Facial oils are something I use within my own professional and personal practices to help elevate the senses, whilst conditioning, nurturing and re-balancing the skin.
The thought of using a facial oil that has been specifically blended with a selection of essential oils that address a number of skin concerns and conditions typically associated with a specific season, really intrigued me.
The Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn oil blends are designed to match your skincare to the seasons. Allowing your skin the opportunity to re-adjust and re-balance, leading to a healthy, luminous complexion.
Amongst these transitioning facial oils, Kirstie has also created a select range of products that are based on delivering a holistic approach that can be used to really help shift your mood depending upon how you want to feel.
Kirstie is so passionate about her business concept, it was clear to see from the answers she gave me regarding her inspirations and influences....
What were your inspirations and influences for introducing such an innovative yet simple concept to the skincare world?
All of my inspiration comes from nature.
ebo is all about simplicity and nature.
Simple daily routines that are easy to stick with, so that you see visible results in your skin health.
I started to notice regular, annual, skin patterns recurring in my own skin health.
In the Summer I would notice an increase in heat, redness and blocked pores (from using spf). In the Winter problems with irritation, as I would spend more time indoors with the central heating on. Autumn, is maybe the hardest transitional period, real problems with hydration, dry itchy patches and looking for a product that would prevent skin from drying out like all the leaves turning brown on the trees!
I have always found that our body systems respond very quickly when we strip everything back to be in sync with nature
I think the most widely relatable example of this is diet. We all naturally crave different foods through the year. It is not a conscious decision, it is a built in survival mechanism. The body is very clever and the body does not lie. Our bodies tell us what we need, when we need it - more heating spices and warm foods in winter versus salads in the Summer for example.
If we listen to our bodies and look for signs of dis-ease, this is the body trying to show us specifically how it is not functioning at its optimum
I then went back to nature and set about formulating seasonal skincare solutions. Taking intelligent plant ingredients that would naturally work with our own body systems, to keep skin in balance through the seasons whilst battling changing external (weather) changes.
That does make it sound really simple doesn't it! Often the best solutions are.
I think as humans we have managed to over-complicated lots of areas of living and skincare is definitely one of them.
How do you ensure sustainability regarding the manufacturing process of your skincare products?
I want ebo to have a positive impact at each stage of production.
We employ small independent makers (all certified and insured) and pay them a good wage.
I also make a point of planning ahead as much as possible in production so that we can offer real flexibility to makers who are often trying to juggle looking after children, and need to allow for unexpected down time.
I know that they appreciate this and they all reciprocate by being flexible back if we do have a rush order to get out.
Our fulfilment pick and pack centre is a small family set-up on what was an old Welsh farm.
I did not want to use a huge city based delivery centre, possibly paying bad wages and not providing great terms for employees. I searched really hard to find this company who have diversified to be abe to stay on the family farm and build a viable business as farming became tough in Wales.
Our Packaging Promise
All of our packaging is plastic free.
We use dissolvable corn starch packing peanuts, biodegradable bubble wrap, paper tape, even our ribbon that comes with the Babyface and face cloth is "newlife" 100% re-cycled plastic.
All of this costs more than the mass produced platic alternatives and as I am determined to keep ebo an affordable brand, we swallow most of these costs in our profit margins rather than pass them to the customer by increasing our prices.
ebo uses no outer packaging - referring customers to our website ebobeauty.com for detailed ingredients and user/application tips.
We also sell in generous volumes rather than smaller sizes which require more regular re-purchase. Our Supersized 500ml Everyday Detox Body Oil lasts 6 months when used daily as advised, and our 30ml Season Size Face oils last 3 months (the whole season).
Responsibly Sourced Ingredients
We buy responsibly sourced ingredients and are constantly checking in on the sustainable status of oils - which does change.
There is currently a real concern around frankincense production and projections shown that availability will be halved in 20 years
These changes are caused by increased human population pressure on Boswellia woodlands through cattle grazing, frequent burns and reckless TAPPING - (extraction of resin from the bark) so we are currently widening our supply net to source more sustainable procedures for this particular ingredient which is such an important component of the ebo Summer Facial Oil.
Moving Forward
We are not perfect. I would love to be able to use ocean reclaimed plastic for our bottle necks and pumps for example, but currently the minimum order quantity for these is 20k units. We are not big enough to afford buying this quantity of packaging upfront so have to go with the standard which is Pet.
It is frustrating because the technology is there, but until the global beauty companies make a stand and change their packaging demands, these eco solutions will remain 'specialist' rather than mainstream. It is the planet that suffers.
I have toyed with channelling Erin Brockovich and accusing the global beauty companies of crimes against the planet for not making these eco solutions available to all. In fact, we are about to start offering just screw lids to the Everyday Detox Body Oils so that customers have a choice to re-use their pump. Every little helps and I actually do feel excited by the recent massive raise in levels of awareness and demand for green and clean beauty.
Biomimicry plays a vital part to how your products are created. Could you explain what this terminology means and how it positively impacts the world we live in?
Biomimicry is increasingly impacting the world we live in as designers, architects and engineers are taking cues from nature when they set out to create buildings, trains, prosthetics, robots and in formulating ebo products, I take inspiration from plants.
Mother nature has perfected the biomechanics of everything from tiny leaf cells to whale fins over millennia, adapting their functions to be as efficient and effective as possible for each particular set of circumstances and environments.
Our environment changes significantly with the seasons - hence the need for changing nutrients, vitamins and protection in our skincare
One example is Baobab Seed Oil. This is an essential ingredient of our Autumn Face Oil.
Autumn is a time when the environment sucks the moisture out of nature. Think about crisp autumn leaves. This can translate to our skin needs too.
Baobab Oil
I came across the amazing baobab trees on a trip to Africa. The Baobab is known as one of the largest succulents in the world, and is an iconic part of its native African landscape. It’s a tree that can thrive for thousands of years — even in the harshest, driest environments.
Local people were all using the oil on their skin. I bought some home and began testing it in formulations
Baobab oil is generally known for its regenerative abilities, because the tree itself can live healthily for thousands of years, due to its antioxidants, ample amounts of vitamin A, B, and C, along with omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids. It also contains magnesium, potassium, and calcium. All incredible skin ingredients.
It is an essential ingredient to the ebo Autumn Face Oil for all of these reasons. Skin loves it and as the seed oil comes from the fruit pod that drops off of the tree, it is a sustainable ingredient too, we are not interfering with the physiology or life cycle of the tree to obtain this oil.
How do you decide which essential oils are included in each seasonal facial oil?
Each flower extract or base plant oil is included for a specific seasonal skin health reason, like the baobab in Autumn I spoke about.
Again, always taking the lead from nature the Spring Facial Oil needed to be a regenerating and uplifting beauty blend to restore and refresh skin - revealing natural lumity.
One of the most ‘surprising’ ingredients to many is Peppermint Essential Oil.
Yet for me it was such an obvious choice for the Spring Oil.
Peppermint is packed with Vitamin C (the beauty industries current hero ingredient) and Vitamin E, Omega-3 fatty acids, iron, magnesium, and calcium - all essential for spring skin recovery
Peppermint also helps to nourish dull skin and improve texture of tired skin by absorbing excess oils.
As a total wellbeing brand, ebo formulates on both a physiological (skin benenfits) level and an emotional level - to capture and reflect the wellness glow.
Spring is a time of renewal, we need a surge of energy to emerge from the darker, more interior days, as flowers surge to bloom, we must do too!
In her seminal book ‘The Fragrant Mind’ Valerie Ann Worwood studies the affects of aromatherapy on the personality, mind, mood and emotion.
She characterises Peppermint (Mentha Piperita) as: Clarifying, Awakening and Stimulating, useful in counteracting the negative attributes of Sluggishness and Lethargy.
Peppermint is an easily identifiable, high note, energizing oil. Subtle hints of mint blended into our Spring formulation offer a gentle clearing, uplifting and energizing aroma naturally released and inhaled during the facial massage application.
I use different ‘Base’ oils in our seasonal blends too.
Macademia (nut oil) in our Spring blend delivers linoleic acid to help retain moisture,
Whilst Carrot Tissue boasts incredibly high levels of Beta -Carotene (a great boost after shorter darker days and a protector again photosensitive reactions).
What would be your recommendations on how to incorporate your seasonal facial oils into an existing skincare routine?
Currently there is a trend for layering skincare; applying various acids, serums, and vitamins separately.
If you are someone who likes to apply in layers, the simplest instruction is to layer product from "thin to thick". So you would apply ebo Facial Oil after really thin hyaluronics and vitamin c but before a thicker cream.
If you prefer to keep your skincare routine simpler, ebo facial oils are already formulated to contain a good balanced blend of vitamins and minerals
Face Oil is applied to clean skin in the morning and at night.
5 drops are all you need to start self-regulating sebum production as nature intended. There can be up to a week of transition when you start using ebo efo so don't be tempted to use more than five drops, even if your skin feels tight.
Warm 5 drops of oil between your palms and massage in upward circular strokes to your face, neck and decolletage breathing in its grounding scent.
ebo Babyface is the perfect daily cleanser to clean and prepare your skin before applying ebo essential facial oil.
Facial Oils & Massage
One of the reasons I love Facial Oils is that they encourage some easy facial massage in daily application.
Just a two minute daily face massage when applying your oil will bring oxygenated blood to the surface, improve tone, drainage and will visibly lift and plump your skin, diminishing the appearance of lines very quickly
Our Spring Face Oil contains, vitamin C (a current beauty industry hero ingredient!) This is due to its Peppermint content and linoleic acid from the Macademia nut oil for example.
What would be your ultimate approach to maintaining a healthy lifestyle?
Everything in balance and stay in sync with nature.
I'm not a fan of extreme diets or fitness programmes.
I believe for healthy gut flora you need to eat a wide variety of un-processed seasonal foods.
Keep refined sugars, alcohol and caffeine limited and eat much less meat, so that when you do buy meat you know here it has come from and how the animals were raised to feed you.
Stay active in body and mind
I'm a big believer in developing healthy daily routines for happiness - the ebo Brand Mantra is:
Routine ~ Repetition ~ Reward
I think this applies to so many areas of life, not just skincare.
Wake up early to fit in a walk, meditation or yoga before the day takes over
Eat at regular intervals to avoid sugar spikes
Don't work too hard - take time for mental health awareness too
Remember life is meant to be fun
Have Courage and Be Kind is my resolution every year!
@thevitalityretreat
Kirstie has also set up The Vitality Retreat, a 5 night luxury detox, wellbeing and yoga retreat in the South-West of France, which includes ebo treatments. It provides an opportunity to learn about creating healthy habits and adding them in to your daily life back home for long lasting wellbeing results.
About Kirstie ~ Founder of ebo beauty
Kirstie has worked in the beauty and wellbeing industry for 25 years. She co-founded the natural skincare range 'Balance Me', launching in TopShop’s Oxford Circus, London flagship, and John Lewis stores across the UK.
She founded ebo when she moved to SW France and couldn’t find an all-natural cleanser that was strong enough to unlock the adhesive factor in SPFs but gentle enough on skin to soothe inflammation and moisturise. The result was ebo’s bestselling babyface bar, packed with heavyweight skincare ingredients but kind enough to be used on newborns.
Kirstie’s been treating Hollywood A-listers, professional athletes, stressed-out mums, and busy professionals for over 20 years with her legendary aromatherapy and holistic treatments. Early on, her clients started asking for bespoke seasonal beauty oil blends, coming back for more when they saw the results.
She set up The Vitality Retreat in 2005 because she couldn’t find a retreat out there that ticked all the boxes to recommend to her clients and industry colleagues.
Kirstie is currently also Director of Training for the cult brand 'Legology' and works as a consultant for various beauty and wellbeing brands.
Below is a non-affiliated link where you can purchase the Spring Facial Oil for £19 instead of £24 https://ebobeauty.com/discount/LINDSAY?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fessential-autumn-seasonal-facial-oil%3Fvariant%3D1511557267479
Instagram @ebo_beauty
Some Imagery has been provided by Kirstie for use on this feature
