The skincare range that you’ll be hearing a lot about from everyone in the know
Transversing time with bio-compatibility, Lisa Oxenham reveals the secret of bio-tech skincare brand Orveda on youth extension
With stress and anxiety at an all-time high, along with a hefty dose of pollution, warranted concerns about our impact on the environment, and sensitised skin from overdoing actives, I predict there will be a much-needed shift in how we approach skincare in the upcoming year.
That list of aggressors have something in common: they disturb our skin’s natural biology and microflora and, as a result, skin can lose its power to self-heal and become dull, and age faster. The solution? Targeted skincare designed to help skin regain its self-healing powers. This is where Orveda comes into play - I attended a press conference to understand how the cutting-edge, bio-tech, vegan skincare brand works.
WORK WITH YOUR SKIN AND NOT AGAINST IT
A lot of people are getting to the point where they've overdone it and are having bad skin reactions.
“Today’s skincare often prefers to focus on hero ingredients, familiar to consumers, such as retinol, at high concentrations or treatments such as acid peels. While these are primarily designed to promise rapid results, less attention is paid to the long-term consequences on inflammation and barrier damage,” says Dr Shimei Fan – Chief Scientific Officer.
Orveda has been inspired by the emergence of regenerative treatments which heal the skin by mimicking its biology, proving that cellular renewal can be stimulated, enabling the skin to self-heal. The brand’s founders set out on a four-year mission, gathering a team of medical experts – including the famous plastic surgeon Dr Bui - and biochemists, to develop the first truly efficient, high-performance skincare solution that works with the skin not against it.
SCIENTIFIC SKINCARE
Science-backed products with a focus on proven ingredients that really work (and work fast) are going to reign supreme as trusted sources for skincare solutions. Over the last 30 years, Orveda’s visionary founders, legendary beauty industry CEO, Sue Nabi and entrepreneur Nicolas Vu have worked with top scientists and medical experts with a deep understanding of active ingredients, the latest skincare technologies, and skin physiology.
The result is a brand that champions healing and strengthening the skin’s barrier by combining powerful ingredients like marine enzymes, a natural prebiotic to help boost the good bacteria that live on the skin, and bio-fermented Kombucha black tea - along with the latest state-of-the-art dermatological actives help skin look smoother by reflecting the light better.
Combining innovative biotechnologies and skin science expertise, efficacious actives are transformed to become more potent and bio-compatible for the skin. Pioneered by the Orveda team, the new science of skincare biocompatibility (where formulas easily assimilate and become one with skin for heightened efficacy without irritation) found that active ingredients processed by living organisms can be amplified to become more potent and can be used together in formulas while remaining gentle to the skin.
SUSTAINABILITY MATTERS
We're caring more about the planet and our impact, so it makes sense to use fewer products. As well as streamlining our beauty routines, biotechnology takes sustainable beauty to the next level by creating skincare ingredients in a laboratory that are largely identical to how they would be found in their natural state. They are even able to be “tweaked” to produce a specific ingredient, and more of it, making the newly biotech active more potent than in nature.
“In turn, some biotechnologies reduce water consumption and land space compared with traditional extraction methods offering infinite possibilities and preserving biodiversity without depleting nature,” says Ulrich Katusevanako, Head of New Product Development and Scientific Communication, early adopters of green science.
To put it simply, biotechnologies are potentially the continuity and the future of innovation within natural beauty and at Orveda, the key ingredients within their formulas are carefully screened for impact on the environment and on society.
The other benefit is that it also guarantees a perfect consistency of active purity and potency without having to worry about the kinds of quality issues that often occur with natural extractions, which can vary from harvest to harvest.
Biotechnology is a limitless science able to use a multitude of processes to transform ingredients into augmented, bio-compatible and sustainable actives.
NEW LAUNCH
From hard-working new ingredients to streamlining your skincare routine, 2023 has brought us countless intriguing skincare trends - and Orveda promises even more with the launch of their Omnipotent Concentrate, their most powerful serum to date which repairs, protects and nourishes skin in one single formula. The serum focuses on three axes of youth extension, the past, present and future of skin health and works by delaying the development of senescent cells, known as zombie cells, that are damaged, yet refuse to die.
The Omnipotent Concentrate is composed of 16 actives, 10 of which are biotech-derived and at an exclusive Orveda concentration of 24%, making this the most powerful serum Orveda scientists have ever created. Able to act on all skin components and skin types it extends skin’s healthy youthful look. Put to the test, the results are beyond impressive, clinically proven and confirmed by consumer studies.
Launching 15th September.
I rate the following from the Orveda range:
One of the most important steps in my skincare routine, re-sets the skin and allows it to easily absorb the products I put on top. This balm is gentle but effective and the texture is perfect for a face massage with my fingertips.
An excellent multi-tasking essence-toner that combats dull skin and makes my skin look more plump and less tired.
Boosts skin metabolism and helps the skin to hydrate with bio-fermented Adenosine and Hyaluronic acid to smooth the skin and lock in moisture.
Recreates the skin’s superficial barrier in the eye contour and also contains actives that participate to lash and hair conditioning.
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Lisa Oxenham is a trailblazing beauty editor, journalist, stylist, and creative director with over 20 years of transformative impact in the beauty industry. As the Beauty and Style Director at Marie Claire UK, she orchestrates high-profile shoots with celebrities and influencers, creating visually stunning and globally resonant content.
A passionate advocate for sustainability, Lisa serves on the Advisory Board for the British Beauty Council's Sustainable Beauty Coalition and the Media Advisory Board. She is also an ambassador for the Soil Association certification and the Amazon Research Institute. Through her "In The Loop" column, she keeps readers informed about the latest advancements in sustainable beauty and supports brands that champion environmental causes, emphasising the need for the beauty industry to reset its priorities.
Lisa's influence extends beyond words; she directs inspiring short films on sustainability and challenges in the beauty industry and is a sought-after public speaker. Recently recognised in the Who’s Who in Natural Beauty 2023, she also champions mental health and eco-conscious practices, demonstrating that glamour and environmental responsibility can coexist beautifully.
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