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Dead Sea mud, alone or in combination with other ingredients, is believed to have benefits for deep cleansing and stimulation of the skin. Minerals extracted from Dead Sea water such as calcium, magnesium and potassium, are said to improve the metabolism, stimulate circulation and aid in the natural repair of cells. <ref>{{cite news|url= http:// http://www.cosmeticsbusiness.com/technical/article_page/Israel_-_Mineral_Magic/49839 |title= Israel - Mineral Magic |publisher=[[HPCi Media Limited]] |date=2010-03-01 |accessdate=2011-05-01}}</ref>
Dead Sea mud, alone or in combination with other ingredients, is believed to have benefits for deep cleansing and stimulation of the skin. Minerals extracted from Dead Sea water such as calcium, magnesium and potassium, are said to improve the metabolism, stimulate circulation and aid in the natural repair of cells. <ref>{{cite news|url= http:// http://www.cosmeticsbusiness.com/technical/article_page/Israel_-_Mineral_Magic/49839 |title= Israel - Mineral Magic |publisher=[[HPCi Media Limited]] |date=2010-03-01 |accessdate=2011-05-01}}</ref>

Therapy with mud packs for conditions such as osteoarthritis is relatively expensive and requires the assistance of a therapist and a treatment room. In the wake of these limitations, Ahava developed mud compresses used in the home which are heated in a microwave
oven or a pot of hot water and placed over painful joints. <ref>[http://fohs.bgu.ac.il/homes/shlomi/articles/mud_kneeOA_JClinRHeum.pdf Therapy With Mud Compresses for
Knee Osteoarthritis: Comparison of Natural Mud Preparations With Mineral-Depleted Mud]</ref>


Ahava has embraced the trend toward more natural ingredients in cosmetics. It purifies its own water and employs minimally invasive techniques to harvest mud and minerals. Ingredients are not tested on animals and Ahava products are packaged in recyclable containers.<ref>[http://money.cnn.com/2009/12/09/smallbusiness/ahava_dead_sea.fsb/index.htm Ahava turns Dead Sea Mud into Money]</ref>
Ahava has embraced the trend toward more natural ingredients in cosmetics. It purifies its own water and employs minimally invasive techniques to harvest mud and minerals. Ingredients are not tested on animals and Ahava products are packaged in recyclable containers.<ref>[http://money.cnn.com/2009/12/09/smallbusiness/ahava_dead_sea.fsb/index.htm Ahava turns Dead Sea Mud into Money]</ref>

Revision as of 05:22, 8 May 2011

Ahava
Company typePrivate
IndustryCosmetics
Founded1988
HeadquartersHolon, Israel
ProductsSkin care
Revenue$150 million
Number of employees
200
Websitehttp://www.ahava.com/
Models wearing and distributing Ahava products at New York Fashion Week in 2009

Ahava (Template:Lang-he) (lit. Love) is an Israeli cosmetics company that manufactures skin care products made of mud and mineral-based compounds from the Dead Sea. The company has flagship stores in Israel, Germany, England, Hungary, the Philippines and Singapore. [1]

History

Ziva Gilad, a spa technician, came up with the idea of marketing Dead Sea mud after watching women tourists scooping up the mud to take home. [2]

Two of Ahava's shareholders, Kibbutz Mitzpe Shalem and Kibbutz Kalya are located north of the Green Line, in the Palestinian territories.[3] Other shareholders include Hamashbir Holdings and Gaon Holdings and Kibbutz Ein Gedi. In 2009 Ahava took on new shareholder Shamrock Holdings, the Walt Disney Family's investment arm, which purchased 20% of Ahava Dead Sea Laboratories from its existing shareholders.[4][5] The main manufacturing plant and showroom is at Mitzpe Shalem, located beyond the Green Line on the Dead Sea coast,[6] while the company's administrative headquarters is located in Holon.[7]The company has 200 employees, 180 of them in Israel. [8]

In 2009, the company reported sales of nearly $150 million a year. In the United States, the largest overseas market for Ahava products, the company signed distribution deals with Lord & Taylor, Nordstrom and the beauty-supply chain Ulta. [9]

Ahava is the only cosmetics company licensed by the Israeli government to mine raw materials at the Dead Sea [10] although fifty Jordanian companies produce mud-based products for the cosmetics market. Israel has imported raw materials for its Dead Sea mud cosmetics from Jordan since 1994. [11]

In 2011, Elana Drell Szyfer, former Senior Vice President of Global Marketing for Estee Lauder, was appointed general manager of Ahava North America. [12]

Products

Ahava factory, Dead Sea, Occupied Palestinian Territories

Ahava sells eight different ranges of skin care products for different skin types. [13] Ahava products are based on the belief that minerals act as "intercellular messengers, transmitting information to skin cells and impacting positively on their health and vital functions." [14] However no independent scientific evidence has been adduced in support of this belief.

Ahava product lines include Source, a basic product for all skin types; Dermud for dry, sensitive skin, Time Line, an anti-aging facial treatment; Men’s, for men’s skin; and Pure Spa, anti-aging products for the body.[15]The Dermud series includes hand cream, foot cream, facial cleanser, body milk, facial nourishing cream, facial moisturizer, moisturizing shower cream and body cream. [16] The “Pure Spa” collection uses citrus and citrus products as a source of vitamins and minerals. [17]

Dead Sea mud, alone or in combination with other ingredients, is believed to have benefits for deep cleansing and stimulation of the skin. Minerals extracted from Dead Sea water such as calcium, magnesium and potassium, are said to improve the metabolism, stimulate circulation and aid in the natural repair of cells. [18]

Therapy with mud packs for conditions such as osteoarthritis is relatively expensive and requires the assistance of a therapist and a treatment room. In the wake of these limitations, Ahava developed mud compresses used in the home which are heated in a microwave oven or a pot of hot water and placed over painful joints. [19]

Ahava has embraced the trend toward more natural ingredients in cosmetics. It purifies its own water and employs minimally invasive techniques to harvest mud and minerals. Ingredients are not tested on animals and Ahava products are packaged in recyclable containers.[20]

Scientific research

Ahava is one of several Israeli cosmetics companies researching nanotechnology applications. The company has established an R&D program to investigate nano emulsion and nano suspension with nano particles of mud. [21]

Ahava operates its own laboratory for cell and organ culture. It is the coordinator of SkinTreat (FP-7) and a partner in nanoReTox (FP-7) founded by Cellage, a European research consortium the specializes in skin cellular Ageing (FP-5).[22]

Controversy

Code Pink staging a protest against Ahava in Los Angeles in 2009

Boycott campaigns have been organized by organizations such as Code Pink, which says "[Ahava's] products actually come from stolen Palestinian natural resources in the occupied territory of the Palestinian West Bank, and are produced in the illegal settlement of Mitzpe Shalem."[23] In response, the company stated that: "the mud and materials used in Ahava cosmetics products...are mined in the Israeli part of the Dead Sea" and that the Mitzpe Shalem kibbutz where the products are produced is not an "illegal settlement."[24] Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law, although the Israeli government disputes this.[25]

Pro-Palestinian activists who locked themselves to a cement-filled barrel at the entrance to the Ahava shop in Covent Garden were arrested on charges of aggravated trespassing. [26] Human rights supporters who also chained themselves inside the Monmouth Street Ahava store in central London in 2009 were acquitted and cleared of all charges, including that of aggravated trespass, and the presiding court officer, Judge George Bathurst-Norman … “commended the lead activist, saying he should be awarded the George Medal – normally awarded for acts of civilian bravery.” [27]

When TV actress Kristin Davis signed on as a spokeswoman for Ahava cosmetics in 2007, Oxfam allegedly cut its ties with her.[28]However, Oxfam denied this, stating that "Kristin Davis remains an Oxfam ambassador and supporter." [29]

In January 2011, the UK department store John Lewis announced that it would stop stocking Ahava products.[30] Claims that this was in response to the international campaign of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel have been denied by the company.[31]

See also

References

  1. ^ Mineral Magic
  2. ^ Ahava turns Dead Sea Mud into Money
  3. ^ "Mitzepe Shalem – Google Maps". Google Maps. 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2011-05-01.
  4. ^ "PrivCo Private Company Research Report: Ahava". PrivCo.com. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  5. ^ Neuman, Efrat. "Will the British buy love from the Dead Sea?". Haaretz. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  6. ^ "'Charlotte' gets no love for Ahava link". The Jerusalem Post. 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2011-05-01.
  7. ^ From Israel with Ahava, Haaretz
  8. ^ From Israel with Ahava, Haaretz
  9. ^ Ahava turns Dead Sea Mud into Money
  10. ^ Ahava turns Dead Sea Mud into Money
  11. ^ "Jordan eyeing big share of Dead Sea cosmetics market". The Taipei Times. 2010-03-21. Retrieved 2011-05-01.
  12. ^ 12th Annual Wharton Women in Business Conference
  13. ^ Restore and maintain skin health and beauty with Ahava’s Dead Sea mineral face and body care products
  14. ^ Ahava facebook page
  15. ^ AHAVA skincare products mine the Dead Sea for efficacy, product review
  16. ^ Greer Fay Cashman (January 3, 2008). "MarketWise". The Jerusalem Post.
  17. ^ AHAVA skincare products mine the Dead Sea for efficacy, product review
  18. ^ [http:// http://www.cosmeticsbusiness.com/technical/article_page/Israel_-_Mineral_Magic/49839 "Israel - Mineral Magic"]. HPCi Media Limited. 2010-03-01. Retrieved 2011-05-01. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help)
  19. ^ [http://fohs.bgu.ac.il/homes/shlomi/articles/mud_kneeOA_JClinRHeum.pdf Therapy With Mud Compresses for Knee Osteoarthritis: Comparison of Natural Mud Preparations With Mineral-Depleted Mud]
  20. ^ Ahava turns Dead Sea Mud into Money
  21. ^ Mineral Magic
  22. ^ Nanother: Ahava
  23. ^ "Code Pink protest calls for Ahava boycott". Ynet News. July 30, 2009. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  24. ^ "Pro-Israel shoppers defy Ahava products boycott call". The Jerusalem Post. July 25, 2010.
  25. ^ "The Geneva Convention". BBC News. 10 December 2009.
  26. ^ Pro-Palestinian activists blockade Ahava store in London
  27. ^ "Ahava store protesters cleared of charges". The Jerusalem Post. 2011-08-13. Retrieved 2011-05-01.
  28. ^ E.B. Solomont (2009-08-07). "'Charlotte' gets no love for Ahava". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  29. ^ Ahava turns Dead Sea Mud into Money
  30. ^ "John Lewis bans products from illegal settlements in Holy Land". Independent Catholic News. 2011-01-16. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
  31. ^ Sabel, Robbie (2011-01-16). "British retailer denies boycotting Israeli cosmetics". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dead Sea.
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