Stancie Wilson
It seems Germany has always been ahead of us in terms of placing value on the natural and the pure. Its not a fad, phase or new concept for them its simply their way of life. So it comes as no surprise that some of the great organic skin care geniuses have come from Germany and I’m genuinely excited to introduce you to yet another.
Amala (ah-mah-la) translates to “most pure” in Sanskrit, “revered mother” in Tibetan and “love her” in Spanish. This exclusive collection is for those seeking an intersection of luxury and purity. Ute Leube, creator and founder behind this pampering brand knows her ingredients, inside and out, backwards, forwards, up and down and has strong convictions about what is “responsible skin care”. She and business partner, Kurt L. Nübling are some of the world’s experts in the cultivation of organic botanicals and have been for the past 20+ years. Up until now, they’ve been known for their extensive and popular organic essential oil line (and anti-aging skin care), Primavera Life; which can be found throughout Europe in most drugstores and health food markets and scarcely available online in the U.S. This past May, Amala made its world debut in Singapore with great success and is currently only available in America in select upscale spas and online.
While many high-end “organic” skin care brands deliver high-end packaging and strategically executed marketing the majority lack true ingredient integrity. Using high quality ingredients is great, yet once suspect (or downright toxic) ingredients are mixed in, the line’s reputation is tainted for me personally. This is where Amala sets itself apart. Although the line is certified by Eco Cert I was pleased to learn the line goes way beyond Eco Cert’s lax minimum criteria, containing 80-99% organic content in their products compared to Eco Cert’s 10% organic content minimum (are you kidding me…10% and you can call it “certified organic”?!?) Though no small feat, Amala insists on only using food grade, organic emulsifiers, which is quite rare to find even in an organic line.
This past month I had the pleasure of sampling a good portion of all three collections. While the Purify product descriptions resonated most with me (I’m sure it would be my humid-weather preference), it turns out my skin craves the two others this time of year. Purify is great for oily types and I’m still in awe at how effective their Mattifier is (I’ve found/used nothing like it before) and the Purifying Moisturizer is sure to banish oil slicks. Because my skin has seemingly turned from combo to dry overnight (thanks to the 30 and below temps), I amped up my hydration anty by alternating between a mixture of Hydrating Face Cream and Cocoa Treatment Oil or Rejuvenating Face Cream over Rejuvenating Serum (more like a gel than a serum). I’m also smitten with the Hydrating Eye Treatment as it makes tired eyes look bright and revitalized. The Detoxifying Body Polish is another of my faves as it works well to gently erase “bacne” overnight. They all emit fresh, pure aromas and feel beautiful on the skin.
Here is a concise overview of each of the lines:
Purify :: helps control excess oil and shine, clears pores while helping heal and prevent blemishes and blackheads.
Hydrate :: restores moisture to lackluster & dehyrated skin while soothing chapped or sensitive skin, smoothes dry and uneven types.
Rejuvenate :: helps firm sagging skin, smoothes the look of lines and wrinkles, addresses lack of elasticity.
THE GIVEAWAY:
One lucky person will win one Rejuvenating Travel Kit (a $152 value). This kit contains: 50 ml Rejuvenating Cleansing Milk, 50 ml Rejuvenating Toner, 30ml Rejuvenating Face Cream and 5ml Rejuvenating Collagen Mask all wrapped up in an organic cotton travel roll. Perfect to pamper yourself or give as a gift! *This kit is only available in select spa boutiques in the U.S. and not yet available online*
