She’s so Cult: Tata Harper

The eighties - with its love of all things artificial and dismissal of anything seemingly 'wholesome' - laid the foundations of suspicion towards anything that seemed a bit too natural, particularly when it came to beauty. If it wasn't born in a lab, we weren't interested -product lines based on the absence of synthetic ingredients tended to be a bit 'hessian'.

Roll on 20+ years of research, add a few impassioned individuals concerned about the hyper-toxic lives we lead today, add a splash of against-the-grain entrepreneurship and you find some properly grown-up alternatives to synthetic chemical-based skin care. {Tata Harper} is one of these industry game-changers - pioneering the power of plants to create cutting-edge (efficacious!) skin care that's acquiring legions of devotees. Leading the growing farm-to-face movement, Tata - undisputed 'Queen of Green' - spoke to Cult Beauty's Co-Founder Alexia about her brand, her inspirations and her guilty pleasures...

{Tata Harper} The skin is an organ that absorbs much of what is put on it, and the vast majority of synthetic ingredients in everyday skin care products haven't been tested for health or long-term safety, and I'm not interested in taking the risk. That's a big part of the inspiration behind my line: creating compromise-free skin care, for women who don't want to choose between health and beauty.

Another big reason is that synthetic ingredients and fragrances can really irritate the skin and body. A lot of people experience allergies, breakouts and sensitivity that they may take for granted but is often caused by harsh chemical ingredients. Natural ingredients are bio-compatible with the skin in a way that synthetic ingredients aren't - they cooperate with the skin, nourish it and help it glow with health. With a totally natural regimen, the skin has a luminosity that is really unique.

Lastly - 100% natural skin care is better for you! The ingredients are trustworthy, and literally feed the skin with natural vitamins, minerals, nutrients, antioxidants. Synthetic chemical ingredients come from laboratories and are often derived from coal tar and petroleum, as opposed to flowers grown in a field.

{TH} The {Rejuvenating Serum}! This is our all-time best-seller, and our global anti-ager. It's a triple collagen treatment that supports healthy skin and fights signs of ageing on all levels, by improving elasticity and reducing the look of existing fine lines and wrinkles, while helping to prevent further ones from forming with muscle-relaxing technology. It's the perfect product to start using at the beginning of your 30s, when anti-ageing becomes an actual concern. Plus it's super bio-compatible, so it just sinks right in and leaves a matte finish - great under make up.

{TH} I would always advise those eager to 'clean up' their beauty ritual to steer clear of the following wherever possible...

- synthetic fragrance: a term that masks a list of hundreds of fragrance chemicals that have been untested for safety. I definitely don't trust products with the word 'fragrance' on the label.

- parabens: a group of compounds used as preservatives in all sorts of personal care products, from moisturisers to make up, which have been linked to cancer (read more on that {here}).

- phthalates (banned in Europe!): chemicals that disrupt our endocrine and nervous systems; they're especially dangerous because of their ability to accumulate in the body. Look for labels with words like 'dibutyl phthalate'.

- synthetic dyes or colours: listed as 'D&C' or 'FD&C'. These are usually derived from coal tar, which is totally unnatural and has been linked to cancer in scientific studies.

- petrolatum: another word for petroleum, and a common ingredient in moisturising products because it forms a layer on the skin that traps in moisture, but its safety hasn't been tested and it has questionable origins. I would avoid that one too.

{TH} I think it's essential for people to start using preventative anti-ageing skin care as early as possible, to keep skin strong, healthy and resilient for longer. In your {20s}, deep cleansing and moisture-balancing are essential. In your {30s}, start incorporating treatments that support collagen production and deep hydration.

In your {40s and above}, use products that continue to support collagen production, elasticity, resilience and deep hydration, and be sure to use them on your neck and chest as well. Avoid frequent, regular use of intense synthetic chemical peels as these strip the skin of strength and can weaken the skin long-term. Plus, use more targeted treatments for your specific concerns, whether it's loss of shape, lack of volume or hyper-pigmentation.

{TH} That would definitely be bio-compatible hyaluronic acid. HA is a substance that's naturally produced in our skin, in the deepest layer of our dermis; it holds up to 1000x its own weight in water and is what keeps skin looking 'plump' and hydrated.

As we age, our skin's natural production of HA starts to slow down, as everything starts to dry up and weaken. Supporting that natural HA production with super low-molecular weight HA works wonders for maintaining youthful 'bounce', tone and dewiness. We source our HA from the Czech Republic, where we've found the only 100% natural and vegetarian version of this ingredient in the world. It's extremely expensive and super-high quality, and is found throughout our range of {age-defying} products.

{TH} I must admit to having regular highlights... I love a bit of blonde to lift my hair and create light and shade.

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