Issue link: https://www.balharbourdigital.com/i/56249
Green with Envy With an increase in the demand for natural ingredients and organic practices, luxury skincare is turning a new leaf. BY LESA HANNAH W 192 BAL HARBOUR hen Tata Harper decided to make the switch from high-end synthetic skincare to all-natural, she couldn't find anything that matched the quality she was accustomed to. The eco alternatives she dabbled in also didn't offer much beyond basic benefits such as moisturizing. So in 2010, she launched her own 12-item, chemical-free luxury skincare collection, touting highly active, plant- based ingredients—a total upgrade from the shea butter and olive oil- based formulations from the health food stores of the past. In doing so, she joined a growing category in the eco-beauty sphere, answering the need of women like herself who want safe, but results-driven, prestige skincare. It's a combination that West Palm Beach-based facialist Tammy Fender can confirm her own clients are seeking. "They want to have what is healthy and natural, but they still want that luxurious element," says Fender, who also has her own namesake green line and runs a skincare center. "There is a beauty to the way each product looks, the way it smells, the way it performs—and I think that this is what the consumer is looking for." And it's even convincing those who once doubted the efficacy of naturals, as Harper can attest. "The thing that people understand is that you can get the same level of results from natural ingredients and it is by no means a compromise," she says. Knowing the challenges that are involved with creating green luxury products makes them that much more special. "I tell people all the time, when you do high-end and 100 percent natural formulations, everything is 100 times more difficult in every way," says Harper. "Not only in the formulation process, but we are also pushing the envelope all the time. You are constantly challenging your suppliers, all of the labs and more." To ensure the integrity of their exquisite and exclusive ingredients sourced from around the world—Harper also grows a portion of hers on her farm in Vermont—both brands use glass in all their packaging. And with increased education and awareness of non-toxic skincare, the demand continues to explode. Both Fender and Harper are available at Gee Beauty at Bal Harbour and Saks Fifth Avenue recently added Fender's line after customers started asking for healthier options. Meanwhile, Harper is in the process of building a 10,000-square-foot manufacturing facility to accommodate her business's growth. SOPHIE ROLLAND/THELICENSINGPROJECT.COM