Kjaer Weis is the ultimate in eco luxury makeup. Its luxury
organic refillable makeup system recognizes health and beauty equally by
fulfilling the desire for colour cosmetics made with the highest quality safe,
natural & organic ingredients without compromising on luxury or design.
Created by Danish-born, New York based makeup artist Kirsten Kjaer Weis,
products are CCPB certified organic and free from animal testing. Here we catch
up with founder, Kirsten.
So, tell us a little about the story behind Kjaer Weis?
I have worked for over 20 years as a make-up artist and
throughout my carrier I have had woman after woman sit down in the chair,
pointing out brands they were allergic to. That together with me seeing upfront
for all these years, the short term effect on their skin from using products
with synthetic ingredients, everything from rashes to red eyes, to allergies
etc. It made me question things, if this is the short term effect, what is the
long term effect of a life-long use. There was an obvious need on the market
for a true certified organic line, that as well as having the highest quality
ingredients which are actually good for the skin, it could perform at the same
level or better as the conventional lines and hold its own design/packaging
wise. I feel there was always the perception that if one wanted to do something
great for one's health, that there would be a compromise somewhere in the mix,
my mission and desire was to change that.
What do you think sparked your passion for natural and
organic ingredients?
I grew up on a farm in Denmark, so the closeness to nature
came in early, the realness of growing up harvesting most of our own food on
the farm, that said I always dreamed of the arts and big cities:), but I have always had a great interest in eating
healthy food, feeling the purity of non processed food and as I grew to
understand more about cosmetics/skin care and reading ingredients lists, it was
obvious to me that natural was the way forward and I believe the future.
Are there any plans to expand the existing range?
Yes, we have a 99.8% organic refillable mascara coming out
in May and organic foundations for Fall. The plan is to have a full organic
make-up line, so a woman can be fully covered in her make-up needs, but I'm
building it slowly brick by brick, it takes time to formulate and performance
and quality are essential.
Where do you see the brand 5 years from now?
Available to women worldwide, they deserve a wonderful harm
free choice.
What do you wish you’d known when you started?
Hmm, all is pretty good actually, not sure I would want
anything much different.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
When starting up on your own and wearing all caps, it's a
full time job in the true sense of the word, but it's also such a privilege
seeing it grow and finding the right tribe to support the brands vision, the
challenging part is to juggle everything but also eventually to hand it over.
What are your every day beauty essentials?
Green juices and water for the inside and natural/organic
products for the outside. I try out different brands and love Tata Harper,
(serum, roll on oil) Tammy Fender ( body oil), Rudolph Care, (Acai body balm),
La Bella Figura,( facial oils). Rahua for hair.
If you could treat yourself to one thing this month it would
be...
A facial with my favorite facialist here in NY, Gilah
Gurowitsch, a true gem, there are great facialists and then there is Gilah, she
makes my skin glow like no one else.
Shop here for: Kjaer Weis
