Dermalogica is more than a skin care brand; it is a company with an overriding sense of passion that is evident in every aspect of the business. Dermalogica has demonstrated exceptional growth and is a perfect example of how passion can transform a small business into a flourishing globally recognised brand.
Celebrating 25 Years
25 years ago, Dermalogica began as a seedling of possibility that grew into the spectacular organization that it is today. This is why Cherie Keating (Managing Director, Dermalogica), recognised the importance of commemorating Dermalogica’s 25th Anniversary in an appropriate way. A rose was therefore named after Dermalogica as a symbol of the company’s exceptional growth, in order to meaningfully acknowledge the brand’s 25th anniversary.
“When it came to picking this rose, it was the very first one I picked almost instinctively, and landed up coming back to it in the end,” says Keating, “ I loved that it starts quite pink but ages to a beautiful off-white ‘vintage pink’ with so much to it. It’s not ordinary, it’s unique, it’s strong and firm, robust, resilient and full-bodied, just like us. Dermalogica is not about pretty, or pampering, or nice smells, but we are about a unique experience and this rose has the most exquisite smell – clean and fresh and intensely magnetic, just like us. “
The rose chosen to carry out this honour has fittingly been named Dermalogica Passion. According to Cherie Keating, there were many reasons as to why the word Passion was chosen, but to name a few, it’s because “that is what we hope we ignite and inspire in others, from our therapists, to our staff, to our consumers, who love our brand. Passion provides the commitment to uphold standards of excellence over time and the fire to constantly raise the bar and create the change we wish to see in people, businesses and skins… and now in the lives of women the world over through FITE.”
Dermalogica Passion for FITE
Dermalogica’s sense of passion is further reinforced through their commitment to the FITE initiative. Financial Independence Through Entrepreneurship (F.I.T.E) is an unprecedented partnership between Dermalogica and Kiva.org to provide women entrepreneurs in the developing world access to small loans that helps them start or grow a business. FITE gives thousands of women entrepreneurs from around the world a hand up instead of a hand out. FITE is based upon the business model created by skin therapist and Founder of Dermalogica Jane Wurwand.
Since the launch of the FITE initiative, 4 423 entrepreneurs have been given a hand up worldwide, 50 of which are South African women. South Africa is currently ranked 5th on the Lending Team Leader board.
The Dermalogica Passion rose plays a significant role in the FITE initiative too, as for every rose purchased, R3.00 will be donated to the FITE project.
Growing the Rose
Roses are hermaphrodite, with both female and male organs. In nature the wind ensures pollination, but when science intervenes, the rose selected as male is stripped of its petals and the pollen carefully collected. The petals and stamens of the ‘mother’ plant are removed and the pollen from the male deposited on its pistil. Once the marriage is consummated the flower is covered, rose hips develop
and in winter the seeds are removed from their casing ready for sowing in early spring.
Each seed hip yields about 20 seeds and at the Delbard nurseries, in Auvergne, where the rose ‘Dermalogica Passion’ was bred, up to 70 000 seeds a year are sown. Only about half germinate and of those only about 3 500 will be retained after the first year. Thereafter the plants are reduced to 1000 and over the next five years the team regularly assess the plants until they have three to five plants that they feel have “something”.
The Importance of Roses
Anja Taschner (left) explains why a rose’s scent is just as significant as its appearance. Taschner explains that the reason that memories and associations are provoked when sniffing a rose is because “The fragrance of a rose is first absorbed by the mucous membranes in our nasal cavity. Next the receptor cells fires (through neurons) a message to the limbic system – which is the seat of emotions. Here, memories associated with smell decay slower than visual memories” Taschner gives an example of this: “I brushed an open, fragrant ‘Dermalogica Passion’ rose bloom passed Natalie’s nose, my partner in crime at RoseWeb, whilst she was having one of those phone calls: immediately her face lit up. Just that moment of escape, a moment to herself to surrender to this rose’s majesty!” Taschner feels that “It seems such an easy task, cleansing our skin with Demalogica Skin products – now tending to our wellbeing is just as easy whilst smelling a ‘Dermalogica Passion’ rose.”
In the case of ‘Dermalogica Passion’ the eyes were sent to Ludwig Taschner (above image), of Ludwig’s Roses and once it bloomed he was immediately taken with the shape, colour and fragrance of its blooms.
