GOING GLOBAL WITH TAILOR SKINCARE
Words by Jenna Houghton
Sarah Quilter was in California learning about horticulture and soil science when she threw out her cosmetics and decided to make her own.
The Oakura native had quit her job in Wellington and moved to the Golden State to work with a friend on a fertiliser start-up. The focus on organic production and exposure to natural processes inspired Sara to reassess her own habits and the cosmetics she used.
“It made me think about what’s going into products that we use on a daily basis. I wanted to avoid some of the common chemicals found in skincare. I decided to rid my life of these ingredients, threw my skin care range out and played around in my kitchen,” Sara says.
On her return to New Zealand, Sara set up a cake mixer in her father’s workshop and founded the Tailor skincare range.
Tailor uses natural ingredients and a scientific approach to target common skin concerns and optimise skin health.
It’s designed for younger women who are starting to invest in their skin and overall wellbeing. Consumers are growing more conscious of the formulation and efficacy of products, as well as the environmental impact they’re having. Sustainability is crucial to Sara. Tailor products like the Glowstick, come in biodegradable packaging, and ingredients are sourced from trusted local and international suppliers.
Tailor has been a force in New Zealand skincare for seven years now and although the cake mixer has gone, the focus has remained true.
“We’re founded on three core principles; natural ingredients, cruelty free production and environmentally conscious business decisions,” Sara says.
Tailor has scooped up consecutive beauty awards, it’s first in 2017 opened the door to national retail chain Farmers. Products, including bestsellers Oil Cleanse and Renew, can be found in Farmers department stores across the country, as well as select pharmacies and organic health stores. However, the online marketplace is where Tailor thrives. A partnership with Air New Zealand has opened new revenue streams via the Airpoints store, and their own website generates more sales from a database of over 100,000 subscribers and followers. It’s in part due to the social media campaigns that engage with customers, the ongoing education through blogs, and the openness and honesty people get with the Tailor brand and products.
It’s all made in New Zealand, manufactured in Christchurch and distributed from Wellington. Products undergo dermatological testing in Germany as well as stability, challenge and spot testing to ensure safety and effectiveness.
The next step is the global market. New Zealand fares well on the world stage, due to an exclusivity of natural, nutrient rich ingredients and our clean green image.
“New Zealand is small on the global scale. Our products are highly desirable in a lot of markets, so export is on the horizon,” Sara says.
“We’re playing with new branding for our products. A new logo is being tested right now and we’ll have a full packaging overhaul next year, it’s really exciting. We’ve also just launched a compostable refills trial. They sold out on the first day, so chances are these refills are here to stay!”
Oil, Water & Clay - Summer Skin Hydration
When hydrated our bodies function better - the same logic applies to the skin. Hydrated skin is the ideal skin state because it’s better equiped to eliminate toxins.
Hot weather and sweat cause dehydration by flushing water out of the skin. Luckily your skin increases its own line of defence over summer. During the warmer months your skin’s oil production increases, and provides a protective barrier helping to reduce Trans-Epidermal Water Loss or Dehydration.
However heavy sunscreens and makeup can often mix with this additional oil production and sweat, causing blocked pores. Combine these two factors with warm temperatures and you have the recipe for propionibacterium acnes - often resulting in blemishes. As a consequence we tend to reach for a foaming cleanser to break down this excess oil and to give our skin that squeaky clean cleanse. The Squeaky clean feel is a sign that your skin is stripped of it’s protective oily layer (the one keeping your skin hydrated).
I recommend using a layered skincare approach to clear hydrated skin this summer.
Cleanse with Oil - If you apply a clean nutritions oil to dry skin it’ll help to melt your make up and cut the greasy sunscreens. It works because clean oil absorbs dirty oil. Tailor Oil Cleanse is the ideal candidate - pair this with Tailor Towel for effortless make up removal.
Clear with Clay - bentonite clay is highly absorbent and electrically charged helping to clear the pores. Incorporate a bentonite clay mask like Tailor Polish into your skincare routine after cleansing and use daily as a spot treatment.
Reach for a hydrating gel - water based gels can add lost hydration back into the skin. Tailor Hydrate contains vitamin b5 and coconut glycerin - two effective naturally derived skin hydrating agents. Apply a pump of Hydrate to the skin daily after cleansing to boost your skin’s water levels. The result? Plumper more glowy skin this summer.
Check out the full range of products at: tailorskin.co