Who doesn’t love the “your skin but better”, luminous looking natural foundation. Nothing says naturale belle more than a foundation that leaves your skin looking like, well, skin! Finding one that’s just the right amount of glow for your skin type can be the tricky part, no one wants their foundation to make them look oily! Here are my top pick organic foundations for flawless radiance, depending on your preferences.
ILIA True Skin Serum Natural Foundation
Think complexion perfecting, silky and nourishing.
This serum-infused foundation is equal parts skincare and colour correction. It weightlessly delivers buildable medium coverage with gorgeous glow, while nourishing your skin with a powerful blend of botanical actives: aloe leaf, rosehip, jojoba and marula oils. The botanical blend works in harmony to soothe irritations tame redness, plump fine lines, and ensure the formula effortlessly melts into skin for a more even, luminous appearance. Blurs imperfections and minimises pores for a complexion that looks refined and refreshed.
Available in 10 stunning shades, get colour-matched at Mecca Cosmetica.
What I really love about this medium coverage radiance foundation is just how good it feels on the skin, it really does feel like skincare, but it has just the right amount of coverage to even skin tone and conceal imperfections.
Vapour Atmosphere Soft Focus Natural Foundation
Think lightweight, breathable, satin sheen.
Extremely lightweight and smooth, this foundation is similar to ILIA’s but with a more sheer coverage. With Vapour’s Light Reflective Technology, the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and pores is diminished. Skin becomes instantly smoother, softer, and more even. The Soft Focus line is designed to balance all skin types, including combination and oily skin. Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation is made with 70% organic ingredients and 30% natural mineral pigments. It nourishes with Organic Pumpkin and Papaya Complex, brightens the skin with organic Camellia, and is infused with Vapour’s face-specific infusion of soothing Frankincense, antioxidant Tulsi, and calming Lotus.
My favourite thing about this foundation is the soft-satin finish it provides and how super sheer and lightweight it is for those days when you need just a little breathable colour, or radiance boost.
Gressa Minimalist Corrective Serum Natural Foundation
Think fresh and flawless velvet finish.
It’s a serum. It’s a foundation. It’s a revolution! Providing a fuller coverage than the ILIA and Vapour options above, Gressa’s own veil of weightless coverage is particularly beneficial to oily and combination skin types. Raw mineral pigments are combined with Gressa’s powerhouse blend of botanical extracts, including broccoli seed oil, horsetail extract, milk thistle and neem to provide overall balance, radiance and clarity with a buildable, flawless finish. Minerals provide a tone-correcting coverage natural and radiant finish. The liquid to more powdery, velvet finish is pretty unique and really perfects and corrects skin imperfections.
When in need of fuller coverage, Gressa is my go-to. It still provides a radiant finish, but isn’t overly luminous and dewy, but very natural and fresh.
With temperatures dipping to bone-chilling lows these past few weeks, our skin is suffering some serious side effects. From chapped lips to dry, cracked fingers, scaly legs and a parched flaky face, this season is certainly proving to be no picnic for your epidermis. Here we show you how to solve your dry winter skin woes the natural way.
Switch To A More Nourishing Cleanser
While most natural cleansers are gentle and hydrating, in the winter months your skin may require even more TLC and nourishment. We recommend switching to an oil-based cleansing balm or cream.
One of our current faves is Antipodes Grapeseed Butter Cleanser, which replenishes your skin with oodles of flaxseed oil, jojoba, coconut oil, shea butter and Vinanza Gold grapeseed extract. We truly love how indulgent this cleansing balm feels as your massage it into your skin.
Another of our winter cleansing faves is May Lindstrom’s The Honey Mud Gentle Cleansing Silk, which is a lush, velvety face mask and cream cleanser in one. We recommend popping this on about 20 minutes pre-shower (or bath) and letting it truly soak into your skin before massaging it in deeper and rinsing off.
Fight Dry Winter Skin With An Ultra-Rich Moisturiser
The only way to beat dry winter skin is to combat it with heavy-duty hydration. When shopping for a face or body moisturiser in the colder months, look for products that have a higher natural oil content to help replenish your skin’s barrier layer and protect it from harsh temperatures and moisture-zapping wind gusts.
Here at THE ECO EDIT we can’t get enough of Weleda Skin Food. Chock-a-block full of skin-loving goodies like sweet almond oil, rosemary, wild pansy, chamomile and calendula, this cult favourite is a supremely rich moisturiser that’s perfect for both face and body (multi-tasking for the win!) – and with a small tube only setting you back $14.95, it’s a bargain as well.
We also love The Beauty Chef’s Beauty Fix Balm, which is amazing for super dry hands, chapped lips, scaly legs and irritated or inflamed dry patches anywhere on your winter-ravaged body. Made using fermented young coconut, honey, rosehip and linseed, it’s a great multi-tasker and one of the best natural skin salves on the market. Give it a whirl and you’ll soon discover why this little tub is a staple in our beauty cabinet.
As a naturopath and nutritionist, Anna Mitsios understands the complex relationship between our health and what we put in and on our bodies. She has witnessed first-hand the incredible power of herbs and natural foods to transform, nourish and revitalise, which prompted her to launch her incredibly successful brand Edible Beauty. Here we glean life advice (and more than a few words of wisdom!) from the founder of the beauty range that’s quite literally good enough to eat…
THE ECO EDIT: What initially sparked your interest in naturopathy and nutrition?
Anna : My interest in nutrition had been sparked (as it so often is) by my own health journey. I was diagnosed as a Type 1 diabetic at the age of 18. As soon as I was diagnosed I became fascinated by herbs, nutrition and lifestyle as a way to manage my blood sugar levels.
Diabetes ended up being a great catalyst to ultimately changing my career path away from the finance industry and provided me with a passion to help myself and others using natural herbs and nourishing foods.
What role can herbs and natural foods play in people’s health?
I see herbs and natural foods as being critical to maintaining people’s day-to-day health. When it comes to both herbs and natural whole foods, they can both be easily incorporated into our daily diets just by making a few slight tweaks to what we are eating and drinking.
For instance, simple changes like replacing coffee with a cup or two of herbal tea and making a conscious effort to increase green veggies by having a large salad every day can have a profound impact on energy levels and our skin.
I am a huge believer in the powerful ability of herbs and nourishing foods to transform and revitalise us on a daily basis. They operate at a higher level than vitamins and powders as there is a synergy in the interplay of nutrients and minerals found in whole foods.
Do you think modern western society has lost touch with nature, and what impact does this have?
I do think we have lost touch with nature as the demands of our workplaces and families have become more involved, and technology has also become such a significant part of our lives. This affects everything from our relationships, to our physical movement, vitamin D intake and general outlook on life.
We have lost the grounding and stability that we obtain when we are experiencing the beauty of nature. I do feel that we are becoming more aware of the need to incorporate more time enjoying the sea, sun and earth – it would be a dream to have workspaces with outdoor areas and compulsory work hiking and camping trips!
What led you to create the Edible Beauty brand?
I became inspired to start my own skincare range when treating clients in a fertility clinic and seeking a way to improve the management of my own auto-immune condition. I was recommending products that were free of anything that would disrupt hormone balance, including fragrances, preservatives and alcohol.
As we absorb about 60% of what we put on our skin, I wanted to find something truly “edible”. The challenge was finding products that I could use and recommend that were both 100% natural and also luxurious. I felt there was a need for a product range which was pure enough to be “edible”, but that was also luxurious and a sensual delight to use.
So I embarked on creating my own range for women who want high-grade pure natural products that are also a pleasure to use. Healthy and therapeutic can absolutely also be luxurious.
In addition to skincare products, Edible Beauty also stocks herbal tea – tell us about them.
The beauty tea range is all about beauty from the “inside out” and compliments the skincare line, which is working externally to nourish the skin. I have used the liquid herbal blends that I would normally use in my naturopathy practice and converted them to tea blends, which means that people can get the therapeutic benefit of the herbs on a daily basis.
The herbs I have used are potent and therapeutic but easy to drink which is what I love about them. We have so many men and women who use the skincare and tea hand in hand to get the most effective results in transforming their skin.
What is Edible Beauty’s best-selling tea?
Our No.10 Balancing Butterfly Blue Tea and No.4 Golden Glow are both best sellers. The No.10 blend was released last year and contains a beautiful flower called the Butterfly Pea, which has a beautiful blue hue due to its rich anthocyanin content which makes this a wonderful tea for the skin and hair.
The added benefit of this tea is that it contains blood sugar balancing herbs such as Gymnema, Goats Rue and Cinnamon, which also work to reduce sugar cravings. The tea has a naturally sweet flavour with a cinnamon overtone that makes it so easy to drink.
Our No.4 Golden Glow tea is one of our original blends and has potent hormone balancing herbs, which makes it perfect for anyone suffering from hormonal acne.
Edible Beauty has been a huge hit in Australia and already has over 13K followers on Instagram – what do you think has led to this success?
There is a growing awareness of ingestible beauty products, which are resonating with so many people – both men and women, which one of the key reasons for our success. We also have had incredible support from Sephora Australia in boosting the brand exposure to so many women, along with the support of health conscious consumers, the vegan community and small and local businesses.
Being made in Australia is something we are so proud of and is something that our followers recognise and value. I am honoured that Australia has been so encouraging and supportive of Edible Beauty Australia and lucky that I have the support of family and friends in growing the business. My great love for natural therapies and herbal medicine has made it effortless for me to be able to communicate the importance of herbs, nutrition and lifestyle in improving our skin and beauty from the “Inside Out”.
What are three of your favourite Edible Beauty skincare products at the moment, and what do you love about each one?
My favourite product that I have trouble going a day or two without is the Edible Beauty & Gold Rush Eye Balm. This has specks of edible gold in it which work to brighten the area under the eye and reduce inflammation. The coffee in the product also helps to decrease eye puffiness. This is definitely “the one” if you are prone to late nights, computer work or have dark under-eye circle genes.
I would also have to say that our & Soothe Me Balm is also a skin saviour for me. It is the go-to if my skin is feeling lack lustre or if I have spots popping up. The blend of botanicals in this one makes it a quick fix for everything from acne, sunburn, eczema and irritated skin. It also smells like cucumber, so you may be tempted to eat this one!
My most recent favourite is the Bloom of Youth Infusion Mask. This is a bamboo sheet mask, which is great as a skin boosting treatment. I use this one when I have had a long week, if I have been traveling or if I have a special occasion that requires my skin to be looking fresh and vibrant. There is a potent extract in this one called Swertia Chirata which has been clinically shown to reduce fine lines in less than seven days so I am a little addicted to these sheet masks!
What habits or practices do you incorporate in your day-to-day life to help nurture your mind, body and soul?
I ensure that I spend time in nature on a daily basis; it provides me with an opportunity to clear my mind, become grounded and put daily stressors into perspective. I am lucky to live across from the water so I am sure I take advantage of this.
The habit of making tea and sipping on this is also a daily nurturing ritual- chai is one of my favourites as I feel it is a wonderful calming tea and digestive aid. I am also a huge believer in a predominantly plant based diet so love nourishing my body with greens. Reading and music are my soul food and I indulge in these every day.
Essential oils are not only beautifully aromatic, but are also known for their ability to promote physiological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. They can have an incredibly powerful effect on our emotional state, and also encourage us to achieve a more positive mindset. Hanako Therapies harnesses these powerful natural essences in order to bring balance, clarity and tranquility to the lives of others. Here we chat with Hanako Therapies co-founder Rachel Holm, a woman whose courage, resilience and kind spirit paved the way for a truly beautiful brand to take form.
EE: How did Hanako Therapies begin?
Rachel: Many things came together to lead to the creation of Hanako Therapies, but at the time it really felt like it came out of nowhere. I never sat down and thought ‘right – I’m going to start a business’ – it just happened organically after we decided to take our little family on a year of adventure and move to the USA – my husband’s native land. Finding ourselves in LA and completely out of our comfort zone, life got very interesting. Back home in Sydney I had my usual go-to people when life felt a little shaky – people like my acupuncturist, massage therapist, and healer – but here I was yet to find my new people.
Having finished a diploma in energetic and spiritual healing two years prior and in the midst of studying aromatherapy and Kundalini yoga teacher training, I knew what I could do to support and nourish myself during this time. I also have a love for natural perfumes and was yet to find one that I really liked, and so I began blending my own – not just for scent purposes, but for an all over energetic effect. Using my knowledge from my studies and my intuition, the blends started coming together. In the end, I had crafted 34 products for my own personal use – but I would also use them when giving healings, and my clients kept asking ‘what is that and where can I get it?’ – and so began the journey of Hanako Therapies.
Tell us a little about the Hanako Therapies product range…
We have the I AM… aromatherapy elixirs, a natural perfume range that helps to raise your spirits and energetic being; not only through scent but the energetic properties each ingredient holds. We also have the Meridian Blend range that were carefully created to complement the 12 main lines of energy that flow within our energy anatomy known as the meridian system. These aromatherapy blends get placed onto specific acupressure points to encourage harmony, flow and balance within.
In addition we have Hanako Essences; under-the-tongue remedies that help support emotional wellbeing and encourage transformation, soul development and growth. There is also an easy to use range for mums and bubs that are soothing, calming, nourishing and balancing, and we have a stand-alone product called Happy Tracks, which is a natural remedy for upset and anxious tummies. The overall message is to intuitively choose what you feel you need most now in your life, and then mindfully use it as a daily ritual to help set a beautiful self-caring space for yourself and for the day ahead – or alternatively to shift and transform your current personal challenges.
What’s the most popular Hanako Therapies product?
We have two top sellers and they are I AM…Inspired and I Am…Bliss. I AM… Inspired is a great unisex scent that contains the pure essential oils of sandalwood, bergamot and lemon verbena along with five other pure essential oils. It is clean, refreshing, stabilising and uplifting, and it encourages a deep sense of peace, clarity of thought and lightness of spirit.
Then we have I AM… Bliss, which is great for people that tend to feel overwhelmed and anxious, and also fantastic for new mums. It’s a fresh floral scent that encourages you to come back to your heart space and live in the present moment – the only moment that counts. We get so many lovely emails from people that have been using these or even trying them for the first time and saying that as soon as they sprayed it they immediately felt a shift in their mood. I think what most people like about them is that they’re fresh and light and just make you feel good.
What’s your favourite Hanako blend?
My personal favourite is I AM…Faith. It’s very feminine yet a little mysterious and musky in scent – a good one for bathing in your Divine Goddess energy and creativity. I spray this one throughout the day over the crown of my head, on and around my body and into my hair. You’ll always find this one in my handbag!
What makes essential oils so powerful and effective?
While perfumes and fragrances may smell nice, only pure essential oils have the power to shift and change our brain waves and to have a therapeutic effect on body, mind and spirit. Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of pure and natural essential oils. These oils are concentrated extracts from flowers, plants, trees, shrubs, resins and seeds.
When applied topically, essential oils absorb into the skin and enter the bloodstream. This action promotes healing properties to work inside as well as out. Inhaling essential oils can have many positive effects on the body, mind and spirit as well. As you inhale, particles of the essential oils travel down the windpipe and enter the lungs, and are then carried into the bloodstream, allowing the healing properties to take effect.
It also takes just a few seconds for scent to influence the limbic system, part of the brain that is also known as the ‘emotional brain’ where we contain our stored memories and emotions. This also connects to the parts of the brain that control blood pressure, heart rate, stress levels, hormone balance and breathing.
Each Hanako Therapies blend is carefully created using only pure essential oils, gem and flower essences, and crystal-infused water. Each one has also been bathed in a different ancient mantra from start to seal. Every ingredient used for each different blend has its own unique natural healing power, energetic vibrational frequency and quality that are congruent with the overall intention whether it be grounding, balancing, uplifting or supporting.
On top of all that, we then place on the bottle an affirmation that can be repeated silently or aloud when you are using the product. Affirmations create conscious control of our thoughts and can restructure and rewire the brain. This can help us break the patterns of negative thinking and promote the process of healthy change. When you use Hanako, you are not only hit with a beautiful scent, but also invisible energetic forces that help create balance.
What are some of your favourite essential oils?
With all the oils that I have and use, I still have an absolute love affair with sweet orange oil and lavender and often combing these two together at home to diffuse our space. With two little ones running around, both of these pure essential oils are winners! Lavender is beautiful, calming and relaxing and works on balancing the auric field, while sweet orange oil is uplifting, balancing and joyful. It’s a nice and simple blend that’s refreshing and peaceful in the home, and leaves me with a feeling of ‘aaaahhhhhh’. Benzoin is also another beautiful oil that I love; the consistency is a thick and rich – a little like honey – and is so warming, uplifting and nurturing.
Hanako Therapies supports Bears of Hope. Can you tell us a little bit about this charity, and why giving back is so important to you?
We knew when we were creating the brand that we wanted to give back to the community, and we chose Bears of Hope due to our own personal journey after losing our firstborn to stillbirth. We were very lucky to be given the care that we received when we found out the life changing news two days before our little Angel’s due date.
The Hospital we were with were incredible and made our short Earth time with this precious little soul very special, even given the devastation of the circumstance. We realised that not all those that will unfortunately travel this path will receive the same level of care. Bears of Hope offers leading support and exceptional care for families who experience the loss of their baby.
They seek to provide crucial information and embrace families during their difficult time of loss, and beyond. Bears of Hope guide families through their choices when saying hello and goodbye to their much-loved baby. As a registered non-profit organisation, they are dedicated to the care of others.
After getting through our own experience, I knew that whatever I did in the future I wanted to be able to help others that will also share this path. For us Bears of Hope was our first choice. If we can help just one person that must travel this path and contribute to making this devastating time a little easier, I’m humbled and grateful.
Click here to learn more about Bears of Hope and donate to this worthy cause.
Ginseng is an incredibly potent natural ingredient. Know for its invigorating, rejuvenating and revitalising properties, ground ginseng root is a popular health supplement that can boost lagging energy levels to help people function at their best. Read on to learn more about this natural super ingredient, and discover how it can work wonders for your complexion as well as your health.
ALL ABOUT GINSENG
Ginseng, which grows predominantly in east Asia and north America, has long been heralded as a natural way to reduce anxiety and increase mental clarity, and an extremely important component of traditional Chinese medicine. “Ginseng is an adaptogen, which means it can help to reduce the negative impact of stress,” says naturopath, presenter and author Emma Sutherland.
There are three main varieties; Siberian ginseng, Indian ginseng, and Korean red ginseng. “Korean red ginseng is the most powerful of all the ginsengs,” says Emma. “It’s the perfect tonic for fatigue and enhances both mental and physical health. Korean red ginseng actually protects our mitochondria – the batteries of our cells – from damage.” Healthy mitochondria results in better cell repair and reduced cell ageing and degeneration.
GINSENG IN SKINCARE
When used as an ingredient in skincare products like moisturisers, cleansers and face masks, ginseng can help boost healthy skin cell activity. “It increases skin cells’ ability to heal and repair by supporting the mitochondrial health of the cell,” says Emma. “Ginseng also increases skin hydration and collagen production and helps protect the skin against the effects of pollution and UV.”
Ready to incorporate this natural wonder ingredient into your skincare routine? Read on to discover our top product picks…
Kiehl’s Pure Vitality Skin Renewing Cream
Boasting 99.6% natural ingredients, this incredibly hydrating, plumping and replenishing moisturiser is a total game-changer for masstige brand Kiehl’s. They’ve chosen to forgo artificial thickeners and emulsifiers, opting for plant-based ingredients instead – and the quality shows in the cream’s luxe, indulgent texture. Korean red ginseng and Manuka honey are the heroes of this nourishing moisturiser, and together they work to leave your skin looking fresh, radiant, smooth and plumped.
Vanessa Megan Cryo Facelift Ice Cube Treatment
This unique treatment instantly leaves your skin looking brighter, more toned and refreshed. The kit consists of individual serum infusions encased in mini containers which you pop in the freezer prior to use, along with a muslin cloth which is used in to apply the frozen serum. To use, simply pop out one frozen serum from it’s container, wrap it inside the muslin cloth, and massage onto your face, neck and décolletage until completely absorbed. Containing active natural ingredients including ginseng, hyaluronic acid, quandong and green coffee seeds, the treatment feels amazingly soothing on your skin and helps to combat puffiness and dehydration while promoting a radiant, luminous glow.
La Mav Sweet Orange Foaming Cleanser
This is one of all-time favourite cleansers here at THE ECO EDIT, and while as a rule we generally prefer cream cleansers, this foaming cleanser is the perfect choice for those with oily or combination skin. Formulated with ginseng, sugar cane and papaya extract, this gentle foaming cleanser removes makeup, oil and impurities to leave your skin looking bright, clean and fresh. It also contains nourishing goji berry, antioxidant-rich Kakadu plum, refining and soothing Witch Hazel, along with soothing rosemary and marshmallow extract for an extra dose of nourishment for your skin.
Nature’s Own Korean Ginseng 500mg Capsules
Combining a ginseng supplement with ginseng-based skincare is a great way to increase the potential benefits of this unique ingredient. Nature’s Own sell a ginseng 500mg supplement, which is one of the most potent options you’ll find at your local chemist. This supplement can help enhance stamina and endurance and may be particularly handy during times of stress. It could also help to boost and maintain a healthy immune system. We recommend taking this particular supplement in the morning – if you take it at night you can potentially experience some sleeplessness.
When Valentine’s Day comes around, a lot of fuss is made over loved up couples giving and receiving cheesy gifts galore. But we reckon that regardless of your relationship status, self-love is vital and you deserve to spoil yourself with treats that make you feel like the beautiful goddess you are. Peruse these covetable Valentine’s Day treats that will make the perfect pressie for numero uno.
Karen Murrell Valentine’s Day Gift Set
One of our fave lipstick brands Karen Murrell has released a gorgeous Limited Edition Valentine’s Day Gift Set that features two of her prettiest lipsticks shades, Violet Mousse and Poppy Passion. The delectable set also comes with one of the cutest cosmetics bags we ever laid eyes on, and is available for a limited time only from February 1st.
“I’m an unapologetic romantic and think that Valentine’s Day should be embraced and celebrated, not shunned and scoffed at,” says lipstick creator Karen Murrell. “I believe in love and the transformative power of lipstick. It’s an instant mood lifter and draws positive attention,” adds Murrell. We most certainly agree.
Soak Society Rose Wellness Soak
Is there anything more luxurious than dimming the lights, indulging in a glass of wine, lighting some candles and reclining into a warm, sensual bath? We reckon it’s a treat that can’t be topped, and Soak Society’s Rose Wellness Soak is the perfect addition to this relaxing, restorative pleasure.
Combining the most luxurious of rose petals and rose oils to captivate your senses and soothe your skin, this brilliant bath soak also contains active pink Kaolin clay and Himalayan pink salts that will smooth your skin and promote detoxification. Simply pour a few tablespoons into a warm bath and stir until fully dissolved before soaking away.
Mahalo The Petal Mask
Continuing on the rose theme, Mahalo’s decadent facial treatment mask will leave your complexion feeling petal soft and totally radiant. The luxurious formula features 28 active ingredients to nourish your skin, and contains active enzymes that gently exfoliate the skin by removing dead skin and stimulating cellular renewal for a healthy glow.
Mineral-rich Amazonian white clay revitalises while hyaluronic acid hydrates. In addition, the mask also contains bio-active Hawaiian and Manuka honeys, prized for their healing and moisturising properties. Rose is also incorporated in many forms; as a hydrosol, petals, essential oil and an absolute that adds to the decadent, luxurious face mask ritual.
May Lindstrom The Blue Cocoon
If you can hear indulgence calling, May Lindstrom is the answer. Formulated for results and unparalleled pleasure, this skincare line inspires you to take your self-care routine to a whole new level of delight and indulgence, and The Blue Cocoon is one of the brand’s best-selling treatments that will have you addicted from the very first time you try it.
The decadent beauty balm concentrate is infused with natural fragrance that helps to promote tranquility and deep calm, and is applied by massaging into the skin where it melts on touch to transform into a fluid potion that tenderly envelops your skin in botanical extracts which soothe sensitive or irritated skin, while also easing stress to leave your feeling calm and clear-headed.
Burt’s Bees Natural Lipstick
If you’re looking for a pretty pick-me-up purchase that doesn’t come with an eye-watering price tag, Burt’s Bees Natural Lipstick is your new go-to. Featuring intense colour pigments combined with conditioning ingredients that provide eight hours of moisture, these gorgeous lip colours are so good you’ll want to collect all 14 shades.
The rich, vibrant colour lasts brilliantly, while the 100% natural ingredients feature moisturising Moringa and raspberry seed oils to help soften, hydrate and condition your lips all day long. And the best part? At $19.95, you can afford to indulge in more than one – we recommend three shades in particular: Scarlet Soaked, Nile Nude, and Tulip Tide.
With over 90 day spas operating across the country, endota spa is one of Australia’s biggest beauty industry success stories. We spoke to founder and CEO Melanie Gleeson to discover what prompted her to enter world of natural beauty and wellness, and what’s in store next for the beloved franchise.
THE ECO EDIT: What led you to create your own day spa, and what was your vision for endota?
Melanie: After spending some time overseas working as an au pair after school, I came back home to manage a small day spa in Eltham. This foray into the industry helped hone my business skills, and ignited my passion and drive to open my own day spa.
I saw firsthand, a physical and emotional change in women from when they entered the spa to when they left. I knew I needed to be a part of this in a bigger way. The endota spa story began in 2000 when as a 26-year-old I took a risk and followed a dream and left behind the security of a full-time job.
My vision and passion was and still is to help women be their best, so they can live their best life. The ethos of the brand was fuelled by my personal belief in the power of positive sharing and inspiring others to reconnect.
The Mornington Peninsula where I grew up was the inspiration for endota spa. The Mornington Peninsula is a place of light expanse and stunning natural beauty inspired by the energising properties of the sun and calming effect of the water.
Every endota spa aims to transport the client to a similarly euphoric space that ignites calm, invites relaxation and rejuvenates the spirit.
Did the fast growth and popularity of endota surprise you?
I opened one of the first day spas on the Mornington Peninsula in Australia, at a time when few people even knew what a spa was – and fewer recognised the importance of investing in wellbeing.
Fast forward to today and there are now almost 100 spas across the country, and endota spa is Australia’s leading day spa. We employ 1000 people, 90% of whom are women, and 500,000 people visit our spas annually.
I often have to pinch myself and acknowledge how far endota spa has come. I am humbled by the growth and feel so blessed to be doing what I love, and to have people walk away after a treatment physically and emotionally replenished.
What do you believe are some of the key reasons for endota’s success?
We all lead such busy lives and are consumed constantly by noise. Social media, computer, TV, radio, the internet and smart phones…we are always connected to a device. We encourage our clients to leave their everyday stresses behind and turn off their phones.
A spa is one of the very few places left where this is required.
I think people – especially women – crave this time to replenish their energy levels, mental wellbeing and physical health. And while I don’t believe enough women make their health a priority, more and more are starting to realise they should.
Many women struggle to put their own needs first and therefore rarely pamper themselves with a spa treatment. Why do you think women should place more value on ‘me-time’?
Wellness is good for the soul, and as women we are so busy running around looking after everyone else that we often forget ourselves. But in order to be able to provide the best for others, or give our undivided attention to our children, work, family or friends, we need to take time out for ourselves.
When women arrive at the spa their tension and stress is palpable. Their shoulders are raised and their body tense. When they leave, their shoulders are relaxed and down.
Wellness is good for the soul…
The key message we want to communicate to women is that visiting a spa shouldn’t be considered a luxury treat; it should be a healthy habit. A part of a woman’s wellness routine, like a yoga class, or going for a walk; a massage is relaxation for the mind, body and soul.
It recharges you and makes you feel good about yourself from the inside out.
Along with its beautiful spa treatments, endota is known for its natural beauty products. How did you go about creating your skincare and body care range?
endota spa OrganicsTM was first launched in 2006 and has gained a loyal customer base. After nearly 10 years in the market we decided it was time to review and reformulate the range to harness the latest developments in the scientific skincare industry.
Last September the range was relaunched, combining the best of science with the power of nature. This offers consumers a range of certified organic and natural products that address skin concerns unique to Australians – dehydration, pigmentation and ageing.
The inspiration for launching an organic and natural skincare range ties back into the brand’s ethos. It was important for us to ensure that this heritage range used the very best in Australian native ingredients to help enhance and protect skin. Even back in 2006 when we first launched the Organics range, we believed in the power of using nature for healing.
We use native Australian ingredients, called the endota spa Bio-Active Plant Complex. It contains three exotic Australian rainforest fruits: Davidson Plum, Lilly Pilly and Lemon Aspen, which help to moisturise, rejuvenate and protect the skin by delivering a boost of naturally occurring Vitamin C.
We believe in the healing power of nature…
We are lucky to have such a powerful range of natural ingredients here in Australia that are highly effective and won’t harm skin.
We work with a skincare laboratory and leading pharmaceutical chemists to help develop and test our products. These experts specialise in premium, holistic, natural and organic ingredients and they have helped create a range of skincare formulations that address Australian skin concerns.
Each of the products has been certified as either natural or organic by the ACO and COSMOS and contains; no parabens, mineral oils, sulphates, SLS/SLES, PEGS, synthetic fragrances and dyes, GMO’s or silicones and is proudly not tested on animals.
There are a total of 33 endota spa OrganicsTM products for the face and body in the range today.
What is your favourite endota skincare product at the moment, and what do you love about it?
My absolute favourite bathroom essential is our endota spa OrganicsTM Coconut and Grapefruit Melting Body Balm. It contains natural rapidly absorbed oils and butters to deeply nourish and provide an intense moisture boost. This is perfect for summer when my skin gets particularly dry.
My favourite product from our face range is the Multi Vitamin Treatment Oil, which is high in anti-ageing properties and deeply hydrates skin to smooth fine lines. I apply this oil morning and night under the Nourish & Repair Night Cream for a noticeably smoother complexion.
Do you have any exciting new product launches or developments in the works that you can share with us?
This is such an exciting time for endota spa. We are going through a growth phase and have a number of new initiatives, products, treatments and franchises opening.
We have just launched two brand new treatments to our menu, which is really exciting. The first is our New Age Light Therapy Facial which uses LED light to deeply hydrate and stimulate cell regeneration by boosting collagen and elastin production. It is non-invasive, like all our treatments, but it delivers instant results.
We have also created a new signature massage named the Deep Recovery Massage. This treatment uses jade stones, which are believed to help facilitate self-healing. We will be adding more exclusive treatments to our menu next year as well, so stay tuned!
After many years of research and development we launched our first cosmetics line in July this year. The premise behind the range is about enhancing your natural beauty – not covering it. We use native ingredients in the range such as Kakadu Plum so that it applies like makeup but treats like skincare.
We have also just launched an anti-ageing skincare range, NEW AGETM elements; that contains potent ingredients to treat skin concerns associated with ageing, such as loss of collagen, dehydration, pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles. We have worked with skincare specialists from Italy and Australia to develop this range and will be adding to it with more products next year.
With Christmas just around the corner, now’s the time to get those festive season pressies wrapped and under the tree. But if you’re stuck for gift ideas, don’t fret! We’ve put together a list of gorgeous natural beauty products, kits and treatments that will ensure you’re in everyone’s good books.
1. Madara Happy Skin Essentials Pack
This cute little kit from holistic skincare brand Madara is the perfect treat for all skin types. Featuring Madara’s award winning Micellar Cleansing Water and their innovative Oil-To-Milk Exfoliating Scrub, this set would put a smile on anyone’s dial.
2. Lily Lolo Iconic Eye Collection
Who wouldn’t want pretty peepers for Christmas? The Lily Lolo Iconic Eye Collection features the brand’s cult favourite Laid Bare Eyeshadow Palette along with a must-have Black Eye Pencil Natural Mascara for long, fluttery jet-black lashes.
3. Frank Body Babe Island Kit
Perfect for the gal (or guy) who likes to have silky smooth and tropically scented skin, Frank Body’s cute-as-a-button Babe Island Kit includes a delectable Coconut Coffee Scrub and lush Coconut Body Balm.
4. Endota Spa Gift Voucher
Handing out one of these beauties will make you a firm favourite this Christmas. You can select from a range of treatment options when ordering a gift voucher – we highly recommend Endota’s New Age Light Therapy Facial, which combines active natural skincare with the latest LED technology for gorgeous, glowing skin.
5. Pai Instant Calm Discovery Collection
This beautiful skincare pack is the perfect gift for people with sensitive skin. This exquisite kit features Pai’s Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser, Lotus & Orange Blossom BioAffinity Skin Tonic, Chamomile & Rosehip Calming Day Cream, plus an organic muslin cloth.
6. Inika Limited Edition Discover Kit
This lovely kit is the perfect pressie for a friend or relative who is keen to try mineral makeup. The set includes some of Inika’s hero products including their Certified Organic Pure Primer, Certified Organic Liquid foundation, Certified Organic BB Cream, Mineral Foundation, plus a Kabuki Brush.
7. Acorelle Absolute Tiare Eau de Parfum
This heavenly scent will make for an enchanting gift this Christmas. The fresh floral fragrance features top notes of orange and tangerine, a heart of ylang ylang, jasmine and tiare, and a sensual base of vanilla.
8. Vanessa Megan VM Men Citrus & Spice Natural Cologne
Any self-respecting bloke who takes pride in his appearance and grooming habits will appreciate this crisp cologne. With a warm, spicy blend of mandarin, patchouli and clove, this chic scent is uplifting, alluring, and 100% natural.
9. The Beauty Chef Cookbook
Looking for great gift ideas for the domestic goddesses and green juice junkies in your life? They’ll adore this beautifully photographed cookbook that’s jam-packed with delicious, nutritious, and complexion-enhancing meal ideas. With over 150 gluten-free, dairy-free recipes, this clever cookbook promotes gut health and boosts beauty from the inside out.
10. Essano Limitless Luxuries Pack
Containing an array of beauty boosting plant extracts and natural ingredients like rosehip and Argan oil, New Zealand brand Essano is a truly gorgeous range that captures nature’s essence. This affordable travel bag includes Essano’s cult favourite micellar water, moisturiser, eye cream, body lotion, shampoo, and conditioner.
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