My journey into the world of beauty and skincare, began back in 2016 when I co-founded Terrabotanica Organics- it was nothing short of magical! It all started when I stumbled upon a charming apothecary-like boutique when I first visited Stockholm. This quaint little shop was the home of Botany for All, a renowned botanical oil skincare brand in the Nordics.
As destiny would have it, We soon found ourselves involved in distributing their exquisite cold-pressed botanical oils, powders, and hydrosols to the beauty enthusiasts of South Africa. That’s when my skin experienced a revelation – a revelation that made it clear that there was no turning back. It was a moment of realizing the difference between authentic, quality skincare and the misleading allure of many marketed commercial and well known brands.
Conscious consumerism is taking over- and we are all here for it! By how do we bypass the “greenwashing”, false advertising claims and overly endorsed trends? By getting back to basics.
Navigating through the skincare hunger games
You see, the beauty industry often lures us with the promise of natural ingredients, but in reality, they mix a few drops of those precious ingredients with low-cost fillers, diluting the true potential of these natural treasures.
My journey to the Nordics brought about a myriad of skincare challenges and for a lack of a better analogy, felt like a real-life version of Game of thrones. I had ventured past the “Wall” and winter had most definitely arrived. The weather, in particular, posed quite a test, but what truly baffled me was the need to dive into a whole new realm of brands and adapt to a different approach to skincare.
The beauty industry seemed to be evolving at lightning speed, leaving me, an enthusiastic but humble amateur, feeling quite overwhelmed. With an abundance of new information, celebrity-endorsed brands, targeted ads, and daily contradictory updates on our trusted favorites, it became a daunting task to make informed choices. I’d even invested in expensive skincare therapists, only to find that the initial excitement often faded after a few months.
The undeniable truth in skincare is that once you’ve experienced the benefits of real quality compositions, you never want to turn back. As a discerning consumer, you swiftly learn to decode product labels, cut through marketing gimmicks, and discern which ingredients to avoid. The difference becomes evident as you start to feel the side effects of certain chemicals compared to the natural ingredients that are inherently geared towards repair, healing, and protection.
Acknowledging that marketing wields a significant influence in this fiercely competitive industry, you may wonder where the true hero products hide and how they can shine amid the cacophony of this multi-billion dollar industry. Keeping up with the ever-evolving beauty and skincare scene has become a Herculean task in itself. But rest assured, there’s a more informed and conscientious way to navigate this complex landscape, and we’re here to guide you through it.
The Future of Skincare: Welcome Education and Transparency
In my quest for better skincare routines, I had the pleasure of crossing paths with Sabina from Know to Glow. Living in Stockholm, I quickly realized that my skin was facing its own battle, coping with the dramatic shifts of the four distinct seasons and the ever-changing, often unpredictable weather and of course other biological factors such as hormones, the aging process, food intolerances, travel-induced stress, and more, which all take a toll on our skin.
This is where I discovered a remarkably different approach to skincare. I decided it was time to break free from the whirlwind of consumption and marketing chaos and get back to the fundamentals, the scientific basics. I personally geek out on anything that guides me and educates me as a consumer. My skincare journey had often felt like it was draining my bank account more than it was providing me with effective and reasonably priced solutions ( and results). The truth is, some of the most expensive skincare products I’ve invested in didn’t necessarily deliver the best results. It made me wonder, were we really paying for the brands, the packaging, and the marketing, or were we getting what we truly needed: the highest quality ingredients?
So, let me introduce you to our skincare wizard, Sabina, from Know to Glow in Stockholm. She’s our mad scientist on a mission to bring the spotlight back to science-backed, ingredient-driven skincare, ensuring you get the quality you deserve, without the hefty price tags and marketing fluff.
“A scientist at heart, whether it be in a lab or at a rave, I always had an inquisitive mind with follow up questions to everything.
I studied Biomedical science with a focus on genetic mutations on skin cells caused by the sun. This led me to the world of sunscreen and all things skincare related. Quickly I realised that what I was taught vs. Skincare marketing were two completely different things…
Know to Glow started almost 10 years ago as an educational platform where I would post skincare facts, research articles and anything that simplified the skincare space. I realised that people had the same misconceptions and questions about skincare. I was (and still am) regularly asked questions like “What’s my skin type? What are natural products? What’s your opinion on Botox? Do you know this brand? What does this ingredient do?” etc…
THE KNOW TO GLOW PLATFORM
“On this platform people could get in touch with me and I would create tailored skincare routines matching their lifestyle and skin needs. Due to the high demand I eventually decided to open the online skincare store I have today – knowtoglow.com.
My goal has always been to simplify skincare for my clients, bringing them well made formulas with an affordable price tag and an environmentally friendly product supply chain. Equally, I provide the skincare brands I represent exposure, many of these companies are finding it harder to stay visible in the oversaturated market we have today.
In the last few years the beauty space has amped up its product choice, new brands are popping up daily and its never been harder for a person to find an effective routine, that doesn’t break the bank or damage the skin barrier! “.
Q: Sono Sana – What’s happening in the Skincare industry today?
Know to Glow : “What really grinds my gears is that skincare brands are using marketing terms like “simplicity”, “be yourself” , “love your imperfections” all while bombarding the customer with 17 product options. I hate this approach because as a consumer you are overwhelmed with choice, most often you don’t make a purchase and you are left feeling confused, dumb and out of the loop.
My favourite aspect of Know to Glow is writing skincare routines for individuals where I explain the product choices I’ve made and how each individual incorporates them into their lifestyle. Seeing the joy of someone having learned something about their skin, is really the fire that keeps me going on this skincare crusade”.
Q: Sono Sana: Give us your Ultimate Skincare tip:
Know to Glow: Find a sunscreen (minimum of SPF30) you love and wear it every day, all year around. Sunscreen formulation has come a long way in the last 20 years and are no longer thick white pastes.Sunscreen protects the skin from cell stress that can cause pigmentation, fine lines, pimples, basically any stress response that will make a person run out and buy a product claiming to “solve the problem”. By using a sunscreen you stop the problem at its core and in the long run your skin health will be better and you will save a ton of cash.
Knowledge is power and thats what will make Brands stand out.
There are so many magnificent brands entering the market that are created from a place of so much passion, integrity and value. I would love to use this space and platform to highlight and bring forth their stories! Do you you of a brand that you wish more people could know about? A brand that truly embodies their story? Please leave in the comments below!
Thank you for reading and being on this journey with me,
With love,
Vie xoxox
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