Just like its collection of skin and hair care products, the natural brand Paul Penders (Florida) is rejuvenating its presence in the U.S. with new products, a new team, and new distributor and sales network.
Indiana-based Palko Services is the distributor, while Gary Gobeli of Alternative Sales (Kentucky) is the sales network. New color cosmetics products are scheduled to be launched at a later date.
The roots of Paul Penders International began in 1903 in Holland where Paul Penders’ grandmother developed an organic botanical formula for skin—she called it LevensEssentie, or “Essence of Life” in Dutch. LevensESSENTIE Gold serves as the base for the company’s 40 natural, organic beauty and skin rejuvenation formulas, including skin and hair care products for babies and men, as well as perfumes. 
After learning “hands on” in his parents’ beauty salons and with Parisian society hairdresser Alexandre Albert Raimon, Paul Penders devoted himself and his company to truly natural products not tested on animals.
In 1980, the Dutch government issued an ultimatum to the company—test on animals or close the manufacturing facilities. Penders relocated to the U.S. In 1982, he led the “cruelty free” consumer education initiative after the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) permitted the company to produce formulas not tested on animals. In 1985, after reading reports about serious health concerns stemming from chemical FD&C colors in lipsticks, Penders removed all chemical colors from its color cosmetics, and was the first cosmetics company to do so.
Since then, Penders and his son Bastiaan, who now serves as the director of U.S. and Singapore operations of Paul Penders International, have launched new products containing botanical ingredients from around the globe. In 2003, the company relocated its R&D facility to Langkawi Geopark in the rainforests of Langkawi Island, in the Andaman Sea.
Last year, Paul Penders International launched a manufacturing facility in the Himalayas, where products are now being made under a World Health Organization-GMP (good manufacturing practice) license. The first product, Holistic Dynamic Hydrating Day Starter features 100 percent pure mineralized snow melt water filtered down for more than 20 years from Mount Everest. Later this year, the company will launch a new vegan color cosmetics line made with the Himalayan mountain water. All Paul Penders’ products are certified vegan, kosher, halal and Environmental Working Group verified.
For more information, visit www.paulpenders.com.
