Feeling connected to nature, her mind, and body, Lav Mav founder, Dr Tarj Mavi incorporates bioactive to her skincare range
Q: What makes you feel most present and mindful?
A: For me, I feel most present and mindful when I’m in nature. I have a huge respect for the natural world; it is where, as a creative,
I find my deepest inspiration. Whether I am researching new ingredients and bio-actives to incorporate into our products or simply finding peace and stillness in nature, it is where I feel most at home.
Q: Please tell us about the scientifically proven bio-actives used in your skincare range — how do they work? What does that kind of skin science achieve?
A: As a brand, we are dedicated to creating products that are as efficacious and innovative as they are luxurious. That is why we are so passionate about using bio-actives in each of our formulas. The reason why our science is so effective is due to the methods of extraction we use; we are able to capture the most nutrient-dense qualities of each ingredient and utilise its complete biochemical profile to reflect its natural qualities — as they exist in nature — and maximise its benefits.
Q: You have recently elevated your award-winning formulas with ancient Ayurvedic traditions. Can you please share a bit of information about this?
A: At La Mav we find inspiration in Ayurveda and, in the same way, take a holistic approach to health, beauty and wellbeing. In Ayurvedic principles, a lot of emphasis is placed on finding balance. Not only in terms of our body, mind and spirit, but also in terms of the energies or doshas that are present within everyone (known as Vata, Pitta and Kapha). While we all have different ratios of these energies in us, with one usually more dominant than the others, it is important to find a balance between them so we can feel healthy, well and vital.
In a similar way at La Mav, we try to ensure that every formula we create is well balanced and can be integrated into your beauty regimen seamlessly. Not only do we incorporate certain Ayurvedic bio-actives and ingredients directly into our formulas, such as ashwagandha, turmeric, tulsi and amla, but we are also expanding our wellbeing category in order to allow us to further explore Ayurvedic practices and principles. Our Kansa Wand is a great example of this. Kansa massage has been around for centuries and is used to help balance the doshas, unblocking energy channels and improving the body’s ability to heal itself.
Q: What Australian botanical ingredients do you use?
A: There are almost too many to count! Some of the native Australian bio-actives that we use regularly are caviar finger lime, Davidson plum, mountain pepper leaf and Kakadu plum. All of these ingredients have an impressive antioxidant profile and help to combat the effects of skin ageing such as fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation, while also protecting the skin from collagen degradation, boosting hydration, skin firmness and elasticity.
Q: What are you doing to minimise the environmental impact of your brand?
A: As a brand we are incredibly passionate about sustainability and are dedicated to being as transparent as possible so that we can become a conscious leader in the skincare industry.
From our ingredients and how they’re sourced to our processes, packaging and product development, we are committed to being as eco-friendly as possible. Our packaging is currently made from eco-friendly and recyclable materials and we are also an Accredited Organic Processor of Cosmetics and Skincare with the Organic Food Chain. This means that we comply with both national and international production standards, guaranteeing quality, integrity and traceability of all our products. For our customers, this provides peace of mind that we are using only the highest-quality, most pure, natural and certified organic ingredients from sustainable sources.
We are also hoping to become paperless and carbon-neutral in the near future.
Q: What are your three top tips for glowing, hydrated skin?
A: Firstly, it’s important to cleanse correctly by choosing a cleanser that’s well suited to your skin type as well as the season. So often we revert to harsh gel cleansers that can strip our skin of its protective natural oils, so I always recommend taking the time to find the most nourishing cleanser for your skin. I love oil cleansing with our Marula Oil Cleanser that effectively removes makeup and impurities, while preserving my skin’s delicate lipid barrier.
The second tip would be to focus on moisture. Our skin’s moisture levels can easily become depleted, so it’s essential to find products that help to lock in moisture. Hyaluronic acid is a powerhouse ingredient that we include in many of our formulas and it certainly lives up to its hype. As a humectant, it has the ability to hold 1000 times its weight in water, binding to moisture in the cells and helping to promote a plumper, more radiant complexion.
And finally, it’s essential to take a holistic approach and focus on what you can do from within. Our skin is a great indicator of what’s going on inside the body, so it’s important to nourish yourself and feed your skin from within by drinking lots of filtered water each day and focusing on eating nutrient-dense wholefoods. Enjoy lots of antioxidant-rich leafy greens, fresh fruits, lean proteins and skin-loving healthy fats.
For more information about La Mav,
visit lamav.com
