skincareblog

Meet the Maker: Indie Lee

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I recently had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing Indie Lee, the founder of Indie Lee & Co. a clean and eco luxe line of skincare, formulated with efficacious ingredients that combine science + plant botanicals enhancing the health of your body or skin. We sat down and talked about clean beauty, wellness and her launch in Sephora Australia.

Indie’s story is unique and a heart warming. She started the line over ten years ago when she was diagnosed with a fatal brain tumour that doctors felt could be environmentally derived and attributed to something as simple as what she was putting on her skin. After learning that up to 60% of what we apply to our skin, including toxic ingredients in conventional skincare, may be absorbed in as little as 26 seconds, Indie had her awakening. After surviving a successful surgery on Earth Day 2009, she embarked upon a wellness journey to create a clean beauty collection dedicated to inspiring and empowering others to be mindful about what they put on their skin as well as into their body.

“When I was given a finite amount of time to live, the world became technicolor – I now appreciate every moment and I feel very fortunate to be creating a platform that will allow others to do the same. Education and empowerment are my driving forces and this line is the medium enabling me to pay my knowledge forward.” – Indie

The clean and luxurious collection of skin and beauty products will be launching in Sephora, Australian on March 20th, 2019. Indie is a kind, genuine and positive person who started her line purely out of her passion to live and literally to beat the odds of a life threatening disease. It was fascinating and inspiring to meet Indie and to learn more about her story and products. Enjoy the interview below.

How does a typical day start for you?

Every morning starts the same for me. I begin the day by mediating and taking that time for myself to get centred, I then pick up my phone to text my business partner and best friend GMS, which stands for ‘Good Morning Sunshine’. I then go look after my daughters, puppies and make myself a smoothie.

What is your morning beauty routine like?

My morning beauty routine is quite simple, as I don’t always cleanse in the morning. I do my thorough cleanse in the evening, but if I wake up and feel like my skin needs a good cleanse then I use the Indie Lee Purifying Face Wash. I typically start my morning routine with the COQ-10 Toner (this is my a.m. cleanser), it really helps to fight free radical damage and is a preventive to environmental pollution and living in an urban setting. I then follow this by using the Stem Cell Serum, because I’m 47! I follow this with the Daily Vitamin Infusion, (which has plant ceramides in it) followed by the Daily Skin Nutrition and the I-Waken Eye Cream and I’m good to GO!

What was the first skincare product you developed?

The first product I developed is not in the line anymore, but it was a moisturising oil. It had jojoba, apricot kernel, lavender and chamomile oils, a really lovely and gentle all over body oil. The other product developed first was the Coconut Citrus Scrub, it exfoliates whilst hydrating the skin so after you’ve used it you don’t need to follow with a body lotion or moisturiser. I developed this body scrub as I suffered from Rheumatoid Arthritis and one of the side effects from the therapy was very dry skin – this scrub helped keep my skin super soft and hydrated!

What are your hero products from your line?

I would have to say the hero products from the line are the COQ-10 Toner, The Awaken Eye Serum, the Purifying Face Wash (this is very popular for oilier skin types) and the Radiance Renewal Pads.

What’s on your bedside stand?

It’s my phone, a noise cancelling machine (so I can really go to sleep), books as I am forever reading. I love reading and the current book I’m reading is: While You Sleep, it’s  about Auto Immune Diseases and I just finished reading Crazy Rich Girlfriends, it’s a great light hearted book that’s absolutely hilarious.

What are your tips to keeping skin healthy?

I believe that what you put on your body is just as important as what you put in your body. It’s wonderful if you’re going to use clean skincare but you have to match that with healthy eating. Don’t over-cleanse – work with your skin type and use a cleanser that won’t strip your skins natural oils. I don’t think we are getting enough hydration and we need to think about what we are drinking to make sure we are staying hydrated. My most important tip is BE KIND to yourself – we are living in a Instagram-selfie generated world and we are really hard on ourselves! We need to start loving ourselves more and believing in ourselves! Have more confidence in yourself, self confidence is one of the best beauty tips I could ever give someone – LOVE yourself!

WILDCRAFTED ORGANICS

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Wildcrafted Organics is an Australian skincare line that is inspired by the healing power of plants. Nicole, the founder has a background in nutrition, botanical medicine and extensive experience in the area of herbalism. Her broad knowledge and practice in this field led her to create clean and pure skincare products that incorporate Australian botanicals that are unique and wild crafted. Read about the importance of wildcrafting in the interview with Nicole below.

What is wildcrafting?

Wildcrafting is the practice of harvesting certain plants from their natural or wild environment to use for food or medicinal purposes. Its something that has to be done sustainably and with considerable respect for the environment and in some cases would involve only removing a certain part of the plant so as not to endanger the species.

Why are wildcrafted ingredients so important to your line of products?

Wild Plants have grown without any interference, they develop differently as they must survive in the harshest of environments and it is here that they don’t just survive – they thrive where other plants could not exist. Incredibly high levels of antioxidants are produced to enable their survival and it is these bio active antioxidants that are so beneficial for our skin. The essence of all things “Wild” – Strength, Wisdom and Beauty.

Can you tell us more about where your ingredients come from?

I use only the purist organic or wildcrafted ingredients in my products and they come from all over the world but it is Australia’s unique botanicals that excite me the most. As an Island Australia is a sanctuary where nature evolves and flourishes in a pure environment, sheltered from the influence of the rest of the world. Australia has an abundance of unique botanicals that the Aboriginal people have been Wildcrafting for thousands of years and as these plants are studied using advanced extraction methods we are seeing incredibly high levels of bioactive ingredients. An example of this is Kakadu Plum which has the world s highest Vitamin C concentration, equivalent to 100x that of an orange. The Kakadu Plum powder I use  comes from the Dampier Peninsula just north of Broome in Australia and it is here that Bruno Dann is bringing back to his community the traditional ways of taking care of the land and the Kakadu Plum or Gumbinge trees, which is helping restore the amazing bush in this region. All profits from this product are sent back to the Nyui Nyui people who wild harvist it. Other native botanicals I use are found in pristine parts of  North/ North East Australia and are now being organically grown so as to ensure the sustainability and survival of the plant.

What are your favourite ingredients to work with?

I use a bioactive complex of three indigenous Australian plums Kakadu Plum, Illawarra Plum and Burdekin Plum. The research on this particular extract is compelling showing it to to contain incredibly high levels of antioxidants, stimulate Hyaluronic acid, pro-collagen 1and fibronectin synthesis in the skin reducing fine lines and wrinkles and increases hydration while strengthening the skins barrier.

What was the first product your created for Wildcrafted Organics?

The first product in the collection was my Wildflowers Rejuvinating Serum, from the beginnning it was so important to me that all of  the products were concentrated in skin loving ingredients, nutrients and bioactive botanicals – no ingredient is added to reduce cost or fill and all bioactives are used at the required level for efficacy. This product is used instead of a moisturiser and is basically a daily multi vitamin for your skin with a scent of wild jasmine and cacao.

What is your hero product from the line?

The Everlasting Beauty Balm Concentrate with 24 kt gold. So concentrated in skin regenerating / collagen promoting / healing butters and precious oils. It absorbs effortlessly into the skin leaving no trace but providing a level of nourishment that moisturisers just can’t compete with. Multi tasking it transforms into a luminous, skin loving foundation when mixed with your dry mineral make up and can be used anywhere that needs extra nourishment. Is suitable for all skin types but especially dry, stressed, scarred or sun damaged skin. Massage into the skin with a Gua Sha for an incredibly indulgent treat.

VOTARY

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I have wanted to try Votary for a while and was so excited when I finally got my hands on two of their cult beauty products. The Rose Geranium and Apricot Cleansing Oil and the Votary Intense Night Oil.

Votary are a luxe British brand, famous for their oil cleansers and face oils.  The products in the Votary line are cold pressed natural oils that have been extracted from plants, flowers, fruits, vegetables and seeds. No fillers just pure plant based ingredients.

I have been using the Rose Geranium and Apricot Cleansing Oil, as my cleanser for over a month. I immediately fell in love after my first cleanse, it really is an effective oil cleanser that works so well on all skin types, especially oily/congested skin like mine.

I pump the oil into the palm of my hands, I take a moment to inhale the soft aroma.  As I inhale the scent of fresh apricots with the subtle hints of rose, I feel an immediate sense of relaxation and apply the oil to my skin. I love oil cleansing in the evenings (maybe because I have more time), I find it’s a great way cleanse all the daily impurities and pollution that have built up during the day on my skin. It’s also a really great way to end the day by connecting with the ritual of applying the cleanser, delicately massaging it and removing it with a hot towel.

It’s a beautiful oil cleanser, that gives a great deep and nourishing cleanse. It is a great product to try if you’re new to oil cleansers or need an oil cleanser that suits skin on the more oilier or nomination side. The grape seed, apricot kernel, rose geranium and chamomile oils provide the skin, with anti-inflammatory, wound healing, antiseptic and essential fatty acids (omega-6).

Votary’s Intense Night Oil, is AMAZING! This is the most luxurious face oil/night treatment I have used that is clean and plant based. It contains Retinoid (Vitamin A) in an oil-soluble form and is a great natural alternative to the harsh retinol products that are on the market. Retinoid aids in renewing skin and helps with pigmentation/dark spots. It also stimulates collagen production and new blood vessels in the skin.

Packed with active plant botanicals like rose-hip oil, avocado oil, paracress, tomato seed oil and rose. These ingredients work simultaneously with the retinoid to provide antioxidants, help improve elasticity and the tone of skin as well aiding in the regeneration of skin. I have loved using this as an evening treatment, I can definitely feel the active botanicals working on my skin. I have seen a notable difference in some pigmentation I have, it has also improved my issues with congestion. I can also see how it has helped with the overall tone of my skin as well.  I love the results and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a clean, active product.

 

YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE

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MEET THE MAKER: YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE

I recently had the opportunity to meet Joe and Greg, the founders of Youth To The People. We spent the day drinking green juices, talking about superfoods, pressed juices, California and the inspiration behind their skincare. If you’re not familiar with the brand or you’re a huge fan (like me), you will definitely appreciate Youth to the People’s nature meets science approach to skincare. Read the full interview below.

 

How has the Californian lifestyle influenced YTTP?

The Californian lifestyle has been a big influence to YTTP, growing up in California we live active and healthy lifestyles. We have always been interested in a healthy lifestyle, our families were taking vitamins in the 70’s and 80’s and making natural skincare. Growing up in California has been a big part of YTTP, we enjoy the natural our surrounding and draw inspiration from the healthy lifestyle.

Green superfoods are keys ingredients in your products, how important are they to your line?

Prior to launching YTTP, we had a strong interest in superfoods and cold pressed juices.  Green superfoods contain large amounts of antioxidants, chlorophyll, vitamins and phytonutrients. Knowing the health benefits of drinking cold pressed juices, we thought how great they would work topically on skin.

We were consuming our green juices daily and wanted our skincare to have the same benefits as our diets.  Working with our chemist and getting an extract that would be ideal in skincare, we were able to build a line of products that provide a great source of antioxidants, whilst helping fight free radicals and preventing signs of ageing. All the things we love in our pressed juices, but being able to apply the benefits to your skin.

One of the more unique ingredients in your products is ALFALFA. Can you tell us more about it?

Alfalfa is used in the YTTP products as it contains high amounts of chlorophyll, being such a great detoxifier we use a lot of this in our skincare. Our cleanser contains alfalfa for this reason and it also gives it the green colour (naturally). We wanted an ingredient that is rich in antioxidants, calming on the skin and helps with the detoxification process and helps remove the daily build up of toxins and pollution. Knowing how important chlorophyll is internally, we wanted to apply this topically.

 

Your grandmother created skincare, how has she inspired YTTP?

Our grandmother launched her skincare line in 1979, she wanted to create her own line of products after seeing the various skincare trends in Europe. She created a botanical based line, as it was more effective for the skin. We grew up around the business and learnt about skincare, in the last five years we thought how can we create a skincare line that utilised our grandmothers creative ideas and experience, as well as our inspiration from drinking green juices/superfoods. Having our grandmothers industry experience and growing up in the skincare industry has really helped us make quality skincare, our aim is to create quality products that make a difference.

What are your grandmothers tips on skincare?

Our grandmother believes in creating quality and effective products that work for everyone. One of her tips is education, educate yourself about the products and ingredients you’re using, are they going to help with your skin goals. Our grandmother really believes in the importance of ingredients, educating yourself about ingredients and picking the correct products for your skin.

What is your hero product from the line?

Our hero product is the Kale + Green Tea Spinach Vitamins Age Prevention Cleanser and the Kale + Spinach Hyaluronic Acid Age Prevention Face Cream. It’s packed with so many great superfoods that help detoxify your skin as well as providing skin with an abundance of antioxidants, vitamins and hydration. The cleanser is our hero product, it was one of the first products we launched. We wanted to create a product that was a cleanser and toner in one, to help simplify the beauty routine as well creating a comfortable pH balance for skin. The Kale + Green Tea Spinach Vitamins Age Prevention Cleanser is our favourite hero product that multitasks and suits all skin types.