We love a good beauty hack here at #TeamCoco HQ, so we have put together a few simple haircare product hacks, for those of us who like to use our products for more than just what they were intended!
We have chosen 5 haircare products that can be used for a multitude of other beauty and haircare issues, all can be purchased online and some from the high street.
Hack 1 – Fudge Urban Matte Wax
Fudge Urban Matte Wax is a super strong, non-sticky wax for men, it offers maximum texture and has a firm invisible hold, which leaves no residue or flakiness.
But, did you know that if you run out of your favourite brow gel, you can simply grab your spoolie brush and your man’s Fudge Urban Matte Wax and work the product through your brows to keep them in place all day?
Priced at £6.99 (70ml) from Boots an online at www.boots.com, also available at Superdrug, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Asda (prices vary).
Hack 2 – Vibrant Sexy Hair Rose Elixir
Vibrant Sexy Hair is delicately formulated with rose and almond oil, from which the Rose Elixir helps to nourish and condition hair by locking in moisture and leaving it soft, smooth and shiny. The added UV filters protect hair colour and vibrancy whilst Vitamin E adds powerful antioxidant benefits.
But, did you know that this wonder-product can also be used as a dry oil mist for the body? Simply spray the mist over areas of dry skin such as elbows, knees, heels, and feet to see the difference.
Priced at £19.95 (5.1fl oz) from Sexy Hair salons nationwide and online at www.lookfantastic.com
Hack 3 – MONAT Restore Leave-in Conditioner
MONAT Restore Leave-in Conditioner contains crobasorb and procataline as hero ingredients, which means that it protects against damaging UV rays whilst boosting natural hair growth and restoring essential nutrients to the scalp.
But, did you know that you can use this leave-in conditioning product on the dry ends of your hair as a finishing product?
Priced at £35 (134ml) from www.monatglobal.com/uk/
Hack 4 – Alteya Organics Bulgarian Rose Water
Alteya Organics Bulgarian Rose Water is known as a skincare fixer. Steam distilled and bottled in the heart of the Valley of Roses in Bulgaria, Alteya’s USDA certified organic rose water is the word’s most exquisite 100% pure, natural, organic flower water. It is used as a cleansing, hydrating and toning water for all skin types, whereby it rejuvenates dull skin and calms after sun exposure. It can also be used in the bath to relieve stress.
But, did you know that you can use Bulgarian Rose Water on the hair to provide essential nutrients and improve shine and natural luster? Just spray daily!
An added hack for Rose Water is that is can also be used as a natural food and drink enhancer in soft drinks and cocktails, and added to vanilla ice cream and cups of tea it will enhance with a floral tone.
Priced at £17.70 (500ml) from www.alteya.co.uk
Hack 5 – Lush Godiva Conditioning Shampoo Bar
The Godiva Conditioning Shampoo Bar by Lush cleans and conditions in one go with a host of nut oils and butter, which then leaves a heady scent of jasmine. Filled with cocoa butter, cupuacu butter, shea butter, camellia oil, organic macadamia nut oil and extra virgin coconut oil this conditioning shampoo.
But, did you know that this shampoo bar can last up to 100 washes, and the hack is that if you use a shampoo bar you are creating a smaller carbon footprint, it has no plastic bottle, is lighter and slimmer than a shampoo bottle, and is the perfect travel sized product?
Priced at £8 (55g bar) from Lush stores and via www.uk.lush.com
Acrylic nails can be enchanting and wonderful. They suffer and persevere through the hardships of the day. False nails are what you need them to be, in any case, and can be somewhat hard to expel. When it comes time to evacuate your acrylic nails, it is imperative to do it appropriately so you secure your normal nails and fingernail skin. The paste used to hold the acrylics is solid. While it might be conceivable to slacken or tangle the nail, it can cause issues for your common nail surface. Here we have the best tips, tricks and solutions as how you can get beautiful and attractive nails at https://www.bestadvisor.com/how-to/how-to-take-off-acrylic-nails.
Incorrectly removing acrylics
It can harm the normal nail, leaving it little or scratched. It can likewise harm the fingernail skin, also, tearing your nails can be somewhat difficult. To expel your acrylic nails, you have to delicately disintegrate the paste that holds them set up. It’s in reality quite basic. Begin utilizing little scissors or nail scissors to trim the nail as quickly as time permits. Keep a spotless towel or plastic sack on the outside of a table to avoid surface harm or harm to the surface.
Acetone nail polish remover
Fill a small glass bowl with acetone nail polish remover. Before dipping your hands enough to cover your nails, use a little petroleum jelly to cover and protect the cuticles and finger pointers. Immerse your fingers in nail polish removal and allow sitting for about fifteen minutes, until the glue on the nails has completely dissolved.
Wash your nails altogether to expel all nail clean remover marks. Your common nails will probably be dull and bright, so you douse some olive oil completely to help them rehydrate and give them a slight sparkle. Give your nails a chance to sit for 20 minutes in a cup of olive oil so the two nails and fingernail skin are fit as a fiddle. Line this up with a decent hand lotion connected to the hands nails and remember the fingernail skin.
Broken due to weakness
On the off chance that your nails don’t develop well or are regularly broken because of shortcoming, it is a smart thought to utilize acrylic nails to improve the appearance. Be that as it may, since it is counterfeit, you ought to in the long run evacuate it. Pick an agreeable table to sit on to evacuate acrylic nails. Spread the outside of the table with layers of waste sacks or papers so the table does not harm the surface.
Use nail clipper
Use a nail clipper to cut the acrylic nails to their minimum size so you can remove them without any discomfort. Select the nail polish remover with acetone content and fill it with a bowl solution. Apply a petroleum jelly coating around the nails and gently soak your nails in this removable solution so that the glue slowly dissolves. Since you apply jelly, your skin will not dry out.
Note that petroleum jelly should not be applied to acrylic nails. The reason for this is that it will act as a waxy surface and will prevent the removal of these areas and will not cause the glue to loosen. You need to soak your nails in solution for about 15 to 20 minutes.
A trip to the medical spa could mean pampering and sometimes even relaxation. A medical spa is meant to serve a particular purpose. Most medical spas will offer out-of-the-box treatment options that you won’t find in conventional healthcare facilities. You could be looking for a medical spa for CoolSculpting, but maybe you don’t know what you should look out for in the first place. The medical spa that you choose will depend on the treatment that you’re looking for. Which begs the question, how do you know if a particular spa is best suited for you?
Check The Service Offering
Before you can decide to visit a medical spa, you will need to know if it offers CoolSculpting services. You don’t want to go to a clinic only to find out that they don’t offer the service that you’re looking for. There are some medical spas that will claim to offer CoolSculpting services only for you to find out the hard way after going to their offices that are not good quality.
Facilities
The medical spa that you’re choosing should have all the necessary facilities necessary for the CoolSculpting procedure. A facility that is well equipped with modern and state-of-the-art facilities will give you the confidence to work with them. CoolSculpting is a non-invasive procedure and you should only experience minor discomfort. This will hugely depend on the equipment and treatment techniques that are being used by the medical spa.
Spa Etiquette
You could visit the medical spa for the first time and you don’t know what to expect. You should expect to ask questions if anything is unclear. You want to know everything about the treatment procedure and what is expected of you during the treatment process. Make sure you arrive on time for the session because the employees could be working on a strict schedule and you don’t want to be inconveniencing other patients.
What to Expect
During the first consultation, the medical provider will discuss the treatment options so that you’re aware of what is expected. CoolSculpting is an FDA-approved treatment technique that is not only effective but also safe.
Meeting With the Clinician
Before the treatment can begin, you will have a one-on-one meeting with the clinician so that he or she can assess your condition. The clinician is supposed to educate the patient on the procedure so that you know exactly what you’re getting yourself into. Don’t be afraid to ask the clinician questions if you have reservations about the procedure. It is the work of the medical professional to address all questions, doubts, and concerns until the patient is completely satisfied.
Examining the Health Condition
The clinician is supposed to examine the patient’s overall weight condition. They will look at weight and fat bulges in specific areas. Every individual is different and the treatment regimen will have to be different for each patient if it is to be effective. The elasticity of the skin on the affected area will also have to be checked before treatment can begin. There are some health conditions that could prevent you from undergoing CoolSculpting.
Determining the Aesthetic Goals
For you to get the best CoolSculpting treatment, you will need to look for the Best Medical Spa for CoolSculpting in Knoxville. Working with the best ensures that there are no mistakes during and after the treatment. The clinician should first try and understand the patient’s goals before coming up with a treatment plan. It should be noted that CoolSculpting is a fat reduction procedure and not a weight loss program. It is the responsibility of the provider to make the patients aware of the benefits and limitations of the procedure. It is during this stage the provider will present to the patient before and after pictures of CoolSculpting. Testimonials from past patients could also come in handy when trying to convince patients.
Personalized Treatment Plan
After assessing the patient’s feedback during the one-on-one consultation, the provider will come up with a customized treatment regimen which is meant to meet the unique requirements of an individual. The clinician should also be able to provide an estimate on the number of sessions required for the treatment to be effective. The cost estimates of the entire treatment will also be discussed at this stage. Most medical spas will have flexible payment plans which you can pay in installments as you continue to get treatment. It is important that you do research on various providers before making a decision as you could be missing out.
As we all know, beauty often comes at a price, especially if you’ve attempted to do some beauty treatments on your own and then having to go to a professional to correct your mistakes. An expert in the field best performs the following beauty treatments.
Eyebrow Tinting, Threading Or Waxing
When it comes to this area which is perfectly framing your face, it is best to practice caution with grooming. Darkening and removal of eyebrow hair necessitate the appropriate acquired skills from professional and not unsteady hands.
Brazilian Hair Straightening
Many women who have frizzy or curly hair prefer this hair care treatment done to make their hair sleeker and easily maintained. However, the chemical ingredients in DIY kits can end up damaging your hair, therefore its best to have it done professionally.
Facial Extractions And Peels
You know your skin type the best, but you don’t always have the right facial care tools such as illuminating and magnifying mirrors and other specialized tools to do this treatment as professionally and quickly as a beauty consultant.
Waxing Down Under
Attempting waxing at home can not only end up in disaster when not done correctly, and you can end up with an unsightly and painful skin infection. Instead, opt for waxing Temecula that can offer you a flawless leg or bikini wax. Beauty consultants are experienced in performing this treatment without using scalding hot wax and peeling it off without leaving you with disastrous after-effects.
Luxe Pedicures
It is not possible to buff, clip, and polish your nails as they would in a beauty salon. Plus getting your nails done professionally is a wonderful method of relaxing and treating yourself. They are proficient in working on cuticles and chaffed soles, leaving your feet silky smooth and looking beautiful.
Cosmetic Beauty Treatments That Must Be Performed By A Professional
There are specific beauty treatments that are best left in the hands of professionals that know what they are doing every time. Cosmetic medicine is top of the list. You must change your point of view from a different angle. For instance, would you be willing to trust an unsuitable person to build your dream house just because you’ll be saving a few pennies? Or would you instead invest in a professional builder that does the job well the first time around? Remember, with cosmetic medicine treatments; you are not just leaving your looks in the hands of someone else, but also your wellbeing and health. That’s why you must choose a person that is suitable qualified because one botched job means that you could end up losing a lot more than just money long-term.
Treatments Who Are Regularly Performed By Persons Who Are Not Medically Qualified Are:
Skin needling
Laser (Skin rejuvenation and IPL)
Skin peeling
Cosmetic injection treatments
Skin peels, skin needling, laser treatments are all beauty treatments that can be done by medical professionals and skin/beauty therapists alike, but there are specific laws regarding the specifications relating to the procedures. It is best to use qualified professionals for such treatments to prevent severe or adverse consequences that you may dearly regret afterward.
Hair is made up of a protein called keratin and the colour of the hair is defined by the amount of melanin present in the hair. Based on genes and demography, hair colour, thickness and density are determined for everyone. While hormones, diet and lifestyle affect how hair growth happens, the presence of hair in unwanted areas is something that we cannot control. Cosmetic treatments are often used to reduce or eliminate hair in certain areas of the body. These treatments can be as simple as using an epilator to pull hair strands from their roots, shaving, waxing, bleaching or removal via laser treatments. Searching for ‘laser hair removal London’ can show you a list of places where you can easily get hair removal done by using lasers.
So, how does laser hair removal work and why is it the most requested cosmetic treatment nowadays? To start off, the process of laser hair removal is rather painless and has low recovery times when compared to waxing, shaving and epilation. Additionally, most of the times, laser hair removal results in the permanent removal of hair. It might take a few sessions at times, but the hair that is removed never returns in the same spot. As mentioned before, hair is made up of protein and is also given a colour by another protein. In the removal process, a certain wavelength of light, typically infrared or near red is used as a laser in short bursts of 1.5-2.0 milliseconds each. The melanin in the hair absorbs the heat given off by the laser, and this heat destroys the hair follicle underneath the skin completely, without harming the surrounding tissue. You can imagine the process as when you cook an egg. The heat denatures the protein in the hair to the point that the structure of the protein is destroyed, and the hair follicle cannot grow back.
Laser hair removal is fast, relatively painless and mostly gives permanent results. Touch Up laser is one of the best options if you are looking for laser hair removal treatment, skin lightening, etc. There might be some follicles that could grow a bit aggressively after the first treatment, thus a follow-up session might be required for some people. Rather than investing effort and money on removing stubborn hair time and again, people choose to go for laser hair removal that offers a more permanent solution. It should be kept in mind that before the procedure is done, your doctor might advise you to follow certain diet patterns or ask you to stay hydrated more often. Additionally, letting the hair grow to a sizeable length helps the doctor trim it down to the appropriate size that is treated properly via the laser. The higher the contrast between your skin colour and hair colour, the better the treatment is going to be. It is advisable not to use too many skincare products that can block skin pores 2-3 weeks prior to the treatment.
The treatment is done via a small laser emitter that fires short pulses of highly concentrated light at the targeted area, burning up the hair follicles from their roots. If you have a rather dark or tan skin, you might experience a slight burning sensation, but it mostly goes away in a matter of seconds. If your skin is too sensitive though, better consult your doctor before getting into the thick of it.
Botox has become a standard treatment for beauty salons. There are so many providers offering it as a service, and it is not uncommon to be included in a spa treatment plan. Some salons will organize special events to attract customers for Botox treatment. It is imperative that you’re getting the right salon as you don’t want to end with a bad treatment. There are some key considerations you should look out for with Botox treatment and in this article, we’re going to highlight some of them.
Training
First, you need to make sure that the person that will be doing the treatment is properly trained. Just as if it were a serious medical treatment, you still want to make sure that you’re dealing with a professional to minimize the risks. Only trained medical professionals are allowed to administer Botox treatment. In some countries, such professionals are required to be licensed before they can start practicing. A doctor that chooses to do the treatment at a salon instead of starting his or her own practice should be a cause of concern. A doctor who is interested in making money will start their own place and this is usually the case for most beauty spas.
Registered Medical Establishment
There are some restrictions on where doctors or medical professionals are supposed to practice. The premises where the Botox is taking place will need to have all the proper documentation. It should be listed on the Annual Practicing Certificates and this information needs to be displayed publicly. Any place that performs a medical procedure needs to be registered by the Department of Health. It doesn’t matter if it is a spa or a medical facility, the laws will need to be followed to the letter. You can save yourself the trouble by reaching out to MyBotoxLA in Los Angeles if you’re looking for a facility you can trust with the Botox treatment.
Legitimate Products
You need to make sure that the products being used are real. Botox is a medical-grade product and should only be sold by registered medical companies. It doesn’t hurt to find out where the facility is getting their products from. The salon or spa could be using fake products and you might have to find out the hard way when the results cause an adverse effect on your health.
What Happens When There is a Problem?
There is someone who should be accountable when there is a problem. You don’t want to develop medical complications because of carelessness from the medical provider. There are occasions where the patient could develop allergies or reactions although it is rare. The person carrying out the treatment will need to determine if you’re a good candidate for Botox before recommending treatment in the first place.
Price is Not Always Everything
You should think twice about the treatment if it is suspiciously cheap. You know what they say, if the deal is too good to be true then it probably is. A spa or a salon that offers heavy discounts with the treatment is likely to cut corners. You don’t want to put your health at risk just because you want to save some bucks. Ask the facility about the products they’re using and why they are way cheaper compared to the competition.
Comfort
This is a key consideration that a lot of people will overlook when choosing a Botox treatment spa. It is recommended that you visit the place first before committing to Botox treatment. You can try out other facilities so that you get to interact with the staff. This will give you an idea of the kind of services and treatment to expect. You will be more at ease when you decide to go ahead with the Botox treatment. Make sure that you’re talking to the provider who will perform the Botox treatment. Establishing that rapport is important because it is the person that will be treating you.
Preparation
Preparation for the procedure is also important. The medical provider should make you aware of what is expected before and after treatment: if there is any pain to be worried about, the treatment results, and things you shouldn’t do before, during, and after the procedure. You need to have realistic expectations about the procedure, and that is the responsibility of the provider to let you know.
To sum it up, the person that is providing the primary care will need to be knowledgeable about the procedure and have the experience to avoid potential problems.
Sometimes you come across a skincare brand that seems to embody everything you are about, especially when that brand is all about being bold, being fierce, and being bare.
The #TeamCoco girls love everything about this motto, which resonates with our own philosophies in both work and play.
Iana Bertini launched her skincare brand Bold & Bare ® with this in mind and she and her team believe that you should feel comfortable in your own skin. They don’t believe in apologising for who you are. They believe you should feel confident about boldly going after your dreams, and they also believe in celebrating and cultivating uniqueness on every level. There is only one you. So go ahead and #beboldbebare
Let’s talk skincare with Iana Bertini of Bold & Bare.
Q. Have you always worked within the skincare and beauty industry or was this new territory for you?
A. Not at all, I come from a corporate environment in the payments industry, however being a woman, I have always been interested in beauty, not just physical appearance, but what makes women feel beautiful. I have noticed this about myself, that my confidence didn’t depend on makeup or what I wore, but how comfortable I felt in my own skin. I also had a growing interest in psychology, self-improvement and wellness and by the time I turned 30 I decided it’s time for a change.
I needed a new challenge and to be doing something more fulfilling that is aligned with my values. I wanted to inspire other women to be authentic and to be bold about who they are. So that’s how Bold & Bare was born.
Q. Did you have to take any specialist dermatology courses to find out how to produce skincare products, or did you study for this at college/university?
A. I take care of the business side and let the experts take care of the formulations. Of course, through extensive research and being in the industry I understand skincare & the ingredients very well, but we work with the best chemists in US and it took 2 years and multiple iterations to formulate our products. More important is that we listen to our customers feedback, rather than push other unneeded products to an already saturated beauty market.
Q. When you set up Bold & Bare did you have one specific skincare product in mind that you wanted to get off the ground first?
A. I wanted to create two essential products that will be easy to use and provide multiple benefits. This is what Bold & Bare is about, a simple routine for the modern woman of today that lives a bold life.So we launched with two products that complement each other:
Purity Mask is this amazing clay mask, enriched with botanical extracts that deeply cleanses and balances the skin. With today’s pollution and environmental stress, it’s really important to detox your skin and improve cell turnover.
Bare Elixir is a multitasking serum/oil that nourishes, plumps and also protects skin. I love using it on its own, mixed with foundation or on my cheeks for an added natural glow.
Q. Which is your ‘go to’ skincare product that you can’t be without, and also which is the best selling product from your collection?
A. I can’t live without a serum or oil, these products usually have the most potent ingredients and they are really important to use. And our most sold product is the Bare Elixir, we have received some amazing feedback from our customers and they love the versatility of it.
Q. Can you talk us through your own personal skincare routine?
A. I’m a really non-fussy type of woman. I don’t like complicated and lengthy routines. So, you can call my routine minimalist, and the same goes for makeup.
I usually cleanse, apply the Bare Elixir and sunscreen and off I go. Twice a week I would use a cleansing mask like our Purity mask to renew and balance my skin.
I truly believe that any skincare routine has to be complimented by a healthy lifestyle; so, exercise, healthy diet and hydration are all part of my routine.
Q. How long have you been running your business, and was there ever a point that you thought your skincare collection wouldn’t make it off the ground?
A. I started in 2017 and launched in March 2019, so we are still a very new business. And yes, there have been moments when I thought nothing is going as per my plan, I wasn’t happy with the formulation and I should just quit. In those moments what kept me going is the message behind Bold & Bare and how I want to grow into such a woman. So, I stayed authentic to my idea and vision and kept going boldly after my dream.
Q. Your products are 100% cruelty free, vegan, free of parabens, silicones, sulfates, pthlates, mineral oil, PEG and petrolatum – can you tell us why you have gone down this route, when so many big brands don’t adhere to these ethics?
A. It was really important to me for my business to be aligned with my values and my lifestyle. I have been really into wellness, yoga and spirituality for a few years, I am, vegan myself and so it would be unnatural for me to promote products that are not in line with what I stand for. Especially that nowadays there’s no need to compromise anymore, we have so many effective products that are also consciously created.
Q. Did anyone offer you any good business advice before you launched Bold & Bare?
A. My husband always tells me to “trust my intuition” and I am still learning to, as my mind is usually louder. Also, I am lucky that my family and friends fully support me and always tell me to follow my dreams.
Q. Have you made any mistakes that turned into a great learning curve since starting your business?
A. Quite a few to be honest. But my mindset has changed since and that has proven to be the biggest learning curve. Mistakes or setbacks are just feedback and a chance to correct your course. And so, flexibility is the biggest asset one can have as an entrepreneur.
Q. If you were to offer one piece of advice to someone thinking of getting into the world of skincare, what would it be?
A. It’s a very complex and competitive industry and so be well prepared that it might take longer than you’d think. Also like any business, it requires a lot of patience and hard work. But as with everything, if you have a passion for this world, then go for it boldly and nothing can stop you!
Thank you for taking the time to answer all our #BossBabe questions for House of Coco Magazine.
Our latest #BossBabe interview is with Summer Leigh from Nature’sRepair
It has been a 10 year development of producing, testing and making beautiful natural skin care products since 2009 that has led to today’s organic skin care company Nature’sRepair, owned and run by Summer Leigh.
Summer’s skin care line is completely toxin-free, chemical-free, additive-free, and is 100% natural. She is dedicated to ethical sourcing, working with women cooperatives and other organisations that align with her beliefs and her personal mission, which is being devoted to people over profit.
Let’s get into the nitty gritty of skin care with Summer.
HOC. We heard on the grapevine that you are not only a skin care specialist, but you are a fully qualified pilot with a number of years working within the field of aviation, how did you end up sourcing natural products and making skin care when your background is flying planes?
Summer. Yes, I work as a pilot during the summers fighting fire. I absolutely love what I do, the people I work with, and enjoy contributing back to the community. Winters and slow periods during fire season affords me plenty of time to study, research, experiment and test products in extreme and unusual real world environments. How I began my journey is a long story, so I will keep it short.
Creating a skincare business evolved over time as it became a priority for me to share a truly natural option to people. Some of my family members and friends began developing a variety health and memory problems, as I am sure we can all relate in some way. I began researching what preventive lifestyle and eating habit changes I needed to make and what could be done, if anything, to reverse or lessen any of their problems. That eventually developed into wanting to eliminate as many toxins as possible from entering my body. Every lotion, cream, moisturizer, etc. available on the market has some ingredient that cannot be consumed. If you can’t eat it, why put it on your body? I had decided to start making my own lotions without putting much thought into it, no different than your average DIY person. Being a pilot flying at high altitudes for up to 8 hours a day, my exposure to UV rays is greater than the average person, plus I am usually outside all day. I had no idea at the time, but the first batch of homemade lotion I had created was actually doing severe damage to my skin. It caused serious patchy pigment discoloration all over my face. I went to a dermatologist and was told that it was permanent and nothing could ever reverse it. The high altitudes I both lived and worked at were amplifying the problem. I would have the different colour pigment patchwork on my face for the rest of my life. We had a long talk about skin regarding a wide variety of topics.
That’s when I began narrowing my research. When I was in my late teens, I had worked for a micro-biologist for a short time who did case studies for a large well-known pharmaceutical company. During that time I had discovered that so many cures stem from nature in the pharmaceutical world. I had also learned what serious impacts, both positive and negative, that lifestyles and foods could have on health – I knew I could fix my skin naturally. There was a way and I was going to figure it out! I began studying and researching non-stop about what the skin needed from the inside, the outside, how what we put on it affected it, including what the effects of the air we breathe had on it. I then began experimenting and eventually developed the current formula that is used today. This precise combination healed the pigment discoloration permanently and also began reducing the fine lines and wrinkles I had. I have two scars from surgeries from when I was a child and they began to look better as well. When a friend, who owns a small shop in Colorado, had major surgery on her elbow, I gave her a bunch to put on her fresh scar to help it heal. She said she absolutely loved it, it helped tremendously and she wanted to sell it in her store.
By that time I was eating a lot of superfoods and was only interested in purchasing the cleanest, purist foods available worldwide. I had previously done my research and found one company with strong ethics that took the time to visit and to get to know each of their farmers. As a regular customer, I knew I already had my source for the highest quality and purist ingredients available. When I called looking for bulk pricing, they asked me why I wanted these strange ingredients in bulk. When I told them, they asked me to send some samples over to see if it is a product they might want to carry and would get back to me within a few months. Within less than 24 hours of them receiving my package, the CEO called me, on a Saturday morning, and said he wanted to sell it under his private label exclusively. Which they did for a number of years. Since our exclusive agreement recently expired and all of my products did so well for them under their private label, I decided to sell it under my own brand name. That is how it all started.
HOC. When you set up Nature’sRepair did you have one specific skincare product in mind that you wanted to get off the ground first, before embarking on the full collection you have today?
Summer. I intentionally launched with a tightly curated product line. These are the most important products to be offered for their own unique reasons.
Healing and Young are everyday moisturizers that provide nutrition for the skin. To see what amazing affects these natural products made only from food can have, is astonishing.
Defense & Nourish gives extra protection from the elements especially during the winter months and for people with exceptionally dry skin or who have skin conditions. I use Defense in dry climates religiously. I also drench myself in it when I am near the equator because I use it as my sunscreen until my skin adjusts.
Soft was created to provide a less expensive alternative because a healthy option should be available to people of all walks of life. I believe everyone should have the ability to control the toxins that enter their body.
Gone was originally developed for my mom. She wears make-up every day and used such toxic products to remove it every night. She is not the “health freak” I am, but she absolutely loves the make-up remover because it works so well and helps her nightly process go much faster. It is vital for men and women to put non-toxic food in their body and non-toxic products on their body.
HOC. You have been creating natural beauty products for 10 years, when did it become a serious business proposition to run your own company?
Summer. It became serious when I discovered that there was a demand for safe, natural products. I want people to know that there are products available that don’t just come close to being natural, but are natural. People should know there are products available that have amazing benefits to help the skin be healthy without any toxic ingredients. Big business in the U.S. has fed people the wrong information for a long time because all they care about is their bottom line. My priority is to do what is right for people by sharing these incredible products that have helped my loved ones.
HOC. Do you have a ‘hero’ product that is a best selling product from Nature’sRepair, and do you use it yourself?
Summer. Healing, Defense and Young are in constant competition for the #1 spot. I use Defense down in the tropics, out snowboarding or in a snowball fight with my nephews. Young or Healing I use all over my body every morning as well as a leave in hair conditioner after washing.
HOC. Do you have any plans to release any new skincare products for the Nature’sRepair collection in the coming months?
Summer. Yes I do. In the next few months I will be launching a deodorant that works amazingly. I’ve gone five days before having to reapply even with running and working out every morning. I will also be adding my favourite skin conditioner that includes a unique ingredient. This special plant oil has been held in high regard by Peruvian women for centuries due to its anti-aging properties. I’ve also been asked to develop an antiperspirant for the feet by quite a few people.
HOC. Being a skincare producer isn’t something that everyone can do – did you take any special courses or go to college to learn about the skin and cosmetics?
Summer. I am self-taught. My extreme attention to detail coupled with almost 20 years in aviation successfully running two Air Carrier companies simultaneously, owning my own aviation consulting business, and having worked for the micro-biologist taught me how to do proper research. It has been a valuable skill that I have been able to apply in many aspects of my life. I am a very determined and self-motivated individual.
HOC. From a business perspective did you come across any obstacles that you had to overcome before being able to launch Nature’sRepair?
Summer. There was really only one obstacle. Being 100% food and having to be combined in a very unique way, it proved very difficult to find a manufacturer. The manufacturer I eventually found was perfect! Not only did they have strong ethics in wanting to help people, they also met my stringent criteria of certifications and were very excited to be a part of such an innovative process.
HOC. Did anyone offer you any excellent business advice before launching, something that you still follow to this day?
Summer. Yes, the most valuable advice was from my grandmother. She drove it into my head as a little kid to learn from my mistakes and other people’s mistakes. It was not intended as business advice, but it is has always served as the best piece of advice I have ever received and can be applied to all aspects of life.
HOC. Have you made any mistakes that turned into a great learning curve since starting your skin care business?
Summer. Oh my yes, mistakes were made. Taking the time to really understand a mistake gives a better learning opportunity and a better understanding that will help in other areas. My biggest mistake was social media. I have never participated in social media prior to launching Nature’sRepair so my understanding of it was non-existent…still is. I did not have a clear understanding of how social media worked for brand awareness and why it should not be a main marketing tool for sale conversion. There was definitely a learning curve while trying to “figure out” social media, how it works and why it works the way it does. I should have spent the time before the launch learning to understand it.
HOC. If you were to offer one piece of advice to someone who wants to get into the beauty industry what would it be?
Summer. This advice goes for everyone really. Understanding how to and doing proper research is key, especially when it comes to chemistry. It is important to realize that just because an ingredient has amazing properties on its own, does not mean that it will maintain those properties when combined with other ingredients. Chemistry is dynamic and can make drastic changes, both positive and negative.
For example, jojoba oil has great properties that are wonderful for the skin when it stands alone. Let’s call one of those properties “Benefit A”. When you mix jojoba oil with other ingredients, the value of the “Benefit A” changes. Let’s say you mix it with shea butter, also high in “Benefit A”, you don’t just add the “Benefit A” components together and assume you are delivering that much “Benefit A” in the product. That is simply not how chemistry works. There are many other factors and properties of those two ingredients that could in fact almost cancel out the “Benefit A” value all together.
It is intuitive to assume mixing together a bunch of ingredients that are great for the skin on their own makes them even better when combined. For as much as we want to believe that is the way it works, it is just not true. As I said in the beginning of this interview, the first homemade lotion I made actually caused skin damage. It consisted of cacao butter, coconut oil and grapeseed oil, which I think everyone can agree those are all great for the skin. However, when I combined them together, they became damaging as I quickly discovered. That event was why I started researching the chemistry behind combining different ingredients. Make sure you really understand what a huge roll chemistry has and understand the chemistry that takes place in your product when you mix ingredients.
Thank you for taking the time to answer all our #BossBabe questions for House of Coco Magazine.
Here at House of Coco we love to support family run businesses which is why we fell in love with OLVERUM. It’s a brand we first stumbled across a few years ago, many years after it was launched back in 1931. Famous for its iconic bath oil beloved by celebrities and the Royal Family, the recent launch of their two exquisite universal body oils is one that made us very happy. As the first new products in many decades to bear the OLVERUM brand name, the timing could not be more perfect. In a world where there is so much noise online and we are all shouting out for ways to care for ourselves, this product is the ultimate self care treat. After a long day at the office, what better than filling your bath tub with copious amounts of this oil and whiling away a few hours, with the candles on, knowing that when you get out of the tub you will be silky to touch.
With so many bath oils on the market, this one really does set the standard. Along with some insight in to their other products, here’s the #TeamCoco lowdown on why OLVERUM is the only brand you need to know. Here’s why…
HERITAGE
Olverum’s original bath oil was created in 1931 by winemaker Franz Otto Klein and his wife Edith, an accomplished pharmacologist. Passionate devotees of natural wellness, they curated an enviable library of the world’s finest essential oils. Inspired by the therapeutic blends at their favourite spa in Baden Baden, Franz and Edith combined these with their professional expertise to create the definitive therapeutic oil.
The couple spent two years obsessively experimenting, until they finally arrived at a formulation with the preternatural restorative properties they sought. They gave their creation to friends as Christmas presents and the response was universally rapturous. As word spread, the OLVERUM brand was born and the Kleins became among the earliest pioneers of green beauty. Eighty-seven years later, their closely-guarded recipe has earned its reputation as a cult beauty classic.
INNOVATION
In the spirit of the original creators, Dominic Hawksley, founder of the relaunched OLVERUM brand has been similarly uncompromising when it comes to the genesis of the new line. “When your first product is near perfection, it’s daunting to embark on developing your second. Over the past four years, we have tested iteration after iteration until we arrived at formulations we believe are worthy of the OLVERUM brand. The fruits of our endeavours are two innovative body oils – simply called THE BODY OIL and THE DRY BODY OIL.”
Carefully crafted with over 30 premium essential oils, cold-pressed botanical oils, and botanical extracts, each OLVERUM body oil features the unique aquatic botanical Alaria Esculenta Extract to boost the synthesis of Collagen and Hyaluronic Acid and leave your skin feeling smooth, plumped and rejuvenated.
THE BODY OIL
Nourish – Rejuvenate
This deeply moisturizing formula contains Raspberry Seed Oil (a skin-superfood and potent anti-oxidant, rich in Omegas-3,6, 9) which leaves skin feeling smooth, plumped and rejuvenated, and Alaria Esculenta Extract to boost the synthesis of Collagen and Hyaluronic Acid, preserving skin’s firmness and elasticity.
Aromatherapeutic actives include Lavender Flower Oil (to de-stress), Sandalwood and Frankincense Oils (to soothe) and Bergamot and Geranium Flower Oils (to reinvigorate).
THE DRY BODY OIL
Ultra Light – Super Fine
This lightweight, breathable, therapeutic dry oil spray is ideal for on-the-go use. Absorbing almost instantly, it rapidly restores skin barrier function, to promote lasting natural skin hydration. Crafted with Alaria Esculenta Extract to boost the synthesis of Collagen III and Hyaluronic acid, helping preserve skin’s firmness and elasticity.
Aromatherapeutic actives include Atlas Cedar Bark Oil (to uplift), Sandalwood and Frankincense Oils (to soothe) and Bergamot and Bitter Orange Leaf Oils (to reinvigorarate).
KEY BENEFITS
LONG-LASTING HYDRATION FROM WITHIN
OLVERUM’s non-greasy oils are easily absorbed into the skin, improving epidermal barrier function to promote natural skin hydration, leaving it feeling exquisitely soft and pampered. When used on cleansed, damp skin, moisture is further and more intensely locked into the skin.
RESTORE BODY AND MIND
In keeping with the original bath oil, and drawing inspiration from its universally adored essential oil blend, each and every OLVERUM ingredient is carefully considered for both its topical and aromatherapeutic benefits. For best results, lightly massage the oil into your skin to revitalize your body, then breathe deeply from your cupped hands to revive and soothe the mind.
Rihanna creates new Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Hydrating Longwear Foundation to cater to fans with dryer skin
Over the past two years Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty has developed a cult following with hit product after hit product. The Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation was one of the products loved by so many people – and it’s no wonder with its great staying power and unrivalled shade range!
But many RiRi and make-up fans were speaking out to ask for a foundation with the same wear time and vast shade range but in a finish suited to dry skin. And Rihanna listened creating the “first-of-its-kind foundation where medium to full coverage meets serious staying power and a natural finish all in a hydrating formula”.
That’s where the new Pro Filt’r Hydrating Longwear Foundation steps in; offering hydration without compromising the longevity or coverage. The formula features Grape Seed Oil and Sodium Hyaluronate to make skin feel nourished and comfortable all day.
The trio of Pro Filt’r Primers (Soft Silk, True Matte and Soft Matte) and the two formulas of Pro Filt’r Foundation mean you can truly customise your Fenty Beauty base products to get your favoured finish or switch it up depending on the occasion, season or the current condition of your skin.
Pro Filt’r Hydrating Longwear Foundation (£27) is available in Harvey Nichols and Boots from August 15 2019.
