Wellbeing Journal
USING OUR EXCLUSIVE BIO-INTRINSIC™ METHOD TO CRAFT UNIQUE SKIN CARE
At Jurlique, we take a slightly spiritual and holistic approach to creating our skin care products. It all starts on our biodynamic* farm in South Australia’s Adelaide Hills – a place chosen as the purest place on Earth thanks to its unpolluted air and optimum climate. It’s an approach to farming that uses the sun, moon, stars and planets to bring about balance and healing, treating the farm as a living organism – one that’s self-contained and self-sustainable. Through biodynamic farming, we can sustainably produce healthy, powerful plants that harness, activate and enhance the energy of Nature; we then extract this using our exclusive Bio-Intrinsic™ method. These extracts allow us to utilise the power of these plant in our products and, we believe, create the best possible formulations for your skin. 0:00 WHAT IS OUR BIO-INTRINSIC™ METHOD? Our exclusive Bio-Intrinsic™ method is an alchemistic process that involves three stages, where all the powerful ingredients from plants and herbs are extracted and the essence and life force of the plant is captured. This method is a modern interpretation of the ancient ‘Spagyric’ process thought to have been originally invented by the Renaissance Physician and Alchemist Paracelsus in the 15th century. ‘Spagyric’ derives from the Greek words 'spao' and 'ageiro', roughly translating to ‘separate’ and ‘combine’. Sometimes called plant alchemy, this process involves separating the three basic principles of a plant (essential oils, organic liquid extract and mineral salts), then reuniting them to create a form more potent than the original plant. Within alchemy this was considered a more spiritual and holistic way of creating plant-based medicines, with the belief that the plant’s essential oils are the plant’s soul, the percolated liquid is the plant’s mind and the mineral salts are the plant’s body. Jurlique co-founder Jurgen Klein took these principles and through taking advantage of modern science and equipment, modified it to create a method unique to Jurlique. It’s a process that’s been a part of Jurlique since we began in 1985 and we continue to use it today. THE THREE-STEP BIO-INTRINSIC™ PROCESS This isn’t a quick fix, done in a large laboratory. It can take up to a week for a plant to go through the three steps of Bio-Intrinsic™ extraction and the whole process is all done by hand by just two people at our Farm. Step 1: Purification The first stage of the process is Purification, which involves steam distillation - steaming our dried herbs to gently lift and release their delicate essential oils, nutrients and liquids. Step 2: Intensification This stage involves percolation (the process of a liquid slowly passing through a filter). The wet herb and condensate from the distillation are combined with a liquid solvent mixture, which is then circulated through the herb bed for a period of one to two days. Out comes a percolated liquid made up of the plants’ compounds. Step 3: Ashing The final stage of the extraction involves drying the plant material used in step two and burning it to an ash to capture their bare trace minerals and salts that are so important in our products. We then mix the raw ash with water and natural citric acid heated to 80°C and stir it for an hour to allow the water to absorb the minerals and salts. We pass it through a very fine filter and out comes a clear liquid we call ash extract. The extracts from all three steps are then combined. THE BENEFITS OF THE BIO-INTRINSIC™ METHOD At Jurlique, we believe that the whole plant is always greater than the sum of its parts. Through the Bio-Intrinsic™ method, all parts of the plant (mind, body and soul) are reunited, and the active ingredients and antioxidants are delivered to the skin. These extracts create a final product of magnified intensity, powerful enough to enhance the beauty and healthy look of the skin. *Certified biodynamic by the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Australia. Jurlique’s products and farm are not certified of affiliated with Demeter® USA or Demeter International.
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5 WAYS PLANTS CAN BOOST YOUR SKIN HEALTH
One of the best (and easiest) ways to liven up an interior is with the addition of plants. But it’s not just a positive aesthetic effect that plants have – they’ve been proven to boost our mood, promote positivity and, it turns out, being surrounded by all that lush greenery is good for the skin, too (after all, there’s a reason why many skin care products are packed with botanicals). Here are five ways that plants can help you to maintain healthy, glowing skin. INDOOR PLANTS HYDRATE SKINIndoor plants increase the moisture in the air, which means they help to combat dry, thirsty skin and reduce symptoms like flakiness (especially helpful in winter, when the contrast between the cold air and indoor heating can quickly dry out skin). The best indoor plants for this are those with large canopies that require lots of water to survive, such as Peace Lily and Ivy. Two plants next to chair and table in white living room PLANTS PURIFY THE AIR – AND YOUR SKINHouseplants capture dust and particles from the air and can reduce the amount of pollution in the air. Thanks to their purifying qualities, plants also reduce our exposure to indoor toxins that can cause premature ageing, acne, dryness and dullness, as when our toxic burden is too big, the skin struggles to flush out toxins as quickly as it should. For the best air-purifying plants, go for the Snake Plant, Dracena or Fiddle Leaf Fig. ALOE VERA CAN SOOTHE AND MOISTURISE SKINAloe Vera has long been used for its soothing properties. That’s because it’s rich in vitamins A, C and E, making it a natural moisturiser – plus, it can also help protect the skin from free radicals. Keep an Aloe Vera plant at home and carefully crack open the leaves to scoop out the gel and apply it directly to the skin whenever you need it (bonus: this is a low-maintenance plant and only needs watering once every three weeks). Or for skin care that already harnesses the power of Aloe Vera, try our Moisture Replenishing Mask. Six succulents on table SOME HERBS CAN ENHANCE YOUR SKIN HEALTHHerbs aren’t just great for cooking – some may be full of skin-loving ingredients, too. Powerful herbs include Mint, which contains salicylic acid to clear pores, Sage, which is full of antioxidants to help clear congestion and mop up excess oil and Chamomile, an anti-inflammatory that can alleviate irritation caused by skin sensitivity. Try crushing up the fresh herbs and adding them to your bath or try our Chamomile-Rose Hydrating Essence. ROSE IS PACKED WITH BEAUTY BENEFITSRose is our signature botanical for a reason. It hydrates, soothes and tones the skin for a more radiant complexion, and rosewater can help to tone the skin while maintaining its pH and oil balance. Not just that, but Rose oil hydrates and rebalances skin, strengthens its natural barrier and helps protect it from environmental aggressors. Reap the benefits by having a Rose bush indoors or out, and enhance the results with rose-infused skin care products such as Rosewater Balancing Mist and Moisture Plus Rare Rose Serum. Plants: they’re pretty powerful. Fill your home with your favourites and use high-performing botanicals on your skin too. Shop our full range here.
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WHAT ARE BIODYNAMIC PREPARATIONS
At Jurlique we grow most of the botanical ingredients that we use in our skin care products on our biodynamic* farm in South Australia’s Adelaide Hills. We use healthy, powerful plants that are carefully chosen for their skin-benefitting properties, using biodynamic* practices which we believe enable us to grow the purest, best quality botanicals possible. We believe that by following biodynamic farming techniques, we’re harnessing all the positive, living energies from Nature, as well as farming in the most sustainable way possible. The plants and herbs we grow are nutritional for the skin, enriching for the soul and good for the planet. There’s a lot that goes into biodynamic* farming (read our guide to biodynamic farming here) and a lot of the work goes into biodynamic preparations. The preparations are placed in the farm environment to enrich the soil, encouraging the plants to be spiritually good for the body and have the highest vital life force energy when harvested. When Rudolph Steiner established biodynamic principles, he came up with nine ‘preparations’, which are made from herbs, mineral sources and animal manures. Turned into field sprays and compost, it is these preparations that aid fertilisation – rather than synthetic, chemical-driven fertilisers you’d typically find in conventional farming. These preparations are used on the farm to activate and enhance the energy of nature into the whole farming system. Earth, Atmosphere, Cosmos THE NINE BIODYNAMIC PREPARATIONSBiodynamic preparations are numbered 500-508 and are all used for different reasons. 500 and 501 are considered the most important for maintaining the health of the soil, whilst 502-506 are placed in the compost. When added to each compost row in a specific order, it encourages a balanced process and to addresses certain key elements for plant health. Prep 507 is sprinkled over the compost bringing warmth to the heap. 500 HORN MANUREHorn Manure 500 is the first to be used and usually applied twice a year. Fresh cow manure is buried in autumn and dug up in spring. It’s then mixed with water and sprayed to the base of the plants to feed the soil (think of it as a superfood). Use of this preparation encourages:• Healthy humus formation• Mineral retention and availability• Improved crumb structure• Beneficial soil microbes, including nitrogen fixers• Soil animal life, increase of earthworms• Improved absorption and retention of water• Fine, highly developed, robust root systems• Improved nutrient uptake 501 HORN SILICAHorn Silica 501 is the original biodynamic atmospheric spray and is made from ground up clear quartz crystal and buried in the ground over summer. Horn Silica aids photosynthesis and increases the quality of the final product, including its ripeness, sweetness, flavour, fragrance, shelf life and dry fibre content. Like 500, this prep is mixed with water to be sprayed over the crops and soil, using a stirring method that increases oxygenation and, we believe, draws cosmic influences into the water. Biodynamic farming 502 YARROWYarrow remedies weaknesses in flowering and fruiting and strengthens the plant against insect attack. The radiant energy of this preparation affects the whole of the compost, enabling it to enliven the soil. Yarrow also attracts a lot of good bug life to the farm, including ladybirds which eat the aphids off our Roses. 503 CHAMOMILEChamomile stimulates the calcium processes in relation to Sulphur. It also contains homeopathic Sulphur, which allows it to attract other substances. It keeps the plant healthy by warding off harmful effects of fruitification. When added to compost, a more stable nitrogen content develops, enlivening the soil and stimulating plant growth. 504 NETTLEThis preparation carries the influence of potassium, calcium, Sulphur and iron, in relation to activity in the soil, making the compost heap inwardly sensitive and receptive. It helps the soil develop an intelligence to accommodate the plants which are growing in it. 505 OAK BARKOak bark has a high calcium content. It acts as a mediator between the plant and the living Earth and stimulates calcium processes to prevent plant diseases. 506 DANDELIONDandelion contains silicic acid and draws in influences of the cosmos. The potassium – silica relationship in the dandelion is transferred to the compost. The dandelion prep gives the soil the ability to attract silica from the cosmos and sensitises the plant to its environment so that it can attract what it needs. 507 VALERIANValerian helps the compost to attract the force of phosphorous-activating bacteria within the soil. It is used for frost protection and to stimulate flowering. Like Yarrow, Valerian brings good bug life to our farm (it’s also great food for our bees). 508 HORSETAILHorsetail is a harmful weed in South Australia, so we used Casuarina as a replacement, which has been approved by Biodynamics Agriculture Australia. Mixed with water and turned into a spray, this helps strengthen the plants to fight fungal diseases and can clear mildew on fruit. To find out more about biodynamic* farming, read our guide here. And to see our farm and biodynamic preps in action, discover our farm tours in South Australia’s Adelaide Hills.*Certified biodynamic by the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Australia. Jurlique’s products and farm are not certified of affiliated with Demeter® USA or Demeter International.
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HOW TO DECORATE YOUR TABLE FOR AN AUSTRALIAN CHRISTMAS
If traditional Christmas images are anything to go by, this season is all about cold weather, mulled wine, roast dinners with all the trimmings and, if we’re lucky, a snowfall large enough for building a family of snowmen and women. But that couldn’t be further from an Australian Christmas, where hot weather and sunshine are the order of the day, so we asked Adelaide-based stylist and Fashion Editor of SA LIFE, Emma Riemersma, for her top Christmas table setting ideas – the Australian way. Bouquet of flowers next to candlesticks on dining table CREATE A TONAL PALETTEBefore you start, Emma recommends that you think about your colour palette for the table. “Establish and palette and be tonal or pick one bold colour to add amongst your white and neutrals. I’m inspired by fashion trends so if you want something contemporary, see what colours they’re using together in stores or magazines. If you’re unsure, walk through a homeware store that you find inspirational, or through a garden to see what colours you’re inspired by.“Here we’re going for a light palette so instead of going for everything white, make it tonal to add interest. When you make it tonal, you can use shades that complement each other without looking too ‘matchy’. Woman placing vase of flowers on dining table USE AUSTRALIAN NATIVE BOTANICALSHere at Jurlique, we love our botanicals. Not only do we believe in their powerful skin care benefits (which is why they form the basis of our products) but we’re firm believers that they bring a lot of joy and can boost your overall wellbeing (read our article on how plants can boost your skin health for more). For this table, Emma used botanicals growing on the Jurlique Farm, including Lavender, Yarrow and Black Elder, with a sprig of Holly in the place settings for a subtle Christmas feel.Emma recommends: “Use local foraged things or Australian native plants, especially for centre of the table and place settings, to support local growers and be more sustainable. If you’re unsure, go to your local market and chat with the stall holders to get their advice on what to pick.“For Christmas, it depends what palette you’re going for, but I love native flowers – King Proteas are really stunning and dynamic. If you want that Christmas feel without being overtly Christmassy, add a touch of Holly in either a small vase or on a place setting.” Woman touching place setting of holly and lavender wrapped in linen napkin CHOOSE TABLE SETTINGS THAT MEAN SOMETHING TO YOUFor this table setting, Emma used her grandmother’s silverware, as well as crockery that reminded her of times spent travelling through Spain and Portugal. “Christmas can be a lot of work, so make it as lovely and enjoyable as possible. Don’t style your table a certain way or use pieces because you think you should, do it because it means something to you and because you like it.”Feeling extra festive? Read our DIY guide to creating a Christmas wreath using Australian botanicals.
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HOW AUSTRALIAN BRANDS ARE LEADING THE WAY WITH SUSTAINABLE, ECO-FRIENDLY BEAUTY PRODUCTS
Perhaps it’s the ‘Greta Thunberg effect’, or first-hand experiences of the effects of climate change, but collectively, we’re more conscious of our impact on the environment than ever before – most notably seen in the 7.6 million people around the globe who protested for climate action at the now-famous climate strikes during September 2019. At Jurlique, sustainability has always been at the heart of we do – it’s part of the reason we have a biodynamic* farm to grow our botanicals and we’re striving to make changes wherever possible to reduce our environmental impact. It’s not just us, either. We’re inspired by fellow Australian brands who are leading the way and flying the flag for sustainable beauty – ensuring that we don’t just look after ourselves, but we look after the planet too. That’s why beauty brand IMBIBE, which produces bio-fermented and bio-active health supplements (think collagen powders and multi-strain probiotics designed to improve skin health) continues to be a source of inspiration for us. Here’s how we’re both working towards more sustainable practices. INGREDIENTSAt Jurlique, we grow most of our botanicals on our biodynamic* farm in South Australia. We believe biodynamic* farming practices help us to grow the purest, best quality herbs we can which are hand harvested at a time when they’re full of life and vitality. These herbs are then utilised to make extracts that form the basis of Jurlique products, meaning you get the best from each ingredient we use. And it’s not just your skin. We believe by following biodynamic* farming techniques, we’re harnessing all the positive, living energies from Nature, as well as farming in the most sustainable way possible (find out more about our sustainable farming practices here). As for IMBIBE, the brand doesn’t use any fillers, fake flavourings or ingredients that they can’t pronounce, ensuring that they know what we are consuming into our bodies. RECYCLABLE PACKAGINGSince 2016, we’ve changed the packaging materials of our best-selling hand creams from aluminium to plastic tubes, which has led to an approximately 28% lower impact on our environment. We are also actively looking into ways to reduce the amount of material we use and increase the use of recyclable skin care packaging in order to reduce our carbon footprint. In partnership with global recycling pioneers Terracycle, we encourage our customers to recycle their empty Jurlique products via post or in our Jurlique standalone boutiques across Australia. All empty Jurlique packaging including pump bottles of Rosewater Balancing Mist, droppers and sachet foil wrappings can be recycled! Since initiating this program, we have collected 22,000 units (or 0.5 tonnes) of packaging. IMBIBE has been offering products such as its Miracle Collagen and Beauty Renewal Probiotic Supplement in glass jars and is soon moving onto fully certified compostable packaging. They are also reducing waste and plastic, meaning there will no longer be a scoop included in the Collagen Jars, nor a measuring cup with the Beauty Renewal. And if you find yourself in the Byron Bay area, you can pop into the IMBIBE warehouse anytime with your existing container for a refill to reduce packaging consumption even further. THE CARBON CYCLEWe care for our planet. Our goal is to analyse and reduce our environmental impact through the whole supply chain. We have moved the majority of our shipment from air-freight to sea-freight, which offers significant emissions savings. Since 2015, this freight management initiative has enabled us to reduce approximately 20% of emissions from transport. At IMBIBE, the brand uses 100% compostable and biodegradable packing for shipping all online orders. If you do receive a parcel from IMBIBE that contains soft plastics, it’s from goods they have received and re-used. Additionally, they send their orders using a carbon neutral courier service. We may still be far away from saving the planet and there’s a lot more we can do, but we’re committed to improving our sustainability practices and championing the other eco-friendly beauty brands that are doing the same. We hope that you, as a consumer, take action and support sustainable beauty and skin care products with us.
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MEET ADRIANA PICKER, THE BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATOR
This Lunar New Year, you may see a bit of a difference in two of our most-loved products: Activating Water Essence and Rose Body Oil. While the same nourishing and hydrating formulas are on the inside, the outside has been taken over by hand-drawn botanicals. Red and gold illustrations weave across the bottles, as well as the cartons that contain them, making these limited editions extra special.Australian botanicals – Gum Blossom and Wattle – are blended with traditional Chinese flowers of Peach Blossom, Peonies and Orchid, which represent prosperity and growth, richness and peace, and abundance, respectively. It’s a rich and multilayered design you could get lost in, revealing something new every time you look at it. Bottles of illustrated Activating Water Essence and Rose Body Oil on top of illustrated botanicals The woman behind these unique illustrations is Adriana Picker, the Australian artist whose lifelong love of botanicals comes through in every stem she draws, every petal she shapes and every stroke her paintbrush makes.With an upbringing in NSW’s Blue Mountains and the Hunter Valley, Adriana has been surrounded by nature and botanicals since her early childhood – something which is evident in her illustrative style (which she describes as “lush, detailed, densely saturated, romantic”).It’s a source of inspiration that continues to grow, too. After heading to Sydney for university, she now lives on the other side of the world in New York and while that may not be the first place that conjures up images of flowers and nature, Adriana still manages to seek them out.In lieu of the coast, or her family’s garden back in the Hunter, she often spends her spare time in the New York Botanical Garden, which she describes visiting whilst donning bright dresses and a bucket hat – a stark contrast to the other visitors who, at twice her age, tend to be dressed head-to-toe in that dark New Yorker uniform.You only need to take a quick look at her past work (she counts Vogue, Gourmet Traveller and T2 amongst her clients – and she can now add Jurlique to that roster) to see that botanicals have played a huge influence in her career as an artist. On top of her work with Vogue and the like, Adriana has illustrated three books: The Garden of Earthly Delights, Where the Wildflowers Grow, and The Cocktail Garden which she cites as a career highlight - “it’s entirely thrilling to stumble across your name on the front cover of a book in a place you’ve never visited before!” Adriana Picker laughing in rose garden She has also dipped her nib into the film world, illustrating costumes for high-profile productions such as The Great Gatsby, Mad Max: Fury Road and Hacksaw Ridge. But despite her success and name-dropping credentials, Adriana is relaxed, friendly and down to earth. She’s not precious about her work but really enjoys watching how the brands she partners with interpret her illustrations, and in her own words she loves “nerding out” over botanicals (she’s currently enrolled on a course to expand on her knowledge).Aside from nature, her sources of inspiration extend to other creative women that surround her. “Their career achievements further my ambition and their support pushes me forward. I am lucky enough to count within my close circle such talented women as designer Silvana Azzi Heras, photographer Nikki To, producer Rachel Fung, CEO and founder Meggie Palmer and many more!”Between juggling clients, drawing and “nerding out”, it’s safe to say Adriana Picker is a busy woman - but she still manages to find ways to unwind in her every day. “At the moment I ride a citi bike to and from work in Dumbo. The path there is along the east river and takes me through some lovely parkland by the water. In the evening the glorious sun sets over Manhattan and I am reminded of living by the water in Sydney. I also really enjoy a nap.”A woman after our own heart.Discover more of Adriana Picker’s work on her website and shop our Lunar New Year 2020 Rose Body Oil Limited Edition and Activating Water Essence Limited Edition to take a piece of her work home.
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AN INTERVIEW WITH PAULA JOYE
From journalist to editor of some of Australia's largest magazines, to content creator and founder of her own lifestyle website - The Joye - Paula Joye has racked up an impressive résumé. And with a career that spans more than 25 years, it's safe to say that Paula knows a thing or two about beauty and looking after one's skin. We sat down to find out what goes into her successful career, her top skin care advice and what natural beauty means to her.What does a day in the life of Paula Joye look like?There is nothing very typical about my days. How they play out comes down to the jigsaw of three key elements: family, work and the weather. However…in a perfect world: I’m up and out the door for a run by 6.30am. I love to exercise, it’s really important for my mental health as well as my body. It’s also my music time. If you see me running you just may also see me dancing in the street. Literally.Post workout, it's coffee (I make my own – this is a new thing – but I love saving $10 a day!) and then a shower. I take a product called ArmaForce (brilliant for immunity), powdered magnesium and collagen every day.My beauty routine is very simple. I use a serum – my current favourite is Jurlique Nutri-Define Supreme Rejuvenating Serum, which is action-packed with antioxidants, a great way to start any day. I mix a shimmer highlighter in with my sunscreen and a little foundation, one coat of mascara, lip balm and I’m out the door.Then truly anything could happen. I could be MCing an event, styling a shoot, in a shoot, creating video, filming a television segment, at the supermarket, picking a child up from school, interviewing a celebrity, walking the dog, washing the clothes, flying to Paris…it’s the mix of my life that makes things so interesting.In the evening I like to be with my family. My favourite people. Eating, reading, sleeping – home is my haven. At night, I always, always, always take my makeup off and clean my skin with a gentle cleanser, then it’s a delicious hydration moisturiser like Nutri-Define Supreme Restorative Rich Cream. A couple of nights a week, I use nothing at all because I think it’s important to keep the skin regulated with natural oils. Paula Joye applying Jurlique Nutri-Define Supreme Eye Contour Balm You’re a busy woman and wear lots of different hats. How do you find balance in your life? Do you have a go-to activity for winding down?I don’t believe in balance. I think the notion places too much pressure on women. Just like happiness. Balance and joy should come as a by-product of living a life full of ups and downs.But when I need to relax I play the piano and sing. Magnesium salts in a very hot bath. Yoga. Red wine. Reality TV. And I take a huge amount of comfort from baking. Making a cake is like Sudoku. Methodical, rhythmical, mathematical – deeply satisfying.What have you learnt (good and bad) about beauty/skin care throughout your adult life?My mother was definitely ahead of her time when it came to sun protection. She never put her skin in the sun, and I have much to thank her for. She also taught me that simple was best when it comes to makeup and skin care. To be respectful of your genetics and let the body do its job.I guess the biggest change has been in the ingredients I look for when choosing products. Ageing skin needs more than just hydration, so I’ve gravitated toward brands that deliver noticeable results.I’ve learnt that not every product will suit everyone. I don’t do well with glycolic or vitamin C. You need to be honest about what works for your skin and stay in that lane. Too much shopping around and you’ll never reach your skin goals.I’ve learned to be consistent. Take off my makeup before bed. Everyday. Wear sunscreen. Everyday. Those two acts are fundamental to good skin.I also have fallen in love with face rollers. They are great for puffiness and bringing that critical blood flow to the skin. I keep mine in the fridge. And roll away while I read the newspaper and have my cup of coffee. Essential on long haul flights.What does natural beauty mean to you?Unworked hair, clear polished skin, shiny eyes. Well-worn denim jeans, white linen shirts, Jurlique Rose Body Oil, sunshine, salt water on your skin; flowers in a vase, a fresh mango…natural beauty is about making good choices, simplifying and being content with the hand you’ve drawn.What do you wish you’d learnt/ been told about the importance of using good skin care many years ago?The French are brilliant at teaching young women to care for their skin from a young age. Watch mothers and daughters on the streets of Paris and they're always talking. Skin care is cultural and handed down from generation to generation. It’s so smart because the earlier good habits are formed the better. The big thing I wish I’d known from a young age is that your face stops at the top of your boobs. And don’t forget the back of your hands. You must look after ALL of your skin. Paula Joye wearing black swimsuit and gold necklace next to wall At Jurlique we believe in pairing our customers with both a moisturiser and a serum to obtain optimal results. There can be some stigmas around what exactly a serum is, how do you use a serum, do you even need a serum? Based on your extensive experience as an Editor and Blogger, can you share some words with us around your thoughts on including a serum in your beauty/ skin care regime?I measure the health of my skin by how I look with no makeup in the morning light. The three things that help it stand up to this harsh test are hydration, sleep and an active serum. As you get older an active serum goes a long way in improving texture, tone and radiance.Made up of smaller molecules than a moisturiser or oil, serums penetrate the skin with a high concentration of active ingredients which target specific concerns like fine lines, hydration and pigmentation.Don’t confuse your favourite moisturiser with a serum. For optimum skin health you need regular application of each. Although both are great hydrators the key difference between the products is texture. Moisturisers are richer and work as barriers to keep hydration in and pollution out. While serums treat on a deeper level working actively rather than just protecting.What's your stand out product from the Jurlique Nutri-Define Supreme range and why?For women who really care about natural ingredients and prefer botanical skin solutions the Jurlique Nutri-Define Supreme range is truly world class. The hero, Spilanthes Flower Extract which has been scientifically proven to increase skin’s collagen production, combines with antioxidants to minimise loss of elasticity, uneven skin tone and wrinkles. The result is brighter more even skin with improved texture and tone.My favourites: Nutri-Define Supreme Rejuvenating Serum because it’s so damn effective and I love the Nutri-Define Supreme Eye Contour Balm for an indulgent but non-irritating eye cream.Care to share a beauty/skin care hack with us?Apply perfume to your pulse points - don’t spray it all over you like room freshener. It’s the base of the neck, base of the throat, inner elbow, behind the knees and then your circulatory system will do the rest.Discover more from Paula on her website, The Joye, or follow her on Instagram here.
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MEET PAM CHERRY, OUR BIODYNAMIC GURU
At Jurlique, we’ve been planting, growing and harvesting our botanicals on our certified biodynamic* farm in South Australia’s Adelaide Hills since 1985. It’s all done by hand – from the biodynamic* preparations, to the weeding, planting and harvesting, right through to the Bio-Intrinsic™ process that creates the powerful extracts that go into our products. We may be biased but the people at our farm are nothing short of incredible. It’s a small, close-knit group working together to care for our land, following our biodynamic* practices and ensuring that the botanicals that make it into our products are the best they can possibly be. One individual that works on our farm (and has done since 2005) is Pam Cherry, somewhat of a superwoman to us at Jurlique. To give her one title would do her a disservice as she seems to be involved in most aspects of our farm – from beekeeping and biodynamic* preparations, to Bio-Intrinsic™ processes and looking after our Spilanthes and polyhouses. We sat down with Pam to find out more. What does an average week on the Jurlique Farm look like to you? My week varies throughout winter, summer and spring. In January we’ll be thinking about what we need to plant in Autumn. We normally get a schedule for the year that might say we don’t need Viola Tricolors, or we need a tonne of something else. Then I plan when to start seeding and I’ll start collecting seeds the following spring. And then there’s always ashing [part of the Bio-Intrinsic™ process]. I’ll ash perhaps two or three batches in a week. I wash it, dry it, burn it, ash it and then try and turn it around in a week. I wash them in the washing machine – just on a rinse spin - and then it goes on the drying racks to be dried. Depending on the herb it can take 2-3 days or 4-5 days. Once dried, it goes into the combustion stove and gets burnt, then onto the stovetop where it’s ashed, which breaks down all the particles. I’m literally with a pan, stirring it over a stove with a spatula. Ashing can take all day sometimes, or two days. I also do propagation [growing new plants from a variety of sources: seeds, cuttings, and other plant parts]. We’ll plant a lot of the cool weather plants in Autumn such as Viola Tricolor, Bellis and Chamomile – they’ll go in the ground probably April. We’ve got to have them in a decent size as the farm crew will be preparing beds and getting them ready for planting. How many of you will plant the seeds? There’s a team of about three. They could plant two rows in a session, depending on how they come. If they get them in little pots, they’ve got to take them out, soak them in sea salt, plant them and then pour sea salt over them and plant it, so that’s a good session. It normally takes two and a half hours to do two rows, they work really quickly. You’re our go-to for all things biodynamic* (in fact, you’re a bit of a guru). Can you tell us what goes into biodynamic* farming? When we make up our compost, we always put in biodynamic* preps. Those preps go from 502 to 507 - we put in Chamomile, Yarrow, Oak Bark, Nettle, Dandelion and Valerian is sprinkled over the top of the compost. I make little balls that are made up from various parts of the property – clay, soil, compost. You put a hole in the centre of the ball and then you put a tiny amount of the prep in, close it up and those balls are put in a particular order into the compost. They go into the ground for six months, in either summer or winter, before we dig them up. And then there are the biodynamic* sprays - Horn Manure (prep 500) and Horn Silica (prep 501) – which we do over summer. They’re the two preps we do twice a year to keep our biodynamic* status - you can’t do it if the ground is dry though, so you have to pick the right time. The 500 is sprayed into the ground and the silica is for the atmosphere, it attracts light and warmth. Whatever’s out there is radiated into the farm, it helps strengthen the plants. What other biodynamic* practices do you follow on the farm? I’m constantly doing checks to see what’s being eaten by mites or aphids. In that instance we’d determine how much of a threat it is, whether it’s going to ruin anything – for example, aphids on a Rose can damage the petals. Biodynamically you don’t want to react too hard but manage it gently. You don’t eradicate everything in organic and biodynamic* farming, rather you control, and you accept that there’s always going to be something out there. You’ve got to have the good and the bad, if it’s a perfect farm that means they’ve heavily bombed it with nasty stuff. Hopefully we get good numbers of good bugs, which the farm attracts – ladybirds, lacewings and hover flies – and they’ll come in and eat the aphids. Do you notice a difference in the plants when they’re grown biodynamically? I think the plants are better, they’re usually stronger. Some tests have been done with Calendula or Chamomile where we had organic farming, general farming, biodynamics*. They tested the flowers from all those different ways of growing them and the biodynamic* way was much more potent, our plant specialist proved that. In biodynamics*, everything is centred on working the soil, and as long as you’ve got everything working down there, whatever you plant will get the benefit. It's safe to say Pam’s a busy woman but she wouldn’t have it any other way. In fact, she says the thing she loves about her job most is “being at the farm. It’s like being home in your own garden, I like to potter. It’s not work to me. How does she keep track of it all? It’s all in her head, she says. See – superwoman. *Certified biodynamic by the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Australia. Jurlique’s products and farm are not certified of affiliated with Demeter® USA or Demeter International.
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ADRIANA PICKER’S CREATIVE PROCESS
Illustrator Adriana Picker is no stranger to Jurlique. She first took her beautiful botanical illustrations and splashed them over our Activating Water Essence and Rose Body Oil Limited Editions for Lunar New Year 2020 and now she’s back, applying her signature style to this year’s Mother’s Day Gift Set, Jurlique Rose Luxe Edition Hand Cream and Rosewater Balancing Mist Intense Deluxe EditionUsing the Jurlique Rose and native Australian botanicals as inspiration, Adriana has used her hand-drawn, free-flowing style to create original, exclusive packaging that are artworks in themselves. We sat down her to find out more about her creative process, and what went into creating these illustrations.Why did you choose the path of becoming an artist?I don’t think in the end it was something I chose; it was something that I fell into organically - a direction I was pushed along and decided to follow. After High School I studied Design with the intention of starting a career in the film industry as a designer. Whilst completing my degree I sought work in film and found work as a Costume Illustrator on films like The Great Gatsby and Mad Max: Fury Road.Doing this work that relied on my more natural talents as an Illustrator rather than my learned design skills made me realised where my true passions lay, that I could potentially make a living as an Illustrator and that it was something I wanted to pursue. I am very lucky to have a family that places great value on creativity. Adriana Picker wearing red and white stiped dress in flower garden How would you describe your illustrative style?Lush, detailed, densely saturated, romantic.What is your most important artistic tool and why?Very unromantically it is my iPad! I draw everything on it now and it comes absolutely everywhere with me. On a plane, a park, the beach! It is utterly freeing.What is it about botanicals that inspires you the most?The unending and incredible variations created by the greatest muse: Nature.How do you think art and creativity makes the world a better place?What is more important than beauty to the human soul? It is a balm and a refuge. It is my great aim in life to make everything around me beautiful in one way or another - purposefully curated or spontaneously enjoyed, just like discoveries in Nature.What process did you follow to get started on the Jurlique artwork?The first thing I did after receiving the brief was go into my Mother's garden and take an enormous amount of reference photos. I happened to be in Australia at the time of starting the work so the ability to do this - interacting with the actual plants themselves - was crucial to the success of the artwork. The heart of the Jurlique brand focuses on the unusual, less seen view of botanicals, so I was able to seek my own unique perspective of the Rose to use as reference. Adriana Picker wearing red and white stripe dress in flower garden What do you love the most about the work you’ve created for Jurlique?I love that it has such a strong connection to my family, that it literally is drawings of plants from my Mother’s garden. Little memories of her. I love the Rose mist artwork in particular as it focuses not on the blooms but more on the leaves and buds and hips. It highlights that the beauty of a Rose comes not only from its much-celebrated flowers but also the entirety of the plant, that grows and exists and supports the plant year-round, even in the absence of the bloom. I like the view this allows of seeking and finding beauty in overlooked places, the seemingly mundane. Having the ability to find beauty in the unremarkable, the everyday is a lovely way to live one’s life.You’re a busy woman. How do you build self-care into your life?As I get a bit more experienced and further along in my career, I have realised how important a self-care routine is for professional productivity. When I first began freelancing as an Illustrator, as many people at the beginnings of their careers, I worked constantly, regularly pulling all-nighters and not taking weekends off.Now I have realised the importance of taking time to enjoy the life I have created for myself and trying to cultivate relationships and interests that fall outside of work. Self-care is about having a mindfulness routine of rest, exercise and activities that are not work related that bring me joy. Mental health needs work like anything else.Take a piece of Adriana Picker’s work home and shop our Mother’s Day Gift Set, Jurlique Rose Luxe Edition Hand Cream and Rosewater Balancing Mist Intense Deluxe Edition.
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