Discover the Mystical Allure of Swiss Skincare: Where Jura Mountain Magic Fuels PHYTO5's Energy-Balancing Revolution

Picture this: You're standing on a fog-shrouded ridge in the Swiss Jura Mountains, the air crisp and alive with the whisper of ancient silver firs. Below, a river snakes through jagged limestone gorges, its waters so pure they sparkle under the sun. It looks like a fairy tale postcard but it’s actually the scene of Fleurier, Switzerland and its surroundings. This gem of a village nestles in the canton of Neuchâtel where the Jura's wild, untamed spirit collides with cutting-edge Swiss skincare innovation called PHYTO5.

PHYTO5 is the Fleurier-born powerhouse that's redefining luxury swiss skincare. Founded in the same valley where watchmakers harness ultimate precision and nature thrives with plant remedies most are unaware of, PHYTO5 draws straight from the land's veins.

PHYTO5 embraces the area’s glacier-filtered pure water and herb-laden meadows, combining them with the rhythmic pulse of the five elements of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine).

And even though Swiss skincare is renowned for exacting standard, PHYTO5 goes even beyond ‘exacting.’ This unparalleled skincare line, grounded in one of the most beautiful places on earth, is your portal to balance, where we treat skin, vital energy and emotions as a holistic unit.

The Jura's Hidden Symphony: A Landscape That Breeds Beauty Legends

The 225-mile Jura arc of rolling plateaus and deep-cut valleys hugs the Franco-Swiss border, cradling Fleurier at its core.

At 771 meters up in Val-de-Travers, Switzerland—a glacially carved wonder that feels like nature's own spa retreat—the air hums with purity. Scores of wild orchid species blanket the moors, low-hanging clouds pierce crests, and gorges gush.

Take the Areuse Gorges, a heartbeat east of Fleurier: These steep, forested chasms plunge 300 meters, where the Areuse River roars like a lion, etching waterfalls that mist the air with mineral-rich droplets.

Hike the Chapeau de Napoléon trail (yes, named after that emperor), and you'll crest a viewpoint that opens a wide vista across the valley, the Jura's limestone backbone glowing in the golden hour.

It's here, amid the karst aquifers that filter rainwater through eons of rock, that the Jura gifts its crowning jewel: water so pristine it's practically alive. These waters don't just quench—they revitalize. And it’s the same water we use in PHYTO5 formulations.

Low pollution and zero industrial fog creates the stuff of natural skincare dreams. No wonder Val-de-Travers birthed absinthe legends (absinthe is a key ingredient in PHYTO5’s Wood Yogi Body Gel).

This rugged terrain is a blueprint for resilience and vitality. The Jura's seasons mirror TCM's elemental harmony: Wood for Spring's oily purification, Fire for Summer soothing,  Earth for clarifying impurities, Metal for Autumn's mineralizing, oxygenating decongestion and Water for Winter's deep hydration and toning. We offer skincare that syncs your skin with nature’s rhythms.

From Jura Springs to Your Vanity: How PHYTO5 Captures the Magic

What if your anti-aging skincare routine wasn't a chore or a quandary, but a ritual rooted in Swiss meets TCM perfection?

PHYTO5 doesn't chase trends. We channel all this natural intrigue into plant-powered, quantum-energized 100% Swiss-made formulas.

Every drop of serum and dollop of cream echoes the valley's purity, blending essential oils with vitamins, trace minerals, algae and clays to awaken your skin's innate beauty and glow.

Here are just a few standouts—like love letters from the Jura valley:

Face Mist Benefits of Oligo5 Trace Mineral Spray

Imagine spritzing on the very essence of those Areuse springs. Oligo5 delivers five anti-age minerals for skin in an aqueous suspension. Make this mist for all skin types your instant skin reset button. It’s perfect for air travelers whose skin craves a natural hydration boost.

Swiss Skincare Detox with Phyt'Acid pH Balancing Cleansing Gel

For toxic skin with blemishes, acne and enlarged pores, this gel is provides a deep cleanse, infused with clarifying essential oils of lemon, thyme and petitgrain plus salicylic acid, Phyt’Acid purges buildup without stripping. Users find it a game-changer for acne-prone skin.

Water Day Cream: Hydration and Toning Straight from the Valley

This TCM Water element hero, with anti-age gingko and buckwheat extracts and more, works to balance moisture in skin and protect it against the seasonal aggression of Winter’s cold. Lightweight yet luxe, it's your luxury Swiss skincare pick for cold dry days, delivering a more toned, dewy finish.

Pair it with essential oil rich Phyt'Ether serum for a more expanded Water element skincare ritual. (All five element lines are quantum energetic with that potency very much concentrated in the Phyt’Ether serums.)

Ageless Clay Mask: The Ultimate Anti-Age Indulgence

Does your skin crave some TLC? This pink, soothing ever-moist Clay Mask absorbs impurities while purifying and nourishing skin with a feast of natural key ingredients.

Natural, High Vibrational Truly Swiss Skincare

In a world of synthetic swipes and cosmetic façades, the Swiss Jura’s intrigue and PHYTO5’s natural energetic grounding pulls skincare back to basics—pure, potent, profound.

PHYTO5 doesn’t peddle products. We share a story of elemental equilibrium, natural roots and a journey back to your exalted innate beauty.

Enjoy PHYTO5’s gems and invest in a ritual outshining promised quick-fixes that don’t deliver.

Ready to let truly natural and high vibrational Swiss skincare work their magic for you? Head to phyto5.us and start by addressing your skin condition. PHYTO5 identifies the five skin conditions with a line targeting balance for each.

Swiss Skincare Benefits Meet Holistic Skincare Solutions with PHYTO5

PHYTO5 offers Swiss skincare benefits that redefine beauty through holistic skincare solutions, blending nature’s wisdom with quantum energy.

Crafted in Switzerland for over 40 years, our products are rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine’s (TCM) 5-Element Theory. This ensures you enjoy a deep, vitality-boosting approach to your skincare regimen.

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural beauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique holistic beauty tips and offers.

Unlike conventional skincare, we treat the skin as the body’s largest organ — connected to your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our products work to balance your vital energy flow — a requisite for lasting radiance.

No other brand delivers this level of care, making PHYTO5 a global pioneer in energetic, plant-based skincare.

A Holistic Approach to Skincare

This approach is what makes PHYTO5 unique.

We don’t just treat skin in isolation. We see skin as part of your whole being.

Our holistic skincare solutions consider the intricate relationship between your body, mind, and even earth and cosmic energies.

TCM teaches we’re not just matter. We’re vital energy too. This energy, or qi (chi) flows through us, influenced by these cycles of nature:

• day and night

• the five energetic seasons

• life stages spanning 15–18 years aligning with the TCM element.

These cycles impact your sleep, diet, emotions — even your relationships.

When imbalances in the flow of these natural cycles in your life arise — whether from stress, pollutants, or emotional tension — your skin reflects it.

PHYTO5’s approach strives to restore harmony, delivering Swiss skincare benefits that go beyond the surface to enhance not just your skin but your overall wellness.

The Energetic Power of PHYTO5 Swiss Skincare

At the heart of PHYTO5’s holistic skincare solutions is the concept of vital energy.

TCM views qi as the life force regulating all living things — plants, animals, and humans alike.

Your health and glow depend on your qi’s quality and flow.

Energetic blockages, often worsened by modern stressors like difficult relationships or environmental toxins, for example, disrupt this balance. Imbalance shows up as internal emotional strain and outer skin issues.

PHYTO5’s 5-element lines — Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water — use proprietary blends of high-grade essential oils to balance your emotional and vital energy.

Each line targets specific imbalances:

• Wood purifies oily skin.

• Fire soothes, cools and calms overheated irritated skin.

• Earth clarifies acne and blemished skin.

• Metal protects skin against dryness.

• Water firms and tones.

And since 2017, we’ve elevated these formulations to the quantum level, amplifying their vibrational potency to not only improve skin but also foster emotional well-being.

Nature’s Finest: The Swiss-Made Difference

PHYTO5’s Swiss skincare benefits stem from our commitment to nature.

We rely on natural active ingredients and compounds. Think Alpine botanicals and essential oils from ylang ylang and edelweiss. Or think extracts from ginkgo or rosemary.

Sourced sustainably and crafted in Fleurier, Switzerland, our products carry the precision of Swiss manufacturing. This isn’t just about being natural. It’s about harnessing the life force and longevity codes of plants to deliver holistic skincare solutions.

Our essential oil rich skincare, formulated according to TCM’s 5-Element Theory, vibrate with energy that resonates with the energies of the seasons and elements, ensuring every application is a step toward balance and beauty.

A Legacy of Innovation in Skincare

Since our founding over 40 years ago, PHYTO5 has led the way in energetic skincare.

Over the decades, we’ve refined our formulations, boosting potency while staying true to our roots.

Our five elemental lines are unmatched — spanning face, scalp, and body care — delivering results that conventional brands can’t touch.

From Wood’s purifying formulations to Water’s toning treatments, each product is a testament to Swiss skincare benefits, offering professionals and clients alike a transformative experience.

Step Into Radiance with PHYTO5

PHYTO5 isn’t just skincare. It’s a revolution in the manner of self-care.

Our Swiss skincare benefits, paired with holistic skincare solutions, offer a path to beauty that’s as deep as it is radiant. Rooted in TCM’s 5-Element Theory and crafted with Swiss precision, our products balance your vital energy, harmonize your emotions, and bring out your innate beauty. After four decades, we remain the only brand delivering this level and type of care. Discover the PHYTO5 difference today, and let holistic skincare solutions redefine your radiance.

What this Boutique Swiss Skin Care Company Does for Skin Is Highly Unique

You are part of the natural world, including your skin. You probably feel more comfortable in a forest or garden rather than a chemical plant. It’s because you instinctively align with what’s natural and honest — not with synthetic and plastic. We’re a Swiss skin care company that treats your skin to plant essences and living energy and formulates products according to wellness principles of traditional Chinese medicine. And that’s highly unique.

Promoting these natural principles for skin and body is still so unique in today’s world, our company faces challenges other skin care companies don’t. But because we so profoundly believe in wellness, healing and the remarkable results our lines provide for skin, we’re up for it.

A series of serendipitous events led to establishing PHYTO5 in the U. S.

After 30 years in the hospitality industry, as I was heading a mid-sized international hotel corporation based in the U. S., the foreign owners sold the company. I took the opportunity to take a much needed sabbatical.

And that’s when I began thinking about my next step because I’m not the kind of person to stay on sabbatical forever.

Then the first serendipitous event happened.

A friend told me about a small Swiss skin care company whose aging owners were looking for an exit. I’m French born and the lab/manufacturing facility was located in the French speaking region of Switzerland.

I discovered the company, Laboratoire Gibro, S.A., manufactured an extensive line of non-medical grade skin care with a totally unique and intriguing method. At that time, they called the line Phytobiodermie:

phyto/plant + bio/life + dermie/skin

I loved the natural plant-based idea of skincare because I was already living a more natural holistic life.

On top of that, the company’s chemists formulated the products according to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

The combination of Swiss/French, plant-based and TCM was right up my alley.

My father was a medical doctor in France. He’d traveled to Asia and there he fell in love with Chinese medicine and acupuncture, in particular.

After that hallmark trip, for the rest of his life, he would not only study acupuncture he practiced it on me as a teenager when I got hurt in Judo competitions.

My father could reduce the pain of my ankle and other sprains and accelerate healing so fast I could return to active training after just a few days. My cohorts were out for weeks.

That had made me a real believer in Chinese medicine. And I was intrigued to see how a skin care company could apply its principles to their products.

So I went on a couple exploratory trips to Switzerland to learn about the factory, products, method and people. And I was excited to maybe revisit my previous successful experiences with the principles of Chinese medicine and its Taoist roots.

I visited Laboratoire Gibro in the quaint hamlet of Fleurier, Switzerland, located in the Swiss Jura mountains(1) near Neuchâtel. (I learned the water used in all this skin care comes directly from these sub-Alpine mountains.)

Fleurier is the same town known the world over for its centuries old exacting haute horlogerie(2) watchmaking companies. Almost everyone has heard of Parmigiani, Bovet and Chopard. 

The Fleurier name itself we roughly translate as flowering village—a name entirely apropos for a factory located within it that creates skin care formulated with essential oils of flowers.

‘Beauty Is Health Made Visible’ was this Swiss skin care company’s motto.

Having worked for decades in fine upscale hospitality, I was glad to discover this Swiss lab totally aligned with the concept of excellence.

They held a motto that professed a clear and very logical statement. It conveys that using the products improves not just your appearance but your well-being too:

Beauty Is Health Made Visible!

Their high integrity products completely reflected a one-of-a-kind uniqueness incorporating a philosophy, method, unique formulation, and lifestyle approach to skin care.

This wasn’t just a skin care line. I could see it went above and beyond skin care alone.

It was a wellness line.

And I surmised it would positively touch people in a way ordinary skin care never could.

I tested this claim of health made visible myself receiving face, body, and scalp treatments in a Phytobiodermie spa on the French Riviera. And deeper, I dived into understanding exactly how this skincare achieved remarkable results in both skin and overall wellness.

Formulated according to principles of TCM this skin care encourages a balanced flow of vital energy throughout the body.

Vital energy (called prana in yoga and chi, ki, or qi in Asian martial arts) flows subtly and invisibly through the body as life force. And TCM tells us any dysfunction of this life force vital energy can cause imbalance in a system(s) and potentially result in disease. 

Talking to the expert Laboratoire chemists I recalled things my father said about how necessary vital energy flow is for health and wellness. He showed me firsthand how acupuncture frees up energetic blockages and balances vital energy flow to keep you well.

The Swiss chemists follow a precise method from the Five Element Theory of TCM to formulate essential oil blends. 

And they design these synergistic blends to achieve the quintessential requirement for wellness: vital energy balance.

And as they do so they also take into account that each plant possesses its own unique energetic characteristics.

These characteristics follow the simple differentiation of:

• yin and yang energies and 

• more specific characteristics of the five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water.

 It’s an actual art to blend certain essential oils together so that they restore and maintain energetic flow and balance.

• Most companies add an essential oil or two here and there to their products.

• This company was crafting blends of multiple oils to achieve certain effects.

Along with the primary goal of balancing vital energy, the chemists made sure the skin care also performed fundamental important functions like:

• cleansing

• purifying

• mineralizing

• hydrating

• protecting.

All that’s a lot to consider when formulating an effective holistic skin care brand and I was thoroughly impressed.

It’s impressive now in the 2020s. So imagine what a standout it was all the way back in the 80s.

Coming from the hospitality industry, I felt this skin care was perfect for spas and particularly upscale hotels and resorts where perhaps the products would be better appreciated. (That was in the late 1990s—a time when the spa industry was poised for explosive growth worldwide.)

I purchased Laboratoire Gibro with a group of friends in late 1998 and opened a U.S. distribution center. Our goal was to establish this unique Swiss skin care in upscale hotels with existing or planned spas. And we hired licensed estheticians and massage therapists as trainers.

We rebranded Phytobiodermie—a French name that wasn’t pronunciation-friendly for most Americans—to PHYTO5. This name recognizes the core of our method: the plant-based aspect and the five elements of TCM.

And then we soon encountered many ‘teaching moments.'

We learned we had to accept American estheticians and massage therapists were less well trained than their European counterparts.

And even more, only a rare few technicians had even a superficial understanding of vital energy. Some thought the idea of vital energy was ridiculous. Others felt it went against their religion. 

There was also such high turnover in hotel spas we spent an incredible amount of time training new technicians only to see them go someplace else a few months later.

It sapped our ability to instill any depth of knowledge. And it went contrary to our objective of training technicians over time so that they’d ultimately perform the most superior treatments.

At that time, spa directors received no steady supervision. Sometimes they reported to the housekeeping department or front desk. New spa directors came on board bringing with them a different spa menu and skin care line.

Spas wanted to use skin care lines advertised in luxury magazines so they could make retail product sales with little effort. We didn’t have the budget for that. 

But all these years later, through trial and error, we’ve found our best avenues for sharing PHYTO5 Swiss skin care:

• generally smaller spas and skincare practices

• oriental medicine practices

• chiropractic offices

• wellness centers

• boutique hotels

• beauty salons

• individual skincare practitioners

This way we can be more effective with our training. And the customers of PHYTO5 skincare professionals receive the best service and most remarkable results.

Our PHYTO5 trained professionals are enamored with our philosophy, products and wonderful outcomes in skin and wellness. They stay with us because their clients become devoted to all our lines of products: quantum energetic Five Element, Swiss and Ageless La Cure.

We enjoy being a niche Swiss skin care line carried by dedicated technicians and purchased by faithful consumers right here at our retail site.

What our boutique Swiss skin care company does for skin is highly unique. It blends a philosophy, method and lifestyle approach to skincare rarely found these days. We invite you to sample it and experience the difference for yourself.

 …

 Endnotes:

1 The Jura Mountains are a sub-alpine mountain range located north of the Western Alps, mainly following the course of the France–Switzerland border. The Jura separates the Rhine and Rhône basins, forming part of the watershed of each. The name Jura derives from juria, a Latinized form of the Celtic stem jor- meaning forest. The mountain range gives its name to the Jurassic period of the geologic timescale from about 208 million to 146 million years ago. The Swiss Jura is one of the three distinct geographical regions of Switzerland, the others being the Swiss plateau and the Swiss Alps. In Switzerland, the range covers the western border with France.

2 Haute horlogerie is the high art of watchmaking.

Benefit from the Superior Swiss Water Purity of Jurassic History in PHYTO5 Skincare

Water is the most life-sustaining fluid on the planet, and nowhere is it naturally more pure than in Switzerland. PHYTO5 skincare uses this pure Swiss mountain water in all its formulations.

Switzerland is widely known and recognized for providing the best quality drinking water to its citizens. The Swiss enjoy incredibly pure water right out of the tap in a way that no other country quite enjoys. Even though the Swiss tend to consume more high calorie foods, they have one of the lowest obesity rates in the world. A major factor is that the large amounts of completely safe indigenous water Swiss people drink cleanses and purifies their bodies.

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural bxeauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique holistic beauty tips and offers.

“It will be important to acknowledge that safe water is one of essential components or needs for healthy living, along with adequate sanitation and proper nutrition. Together, these are the essential health needs to be met in the developing and the developed world. All three contribute to reduced disease and increased health, and the lack of one can degrade the beneficial impact of the others.”

— Mark D. Sobsey, PhD., Gillings School of Public Health, University of North Carolina

MySwitzerland.com says:

“The water distributed in Switzerland meets very high-quality standards. Eighty percent of the water comes from underground sources, the rest is taken from the lakes. The establishment of groundwater protection zones makes it possible to distribute half of this water without having to treat it. It can be drunk from every tap without posing a health hazard. Tap water in Switzerland also has a much better ecological balance than bottled mineral water.”

And finally, we see how prized a resource water is to the Swiss as we read this from the Wasser für Wasser (Water for Water) Organization, Switzerland(1):

“Swiss drinking water is of very high quality and meets strict guidelines regarding hygiene and safety. Like any natural product, tap water contains trace substances, but due to the stringent regulations on drinking water treatment, their concentration is at such a low level that it can be drunk without hesitation.

In view of the long-term goal of supplying the Swiss population with natural and healthy drinking water, it must nevertheless be stated: The quality of Switzerland’s drinking water is decisively a product of our use of the resource water. Effective water protection measures and their consistent implementation are essential if we want to ensure the high quality of our tap water for future generations.”

In the process of providing such pure water to their citizens, the Swiss government takes many measures to keep the country’s water resources and environment intact. The country is ranked #1 by the World Health Organization (WHO) for water quality. This is because of the nation’s strict treatment standards and superior natural resources. In fact, Swiss tap water is as pure as its bottled water but it is 500 times cheaper.

The U.S. doesn’t even come close to matching the water quality of Switzerland or several other European nations, for that matter. In fact, the WHO ranks the U.S. currently sixty-fourth in rural drinking water quality and 26th overall. 

Swiss Jura Mountain Water in PHYTO5 Swiss Skincare
Switzerland is known as the water tower of Europe. Most of the largest rivers in Europe are sourced in Switzerland. Eighty percent of Swiss drinking water stems from natural springs and groundwater and the rest comes from lakes. 

Swiss Jura Mountains

The Swiss Jura mountain water in PHYTO5 skincare specifically comes from the Jura(2) mountains. ‘Jura’ is the Celtic word for ‘forest.’

Neuchâtel, Switzerland

The Jura mountains are a sub-alpine mountain range located north of the Western Alps mainly following the course of the France–Switzerland border in the cantons of Basel-Landschaft, Solothurn, Jura, Bern, Neuchâtel, and Vaud. The Swiss lab where PHYTO5 energetic skincare is made, Laboratoire Gibro, S. A., is located in the canton of Neuchâtel. Lakes Neuchâtel, Biel (Bienne), and Morat, connected by canals, are survivors of a former glacial lake in the lower Aare valley located at the base of the Jura Mountains.

Jura mountains near Fleurier, Switzerland, home of PHYTO5’s factory, Laboratoire Gibro

The Jura mountains are rich in mineral and thermal springs. This is because both their tectonic fragmentation and pronounced relief structure allow groundwater to hydraulically rise from great depths to the surface. 

The pristine fresh water used in PHYTO5 skincare comes from a Karst system in the Swiss Jura mountains. Karst topography is a landscape formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves.

Areuse gorges, Switzerland

Underground stream sources from the Jura are many including the Areuse (situated close to Fleurier, Switzerland and PHYTO5’s Laboratoire Gibro), Schüss (Suze), and Birs rivers in Switzerland. 

Areuse ravine, Switzerland

Quality In, Quality Out
If you’ve ever had the occasion to drink tea, coffee or beer, for example, that have been made using ultra high integrity pure water (not the kind of water we buy in the U.S. labeled “Purified”), you will be struck by the remarkable quality and taste in the end product. Water is actually the most important ingredient in all three beverages. When it is very very pure, the beverage product is remarkably delicious. And just as it works in these beverages, so, too, does Swiss water elevate the quality and performance of Swiss-made skincare products. 

Only water that is free of toxins, pollutants and microbes is allowed to be used in the formulation of skincare products. This water would be distilled or purified by the cosmetic manufacturer. But while other skincare companies say they use purified water in their cosmetics content, almost none overall can say they use Swiss Jura mountain water.

In PHYTO5’s case, the lab in Fleurier, Switzerland additionally passes this already pristine water through high tech filters before adding the water to skincare formulations in order to extra-purify it. This water supports your vitality when consumed by osmosis through the skin.

The pure and balanced Swiss Jura mountain water has a similar mission to the premium grade essential oils, extracts and high tech natural compounds that make up PHYTO5 skincare. Its mineral composition encourages tissue regeneration, revitalizes cellular metabolism, and exhilarates the skin’s natural defense system.

The Vibration of Life and Vitality
So we see how completely the water in PHYTO5 Swiss holistic skincare is ultra-pure, nourishing, and life-supporting. And not only is that water already extremely pure, Swiss Jura mountain water emits a higher vibration than water used in cosmetics manufactured in or near big cities and which has been insulted by being transported through big city piping networks. All things carry a vibratory frequency and this concept is especially evident in water.

Evidence of high vibration in a water molecule crystallized

Water is a carrier of vibration—low or high according to its source and its treatment—and that vibratory frequency gets passed on to you when you consume it through drinking or absorbing it through the skin.

Renowned Japanese researcher Masaru Emoto (1943-2014), who proved human consciousness has an effect on the molecular structure of water and who conducted now famous experiments on water purity and vibration said:

“We strenuously observed crystals of tap water, river water, and lake water. From the tap water from rivers and lakes near big cities, we could not get any beautiful crystals [indicating high vibration]… however from the water from rivers and lakes where water is kept pristine from development, we could observe beautiful crystals with each one having its own uniqueness.”

High vibrational Swiss lake water

So the added benefit of PHYTO5 skincare is the higher vibratory frequency of the principle ingredient, pristine Swiss mountain water. That higher vibratory frequency adds to the product and then to your skin.

Water is the Principle Ingredient In Almost All Skincare
All skincare contains some degree of ‘aqua,’ the name utilized on official ingredient lists in the European Union. Water is the most precious and most widely utilized ingredient in the cosmetics industry, often appearing first on the product’s list of ingredients. Depending on the product category, beauty products may contain anywhere from 60% to 85% water on average. Rinse-off products, such as haircare, shower gels or cleansers, may contain up to 95% water.

While it is difficult to determine the exact percentage of water content in a skincare product, if “water” or “aqua” are the first words appearing in the list of ingredients, this means that the product contains more water than any other ingredient.

Water is a primary ingredient in most skincare because it is a universal solvent. Combined with emulsifiers, water can be mixed with denser ingredients such as butters and oils to facilitate the formation of emulsions in creams and lotions. Water also plays an essential role in the extraction and manufacture of many natural raw materials such as plant extracts.

Water plays an enormous role in all phases of the production, supply and consumer usage of skincare products. There is currently a budding conservationist trend in the formulation of skincare products—that of creating anhydrous solid skin and haircare formulations without water. Water-free cosmetics support the reduction and elimination of packaging while conserving water, but water must still be used on the backend by the consumer to activate the product. Still other companies are beginning to opt for using recycled water in their skincare formulations in their efforts to conserve.

There may be potential benefits to solid anhydrous skincare especially if the water that would otherwise have been utilized must go through somewhat rigorous purification processes. But the Swiss Jura mountain water which is the kind formulated into PHYTO5 skincare does not fall into that category since it does not need such rigorous purification processes.

Today, there is a definitely a movement of growing environmental consumer consciousness. More and more people are opting for natural and organic products not only for their own well-being support but for the well-being of the planet. At the same time, we should look to products made that honor the Earth and the very wellspring that gives life to all—water. And nowhere is it found in greater reverence and purity than in Switzerland.

“We forget that the water cycle and the life cycle are one.”

— Jacques Yves Cousteau

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on July 15, 2022 but has been significantly expanded in this post for freshness and comprehensiveness.

#####

Endnotes:

1. Wasser für Wasser is the Swiss non-profit organization with a vision to change the way we use water. We are committed to safe access to drinking water and sanitation for all, to raising awareness of the value of clean water and sanitation, and to the eco-friendly consumption of water. 

2. The term ‘Jurassic’ is an adjective of or pertaining to the geological period between the Triassic and Cretaceous periods and comes from the french ‘Jurassique,’ which literally means “of the Jura Mountains” between France and Switzerland whose limestones were laid down during this geological period.

Sources:

Top 10 Healthy Things To Do In Switzerland, March 29, 2016: http://www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/top-10-healthiest-things-switzerland/

Top 10 Countries With the Best Tap Water by Sammy Said; http://www.therichest.com/expensive-lifestyle/location/top-10-countries-with-the-best-tap-water/

Wonder Water: The Value of Water, EuroGeo Surveys: The Geological Surveys of Europe http://www.eurogeosurveys.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Water-Book-Layout_full-low-double-no-print.pdf

– Encyclopedia Brittanica

Sobsey, Mark D, and S Bartram. “Water quality and health in the new millennium: the role of the World Health Organization Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality.” Forum of nutrition vol. 56 (2003): 396-405.

PHYTO5 Is Truly, Authentically and 100% Made In Switzerland: Here's Our Story

PHYTO5 skincare, an indy skincare company–straightforward and honest–is all made in Switzerland. It’s not just Swiss-inspired. It doesn’t just contain some ingredients from Switzerland. It isn’t fractionally made in Switzerland. It’s 100% made in Switzerland. Free of gimmicky ingredients and inflated price tags, we simply give our customers what nature does–crafting nature's gifts into skincare to bring beautiful balance to your skin, vital energy and emotions.

PHYTO5's factory, Laboratoire Gibro, S. A., is located in Fleurier, in the Swiss Jura mountains near Neuchâtel, where watchmaking companies like Parmigiani, Bovet and Chopard were long ago established. This region is synonomous with exacting manufacturing standards of some of the world's best known and most coveted products.

Here, in Fleurier, the gorges of Poëta-Raisse and l'Areuse and the grottos of Môtiers are each an expression of the sheer power and purity of spring water endlessly flowing century after century carving narrow passages through the rocks. This same water is in all PHYTO5 skincare. Additionally, even before this water is added to any PHYTO5 skincare formulation, we run the water through high tech filters to “extra-purification.”

The birth town of PHYTO5, Fleurier, meaning 'one that flowers,' is truly ground zero for purity... "Swiss-Made..." and our company.

In the late 70s, we at PHYTO5 understood that we are more than the physical matter that makes up our flesh, bone and blood and that there is also a current of unseen vital energy coursing through our bodies constantly animating and vitalizing our beings.

And we realized and later proved that we could formulate skincare that synchronized with and uplifted this vital energy.

We did this by introducing high vibratory frequency to skin via high grade essential oils.

We then went beyond what other skincare formulators did with essential oils by blending them in a way that created more than uplifting energy—

it created a high vibratory synergy.

We believed then and now in the healing philosophy of the Five Element Theory of traditional Chinese medicine. Each of the five elements in this theory identifies with a season and a set of skin conditions.

We apply this theory to these synergistic blends of essential oils to target and balance the five sets of skin conditions.

We next elevated our singularly distinctive five element lines to a still higher level known as QUANTUM through a proprietary process we believe is unique in all the world. 

It's this quantum aspect of PHYTO5 that also exquisitely touches and elevates your center of emotions.

PHYTO5's organic certified Ageless La Cure line also brings you the benefits of essential oil rich formulations…

...and so does PHYTO5's 'Swiss line' of traditional phytoceutical skincare products.

The high grade essential oils used in PHYTO5 skin and hair care are our HERO INGREDIENTS. PHYTO5's hero ingredients also include high tech natural compounds, flower and plant extracts and waters, organic oils, minerals, vitamins, tree butters and more.

The PHYTO5 philosophy and concept are not duplicated anywhere in the world

PHYTO5 skin and hair care are truly singularly unique.

Swiss Skincare: Synonymous with Highest Quality and Efficacy

Switzerland, situated between France, Germany and Italy, benefits from the influence of the three surrounding cultures. One principle influence is skincare. Swiss skincare and routines are renowned across the world.

The tiny town of Fleurier, in the French-speaking part of Western Switzerland, is famous the world over for its centuries old exacting haute horlogerie(1) watchmaking companies. Everyone has heard of Parmigiani, Bovet and Chopard.

Fleurier is also home to PHYTO5 skincare’s Suisse Romande(2) manufacturing facility, Laboratoire Gibro, S. A.

The Swiss manufacturing ethic Swiss Fleurier watches are known for also and exactly applies to the manufacture of PHYTO5’s Swiss skincare.

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Essential Oil Rich Clean Swiss Skincare Made in Fleurier, Switzerland

The Fleurier name itself we roughly translate as Flowering Village. This name is entirely apropos for a factory like Laboratoire Gibro which creates Swiss skincare largely formulated with essential oils of flowers.

The factory is deliberately located very close to the Swiss Jura mountains(3) near Neuchâtel. Considering its rich history, it’s no wonder we say that Fleurier is ground zero for Swiss-Made skincare.

PHYTO5 entirely produces Swiss skincare in this uniquely situated factory in the district of Vals-de-Travers.

Here the gorges of Poëta-Raisse, the grottos of Môtiers and the Gorges de l'Areuse each express the sheer power and purity of spring water. This pristine water has endlessly flowed century after century carving narrow passages through the rocks.

And it’s this same water we formulate in all three lines of PHYTO5 Swiss skincare (Five Element, Swiss Line–traditional phytoceutical skincare, Ageless La Cure).

Because the 'aqua' (water) in all PHYTO5 skincare comes directly from the sub-Alpine Swiss Jura mountains, the water holds high vibrational frequency.

This frequency is higher(4) than water used in cosmetics manufactured near big cities where water’s been insulted forced through impersonal, transport piping networks.

Before we add Swiss Jura spring water any of our Swiss skincare formulations, we additionally run the water through high tech filters to extra-purify it.

Other skincare companies purify their water too. But because of their water source, it’s most often devoid of vital energy and beneficial vibration. All the purification equipment in an urban modern skincare lab can never equate with the energetic purity of Swiss Jura mountain water.

Highest Exacting Manufacturing Standards in Swiss Skincare

Gibro, S. A. is nestled in a clean natural environment. The factory follows extremely high European-regulated quality standards and procedures befitting the region. The standards honor the sanctity of the planet.

PHYTO5’s factory has diligently earned the coveted Ecocert and Cosmebio ecological and organic certifications (according to ECOCERT Standard).

The New York Times reports what PHYTO5 has known all along: 

“… the cosmetics regulatory system in the U. S. operates in complete contrast to a number of substantial rounds of regulations imposed on cosmetics manufacturers in the European Union (E. U.) in the last 15 years.” 

The Swiss government plays a proactive ongoing role in factory supervision for all Swiss-based manufacturers. This double layer of Swiss and European regulation and supervision provides a substantial level of protection for the American consumer buying authentic truly Swiss skincare like PHYTO5’s.

Keep in mind the skin absorbs much of what we put on it and what comes into its vicinity. The U. S. is largely unwilling to ensure your skincare products are actually and totally safe for your health.

For this reason, it makes complete sense to buy 100% Swiss-made skincare like PHYTO5. It’s been subjected to a double layer of Swiss and European regulation and supervision. 

Beware of companies generously using the Swiss flag in their branding. They often use catch phrases and titles including the word Swiss.

In many cases, these products are only Swiss-inspired or only a tiny percentage of the product actually comes from Switzerland. 

…

Endnotes:

(1) High art of watchmaking

(2) French-speaking part of Western Switzerland; as opposed to Suisse Alémanique, the German-speaking part of Central Switzerland

(3) The Jura Mountains are a sub-alpine mountain range located north of the Western Alps, mainly following the course of the France–Switzerland border. The Jura separates the Rhine and Rhône basins, forming part of the watershed of each. The name "Jura" is derived from juria, a Latinized form of the Celtic stem jor- meaning “forest.” The mountain range gives its name to the Jurassic period of the geologic timescale from about 208 million to 146 million years ago. The Swiss Jura is one of the three distinct geographical regions of Switzerland, the others being the Swiss plateau and the Swiss Alps. In Switzerland, the range covers the western border with France.

(4) "...We strenuously observed crystals of tap water, river water, and lake water. From the tap water we could not get any beautiful ones [crystals denoting high vibration] from rivers and lakes near big cities ... however from the water from rivers and lakes where water is kept pristine from development, we could observe beautiful crystals with each one having its own uniqueness". --Masaru Emoto,  (1943–2014), Japanese author, researcher, photographer, and entrepreneur who proved human consciousness has an effect on the molecular structure of water.

The Editorial Board. “Cosmetics Safety Needs a Makeover.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 9 Feb. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/02/09/opinion/cosmetics-safety-makeup.html.

Swiss Skincare: Far Safer for Skin Than American

The New York Times Editorial Board wrote an article entitled, “Do You Know What’s In Your Cosmetics?” (Feb. 9, 2019) The article’s caption states: “Thousands of chemicals, in billions of dollars worth of products, are being governed by regulations that haven’t been updated in decades.”  The New York Times is making people aware of something PHYTO5 has known all along: 

“the cosmetics regulatory system in the U. S. operates in complete contrast to a number of substantial rounds of regulations imposed on cosmetics manufacturers in the European Union (E. U.) in the last 15 years.”

Fortunately, the Swiss government supervises Swiss-based manufacturing facilities. Combined with European regulation and supervision, Swiss manufacturing oversight provides a double layer of protection for the American consumer who buys authentic Swiss skincare like PHYTO5.

The New York Times articles articulates the lack of U. S. governmental action to ensure consumer safety.

In a 1988 hearing, Congress took the cosmetics industry to task for a rash of health and safety problems. Cosmetologists were reporting serious respiratory and nervous system damage. And according to government data, nearly 1,000 toxic chemicals were lurking in countless other personal care products. Cosmetics companies were not doing enough to ensure that these products were safe, and the Food and Drug Administration did not have enough power to adequately police them… Legislative reform was clearly needed. That was 30 years ago. To date, no such reforms have been passed.

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The article further explains the laws governing the role of the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors are just two pages long. They haven’t been updated since 1938 when they were first enacted.

That office with an annual budget of just $8 million and 27 staff members is now facing a seventy billion dollar a year American cosmetics industry.

The article concludes that:

such meager tools leave federal officials nearly powerless to regulate the makeup, lotions, toothpastes, deodorants and other elixirs that often are applied to the most intimate parts of the human body.

The FDA requires next to no oversight or documentation.

The FDA doesn’t require companies to submit safety data before they market a product. In the European Union a product could never be put on the market without this basic documentation.

FDA doesn’t monitor adherence to basic manufacturing standards. But the Swiss government makes it its business to do so.

In the U. S., manufacturing companies aren’t required to report problems attributed to products. The E. U. has a central data bank responsible for distilling and coordinating all product documentation including skin and toxicity tests as well as any adverse events attributed to products.

Although the article states the FDA doesn’t ensure the safety of imported cosmetics which have doubled in volume in the past decade, it fails to state that Swiss- and E. U.-made products also marketed in Europe meet stringent regulations that already exceed whatever American consumer groups advocate.

There are still many products manufactured overseas which aren’t subject to rules like those in the European Union.

The FDA inspects less than one percent of the three million or so cosmetics shipments that come in to the states every year. Among those that it does test, roughly 15% of products manufactured outside the E. U. are found contaminated or containing harmful ingredients.

Most consumers abhor the idea of testing products on animals.

PHYTO5 has never and will never test our skincare products or ingredients on animals. E. U. regulations make animal testing completely unnecessary. This is because all products must pass independent toxicity tests to ensure no harm, irritation or toxicity to human skin. 

There are no U. S. regulations even in the works to ensure consumer safety.

Both the state of California and federal government have been considering tighter measures to regulate the production and distribution of skincare products made in the U. S. But the proposals are receiving substantial pushback from the beauty industry.

Depending on the administration, varying levels of reluctance directly or indirectly impose regulations on businesses. So any federal bill is likely to be defeated. If Congress passed a bill it would probably be very diluted.

So it remains that products made in Europe represent a far greater level of consumer safety.

And while the skincare industry booms, a recent industry survey finds 71% of consumers say their skincare needs aren’t being met.(1)

1. Keeping in mind that the skin absorbs what we put on it and what comes into its vicinity and

2. Since the U. S. is largely unwilling to ensure that our skincare products are actually and totally safe for our health

   it makes complete sense to buy 100% Swiss skincare like PHYTO5.

   Swiss and European regulation and supervision subject PHYTO5 skincare to a unique double layer of protection.

   Beware of companies using the Swiss flag in their branding or catch phrases and titles using the word Swiss. In many cases, these products are either only Swiss-inspired or a tiny percentage of the product was actually produced in Switzerland. 

Rest assured that PHYTO5 Swiss skincare is 100% made in Switzerland.

Combine this with our natural, holistic and vital energy concept and you’ll enjoy Swiss skincare capable of delivering results and benefits most other skincare lines could never claim.

…

Sources:

(1) This is just one insight contained in an extensive 3-part report from Denise Herich of The Benchmarking Company, running consecutively in the March, April and May 2019 issues of Global Cosmetic Industry.(2)

To gauge consumer’s thoughts and feelings on skin care, The Benchmarking Company surveyed more than 4,600 female beauty consumers about all things skin care.

• Part 1: March 2019: Consumer attitudes, generational concerns, unmet needs, what she’s using now and products she’d like to try.

• Part 2: April 2019: What they’re willing to spend, on what and where; key purchase influencers; consumer-approved trends; retail category picks.

• Part 3: May 2019: Generic skin care and skin care kits; the continued appeal of luxury and mass skin care; social media and beauty loyalty programs; natural and organic skin care product and brand appeal.  

(2) Gleason-Allured, Jeb. “New Skin Care Report Series: What 4,600 Consumers Think.” Global Cosmetic Industry, www.gcimagazine.com/marketstrends/segments/skincare/New-Skin-Care-Report-Series-What-4600-Consumers-Say-505218081.html.

The Editorial Board. “Cosmetics Safety Needs a Makeover.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 9 Feb. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/02/09/opinion/cosmetics-safety-makeup.html.

Lipton, Eric. "F.D.A. Has 6 Inspectors for 3 Million Shipments of Cosmetics." The New York Times. The New York Times, 02 Aug. 2017. Web. 16 Feb. 2019.