While working on twindly, we’ve met a lot of fascinating people from the beauty industry. What’s better, after all, than sitting around a table and chatting about beauty? We’d love to do that with all of you reading this! But alas, because that’s quite impossible, we’ve started this interview series in which we’ll ask insiders like MUAs, small business founders and influencers how they perceive beauty and ask them to share their best tips and tricks with us all. So, grab a chair and a coffee and come and join us!
Seattle native Rebekah Warren is a true cosmopolitan – after working in IT in Seattle, London, Paris, San Francisco and Berlin at various global tech companies for 15 years, she’s now living in the ‘campo’ (countryside) in between Malaga and Marbella on a ‘finca’ or Spanish country house.
Inspired by the lush landscape, gorgeous natural resources and baffled by the lack of Spanish organic cosmetics, she decided to try her hand at creating her own organic skincare line, Andaluz, in June 2014. All of the ingredients come from Spain, mainly Andalucia or ‘Andaluz’ as the locals call it. The budding line has moisturizing calendula oils, skin tonics, essential oils, candles and exfoliates.
twindly: When did you get really into beauty?
Rebekah: I’ve always been a big consumer of skincare products. I love them! The more indulgent, the better. Bath oils, foot soaks, body scrubs, oil-based moisturizers and clean, simple fragrances with citrus notes are some of my favorites. I have sensitive, dry skin, so I have to be careful about what I use. Also, I think you naturally start having high standards after trying many products, you know what’s out there, what’s good. That standard is definitely reflected in Andaluz – I’m a stickler for quality.
twindly: What inspired you to build Andaluz?
Rebekah: I was immediately taken with the stunning natural environment here in Andalusia. Olive, lemon, orange and avocado trees grow prolifically. Wild sage, oregano and rosemary thrive in the surrounding hills. The Mediterranean coastline runs along the Sierras, a mountain range an hour inland with a microclimate all to its own, where among other things, spectacular almond trees flourish. In spite of this abundance of natural ingredients for organic beauty products, I was surprised to find very few from Spain. The majority are coming southern France, even though Andalusia has a similar climate.
twindly: Tell us a bit about your own skincare line, Andaluz – how did it all start?
Rebekah: While doing volunteer dog-walking at a local animal rescue, I met a woman who makes ‘calendula’ or marigold oil. She and her friends have an olive orchard where they grow and harvest three different types of olives by hand and all completely organic – no pesticides or herbicides are ever used. The also grow marigold flowers in between the trees with the same organic standards. After the olives are cold- pressed, they put the marigold flowers in the oil in glass containers for one month in the sun. Then organic essential oils are added for different uses.
They were just making the oils for friends and family. I tried it and was blown away by the quality. I was convinced others would agree that the oils are superb. I launched Andaluz in June of 2014 with a motto of: 100% Organic, 100% Spanish, 100% Beautiful. The feedback from the initial market trial was very positive so we grew the line and included 100% organic therapeutic grade essential oils from Spain. The plants are grown, harvested and distilled within close proximity and steam-distilled with water. No corn alcohol is used in distillation which is important for those with corn allergies.
What I wasn’t expecting was the healing effects of the products. Clients who were suffering, sometimes for years, with skin complaints were now finding relief. This took Andaluz to a whole new level for me and I knew I had to continue with it. We now have four body oils, eight essential oils, artisan oil diffusers, skin tonics, exfoliates, candles and new products coming soon!
twindly: Would you share with us how you create a skincare product?
Rebekah: There’s a lot of research, and trial and error, but something normally inspires a product first. For example, the Jardin Andaluz Citrus Spray was inspired by the hot summer days here. I use citrus essential oils for their refreshing, uplifting qualities and spike lavender to soothe skin irritated by the sun and heat. The Luna Relaxing Spray was inspired from the sweltering evenings when it’s so hot you can’t sleep. It’s also made with spike lavender and is instantly relaxing and cooling. Clients also use it for meditation and yoga.
They were so popular, that I decided to create calendula body oils with the same scents. We recently launched Jardin Andaluz Moisturizing Oil and Luna Moisturizing Oil. Both have had great feedback.
twindly: What are your plans for the future?
Rebekah: My dream is to go deeper into the supply chain to help local, independent organic producers and artisans by buying their ingredients or selling their products. By making Andaluz an umbrella that they can distribute under, they could reach more customers and do what they love full-time. Plus have a greater, positive impact on the environment!
I plan to launch an online store early next year and sell at more spas and yoga centres. Right now, most of our sales are word-of-mouth, at markets and private parties. I’ve also partnered with Cudeca, the only hospice in Spain. We are planning a monthly spa event for patients using Andaluz products.
twindly: What was the best beauty advice you’d forever live by?
Rebekah: Use sunscreen! I’ve been using facial moisturizers with a 15spf for years and I think it’s saved my skin. Especially now living in a hot, sunny climate I can see the damaging effects the sun has on skin – particularly in women.
twindly: What is your everyday beauty routine?
Rebekah: On my face, I use D’Shila Age Extreme 50+ spf. This stuff is wonderful – made with 100% organic, natural ingredients and great coverage. In the evening, I use either Luna Moisturizing Oil or Aurelia Cell Repair Night Oil and Weleda Wildrose eye cream. For the body, after the shower I also use Jardin Andaluz oil . I love the refreshing citrus scent and the calendula oil is deeply moisturizing and instantly absorbed. It leaves my skin moisturized and soft all day, even in the heat here. The calendula flower is said to not only have anti-bacterial qualities, but also it is anti-inflammatory and aids in collagen production.
twindly: Tell us some of your beauty holy grails – something you would never want to live without!
Rebekah: In the summer, it’s Puesta del Sol, the Andaluz insect repellent. Puesta del Sol means ‘Sunset’ in Spanish, and that’s when you want to put it on – before they bite! Aside from keeping the Mosquitos away, I love that it has a light, refreshing scent. Mosquitos like to bite me, so to have an effective repellent that smells fantastic and leaves my skin beautifully moisturized is a real boon. I’m also addicted to Andaluz Spike Lavender and Andaluz Spanish Lemon Essential Oils (Espliego, Limon). I carry them with me wherever I go. Spike Lavender is fantastic for insect bites, is an effective repellent and instantly relaxing. Spanish Lemon is so practical, I use it for everything. It’s a great disinfectant and has a wonderful uplifting scent. I use it on blisters, spots and small cuts. Great for cleaning too! Put a few drops in spray bottle with water and it’s a fantastic, safe all-purpose cleaner. Even cleans glass.
twindly: What does beauty mean to you?
Rebekah: Be good to yourself. Give your body the sleep, water, nutrition and exercise it needs. Forgive yourself and others quickly. Go after what you want and never give up. I think that glow shining through from good health and a happy spirit is so appealing and sexy, the essence of beauty.
Get it touch with Rebekah directly via iloveandaluz@gmail.com and get news about Andaluz on Andaluz’ facebook site. Andaluz website is at http://www.andaluzskincare.com/.
If you’re in Berlin, we’d love to see you at the
Andaluz & Twindly Party, Berlin July 15th, 7-9pm ETC Bar, Knaackstr 12!
In Spain:
Chispa Festival Arte Sano , San Pedro de Alcantara, Playa La Salida, July 25-26th, 11am-Midnight
Marbella Organic Fair, Fiesta del Otoño – Marbella Arboretum , Marbella, September 20, 10-5pm
1 Comment