Purity and elegance are terms we hold in high regard, especially when it comes to skincare. Our dedication to these qualities has lead us to amazing natural makeup brands like May Lindstrom Skin and Kjaer Weis, who share our passion for simple, natural nourishment peppered with sophisticated style.

Since The Chalkboard’s beginning, we’ve been devotees of the brands who’ve made “green” shopping a luxury experience. It used to be that beauty was either natural or luxurious, but thanks to beauty bosses like Kirsten and May, beauty lovers can now have it all.  We caught up with the ladies behind two of our favorite luxury lines to explore the refined philosophies of their brands, the products they love, and the ones they created that first landed them at the apex of the natural beauty game.

Meet these two inspiring innovators this weekend as they co-host an exclusive gathering inside The Detox Market. Event details below…

tHE CHALKBOARD MAG: What inspired the launch of both your beauty businesses?

KIRSTEN KJAER WEIS: I worked as a makeup artist for over 20 years and I would constantly come across women sitting in my chair pointing out the conventional products that I had in my kit at the time, and all the reactions that came with them. Seeing the short-term effects had me wondering about the long-terms effects of applying synthetics on your skin on a daily basis. I wanted to create all-natural versions that could match the performance and design of the conventional brands.

MAY LINDSTROM: My adventures into skincare began as a small girl. Growing up, I would spend full days mashing wild plants into a pulp and covering myself, and everyone who would humor me in “potions” made from these vibrant green liquids and the clays I would dig from the iron rich soil in my yard. I have been a formulator of sorts from the very beginning, moving from child’s play, to my work cooking in professional kitchens, and back again to magical beauty potions.

This collection was born out of a desire to create blissful moments in my day, a time-out morning and night that was just for me. Having formulated for years out of necessity (I am blessed with highly sensitive and chemically reactive skin), I yearned to create something that was simply luxurious and lovely. My foundation in purity and simplicity is solid, but it was time for me to embrace playfulness and beauty in my potions. I wanted to feel something when I picked up a bottle and entered my cleansing ritual. I wanted to feel peace, joy and celebration all in that one moment. And I wanted to share that with every woman I loved and cared about so she could feel this too.

TCM: What keeps you passionate about natural beauty care?

ML: I wanted to create something special – gorgeous potions that feel incredible to use and provide an excuse to celebrate yourself every morning and night. I have truly poured my heart and soul into delivering a beautiful experience with this collection​.

I believe our skin has the ability to heal itself if we let it. It is our responsibility to provide abundant nutrition and hydration and to be gentle in our care. By limiting our exposure to harsh chemicals and extreme treatments, we open up to gentler methods. I build each of my products on the same philosophy and ingredients that have been treasured and shared by women all over the world since the beginning of time. I trust in earth’s bounty and the wisdom of those who came before me. My own skin has been a work of progress my entire life. As someone with severe chemical sensitivities, the world of beauty products can be a terrifying place. I formulate for myself first, always. I have to be madly in love with a treatment before I release it to the world. There’s excitement in discoveries to come, and that keeps my fire going strong.

KKW: Being able to create products that match the performance of conventional brands with the feel of wearing all these beautiful organic raw materials on your face. It is such a huge inspiration. Plus hearing all the great feedback from happy customers, of course, and what a difference it has made in their makeup routine.

TCM: The natural beauty space is booming! Tell us about a few other natural beauty brands you love…

KKW: I love May Lindstrom, MV Skincare and Osmia Organics.

ML: I have many brands I admire. Our little world has gotten so much bigger and more glorious! I adore Kjaer Weis (way to seriously raise the bar on packaging!), RMS Beauty (I’ve been a fan from the very, very beginning), Alima Pure (clean, simple, lovely), W3ll People (the sweetest team)… really too many to name. If I get into specific products favorites, that is another subject entirely.

TCM: 3 beauty staples always on your vanity:

ML: The Good Stuff: My crazy decadent head-to-toe radiance oil. I drizzle this in the bath, massage it head to toe immediately after a shower, glide its gorgeous gold shimmer over exposed shoulders, decollete and legs on date night and run droplets through my hair for a hypnotic moisture treatment that sends me to bed feeling soft and sultry. It’s the sexiest multi-tasker you’ll ever meet.
Kjaer Weis cream blushes: I am enamored of the simultaneously sleek and heavy packaging and even more so with the formulations. I layer “Desired Glow” and “Lovely” for a super natural flush that makes me look and feel a little bit giddy.
The Youth Dew: My ultimate skin savior. This tiny bottle packs a serious punch, delivering all the hydration your skin needs in just a couple drops while helping to balance your own natural oils, restore health and vibrance and scare off any little lines or wrinkles before they have a chance to appear – oh yes, and it’s amazing for clearing breakouts. I can go on and on, this one will never leave my collection.

KKW: May Lindstrom Blue Cocoon, Dr. Hauschka’s Eye Balm, and the Kjaer Weis foundation.

TCM: What are the 3 ingredients you never touch?

ML: Lots on the “no” list, but more exciting is all the goodness I can pack into the “yes” list, which is how I like to focus. The big no for me is anything without traceability – protected blanket terms like “perfume,” which means absolutely nothing. I believe in accountability and transparency.

KKW: Parabens, phenoxyethanol and formaldehyde.

TCM: Do you have a favorite beauty ritual?

KKW: I don’t do it enough but definitely a steam room, body scrub and an at home facial with May Lindstom’s Honey Mud.

ML: I believe deeply in the power of ritual, in the importance of self care and igniting our relationship with our skin and the romance of ourselves. This is my number one beauty priority. I truly feel that if each of us approached the care of our skin with this much passion and joy, that our worlds would transform. Our lives are hectic and filled to the brim with responsibility, challenge and conflict. We pour everything into caring for each person around us – our teams at work, spouses, children, social organizations and so on and so on. But when do we get fed back? When do we take time to simply breathe and indulge in something delicious just for us? The answer all too commonly is next to never.

I am on a quest to reveal radiant skin while igniting recognition of our individual beauty. I have always been fascinated by the idea of ritual, setting daily reminders to take time out and indulge in ourselves. I am very much a romantic and I believe that the greatest love story begins with yourself and overflows from there. Each of my formulas was developed to feel so incredibly special that they would undoubtedly become a catalyst for unlocking decadent bathing rituals, creating the time and space for the personal connection you deserve.

I begin my mornings in the shower, brightening my skin with gentle (and powerfully effective) exfoliation with The Clean Dirt. The spicy and exotic aroma wakes up my senses and gives the most incredible start to my day – leaving my spirits lifted and my skin fresh and glowing. I follow with The Youth Dew, layered with The Blue Cocoon, for incomparable glow and health. The Youth Dew provides graceful aging protection, a host of antioxidant superpowers and balancing moisture. The Blue Cocoon is simply heaven on earth, and my greatest skin savior – it eliminates all redness and sensitivity, heals and deeply hydrates and calms both skin and spirit effortlessly. It’s also my favorite treatment for eyes and lips of all time.

Before I exit the shower, I massage The Good Stuff over every inch of my skin, all the way to my toes, and even a few drops through my hair. It’s the sexiest thing you’ve ever found in a bottle. I call this my “fabric-free lingerie.” After exiting the shower, I mist my face, neck and decollete generously with The Jasmine Garden, and then go about my day.

In the evenings, I love to wind down with a bath. If feels wonderful to wear The Honey Mud as a masque (it doubles as a cleanser) into the water, allowing the heat and steam to further activate the raw honey enzymes and infuse moisture into my skin. This is a wonderful treat to rotate with the powerfully effective and warming superhero – The Problem Solver. I try to make time for a full treatment with The Problem Solver once or twice a week. After every cleansing or treatment, it’s vital to feed goodness back into your skin with The Youth Dew or The Blue Cocoon. I treat myself to both every day, twice a day, always.

The most important tip – simply make time. This is for you, and there is no one more important than that. This moment is yours. Claim it. Cherish it. And watch yourself transform.

TCM: What about a beauty DIY that really works?

ML: My go-to DIY: A hot bath, salty as the sea, and pure raw honey blended with a bit of cinnamon, slathered thick from forehead to breasts… simple, and life-changing.

KKW: Coconut oil in the hair! I’ve started doing it recently and I can really feel the difference. I lather it on and leave it in for about an hour.  It really helps to nourish my hair.

TCM: You two are so packed with knowledge. What’s the best beauty tip ever?

KKW: I truly believe that beauty starts on the inside in the sense that you want to keep yourself as alkaline as possible. It definitely shows up on your face when you take care of your body. Other than that I would say just a little foundation to even out the skin tone and cream blush on the apples of the cheek. It gives you an instant refreshed look.

ML: Be authentically you, with a conscious commitment to recognize, embrace and celebrate your own individual radiance. You are truly special, exactly as you are. Beauty is what happens when our inner light and innate goodness resonates so deeply that it shines right through our cells, and creates ripples of love that are visible throughout the world.

TCM: Do you have a go-to resource on natural living?

ML: The Chalkboard Magazine, of course!

KKW: The website Mind Body Green. They have an overall holistic approach but also speak about the environment.