7 minute read
Real Ingredients. Real Results.
After an extensive career in the beauty industry, Prologic founder, Rachel Robertson was ready to pursue her dream of combining her specialised understanding of the skin’s anatomy with her knowledge in cosmestic chemistry.
Strongly influenced by current research into corneobiology and by applying the corneotherapeutic principles of repairing and maintaining the skins natural barrier function, Prologic Advanced Innovative Skincare Technology was born. A NZ owned, operated and manufactured skin care range, that is also vegan friendly, natural and places sustainability and ethical processes at the top of its core values.
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Beauty Biz had the opportunity recently to speak to Rachel as well as Paula Cliffin, the Australian Distributor, who combined form, a powerhouse of experience and love for the beauty Industry.
Rachel, can you tell us about yourself and how you first got started in the industry?
I trained as a Beauty Therapist 22 years ago, working both here in NZ and in London. In 2006 I opened my own Advanced Skin Clinic, which I had for 9 years. During this time, I was named NZ Therapist of the Year and my clinic was named Runner Up for NZ Clinic of the Year. In 2009 I started my Cosmetic Chemistry journey, completing post graduate training, and then 2011 Prologic was launched in NZ.
Rachel Robertson
Paula, you specialise in Oncology care. Can you tell us a little about this and how you became an expert in this field?
Having worked in the industry as a Skin Therapist for over 30 years, I have always been exposed over this time to new and existing clients alike who are on cancer journeys. In my younger days, I used to just freak out to be honest because there really wasn’t much information around about what was beneficial for these clients with treatments and ingredients. Luckily, this has changed immensely over the years, meaning I have been able to gather information, talk to colleagues, doctors and eventually, when training was available – undertake this. I choose to train with Morag Currin, who teaches through Oncology Training International. Before COVID it was face to face, they now have plenty of online courses. Her book is my bible, called Oncology Esthetics – A Practitioner’s Guide (make sure you get the revised and expanded edition). I constantly have my head buried in this book, as Oncology is a massive subject. Working with Oncology clients has changed my life, my focus and the way I work. They have and continue to be my life’s work. I have so much passion for these people, their skin and their souls coming through the other side of their journeys or their passing. You become very much a part of their recovery or passing journey, which is an absolute privilege on so many levels. I often receive the most beautiful notes of thanks from families because we are not just helping them with their skin, we touch them in a non-medical way and make them feel some sort of normal – such an important point to remember.
Paula Cliffin
And what do you wish the industry knew more about when it comes to caring for clients undergoing oncological care?
Someone once said to me “Do cancer people want to look pretty”? Well, I had to really control myself when I explained what I offer has NOTHING to do with looking pretty, everything to do with helping health challenged clients support their skin and microbiome through corneotherapy treatments and products, whilst they are fighting for their lives. Knowing what medical treatments clients are undertaking and therefore what you can offer as a Skin Therapist, needs to be black and white in a therapist’s head. If there is grey, don’t offer it or get more information as we need to do no harm and I do hate to say, that harm is being done. Not intentionally of course, but from not knowing so get educated! Remember cancer is a word, not a sentence.
Rachel, can you tell us about Prologic and how it came to be?
Prologic came about for a few reasons, the first was my frustration with the lack of clean formulations in the industry. Studying Cosmetic Chemistry gave me such a big insight into the traditional way of formulating, which was working with a base product that was full of emulsifiers, silicones, preservatives and parabens. Then adding a small amount of active ingredients to it. This was the opposite of how I wanted to formulate. The other reason was the need for treating Southern Hemisphere skin conditions. What I was seeing with my own clients was a lot of Pigmentation, Rosacea and Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency. The first product we launched was our Omega 3 Treatment Oil to treat EFAD, it is our little cult product. I call it one of my babies, 10 years on and it’s still our number 1 selling product.
And what are the unique points of difference with this brand?
We are a Corneotherapeutic brand, which means our products are formulated with the skin barrier in mind and are very clean. We are proudly NZ owned, operated and manufactured. It was really important to us to support local businesses and have a very strong NZ story. We used local NZ businesses to source all of our packaging, print our labels and boxes, do all of our design work and most importantly manufacture our product. We aspire to have as minimal impact on the environment as possible. We are proud to have FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) accreditation for our boxes and labels, this means they come from a sustainable and fair-trade source. Ink used in printing our packaging is plant based, containing no chemical toxins or poisons. All packaging and bottles are 100% recyclable and consists of aluminium, glass and recyclable plastic. All of our formulations are created with both the skin and environment in mind, all ingredients are eco-friendly and do not have a negative impact on the microbiome of the skin or the environment. Prologic prides itself on ethical processes, a 100% vegan skin care product that stands behind absolutely no animal testing. We work with suppliers that also believe in being ethical companies. Doing the best by their brand, business, staff and customers.
Who is the Prologic client?
Everyone, because we are all about repairing the skin and getting it back to a state of homeostasis, everyone can benefit from this type of program. Being a Southern Hemisphere range, we of course have a very effective pigmentation range, this is one of our specialities.
Can you tell us about your ingredient selection process and why you’ve been so decerning in your choices for the range?
Rachel: All of our formulations follow Corneotherapy principals, which are very strict about what can and cannot be used. They are formulated with both the skin and environment in mind, all ingredients are eco-friendly and do not have a negative impact on the microbiome of the skin or the environment. I always go back to my original vision with Prologic when I formulate, which was to produce products that were clean, corneotherapeutic, sustainable and produce visible results.
It’s quite unique to have a range that is both natural and also aligns with advanced paramedical treatments. Can you tell us more about this.
Rachel: I felt there was a really big gap in the market, seeing first hand with my own clients, they all wanted the advanced results, but all that was avaible to me at the time were products based on synthetic ingredients. I wanted people to have the choice of still being able to achieve amazing long-term results, without the need for synthetics. We have specific products and protocols for after clinical grade skin treatments. For example, last month we launched our Derma Aid treatment cream, which is for clients to use post Dermal Needling, Laser, IPL and Plasma.
What are you currently working on that we can look forward to?
Rachel: We are always working on news things, that’s the exciting thing about our industry – it moves and grows so quickly. We have a few new products coming out this year. One in particular that we are super excited about, I believe it will be a world first! Very exciting, what this space!
To find out more contact Paula Cliffin
www.prologicskincare.com.au
@prologicskincare_aus
