word: holistic spa, holistic cosmetics, holistic massage, and ultimately, holistic skin care and aesthetic medicine. But what is it really? What is the essence of the holistic care approach, and can it be implemented in the beauty industry nowadays?

If you ask people how they understand a holistic approach, very possibly they'll tell you something about organic cosmetics with natural ingredients, traditional herbal remedies, applications of massage techniques, or a personalized client approach. But if you want to understand it better, look at the bigger picture and read on for the fascinating history and ancient philosophy of holism.

The History of Holistic Philosophy

The word holistic comes from holism (from the Greek holos ὅλος, meaning whole, entire). Holism was one of the most ancient philosophical teachings, dominating European thinking from antiquity until recent times.

Holism begins to lose its popularity in the eighteenth century only. The great philosopher Aristotle was a holist, and Hippocrates' philosophy reflected a holistic view. He considered the human body in relation to its environment. Later thinkers would describe it as seeing the human being as a 'microcosm in the macrocosm'.

Holism viewed the entire world as a result of creative evolution, which is guided by some ideal factor of wholeness, keeping the world in a state of harmony. The human body is seen by holistic philosophers as the reflection of the world, which should be kept in a state of homeostasis, a dynamic equilibrium in which millions of factors change while maintaining the stability and well-being of the system.

In Hippocrates' time, the realization of the endless variability of the world with the external immutability of surrounding life had only one explanation - Something is aiming to preserve life and govern nature and people. The world represents an infinite whole, and its parts only make sense as necessary elements of the general. Just as the human eye only makes sense as part of the human body, so does a whole person only make sense as part of world nature.

Steiner, Waldorf System and Holistic Skin Care

The development of science reduced the romanticism of philosophers, poetry and admiration for the world order was somewhat forgotten, and new teachings and directions replaced idealistic holism. Nevertheless, holism was not completely forgotten.

At the end of the nineteenth century, new philosophical currents appeared that took holism as their basis. The greatest interest to us today is Rudolf Steiner's anthroposophical teaching, which changed the development of European pedagogy and influenced many areas of European life - from agriculture to art and economics.

Contemporaries believed that Steiner was a genius. Early in childhood, he showed unusual abilities in science - at fourteen, he read the philosophical research of Immanuel Kant, and at twenty-two, he became the editor of Goethe's collected works.

He published many articles and books on art, economics, and literature and finally presented the work "Philosophy of Freedom," which subsequently determined the development of the entire direction of theosophy and anthroposophy in Europe. What relation can this contradictory philosopher and believer in mysticism have to the beauty industry or approach to skin care of the twenty-first century?

At first glance, it's hard to imagine a connection between such distant phenomena - Waldorf pedagogy and skin wellness. But, as holistic philosophers claimed, all phenomena are just part of a common whole, as everything in the world is closely connected.

The Principles of Holistic Skincare

Traditional skin care offers a clear definition of skin conditions, calling some of them "aesthetic problems", while holistic cosmetology suggests considering deviations from the ideal skin condition as manifestations of the body's imbalance and impaired homeostasis.
Difference in therapeutic approach - where a traditional skin practitioner corrects and treats the root cause, a holistic practitioner seeks balance and tries to restore the equilibrium of systems.
Biodynamic approach to plant-derived ingredients in skincare products (like whole grains, leafy greens, essential oils) and use of clean technology to minimize environmental damage.
There is no concept of "clients" or "patients"; the practitioner and client are partners in biorhythmic interaction with each other, the world, and nature.
Circadian approach to overall skin health with a different day and night's routine.
Focus on lifestyle, regular exercise, foods and diet, stress levels, and mental state alongside skincare products.
No painful, aggressive, or potentially harmful treatments, products, or ingredients can be used in holistic skin care. If an ingredient is potentially harmful for one skin type or category of people, it's considered harmful for everyone.
Practitioners should express empathy and compassion. Holistic skin care should create a mutual feeling of happiness for practitioners and skin care users.

Healthy Skin Is Always Beautiful

The basic principle of holistic skin care is that healthy skin is able to self-repair, self-cleanse, and maintain a healthy level of hydration and collagen production.

The therapist's task is to restore the skin's lost equilibrium by affecting the body as a whole and giving the skin only what it needs, avoiding excessive stimulation and interference with natural processes. The foundation of holistic skin care is calming and restoring programs, which can be aimed at reducing skin reactivity, optimizing sebum production, restoring circadian rhythms, etc.

Eco-Conscious Approach to Ingredients in Holistic Skincare

Holistic skincare uses plant-based raw materials and extracts of plants collected not just in ecologically clean areas but also grown in natural biodynamic conditions, such as biodynamic plantations or gardens. The basis of the biodynamic approach in agriculture was laid by Rudolf Steiner, who gave a series of lectures on biodynamics in agriculture in 1924.

A biodynamic garden is a unified organism that combines many species of plants, trees, and shrubs in a single system. A mandatory condition for a biodynamic plantation is the so-called "living soil," which is not just a conglomerate of chemical substances but a living organism in complex balance and interaction with plants.

To maintain "living soil," farmers use special methods of planting, crop rotation, organic fertilizers, and nutrients, as well as mandatory adherence to the natural life cycles of plants. Biodynamic plantations do not use inorganic fertilizers or chemical industry products.

Harvesting and planting are done only by hand, at a special time of day for each plant, best coinciding with the natural way of growth rhythms. Now we call it a sustainable source of plant-derived ingredients and environmentally conscious brands as we are in Meder choose this way of development despite its higher costs.

Holistic Skincare Is Naturally Circadian

Nature's rhythms are the basis of the holistic approach to skin care. In nature, spring follows winter, and the human body also follows complex cycles, lunar and terrestrial.

Important aspect of holistic cosmetology is the concept of the "day-night" or circadian rhythm, which has recently become more popular in skin care. Traditional skincare is based on the need to stimulate the skin at night when we sleep and protect the skin during the daytime.

A holistic approach to skin care suggests mimicking a healthy sleep for the skin at night so that natural restoration processes can proceed in accordance with night circadian rhythms. Daytime care in holistic cosmetology implies active protection of the skin from the effects of the aggressive environment in which modern humans live.

Led light therapy can also be implemented in your routine to help skin adjust better circadian rhythms in situations where you cannot maintain healthy sleep patterns.

Take Care of Your Skin, Think about Your Overall Health

The holistic healing approach is based on the integrity of the body, affecting the human body as a whole, resulting in the restoration of natural equilibrium and beauty. It is progressing alongside scientific progress as it happens recently in acne treatment. Traditionally, an acne treatment approach is based on the use of disinfecting and sebum-regulating products to reduce inflammation and the amount of acne elements and cleansing skin cells affected by it.

Holistic skin care offers a new microbiome-oriented approach, restoring a healthy skin microbiome and ensuring the wholeness of skin's surface protection. Lifestyle, drinking enough water, attention to mental health, and a natural, diverse, and healthy diet should be a part of acne treatment.

The holistic approach is based on the idea of interconnectedness and synergy with everything and everyone in the world. This approach excludes the use of any potentially harmful ingredients or products.

If the ingredient can be potentially harmful, like retinol and its derivatives for pregnant women, it is seen as harmful for all people. As hydroquinone can be especially damaging for people with darker skin types, it cannot be used in holistic skin care.

An important part of the holistic healing approach is empathy, sympathy, and compassion between the practitioner and client, mutual aspiration for health and beauty, joint selection of means and impacts that provide maximum pleasure and comfort, a feeling of happiness during the procedure or use of a skincare routine.

The Universe Is Mirrored In Our Body

The principle of anthroposophy is that all natural phenomena are reflected in the human body. It is well known that the duration of the lunar cycle equals the average menstrual cycle in women. But there are more singularities around us:

The DNA spiral is a miniature Galaxy's'copy.
The number of years of the Sun's rotation around the circle of constellations equals the average number of respiratory movements of an average human during a day.
The number of functional units in the epidermis of healthy skin is proportional to the Phi number, also known as the Golden ratio, seen in shells, plants, flowers, and animals.

Anthroposophists consider all this to be a confirmation of the idea of unity between humans and the Universe. Body and face care and maintaining body and skin health are necessary as part of maintaining harmony with the surrounding world from a holistic point of view.

The holistic approach in skincare is not defined by natural decor and some fragrances in a spa or New Age music in a beauty salon. First and foremost, it is part of an ancient world philosophy that millions of people believed in, who did not yet know the connections and patterns that modern science has revealed to us but hoped that everything in the world has a certain meaning and significance.

Holistic values may seem naive and mystical in the modern world oriented on fast results and beauty standards. However, these values in skin care certainly bring safety and deep happiness to a person who is looking to regain youth and vitality, achieve glowing skin as well as a sense of joy from getting help from a person genuinely loving their role as a skin practitioner.

Let’s Stay Balanced and Happy

While the holistic approach offers a refreshing perspective on beauty and wellness, it's important to maintain a balanced view. Like any philosophy, holism has its strengths and limitations.

Traditional skincare and medical approaches, with their focus on specific problems and targeted solutions, have achieved significant results in treating various skin conditions and health issues. The ideal approach may lie in finding a middle ground where holistic principles complement evidence-based practices.

For instance, addressing overall health and lifestyle factors (as suggested by holistic philosophy) alongside targeted skincare treatments could potentially yield the best outcomes. It's also worth noting that while holistic methods often emphasize natural and traditional remedies, these are not inherently superior or safer than modern, scientifically developed ingredients such as peptides or prebiotics and probiotics. The most effective solution often depends on the individual's specific needs and circumstances.

Holistic Approach in Meder Skincare

We have been following holistic approaches from the very beginning, as Dr Tiina Meder has always seen them as an important part of her practice and research. The interconnectedness of skin and all organs of our body and the importance of maintaining skin health are pillars for active longevity as a long-shot goal and prolonged skin youth as an immediate bonus.

The microbiome plays a crucial role in skin health; because of it, we have been using probiotics and prebiotics since 2009. "We are a microbiome for a planet, and we are planets for our microbiome", says Dr Tiina Meder, implementing this principle in all Meder formulations.

How to Get Maximum from Meder Skincare?

Create your holistic skincare routine based on circadian rhythms and individual skin issues and needs.

Sensitive Skin Holistic Routine

Skin sensitivity is fundamental in holistic approach and if your skin is sensitive or you suffer from skin issues such as atopic dermatitis, rosacea, psoriasis or others we recommend to use our sensitive skincare range:

Anti-acne Holistic Routine

Meder Eu-Seb acne treatment is based on the holistic principles including a key role of microbiome in skin health. All our solutions are based on prebiotics, probiotics, plant extracts and plant-derived stem cells.

For best results, we recommend not mixing up holistic skincare with traditional formulations based on retinol or hydroxy acids, as they are potentially harmful to skin health. Meder acne routine contains 4 products aimed for daily use and two products for weekly use if you don't have an opportunity to get professional Meder Eu-Seb treatments in a clinic or salon.

Meder Acne Daily Routine:

Meder Anti-acne Weekly Routine:

Mature Skin Holistic Routine

A holistic approach to aging is not based on fear of age, as age-related changes are a natural part of human life. Healthy skin can stay youthful and perfectly functional for long years with the help of skincare based on the understanding of skin cells aging and skin functions.

We use plant stem cells, bio-fermented plant extracts, peptides, prebiotics, and probiotics to maintain the skin's active longevity and prevent the formation of wrinkles or loss of skin elasticity.

Meder Holistic Daily Routine For Aging Skin:

Meder Holistic Weekly Routine For Aging Skin: