I was first introduced to the Tata Harper skincare range when it arrived in the UK a couple of years ago and loved it back then. It is a luxury, high performance range full of amazing natural and non-toxic ingredients; a lot of which are grown on the Tata Harper HQ farm in Vermont, where Tata divides her time with New York.
When Tata Harper herself was in London a few months back, she spent an evening at Content showing a group of us how to do a mini facial on ourselves. We had the opportunity to try each product from her range, whilst hearing about the inspiration and reasoning behind them.
Tata is a walking ad campaign for the products, her skin is radiant and she has been able to ditch her foundation. I asked her a few questions, trying to get some inside knowledge on how maybe we could get skin like hers!
What made you decide to start your range?
I decided to start my own skincare line when I realised that there weren’t any truly, honestly 100% natural and non-toxic skincare brands that could deliver the results I was used to, without putting my health at risk with chemicals and synthetics. I knew there must be other consumers out there who were looking for natural and safe solutions to skin issues and aging skin. So, I took matters into my own hands and started researching and assembling a team of experts to help develop my own proprietary line.
Why is your range different?
My line is absolutely 100% natural, free of any synthetics, chemicals and toxins. There are very, very few brands on the market that are as committed as we are to being as natural. Plus, my formulas are all proprietary – I invented them myself with chemists, biologists and industry experts. They were developed using the most advanced results-driven technology. They feature the world’s most sought-after, high performance ingredients. I really only use the best of the best, ingredients that are proven to work.
How much time do you spend on your own skincare routine?
About two minutes every morning and night! I get this question a lot! I use my Regenerating Cleanser, Hydrating Floral Essence and Rejuvenating Serum, followed by my Rebuilding Moisturizer and Replenishing Nutrient Complex for some extra nutrition and environmental protection. It might seem like I spend ages each day on my routine but all of this takes only a minute or two, and then I’m ready to go!
You travel quite a lot, do you find this affects your skin?
It only affects my skin if I don’t take care of it while I’m travelling, so I’m always sure to get a lot of sleep, drink plenty of water, and continue my normal skincare routine. Hydration is key, so I always have my Hydrating Floral Essence in my purse for an extra boost on-the-go.
Do you change your skin routine according to where you are eg in New York or on your farm?
I keep it pretty much the same, although when I’m in a city I make sure I don’t skip my Replenishing Nutrient Complex, which acts as an extra environmental barrier to keep my skin protected from pollution. I also use my Resurfacing Mask more often, for an extra facial detox.
Will you change your routine coming into winter – are there any tips to help keep our skin looking good through the winter months? Is there a key product to incorporate into our routine?
Winter skincare is all about proper hydration, since the cold air sucks the moisture right out of our skin. I recommend using an extra rich moisturizer – I usually switch from our Rebuilding Moisturizer to our Repairative Moisturizer, which is super hydrating and rich so keeps my skin moisturized all day. Otherwise, keeping your body hydrated all day is key, I always have a water bottle or mug of tea nearby. Humectants are ingredients that help your skin to retain moisture, so using products with these in them can really help winter skin. Both of my moisturizers contain raw honey, which is a brilliant nutritious natural humectant.
What one product could you not do without?
My Rejuvenating Serum! It’s a complete anti-aging collagen treatment that I use every day. It is loaded with amazing nutrition to keep the skin young and strong, plus it smells divine and leaves the skin soft and silky.
You recently launched your own facial – how often do you think you should have a professional facial and why? What are the long-term benefits?
I think it varies according to skin type and individual needs. A super oily, combination or dry skin for example would benefit from more regular facials suited to their concerns. However you don’t want to go too often, I’d say no more than once every two weeks. A facial can be an intense treatment and your face needs time to recover and to reflect its improvement.
You have gorgeous skin, is that just down to Tata Harper products?!
I’ve always had relatively problem-free skin; the only issue I really suffer from is dryness in the wintertime, which is easily remedied with serious moisturizers and hydration. That said, I believe the strength and healthiness of my skin is definitely due to daily use of my products and their nutrition. They are definitely helping my skin fight the signs of aging.
You grow a lot of your own ingredients for the skincare, do you grow your own food as well? Is a good diet instrumental for good skin?
We do grow a lot of ingredients on the farm – as many herbs and flowers as possible, including lavender, borage, calendula, meadowsweet, chamomile and arnica. Due to our climate and soil type we can’t grow everything; many of our ingredients we source from organic farms around the world, from Israel to the Amazon.
Yes, we grow much of our own food in the summertime: greens like lettuce and kale, plus carrots, peppers, and edible herbs like mint and basil. We have a small orchard with some young trees that will provide us with apples and plums soon!
A good diet is absolutely instrumental for good skin. I find that a lot of women realize they can solve their own skin issues simply by switching to a healthier diet with less processed foods and sugar.
Do you supplement your diet to help your skin?
I take some basic skin supplements to keep my skin healthy, but I believe that a healthy diet is the basis for a great, youthful complexion.
If you could give one piece of advice for radiant skin what would it be?
Get enough sleep, eat well, drink plenty of water, and take time out of every day to centre yourself and de-stress. Stress is one of the main causes of skin issues and aging, so keeping our bodies and minds happy and stable is essential for having glowing skin. Plus, I just have to mention, use nutrient-rich skincare products that feed the skin with vitamins, minerals and nutrients to keep it strong. Healthy products means healthy, radiant skin!
