We recently caught up with Esther to find out what inspired her to set up her beautiful organic soap and skincare collection. With a passion for natural beauty ingredients and healthy skin, Esther has crafted an incredible range for women and men full of nature-derived organic botanicals and oils.
Hi Esther, Thanks for taking part in our interview. Can you tell our readers about your business and how you got started?
Hi, It's great to be here. I am the founder and skin health expert at Starest Organic Skincare. I'm also a qualified nurse and a skincare formulator and provide skin health consultations.
What motivated you to create Starest, and what was the first product you launched?
Starest was founded in 2018 to provide people with natural solutions to their skin problems. I suffered from sensitive skin for many years, and in 2015, I began researching the ingredients in my skincare products.
My research led me to discover that many ingredients commonly found in commercial skincare products are harmful. Chemicals and components, such as parabens, triclosan, phthalate, sodium Laureth sulfate, Parfum (fragrance) and petrolatum, are linked to various health issues.
Research shows that these chemicals can cause cancer, fertility problems, fibroids (noncancerous growths in the uterus), kidney problems, and respiratory issues.
To avoid these toxic ingredients, I started making my skincare products using all-natural ingredients and discovered how great they made my skin feel and look!
Using my skincare inspired me to create Starest so I could offer customers a natural solution to their skin and hair problems. The first products I made were the nourishing hair butter and the Glow Skin Balm.
What inspired you when designing your brand & packaging?
I was inspired by the idea of being eco-friendly and ensuring that my beauty products were cruelty-free and packaging was fully recyclable. I also wanted to ensure sourcing ingredients and manufacturing our products had a low carbon footprint on the planet.
How does your skincare product formulation differ from other organic skincare brands?
Natural skin care products should be formulated with ethics and science in mind.
To me, that means using ethically sourced organic ingredients, like cold pressed oils and other plant-based ingredients, which are more potent than their non-organic counterparts.
Organic ingredients contain more healing properties that are beneficial for the skin. It also means carefully researching every ingredient in our collection and ensuring that when you use Starest products, you get the most potent skincare possible.
As a nurse, my practice is always evidence-based and backed by research, so I know exactly what's in our products and can confidently say there are no fillers or harmful chemicals.
What would you say has been crucial in creating a niche organic skincare range?
I think what has been crucial for my business is being able to create and develop unique products. The individual elements of my skincare range include:
- Solutions to common skin problems
- Organic ingredients that are not only good for your skin but also good for the environment
- A focus on purity and simplicity
Do you have a favourite product from your range?
Tough question! I love all my products, and I use them daily. But if I had to pick one, it would be the Glow Superfood Clay mask. This product has helped reduce my hyperpigmentation and acne, so it's my top pick.
What products from your collection would you recommend for dry, sensitive, or oily skin?
I have oily skin and discovered that our Glow Superfood Clay mask and Rejuvenating Serum have helped balance my skin. If you have oily skin, I would recommend these products as well.
For people with sensitive skin, I would recommend our unscented products like Skin Repair Balm, Glow Droplets Serum and Oat and Rosehip Body Butter. They're really gentle on your skin but still really effective!
If you have dry skin, once you try our Whipped Body Butter or Body Oil and Body scrub, they will be your BFF!
What has been your proudest moment since starting Starest?
My proudest moment is the massive success of our pop-up shop at Westfield Stratford. I love connecting with customers and hearing what they think of our products, and it was especially gratifying to see them so excited about our products and results.
What do you enjoy doing on your days off?
I like to spend time with my family and friends on my days off. I also enjoy reading, listening to music, and relaxing.
Thank you, Esther, for taking the time to tell us about Starest. I've been a fan for a couple of years and have used several of your gorgeous organic products, and my go-to favourite is the whipped body butter.
I hope you've enjoyed finding out about Esther's journey. Each product is carefully curated using unique formulations from mindfully sourced ingredients.
To view the complete skincare collection for men and women, plus tips on the best products for your skin type, please visit www.starest.co.uk.
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Pam x