Really natural skincare products: Invoke Natural Skincare

Invoke Natural Skincare

Read on for FREE Lavender Luxe Hand Polish until May 30th

With the current experience of some skincare companies mascarading as Natural or Organic, but being nothing more than a tarted up synthetic brand, we offer you another small scale natural skincare producer that live up to their promises. If you are looking for a brand that is affordable yet high quality, natural and suitable for the whole family, then Invoke Natural Skincare, is a good place to look. We caught up with Invoke Natural Skincare Founder and Director, Rebecca Kennedy, to find out a little more about her gorgeous products and the ideas behind her company.

GC:What inspired you to start Invoke Natural Skincare and how has the journey been for you?

RK: After having my first baby I became a lot more conscious of what I was using on her skin and was mortified to find out about many of the nasty chemicals in a lot of the well known commercial baby products. After developing a passion on the subject, I decided to start my own natural skincare range for face and body as well as the mums & bubs range. The rest as they say is history. It has certainly been a very big learning curve turning an idea into a business but I have enjoyed the journey and am looking forward to what the future holds.

In your opinion, can changing the way we look at any use skincare change the world?

Yes I think so. Knowledge is key and consumers are becoming more aware and conscious of making eco friendly decisions that also reflects their lifestyle. The trend is becoming more mainstream creating increased demand for natural based products such as skincare, which indicates the potential for further growth is eminent. If we can create a marketplace where natural products are more accessible and widely available then the shift to using natural skincare products every day will be easy. Can this change the world – well it can certainly help us to have a more positive impact on the environment and our own health.

You are very focused on providing different skincare ranges for different skins, how does this work?

We look at the characteristics that are common to different skin types such as oily, dry or combination and ensure that the key active ingredients such as essential oils or botanical extracts target problems commonly experienced by these skin types e.g. flaking, blemishes or excess oil etc and provide the best benefit to the overall health of the skin.

What do you think gives your products a unique edge?

Well apart from the fact our products are free of nasty ingredients and preservatives, they are made from pure quality natural ingredients, are tailored to suit individual skin types, have minimal impact on the environment, and totally affordable, they also look pretty nice on your bathroom shelf!

Do you have a favourite Invoke Natural Skincare product?

Well of course all of them but my most indulgent is the Lavender Luxe Hand Polish. I not only use it on my hands but also use it on my feet and I feel like I have been treated to a pedicure and manicure session in a day spa.

If you could have only three beauty products, what would they be and why?

Cleanser, toner and moisturiser because these three simple steps are all that is needed to keep your skin in tip top shape. Cleansing obviously reduces blemishes by removing bacteria and free radicals that builds up on the skin. Toning gives the skin clarity and moisturising adds back much needed moisture to keep the skin hydrated and help minimise signs of aging.

What are the best and worst parts of your job?

I just love seeing someone convert to natural products and it is great to see their expressions when they love the smell and feel of a product within my range, it gives me a real buzz.

The worst part is trying to compete against the big cosmetic houses. Many of the larger companies are ‘cashing in’ on the shift to natural and have added some natural ingredients to their existing preservative laden base products and just re-branded them as natural. It makes it very hard for truly natural skincare companies to compete.

Most people consider starting and running a small business a difficult undertaking, what keeps you going when things get tough?

You have to have a passion for what you do and believe in it, but most importantly you need to believe in yourself. Only you can drive the business to where you want it to go. You may have a great concept and fantastic resources but that doesn’t instantly covert to success. It is your own passion, belief and drive that will keep the business on the right path and help you ride out the troughs with the peaks.

Do you have any advice for those individuals wishing to start their own ethical business?

Research, network and plan. These all sound obvious but each one is imperative. Research your potential market place so you have an understanding of what you are putting yourself against and define your P’s e.g Price, place, position, etc. Networking is a great way to get constructive and impartial feedback on your products but it can also open up a world of opportunities such as supplier contacts, retail channels, etc. Lastly plan. In an ever changing retail environment you need to ensure your plan for the future reflects the changing landscape so you don’t get left behind or miss an opportunity.

The perfect day is different for everybody, how would you describe yours?

My perfect day is starting it with a skinny cappuccino and spending it with my beautiful girls and adorable husband.

Invoke are offering a very special offer of a Free Lavender Luxe Hand Polish to CleanLife subscribers

Until the end of May Invoke extends an exclusive offer to Clean Life Subscribers. Receive a free Lavender Luxe Hand Polish valued at $13.50 with every order over $50. To redeem, fill in “Clean Life” in the ‘How did you hear about us?’ box.

Visit www.invokenaturalskincare.com.au