Veteran makeup artist Kirsten Kjaer Weis believes that we should not be compromising on luxury if we choose to use natural and organic beauty products, and we could not agree more. After years of research and development, Kajer Weis was created and today we catch up with Kirsten to discuss chemical free makeup which is not only healthy and great for our skin, but also looks glamorous and sleek too. What inspired you to want to create an organic make-up range? I worked as a makeup artist for over 20 years and was constantly seeing skin issues from working with conventional brands. I found it wrong that it was considered normal, because it is not normal. Besides that, I had always dreamed of having my own business. This was a natural progression into a green makeup line since a holistic lifestyle has always been a passion of mine. The products are very luxurious & beautifully packaged. Was this key to your vision for the brand? Yes, the key was to take out all compromises out of the product. It has always been the stigma that green products would have to compromise performance, design, and a luxurious feel. The idea was to have equal emphasis on a clean ingredients list, performance, and design. Was it a difficult process to get the range organically certified? It took a very long time because the CCPB in Italy (that’s where our products are produced) are extremely strict so it took us several years to get the formulations certified. Now being on the other side, it’s great because it is a stamp of approval for high quality. Is it more challenging to work with organic ingredients? Yes it is definitely more challenging. It’s like being in the wine industry; every harvest is slightly different from the last. Because of that it will have an effect on the final outcome so we constantly have to adjust when we create new bulks. It is very time consuming and the closest you will get to a handmade piece, which makes the product so special. What are the key benefits people can expect from using your range? It really has two purposes in one. It has the ingredients that you pay a lot of money for in skincare. So as you apply the makeup it has the nourishing benefits of skincare along with the coverage of high performance make up. Can you pick 3 key products that are universally flattering? Radiance Highlighter, Cream Blush, and a Lip Tint. Do you have a top ‘make-up’ tip? Apply your blush on the apples of the cheeks for a youthful flush compared to applying underneath the cheekbones. It gives an instant glow as if you’re just coming back from vacation. What do you do in your down time to relax? I try to spend time in peace and quiet where computers and phones are turned off. As much as I love New York, I feel that it is great for my overall health and well being to be in nature as much as I can on the weekend. What has been the highlight of your career so far? Being able to create a product that we get so much amazing response from women around the world is a definite highlight.Making a difference for these women is profoundly gratifying.From the product perspective, it was so wonderful to see the product come together from both our manufacturer in Italy and packaging designer Marc Atlan. It is even better than I could have ever imagined. I am so grateful. Shop here for: Kjaer Weis Do you have a favourite Kjaer Weis product? Let us know on Twitter @Naturisimo_UK.
