A Leeds businesswoman tells Jo Haywood how a visit to Malawi got under her skin
When it comes to skincare, one woman knows more about it than any other: Mother Nature.Her store cupboard of natural ingredients, from mango butter and rose oil to jojoba and orange blossom, all have a powerful nourishing effect on our skin. An effect that Leeds businesswoman Althea Giscombe saw at first hand while staying in a remote African village in Malawi.‘The people were just beautiful, naturally beautiful,’ she said. ‘They proved to me how effective incorporating plant-based ingredients can be, sparking an idea for my own range when I came home to Yorkshire.’She has now launched Thea, a natural, organic skincare range for mothers, babies and toddlers using carefully sourced ethno-botanical ingredients, making it ideal for even the most sensitive skin.All her products are paraben and sulphate-free, have pH-balanced formulas, are scented with mild essential oils and are chock-full of healthy nutrients for delicate skin such as kokum butter, orange blossom and jojoba.Thea’s new Mama Moro Mother & Baby Complete Skin Care Kit pulls together all Althea’s favourites from her range, including a gentle wash with organic lavender; a soothing lotion with aloe juice and sweet almond oil; a relaxing massage oil with avocado and rosemary; and a beauty butter with organic calendula.‘Pregnancy and early motherhood are probably the most traumatic things any woman’s skin has to go through, so it’s crucial to use the right products,’ she said. ‘Because my range contains pure, nutrient-rich, plant-based, active ingredients, successfully tried and tested by indigenous communities for centuries, they can dramatically improve the texture and appearance of anyone’s skin.‘Ethno-botanical ingredients are revolutionary in the western world,and I’m delighted I’m able to introduce them to people. I’ve worked in the cosmetic industry for many years and nothing I’ve seen has yielded such amazing results as these ingredients.’
When it comes to skincare, one woman knows more about it than any other: Mother Nature.
Her store cupboard of natural ingredients, from mango butter and rose oil to jojoba and orange blossom, all have a powerful nourishing effect on our skin. An effect that Leeds businesswoman Althea Giscombe saw at first hand while staying in a remote African village in Malawi.
‘The people were just beautiful, naturally beautiful,’ she said. ‘They proved to me how effective incorporating plant-based ingredients can be, sparking an idea for my own range when I came home to Yorkshire.’
She has now launched Thea, a natural, organic skincare range for mothers, babies and toddlers using carefully sourced ethno-botanical ingredients, making it ideal for even the most sensitive skin.
All her products are paraben and sulphate-free, have pH-balanced formulas, are scented with mild essential oils and are chock-full of healthy nutrients for delicate skin such as kokum butter, orange blossom and jojoba.
Thea’s new Mama Moro Mother & Baby Complete Skin Care Kit pulls together all Althea’s favourites from her range, including a gentle wash with organic lavender; a soothing lotion with aloe juice and sweet almond oil; a relaxing massage oil with avocado and rosemary; and a beauty butter with organic calendula.
‘Pregnancy and early motherhood are probably the most traumatic things any woman’s skin has to go through, so it’s crucial to use the right products,’ she said. ‘Because my range contains pure, nutrient-rich, plant-based, active ingredients, successfully tried and tested by indigenous communities for centuries, they can dramatically improve the texture and appearance of anyone’s skin.
‘Ethno-botanical ingredients are revolutionary in the western world,and I’m delighted I’m able to introduce them to people. I’ve worked in the cosmetic industry for many years and nothing I’ve seen has yielded such amazing results as these ingredients.’
The print version of this article appeared in the December 2011 issue of Yorkshire Life
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