3 minute read
Woman in WORK
Absolutely Mama meets Gudrun Wurm, founder of organic-certified mother and baby skincare brand Little Butterfly
Interview CARLY GLENDINNING
Q Tell us about Little Butterfly. What made you want to launch it?
A Little Butterfly London is the UK’s first luxury organic-certified mother and baby skincare range. We sell online through our own website and we are also stocked in retailers including Harrods, Childrensalon and John Bell & Croyden.
Pregnancy and early motherhood are fleeting times that we as women should be able to treasure, indulge and pamper our incredible bodies and later look after the precious skin of our little ones. It’s a time that flies by, and in my mind, should be treasured not only by using the safest products, but also ones that are luxurious and represent the preciousness of creating and nurturing new life.
Q How did your own motherhood journey play into your decision to start the brand?
A When my son Lucas was born, I couldn’t really find products which ticked all my boxes – certified-organic, dermatologistapproved for reactive skin, ultra-gentle and safe, yet highly effective and beautifully packaged so they would look lovely on the nursery or bathroom shelf. So, I set about creating my own baby skincare range. I later added pregnancy and beauty products for mums, which really was an organic evolution of the range, as I felt that pregnant women and new mums deserved their own products that could align with their amazing journey into motherhood.
Q How are Little Butterfly’s products made?
A Our products are designed in London and are exclusively made in England using carefully sourced ingredients from all over the globe. We focus on highly sophisticated formulas using safe and highly effective active ingredients. All our products are certified organic by Ecocert, which audits and evaluates every single raw material included in our products – from source to the finished product – guaranteeing that they are derived from renewable sources, manufactured by environmentally-friendly processes and are free from synthetics and any potentially harmful substances.
Q How important is sustainability to the business?
A The whole premise of Little Butterfly London was to create a range which never compromises on quality, efficacy or safety for both mother and baby, while considering the planet we live on. This is why we work with the most carefully selected ingredients and blend them to ultra-safe, highly effective formulas.
We want to look after the environment which our children will inherit and as such, all our packaging is recyclable, and we only use trusted suppliers with sustainable and responsible production methods and environmental accreditations including the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council). We are members of Cruelty Free International, a nonprofit organisation that peacefully campaigns against animal experiments. We never test on animals and do not use ingredients that are manufactured by companies that commission animal testing – we believe that beauty products should be cruelty free.
Q What should new mamas and mamas-to-be be looking out for when they choose skincare products for themselves and their little ones?
A What most new parents don’t know is that a baby’s skin is up to five times thinner than adult skin, making it more permeable and susceptible to damage. This is why it is so important to think about the products we use. The ingredients in a baby skincare range should be as natural as possible, free from mineral oil, paraffin, parabens, SLS and silicones as well as no synthetics or inappropriate strong essential oils when it comes to the fragrance. And in many ways, we should be setting the same high standards when it comes to our own skincare products. I wanted to make sure that the products would be safe to use during pregnancy but also whilst breast-feeding. Bringing powerful active plant ingredients that could deliver visible results was equally paramount, but so was the ability to offer products that could bring pleasure and lift the mood.
Q And finally, how do you make time for yourself whilst juggling running a business and being a mama and what are your favourite ways to relax?
A My source of regeneration comes from my daily spiritual practices. I meditate twice a day, after I wake up and most times in the evenings. I have learnt through my own personal challenges that as long as you keep working on your inner balance, ultimately reality will reflect that. This has never let me down even through some of my most difficult times.
