Kristy shares her expert advice on natural and
effective skincare that works in harmony with you.

Sacha Inchi Oil Enters The Limelight

When I spotted a certain well-known haircare brand extolling the virtues of ‘Inca Inchi Oil’ during the ad break on TV the other night, I realised one of our most prized secret ingredients was finally getting the attention it deserves. And rightly so given its many remarkable properties. Elemental Herbology has long believed in the rejuvenating, protecting and restorative effects of this wonderful raw ingredient. So much so that we have incorporated it into a vast array of our products including Purify & Soothe, Cell Plumping and Botanical Body Repair to name just a few.

I discovered Inca Inchi Oil (or Sacha Inchi Oil as it is also known) when researching sources of the essential fatty acids that are so vital for keeping skin healthy. Finding this remarkable oil felt like striking gold when I discovered that this humble raw ingredient is in fact nature’s most concentrated source of omegas 3, 6 and 9, all of which play a crucial role in safeguarding the skin. But as well as protecting it, Sacha Inchi Oil helps to improve the skin’s texture, enhance cellular regeneration and preserve its lipidic balance. And the good news doesn’t end there. Entirely organic and produced according to traditional agricultural methods, our Sacha Inchi Oil is sourced from Peru through a fair trade programme that supports Amazonian reforestation. It is immensely rewarding to work with a raw material that nourishes not only your skin but also the communities that produce it.

Kristy

Australia Press Trip

I have just returned from a wonderful five week escape to Australia: part work, part holiday, and all round lots of sunshine.

My trip kicked off with a press event hosted by Mecca Cosmetica our brand partner in Australia. Mecca arranged an intimate gathering of key beauty press at the beautiful Balla Restaurant on Darling Harbour, which was the perfect setting to introduce the editors to our new Cell Active Rejuvenation. Cell Active is now in store in the UK and will shortly be on shelf in the US and Australia. I am delighted that it has been so well received as this is our most advanced skincare launch yet and it’s a product I am really excited about -with 12 patented ingredients, 40 actives and 8 bio-oils it really provides the ultimate support for mature skin, addressing all the physiological signs associated with the ageing process. It pushes the boundaries on high-performance, bio-nutrious skincare and is the first in a trio of products we are launching this year focusing on age support. I can personally testify that even on the first application having applied to only one side of my face the girls in the office could easily see which side, even 9hrs later. It really works, makes the skin look so much more vibrant, healthy and radiant, is lovely to use and smells heavenly.

While in Sydney, I also had the opportunity to meet with Marguerite Winter from the Australian Financial Review. Marguerite subsequently wrote a wonderful bio piece and arranged a fantastic photo shoot in Brisbane Botanical Gardens. I also had the chance to see our much loved Fiona, Director of Design and Production, (who has been on a 6 month globe-trotting sabbatical and due back in the office next week) at her wedding, on the beach in Byron Bay. It was such a beautiful day. So perfect and so much love, just as it should be.

While travelling my in-flight heroes are always the same: an application of Facial Soufflé before flying and Cell Food and Wind and Cold Therapy throughout the flight. It is such a wonderful way to improve the barrier function and really protect against the extreme dryness we encounter while flying – it lets me fly 24 hours straight and still have dewy skin

Back in the office and it is business as usual except we now have a new home having relocated our Head Office to Kensal Rise – it’s perfect for me because I live 5 minutes walk down the road. Living so close to where I work has revolutionised my life. Having a young child and trying to keep the perfect work life balance is hard but working closer to where I live helps immeasurably. We also have the beautiful Special Yoga Centre in our building so we can all start or end the day in tune. There is currently an enormous amount on the horizon at EH with some fabulous new recruits joining our team, great new product launches, new packaging to be unveiled and some super exciting treatment development underway.

Watch this space…

Kristy

Balancing Act

When I first started Elemental Herbology it was all about passion for beautiful skincare and authentic spa treatments but it is amazing how quickly running a rapidly growing business can completely take over. For me so much of my day is now about operations, finances and logistics as it is about product development, branding and marketing. The strange thing is I actually love both sides of the business. I think it helps to keep my left and right side of my brain in balance. Sad to say, there is nothing like a good spreadsheet! There is something so satisfying in making our figures and sums work from which I get a wonderful sense of achievement. Signing off a new product after months and often years of work is always so incredibly satisfying and I feel very lucky that I can balance both the creative and analytical sides of the process to be a part of every inch of our development from start to finish. Unfortunately, all the excitement and amazing highs of running a skincare brand can also contrast with an incredibly demanding schedule and some pretty high stress. However, that is when I find the sensory nature of our products really comes into play. Something as simple as an evening cleanse with Purify and Soothe Cleansing Balm and steaming my face with a hot cloth while soaking in a warm bath infused with our Detox Bath Oil can totally transport me away from the dramas of my day and make me feel balanced again.

I am avid believer in home facials – performing once a week a good exfoliation, followed by a detox mask and hydration and repair mask really is one of the pillars of healthy skin – which is why I was so delighted to launch our Weekend Facial this month. We have been receiving some fab press for this little kit which contains everything you need for a home facial once a week. They have been selling like hot cakes and I am thrilled our customers will now be taking time out to help their skin find its natural rhythm. Trust me – it will be your secret weapon through autumn and winter.

Finally, my tip for autumn. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) this is the season in which dryness related symptoms become prevalent, so it is key that the foods we eat nourishes dryness. TCM also believes that autumn correlates with the Lung which dominates the skin and excessive dry air and wind can cause an itchy throat, chapped lips and rough flaky skin. While using products such as Cell Plumping facial Moisturiser and Wind and Cold therapy will go a long way, eating foods that nourish dryness is also key. Such foods include pumpkin, nuts, seeds, soya, pear, honey and dairy products. It is also a Chinese tradition to start to eat porridge in autumn and continue throughout winter as it keeps your ‘middle jiao’ or digestive centre warm and healthy.

Kristy

Biomedic Centre

It was wonderful to be on the receiving end of a treatment with Dr Shakambet at the Biomedic Centre (www.biomedic.co.uk) for a change.

Dr Shakambet, is a medical doctor who rightly believes that allopathic (pharmacological) medicine and the concept of optimal health are mutually exclusive. He thus embarked on a journey to develop preventative health strategies to help the body and mind achieve an optimum state of health and well-being.

A true holistic practitioner in every sense of the word, and through his practice of bio-regulatory medicine, Dr Shakambet works at a vigorous pace over the body, palpating, massaging, needling and applying moxa to physical and energetic blockages.

While my liver was a little stagnant and my kidneys needed a little tonifying. I was fortunately given a bill of good health and told my body was strong, healthy and vital, and that I only needed to come occasionally for a top up.

Nonetheless I was given a liver detox to follow and told to take some magnesium for the muscle tension in my back and shoulders. He advised that I eat more iron rich foods – chard, artichokes, onions, parsley, parsnips, brown rice and watercress, and also an anti-oxidant supplement to support the collagen in my skin. These are small preventative changes to my diet and lifestyle that I believe everyone can benefit from and incorporate into their lifestyle in order to optimise our health.

The treatment has given me release in my mid-back that has been feeling tense for some time. I feel clear and energised yet balanced and calm. A really nice space to be.

Interestingly Dr Shakambet also practices a biofacelift by using energetic techniques to rejuvenate the skin and reduce the formation of wrinkles, cellulite, pigmentation, swelling and inflammations. By activating homeostasis,the body’s natural regulatory mechanism, the biofacelift achieves combined botox-like and surgical facelift like effects in a safe and non-invasive way. The treatment combines acupuncture, mesotherapy, massage of the facial musculo-connective tissue and lymphatic drainage.

Kristy

My Most Important Skin Care Tip

I am frequently asked what I think is the most important thing to do regularly for healthy skin and without hesitation I have to say CLEANSING!

If you are not big on cleansing and rarely exfoliate you really aren’t doing your skin justice. Without a good daily cleanse the skin becomes blocked, dead skin cells build up on the surface and your skin becomes dull, lacklustre and congested. To make matters worse, your skin will not absorb all the wonderful serums and tonics you are applying, resulting in dry skin with underlying congestion.

This unfortunately becomes increasingly prevalent as we age. Our skin metabolism slows down and cellular turnover is diminished as we grow older, so if you don’t make cleansing and exfoliation key elements of your daily and weekly routine your skin will become increasingly problematic. Sadly, it is a myth that a revolutionary new serum or cream will remedy dry skin if the underlying issue of congestion is not addressed first.

Whilst cleansing is the ONE thing that you shouldn’t leave out of your skin care regime, it’s also really important to ensure that you are using the right cleanser for your skin. Our skin changes with the seasons, our environment and our hormones, so the cleanser you use should change as your skin does.

We are often led to believe that our skin must be vigorously scrubbed and left feeling tight to be clean. This couldn’t be further from the truth. A cleanser should gently remove impurities and dead skin cells whilst nourishing the skin with healthy botanicals.

One of the things that inspired me to create the Elemental Herbology range was the lack of products that felt good, were kind to the environment and, most importantly, were really effective.

So many cleansers on the market are far too harsh and aggressive, stripping the skin all of its natural oils and assaulting its barrier function leaving it dry, uncomfortable and more prone to pre-mature ageing.

We have two fabulous cleansers in our range that gently cleanse the skin: Cool & Clear is light, cooling and foaming; and Purify & Soothe is an oil-based cleansing balm that is rich in Essential Fatty Acids. The former is great for summer time, in a humid environment or if your skin is prone to frequent breakouts and congestion. It contains Green Tea, Aloe, Calendula, Water Lilly and Lavender Flower to deliver a really fresh and invigorating cleanse.

However, if you are 40 years plus, spend a lot of time in central heating, it is wintertime or you are a frequent traveller, using an oil-based cleanser rich in Essential Fatty Acids is a must. Our Purify & Soothe contains Sacha Inchi and Argan Oil. Sacha Inchi is one of the richest sources of Omega 3, 6 and 9 in any botanical oil and Argan Oil is the richest source of Vitamin E.

For best results you should warm the balm in the palms of your hands and then massage into the skin in small circular movements, from forehead to décolleté. It is essential to clean your skin for as long as you spend cleaning your teeth. By massaging the balm into the skin it will bring all the blood to the surface thereby helping improve circulation, removal of metabolic waste and ultimately resolve congestion.

Essential Fatty Acids also nourish the skin and improve the barrier function, making it less prone to sensitivities and assault from the environment.

Enjoy your cleanse,

Kristy