One of the benefits of working with indie beauty brands is we have the opportunity to develop relationships with the brands’ founders. We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Stephanie Duttenhaver and Cindy Edwards, the founders of Savannah, Georgia based Sapelo Skin Care.

Sapelo Skin Care is the wonder anti-aging line that you may not have heard of yet, but you will! We instantly fell in love with Sapelo’s spa grade, deliver on its promise, formulas and unique Southern heritage. It started with two Southern women who developed the skin care products they sought for themselves but could not find in the marketplace. They drew inspiration from the Southern marshes, tides, marine and plant botanicals as well as the legacy of beautiful Southern women.

3-Step, 28-Day Recovery System

This isn’t just a genius piece of marketing, though. All Sapelo Skin Care products are developed and manufactured at a high quality cosmetic laboratory in Savannah, GA. The impeccable packaging is evocative of a lush Southern garden —  these products would make a stunning addition to any vanity or shelf. Most importantly, however, these products WORK. Sapelo Skin Care merges state-of-the-art scientific breakthroughs with long passed-down knowledge of indigenous plants to understand the biological mechanisms of healthy skin rejuvenation. This is a 3-step, 28-day recovery system that gently hydrates, nourishes and improves skin quality at the cellular level.

You met each other in 2009 while serving as board members of the Savannah Book Festival. How did this meeting lead to the creation of Sapelo Skin Care?

SD: I had been thinking about developing a skin care line for years. Many of the anti-aging products on the market have harsh ingredients that actually strip aging skin of what it needs to protect itself. I wanted to create an effective line sans these harsh elements. Having worked with Cindy for three years to build brand awareness for the nationally acclaimed Savannah Book Festival, I realized that I had found my partner. We shook hands sitting in front of the great Pat Conroy and began our own story: Enter Sapelo Skin Care.

CE: I had spent the past two decades as a stay-at-home mom and though I had been active on charitable community boards, my true desire was to resurrect my career. After a twenty year absence from the workforce, finding employment proved to be challenging. In 2009 I joined the board of the Savannah Book Festival and met Stephanie Duttenhaver. We hit it off right away.

How did you develop Sapelo’s 3-Step System?

Living in coastal Savannah, we drew inspiration for our products from the twice-daily high tides that bring life-sustaining nutrients and water to our environment. Our complete and simple 3-step regimen mimics the rejuvenating effects of the tides with hydration, stimulation and revitalization of the skin. This regimen contains all the ingredients and molecular compounds needed to hydrate skin and renew collagen, elastin and skin cells.

Step 1

Our Renewing Serum creates a flood tide or open channel, deep within the basement layer of the skin. The serum is infused with gardenia stem cells and hyaluronic acid, the goddess of all humectants. The water-based ‘flood tide’ prepares the skin to inhale our star product, the Rejuvenating Cream.

Step 2

The Rejuvenating Cream unleashes peptides, humectants and micronutrients on the ‘flood tide’. Infused with 5 peptides, the platinum peptide targets inflammation caused by UV damage while the other 4 peptides work to boost collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid production at the cellular level. It is oil based to enable the ingredients in the cream to easily penetrate the dermis and effortlessly deliver all the goodness needed to build up collagen and elastin.

Step 3

The Softening Emollient is infused with essential oils that bar the evaporation of the dermal saturation of peptides, stem cells, hyaluronic acid and micronutrients that are in Steps 1 and 2. In other words, it seals all the good stuff in! The essential oils also add an extra boost of hydration to the skin – particularly useful in winter or for drier skin types –  you will love how it moisturizes, especially the dry areas around your eyes and brow! Our emollient contains only natural and breathable oils and there are no silicones or ingredients that stop the skin from breathing.

What about an eye cream?

CE:  You can use all three products around the eyes. During development, our cosmetic chemist advised us that it would be all that we would need. There are no retinoids or harsh ingredients that can cause irritation to the sensitive eye area — which is the only reason to have a separate eye cream. That said, due to demand, we have since released our Restoring Eye Cream. Like the cornerstone products in our three step system, it contains a blend of powerful peptides, including anti-aging milk peptides that boost collagen production and skin cell count. It also contains antioxidants to increase circulation and strengthen capillaries in the tissue surrounding the eyes.

By: Travel Beauty Editors

From our first visit to Lavido’s breathtaking organic farm located in the heart of the Galilee, we knew this product line was something very special. Lavido products combine the energy and vitality of the best organic, raw, plant-based ingredients with the invigorating benefits of volcanic thermal springs and purified waters from the Sea of Galilee. And, in a short time, Lavido has developed a loyal U.S. based following.

Though the entire Lavido line is stellar, we wanted to highlight some of the unique, must-have products we especially love from this line.

A Serious Anti-aging Moisturizer

One of the active ingredients in the Age Away Hydrating Cream is organic, cold-pressed evening primrose oil, which gives the cream its yellow hue…not to mention many skin-saving benefits! Evening primrose oil contains a natural antioxidant that helps reduce wrinkles and fine lines. Thanks to another ingredient, attar of rose, it smells wonderful, too. This stuff works miracles: You can feel it hydrating and plumping up your skin almost instantly, yet it has a surprisingly light feeling on the skin.

Master Anti-aging Face Oils

The Replenishing Facial Serum is not really a serum, but a luxurious oil blend, including organic pomegranate seed oil, distilled lemon myrtle oil and cold pressed mandarin oil. The oil extracted from the fruits’ seeds contain high concentrations of fatty acids that prevent premature aging and appearance of wrinkles. It also has healing properties that even out skin tone and texture and boost skin’s natural luster and vitality. A little of this serum goes a long way; two drops is really all you need. Replenishing Facial Serum is ideal for dry and/or mature skin, and is fabulous for use as a night treatment, especially as the weather gets colder.

Anti-aging Eye Cream

Hyaluronic Acid Alert Eye Cream is like bright eyes in a bottle. Formulated with plant-based hyaluronic acid, cold-pressed avocado oil, organic pomegranate seed oil and citrus extracts, it absorbs right into the skin and immediately hydrates, de-puffs and brightens the eye area. It is also clinically proven to significantly improve skin texture, firmness and elasticity.

Lavido Utilizes Plant-based Ingredients

We love Lavido’s unique plant-based formulations. Here are just a few of the ingredients used in Lavido products:

Pumpkin Seed Oil

This cold-pressed oil is steeped in zinc and vitamin E, a super antioxidant, which combine to improve skin tone, rejuvenate the skin, and defy the aging process. This ingredient can be found in Lavido’s Age Away Hydrating Cream.

Rose Hips

Two types of rose hip are used in some of our favorite Lavido products. One is the food-grade extract in Alert Eye Cream, which provides an abundance of vitamin C. The other is infused oil, which is used in the Invigorating Facial Serum to calm, cool and soothe puffy skin.

Organic Bulgarian Lavender

Pure concentrations of lavender oil extract contain disinfecting properties that aid in the healing of scars and dark spots as well as the reduction of redness and irritation. And of course, there’s lavender’s legendary aromatherapeutic benefits. Lavender can be found in many of Lavido’s products including Replenishing and Invigorating Serum, Hydrating Facial Toner, Purifying Face Cleanser, Gentle Exfoliator Peeling Cream and Bulgarian Lavender and Avocado Oil Aromatic Body Lotion.

Carrot Root Extract

A root vegetable with ample benefits for the skin and hair, carrot is rich in beta carotene, vitamins A and C, minerals and antioxidants that combine to cleanse, brighten, and tone the skin, while helping to defy the aging process. Lavido Purifying Face Cleanser and Hydrating Facial Toner both contain Carrot Root Extract.

Creating effective skin care products is no small feat! We love spending time with our brand founders to find out what inspired them to create their amazing products. Want to learn more? We sat down with Lavido Founder, Ido Magal, to discuss the genesis of Lavido.

Winter is upon us. It’s getting cold and with the drop in temperature our skin can become dehydrated and more sensitive than usual. This time of year it is important to modify our beauty ritual to protect ourselves from the cold, crisp elements that we suddenly find ourselves in the midst of.

Don’t Wash Your Face

Try using a face wash at night only. In fact, in the morning don’t use a cleanser at all. Face cleansers can be drying especially in the context of chilly weather. This time of year I use Heaven Skincare EllaJane Celebrity Skin Wipes. These babies exfoliate, cleanse, tone and keep blemishes at bay with apple pectin, honey and peppermint oil, all without drying out the skin! These are gentle enough for those in their teens and twenties as well.

Exfoliate

I also use Lavido Gentle Exfoliator Peeling Cream twice a week. It might sound counter intuitive but it is essential to exfoliate during the winter as dead skin cells accumulate faster during the colder months. This face scrub utilizes oyster shell powder and pomegranate peel grains to gently slough away dead cells and buildup.

Moisturize

When the temperature drops, I turn to one of my all time favorite skin care lines, Cosmetics 27. It is an apothecary style range tailor-made for YOUR skin. The idea is to mix the products together to produce a formula that is right for your skin today. The change in season, weather, pollution, stress levels and even physiological factors can alter the behavior of skin. Cosmetics 27 utilizes the Ayurvedic properties of Centella Asiatica to boost the skin’s ability to regenerate and heal itself. While experimenting and getting to know your skin requires a little more time and effort, you’re worth it and your skin will thank you. Cosmetics 27 Baume 27 is a rich, almost balm textured moisturizer packed with anti-aging skin healing nutrients. It contains a patented cocktail of all natural ingredients that feed the skin what it needs to work optimally and renew itself. Best of all you will see results. I am 40 and have sensitive, dry skin so Baume 27 is my savior this time of year. Apply while skin is still a bit damp and take at least a full minute to massage it into your skin.

Layer It On

Just like we begin to layer clothing as the temperatures drop, similarly, we need to layer on skin care to nourish and provide our skin with the extra protection it needs. I can’t stress enough how important it is, especially if you don’t all year round, to add a serum and even a face oil to your regimen. I mix Cosmetics 27 Essence 27 and Huile 27 with Baume 27 to give the moisturizer an extra added boost of nutrients. Essence 27 is an ultra fine hydrating, anti-aging emulsion that brightens the complexion and increases the skin’s density. If you don’t typically use a serum, this is an excellent entrée into the genre. Then there is Huile 27. This anti-aging elixir is a master multitasker that provides essential nutrients that help rebalance skin functions and restructure the epidermal tissue. A must for those with dry or more mature skin. I also use it as a lip balm, hair and cuticle oil.

Lips

During the winter my lips look so chapped, it appears as though a wild animal has been gnawing on them. I layer Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream and Cosmetics 27 Huile 27 under a Lancome Juicy Tube. It takes a village. Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream is enriched with vitamin E, vitamin B2, and camphor and has a uniquely high glycerin content and absorbability achieved through a special manufacturing process. It even helps heal cold sores.

By: Alyssa Barrie Weiss, Twitter: @AlyssaBarrie

Even the product obsessive compulsive rotates a product or two with the change of season. During the summer, when the northern hemisphere is closest to the sun we need to give our skin a little extra added tender loving care. Here is how one particular girl on the precipice of 40 keeps her skin in check all summer long.

Starting With The Basics: Facial Cleansers

We all know it’s important to wash the face morning and night. I’m still 39, for another 9 days anyway, and my skin tends to be sensitive and on the drier side. This summer I’ve worked Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm into my routine. It’s a quadruple-threat spa in a jar. A moisturizing, deep-cleansing, makeup-removing mask and face wash that doesn’t strip the skin of its essential oils. This is a rare and important beauty find especially in summer when we tend to spend more time outdoors. While skin can seem a bit more oily during the summer, it really just needs some extra special loving care. Resist the temptation to exfoliate often and use strong, soapy cleansers. This will only over dry skin and encourage it to produce more oil and sebum. It will also exfoliate any semblance of a healthy tan you may be working on.

Morning Moringa Massage

I store mine in the refrigerator: the cool temperature is refreshing and calms puffiness. I apply it first thing in the morning, take a minute or so to massage it into my skin in the direction of lymphatic drainage.

• Line up your fingers, with both hands, right below the bridge of your nose and sweep out (repeat this down the entire length of your nose and don’t be afraid to apply pressure directly below your eyes) and then make a wide circle down the jaw and meet at the chin.
• From there sweep down your neck. Go back up to the bridge of your nose with your middle fingers and sweep up. Once you hit your eye brow, sweep in an outward motion towards your temples (repeat this upward until you hit your hairline at the top of your forehead) and then back down to your jaw, meeting up at your chin.
• Don’t leave your mustache area out. Place both middle fingers at the center, right under your nose, applying pressure, sweep out and around to your jaw line and meet again at your chin.
• Have a cup of coffee and go about your morning routine.

This enables me to leave the mask on for 10 – 20 minutes. I also apply it to the backs of my hands. When you enter mid to late thirtydom, even if you take A+ care of your skin and have great genes, you will notice age starting to rear its ugly texture on the back of your hands. There is no place that shows age more than the back of one’s hands.

The all-natural scent of moringa is also calming to the senses which is beneficial especially on hectic mornings. Though this cleanser can be used day and night, if your skin is dry like mine, you may want to use it only once a day.  At night I don’t use a cleanser at all. I spray Vine Minus Ion Care Water on a cotton pad and wipe off the day – it is anti-bacterial, hydrating and can be used to remove makeup as well. It also boosts the efficacy of your nightly face care regimen to follow. This is particularly useful as skin care does its most important work at night when we sleep.

Additional note: Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm can also be used as a moisturizing hair mask.

Moisturizing Regimen

In summer it’s important to use a moisturizer with SPF. Institut Esthederm Bronz Repair Sunscreen for Face SPF 15 is an anti-aging moisturizer and sunscreen rolled up into one. Esthederm sun care is – bar none – the best you can find on the market. Its high tech formula works to strengthen the skin’s ability to protect itself from the sun. It contains active beeswax and rice bran oil, both specially chosen for their highly nourishing, moisturizing and anti-free radical properties.

Summer Anti-aging Serums

When using an SPF moisturizer, you must apply a serum underneath. SPF can clog pores and as my mother says, you always need a little something between the wheels and the road. I stay away from face oils during the summer. My skin craves hydration, but nothing so rich or thick. Sapelo Skin Care Renewing Serum floods the skin with the nutrients and moisture it needs to stimulate cellular renewal, including gardenia stem cells, natural humectants and collagen that protect and nourish skin, enabling it to fight signs of aging and protect your pores.

Summer Body Care

The summer sun and air is just as harsh on the body as it is on the face. It goes without saying that one needs to use a sunscreen during the day. Sun Bum makes a high quality, reasonably priced sunscreen that offers broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection for up to 80 minutes. Great for golfers, surfers, tennis players, sand castle builders and sun worshippers alike and it’s PABA, paraben, oil and fragrance free. Most people are good about applying sunscreen. Where many of us fall off the wagon is in the aprés sun department. After washing off the day you really want to nourish your skin with a lotion that will sooth dry skin, boost elasticity and fight the damaging effects of the sun, pollutants and free radicals. Packed with ingredients like Aloe Vera Juice and, Avocado Oil, moisturizing omegas and powerful antioxidants, Mio Skincare A Cream Firming Active Body Cream will do just that.

Miscellaneous Tidbits

If you are traveling regularly over the summer or just on a summer gym tear, Mio Skincare Your Fit Skin Kit is a great way to sample some of this wonderful body care line. I also recommend Mio Skincare Clean Slate Workout Swipes – these, all natural, full body wipes are ideal for any summer situation you can imagine, including what I’ve come to call a dry shower.

By: Alyssa Barrie Weiss, Twitter @AlyssaBarrie