Ute Leube, founder of Amala, has been one of the leaders in the field of natural and organic beauty for over 25 years. Inspired by books on plants and healing, Ute began blending her own skincare in the early 1970s and credits her discovery of essential oils and their powerful healing properties as pivotal point in her career.

Ute’s emphasis has always been ensuring that what she puts on her body is synthetic chemical-free. Her focus extended to discovering how to “unlock nature’s treasure chest” to formulate truly beneficial skincare that would heal, nurture and beautify the skin. This passion and her incredible partnerships with growers laid the groundwork for Amala which launched in 2009, and is the culmination of her life’s work and understanding of the beautifying benefits of whole plant ingredients.

We have crowned Ute Leube this years Earth Day Hero for her work with growers around the world ensuring fair trade principles are in place so that not only the grower, Amala and the customer benefits from the relationship, but the world is better off for it too. We chat to Ute about the principles that underlie her company…

The basis of your product creation is centered on the use of whole plants. Why do you consider it important for both the customer and planet that this principle underlies the range?

It’s the power of the whole plant that separates Amala from the bunch. Whole plants takes organic skincare from simply “safer and purer” to potent, effective skin treatments that truly nurture and beautify the skin and our world. We choose not to isolate our plant ingredients because we believe utilizing botanicals exactly as they are found in nature is by far the most powerful and results-oriented approach one can take to skincare.

The Amala products contain a high percentage of organic ingredients, how do you ensure you are getting the best quality ingredients? How do these ingredients contribute to the effectiveness of Amala products?

» Read the rest of this entry «

We are very excited to bring you the UK launch of the cult status Soapwalla Kitchen Deodorant Cream. Available now at CONTENT, we chatted to founder and chef extraordinaire Rachel Winard of Brooklyn, NY, about the effective & natural odour controlling power of her deodorant cream to find out why it works.

Your deodorant cream has gained cult status in the US. Why do you think it appeals to people?

I think the deodorant has become so popular because it’s a natural product that actually works. I, like so many others, tried every natural one on the market and just wasn’t satisfied with the way I felt or smelled. Soapwalla’s deodorant cream utilizes all natural ingredients (most of which are food grade!); I think the fact that it works as well as clinical strength options but without harmful chemicals is key to the deodorant’s success.

The Soapwalla Deodorant Cream is a really ingenious mixture of antibacterial essential oils, moisturising butters, and perspiration absorbing ingredients. How does this combination work as a deodorant?

The powders and clays absorb moisture – they don’t stop you from sweating (which is a good thing!) as only aluminum can do that, but they do keep you feeling drier. The essential oils are antibacterial, antimicrobial and anti-fungal, which eliminates odor (bacteria/fungus are accountable for odour). At the end of the day, the essential oils have been working so hard that they’ve neutralized, so you’re left with absolutely zero scent – not perfume over odour, not even the deodorant’s scent, but nada!

» Read the rest of this entry «

A few of you have spotted a new range instore and online and even tried a selection of the products. Today we talk to the creator of TWELVE Pedro Catala MSc (Pharm) Pharmacist & Cosmetoligist. This new range is a high performance skin care collection of six products that suit stressed, sensitive and reactive skin. Find out more about the range….

How did you come to develop your range of natural skincare?

I have always been fascinated by the use of plants within skincare. After obtaining my degree in pharmacy, I studied a postgraduate course in Botany for four years, followed by a Master’s Degree in the Science and Technology of Cosmetics. I have been listening to patient and customer skin care concerns for over a decade and wish to dispel the many myths there are in the cosmetic world. I decided to create skincare formulas that are highly compatible with natural skin composition, using the very best that nature offers. I focus not only on the active ingredients but the overall formula, so the efficacy of these powerful nutrients works on the skin to the highest degree.

Who is the TWELVE range developed for?

Because TWELVE is highly compatible with the skin’s composition, people with very sensitive, reactive and stressed skin can use the range. The TWELVE woman is someone who wants the best for herself, has a very active lifestyle, so seeks for a simple but effective skincare regime that is easy to stick to. The TWELVE man is someone who pays attention to the list of ingredients and refuses to apply harsh alcohol and silicone formulas, which are sadly, so common in male skincare due to the dry touch and easy absorption these ingredients falsely give.

» Read the rest of this entry «

For the average beauty lover, a super-intensive hour-long Facial is the ultimate treat. For the average sensitive skin sufferer however, it’s a whole different ball game, with over 91% reluctant to pay for a treatment they fear could irritate them.

Imelda Burke, owner of organic boutique CONTENT, explains why: A bad experience with products that are not suited to sensitive skin can put you off for life. But in reality, with the correct products, a monthly facial is ideal for calming sensitive skin. The massage combined with a holistic approach helps to soothe inflammation, reducing the redness often associated with sensitive skin.

As a sensitive skin sufferer myself I completely understand the Facial fear. When my urticaria first set in I was forever being told a Facial would help, only to come out of the spa 2 hours later itchy, sore and red in the face! That’s why I’ve spent the past two years developing Pai’s debut range of Facial treatments.

» Read the rest of this entry «

Alexandra Balahoutis created the botanical perfume house Strange Invisible Perfumes in 2000.

The US-based company has become one of the leading lights in the art of botanical perfumery. We spoke to Alexandra about the creation of her natural fragrance company and what sets these perfumes apart from the rest.

How does botanical perfume differ from aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is essentially medicine. It is formulated according to the therapeutic value of each essential oil. Botanical perfumery uses many of the same essences. The difference is that perfume is intended to be beautiful and evocative rather than healing. Health benefits are merely a perk.

In the last few years there seems to be a revived interest in the master perfumer or ‘nose’ behind perfume brands. But in botanical perfume the distiller seems to be just as important. The two roles are very different and yet the relationship between distiller and perfumer is an important one. How has this relationship evolved at strange invisible Perfumes?

» Read the rest of this entry «