Harnessing the benefits of nature to create clean skin and hair products; grapefruit for energy, the calming effect of rose or mood lifting vanilla, is the philosophy of Saskia, a beauty brand born in Egypt.
Mariam Georges started with one objective, finding the best ingredients that nature has to offer. With her mother, a pharmacist, they thought of the idea more than fifteen years ago when she was still in college studying Chemical Engineering. She grew up dabbling in the family cosmetics business in Cairo, and in 2015, the mother-daughter duo teamed up with the company’s research team to develop formulations combining wholesome, base active ingredients with the power of essential oils extracted from flowers and fruits blossoming in the mountains and valleys of France. Each essential oil has particular properties, Mariam tells us. Rose essential oil for example can be hydrating and soothing, and combined in a face cream, rich in squalene, hyaluronic acid and apple extract, will leave the skin bright and toned. For the body, shea butter paired with rose, musk and cedarwood essential oils will soften and smooth out the skin while leaving it firm.
Initially conceived as a professional spa brand, Saskia started its line for the home in 2018. The flavorful bottles will tempt you to create your at-home spa. You could play the apprentice chemist, mixing powder green clay with a little water to nourish the skin, concoct a detox dead sea mud mask or drop in your travel bag the loofah soap, combining this naturally grown plant with skin smoothing vanilla & orange essential oil infused soap, for a scrubbing massage on the go. Because we’ve been struggling with dry hair, we asked for the formula of their Miracle 7 in 1 mask and learnt of the moisturizing effect of macadamia oil and scalp-healing blue chamomile among others. Mariam added some hair care tips to keep in mind; cut your hair every three months to get rid of split ends and prevent breakage, wash your hair at least two times a week while massaging your scalp to get rid of built up oil and pollution. Lemongrass essential oil, we discover, has antibacterial properties. Purifying the pores will allow nourishing ingredients, such as Virginian cedarwood essential oil to get in and help hair grow quicker. For your conditioner, you can choose it with an ingredient that promotes strong and healthy hair growth, black tea, a natural antioxidant. Finally, apply your mask at least once a week.
We opted for a relaxing lavender bath to prolong the at-home spa experience a little longer:
- Shower with the lavender gel, and apply a little scrubbing butter on your skin in circular motions.
- Fill your tub with hot water. Add lavender bath milk which contains healing jojoba oil, it will turn the water milky, like Cleopatra's bath.
- Soak in and enjoy about twenty minutes then rinse off.
- After drying apply your body butter which contains soothing, hydrating lavender essential oil, or go for a massage oil, more concentrated and easier to spread.
