Snowberry beauty

There's a lovely story around the Kiwi natural skincare brand Snowberry that extends well beyond its romantic packaging and good-for-you-and-the-planet philosophy. Founder Soraya Hendesi was born in Tehran, Iran, into a family of academics and humanitarians. “As a child I became totally fascinated with beauty," she says.

"My mother was most adept at making everything around us look amazing. We had a house with an inner courtyard filled with beautiful flowers and even at a very early age, I was interested in fragrance and nature. I made my first perfume at seven by crushing flowers and putting the ‘juice’ in a bottle.”

The investment Snowberry has made so far in development and marketing is probably unprecedented in a Kiwi skincare brand. Launched in 2007, it is the result of years of research, a high-powered marketing campaign under branding expert Greg Billington and the combined skills of Hendesi and her ‘alchemist’, world-class bio-chemist Dr Andy Lavrent. “We told him there would be no compromises,” she says. “We were committed to producing a natural anti-ageing skincare range that used the best – and most effective ingredients – regardless of cost."

The premium brand is created mostly from all-natural ingredients such as white peat, Indian neem and Artic cloud berry oil, all of which have been known for centuries to benefit the skin. The products aren’t tested on animals and are also devoid of substances such as lauryl sulphates, petrochemicals, propylene or butylene glycols, volatile alcohols, artificial colours, silicones and DEA (diethanolamides) and MEA (monoethanolamides) ingredients. Its preservative system includes the native anti-bacterial, totarol.

“Beauty is a necessity,” says Hendesi. “Keeping yourself looking and feeling beautiful – taking care of your skin – has a direct affect on your health. If you care about your health, you have to look after your beautiful side. We can’t stop the ageing process but with the right products we can definitely slow it down.”

Snowberry is available through Smith & Caughey's website, www.smithandcaughey.co.nz.

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Beauty backgrounder: rosehip

According to Trilogy co-founder Sarah Gibbs, the demand for natural skincare has grown so much that the category can hardly be considered alternative. “It’s not a niche. It’s not even ‘lifestyle’… It’s mainstream,” she says. Recently sold to Ecoya in a deal reputedly worth $20 million, Trilogy is a huge Kiwi success story.

The essential ingredient in Trilogy products is organic rosehip oil. Superfine and certified organic, the oil easily absorbs into the skin, helping to boost its moisture barrier and protect it against environmental damage.

In the years since its launch, Trilogy has gone from strength to strength. Its products are trialed (and co-opted) by beauty editors worldwide, and it has a massive international following. Its rosehip oil has also just been supercharged by the addition of additional antioxidants from red fruits such as tomatoes, cranberries and acai berries. Give it a go... you'll be among the many who swear by it.

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Ode to a rose

On counter today is Lancome’s new Absolue L’Extrait, a high-end anti-ageing miracle-worker spurred by the application of stem-cell science in skincare. L’ Extrait, though, isn’t exactly based on human stem cells but on those of a special rose, known as the Lancome rose, which is recognized for its amazing resilience. Over a decade of intensive research, Lancome scientists have discovered how to cultivate the rose’s stem cells in the laboratory through a patented biotechnological process called fermogenesis. The results have been developed into a special extract – with the potency of two million rose stem cells – that is the essence of L’Extrait. A rich, luxurious cream, L’Extrait encourages the skin’s own dermal cells to renew themselves, thus promoting fresher, younger-looking skin. In accordance with its luxury status, each smoked glass jar comes with a special tool that helps activate micro-circulation and promote better penetration of the cream’s active ingredients. Available from leading department stores and selected pharmacies for $448. I'm impressed by the science behind Lancome so I'm going to enjoy using this. Stay tuned for results.

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Pure Fiji faces up

I am a huge fan of Pure Fiji. There’s something so very blue-skies about it: all-natural, environmentally responsible, smelling of the islands… Mainly available through salons, the brand has a loyal New Zealand following that’s well deserved. It’s hip, socially conscious and value for money. Until now, the focus has been mainly on body products – luscious, great-smelling ultra-hydrating body butters, scrubs, cleansers and oils. This month, however, sees the launch of a small facial skincare range – just three products with another to come soon – containing ingredients that communicate with and stimulate the skin’s own systems to function in a more healthy manner. This whole concept of cell-communicating ingredients is an important one, and one you’ll definitely be hearing more of, since there is increasing evidence that some ingredients do have the ability to instruct aged or damaged cells to behave more like younger, healthy ones. The range is also packed with hydrating oils, antioxidants and plant-based peptides, which positions it perfectly to repair the skin and protect it against age-related damage. Prices start at $45. A must try.

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