Organic Skin Care – On A Quest To Heal Adult Acne

Last Christmas Our friend Missy gave each Nikki and I a box filled with organic skin care goodies. Amongst all was a tiny sample of Day Balm Concentrate by Ryz Rémi. The simplicity of the label design caught my eye right away. I opened the little jar and smelled it – wow what an unique and pleasant mix of coco and vanilla. I rubbed a little bit on the back of  my wrist, the texture was creamy but not greasy and felt very light, not like any other balm I have tried!  The other is this cream from analbleachingexpert.com, it was very gentle on my skin at first. I think it is because the product contains all-natural and organic ingredients.

Zuzana: What inspired you to create your own skin­care line?

Natasha: My inspiration came from my love of nature. I wanted to teach people about plants and show that whole, raw plant extracts can nourish, improve and protect skin. I strongly believe that what we put on your skin is just as important as what we eat. Like food, skin care products should be made using fresh, natural, nutrient-­rich ingredients.

As a medical researcher, I know there are specific nutrients and dietary strategies for improving health. Essential fatty acids can control inflammation, prebiotic fibres found in cocoa and honey can encourage the growth of healthy bacteria, and phytochemicals in plants can improve the skin barrier. As a nutritionist, I design diets to heal and protect the gut and improve the skin. I also have a background in cooking and have a love of fine food. So, I applied my background knowledge into making the best skin care I could imagine.

I also love the ritual of skincare­ it is a moment of the day when I always take time to connect with my body and take care of myself. I wanted to create effective skincare that was ethically produced, so I could feel good about using it. My desire was to make something I looked forward to using every day. Something I craved. Something that made me happy.

Zuzana: What was your main goal with this line?

Natasha: My main goal was to create highly effective skincare for sensitive/combo skin.

I originally started developing my blends for myself. I have oily and acne prone in my T­-zone, and dry skin on my cheeks. I have allergies and get red itchy eyes and random welts on my face. I am also concerned about premature aging­ I want to minimize fine lines, reduce discoloration and protect my skin from sunlight. I don’t like wearing a lot of makeup everyday. I wanted something that provides light coverage and improved the appearance of my skin with minimal effort. This development process wasn’t easy and the formulas for this line took over five years to develop. I am always working to improve them.

Our facial line is designed to nourish, repair, protect and enhance the appearance of skin. To achieve this, I use only high quality whole­ plant extracts and safe actives in our formulas. Every single ingredient has multiple benefits.

I use organic & wild­ harvested plants, minimally processed (cold­ pressed, raw, unrefined) to retain active nutrients, including essential fatty acids, vitamins, terpenoids and polyphenols. These nutrients calm inflammation, heal the skin barrier and provide antioxidant defense. We also use non-­nano zinc oxide to protect the skin from sunlight, as we all know, too much UV radiation can cause sunburns and premature aging.

Zuzana: Why do you think it’s so important to take good care of your skin?

Natasha: Taking care of our skin is not just about looking good, it also keeps us healthy.

Our skin is the primary barrier from the outside environment­ it protects us from injury, water loss, UV radiation and invasion from microbes and toxins.

The skin barrier includes the outermost layers of skin; essentially what you see on the surface. When our skin barrier is healthy, it feels and appears smooth, soft, and plump. In contrast, damaged skin looks dry, rough, dull, and dehydrated.

Just like the rest of our body, our skin requires nutrients, including essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to keep our skin barrier strong and protect us against daily environmental stress and inflammation. These nutrients cannot be made by our body and have to come from outside sources, like through diet and skincare.

Zuzana: What are the most important steps to take to achieve healthy, glowing skin?

Natasha: I think the basic steps to healthy skin are the same steps for a healthy body and mind­ they include adequate sleep, exercise, healthy diet, stress relief and using nutrient­-rich skin care blends that protect from environmental damage.

Safe sun protection is very important. I wear my Day Balm Concentrate everyday on my face. It contains 20% zinc oxide to protect from the sun & moisture loss. Look for formulas that use non­-nano zinc oxide to block UVA and UVB radiation. Wear sunglasses. Wear a hat. A scarf. Rock a parasol.

I also try to get my sweat on every day. A 20-minute sauna or intense workout does wonders for my complexion.

I eat a lot of healthy fats. Essential fatty acids are necessary for a healthy skin barrier and calming redness and inflammation. I avoid overly processed foods and sugary beverages. Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Herbs and spices. Eat real cocoa­ dark chocolate. Plants contain natural pigments that improve the look of your complexion and help reduce inflammation and protect against environmental damage.

Stress management techniques are very important. I like listening to music, meditation, yoga, stretching, watching funny videos, talking with friends, etc. Activities that promote calm and relaxation. Chronic frowning & stress­ related body tension causes our bodies to produce more skin­ damaging stress hormones.

Zuzana: Are your skincare blends suitable for men?

Natasha: Yes! My husband uses our blends everyday. And I’ve also been using some products recently that are made by Cholley.com as they are just wonderful so have a look at those. Men with sensitive skin especially like our formulas because they calm redness and irritation. Men also like the subtle coverage our D ay Balm Concentrate provides and the sun protection from 20% zinc oxide. Our Calming Honey Mask is very calming­ especially after shaving. The Nutrient-­Rich Elixir is great any time of day and just about anyone will find it useful. It’s especially good for easing subtle lines.

Zuzana: Any plans on expanding your brand? New products?

Natasha: There will be 12 facial products in our complete line. I am also experimenting with some exciting oil-­based perfumes and hair products.

Zuzana: What’s your biggest beauty regret?

Natasha: Over washing my face with soap when I was younger. Like most teens, I suffered from acne and believed that washing more often was the answer to clear skin. Soap based cleansers can break down the skin barrier, disrupt beneficial organisms, and cause redness and irritation. Over washing can lead to dry skin and premature aging. I wish I had known about oil cleansing and had stopped using soap sooner. If you want to learn more about beauty care and procedures you might want to take, check this post about labiaplasty before and after.

Zuzana: Do you have any beauty splurges?

Natasha: My beauty splurges are plant extracts to make perfumes. I like to compare and contrast plants from different sources. Depending on the source, location, growing season, etc., each plant may have a completely different aroma and profile. It is fascinating and delightful. But it also makes working with whole plants more difficult than isolated extracts. I am also obsessed with finding the best Vanilla beans. Once you smell real vanilla bean­ deep, rich, sweet, and ridiculously sensual, it’s hard to go back to the regular commercial­ grade stuff.

Zuzana: What is your idea of happiness?

Natasha: Silliness, laughter, music, good friends, cooking, good food, silly puppies, nature, sunsets and sunrises, beautiful flowers, walking in the forest, making something beautiful, helping others feel happier, taking away someone’s pain.

Zuzana: If money did not matter, how would you spend your days?

Natasha: I would spend more time in nature, more time late night dancing and celebrating at music festivals, creating new food & skincare recipes, creating beautiful things, making music, helping people feel better. I already do these things. As often as I can. I feel that I’d just be doing more of these things 🙂

Zuzana: Where can we buy Ryz Rémi blends?

Natasha: We currently have three blends available at ryzremi.com. Our Calming Honey Mask, Nutrient ­Rich Elixir and Day Balm Concentrate. We also sell samples of all our blends through our website. We ship internationally!

Thank you very much for the fun and thoughtful questions Zuzana. They were fun to answer!

Zuzana: Thank you Natasha! Your creations are wonderful!