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1.8.14

A rose is a rose is a rose – right? Sure, and who doesn’t love the heady scent of the world’s most iconic bloom. But the beauty maven behind this line of carefully concocted skincare oils is teaching us a thing or two about the importance of origin, in terms of both effectiveness and sustainability. Chase Polan’s holistic KYPRIS Beauty skincare oils include organic distillations of flowers from a family-run rose farm and other wild-crafted resources. We couldn’t wait to share these fresh-as-can-be photos from this Bulgarian rose farm and a little from Chase about why where our ingredients come from truly matters. 

The Chalkboard Mag: Tell us a a little about the ecological values and holistic philosophy behind your brand.  How you source your ingredients seems very important to you.

Chase Polan: Yes, when sourcing ingredients for our oils, we take many factors into consideration: the benefit, growing practices, origin, cultural and socio-economic context, procurement and extraction methods are considered to the fullest extent possible. Beauty from beauty. All our KYPRIS ingredients are naturally derived, and in some instances, we employ green science to increase their benefit. We package in glass and each oil has a high concentrations of phytonutrients – a little will go a long way.

TCM: Can you tell us about a few of your favorite ingredient resources?

CP: Not all ingredients are grown equal. Every single ingredient we select comes with a purpose. A few that make me extra giddy are:

Baobab Seed Oil, also known as the Tree of Life: Some baobab trees have lived for thousands of years, witnessing more history than has been formally recorded. Its fruit seeds yield an oil super rich in phytosterols, which are the plant version of what makes our cell membranes. The fruit is wild-crafted food and the remaining seeds are pressed for the oil known by Senegalese locals for its regenerative and softening properties.

Hawaiian Sea Algae Extract: A blend of algae extracts studied by Retin-A inventor, Dr. Albert Kligman, for their light texture and unique ability to effectively hydrate skin without clogging pores for a happy, dewy complexion.

Rose Essential Oil: Hand-picked beneath the quiet of an early morning sky, the oil from organic Bulgarian roses has been prized for centuries. Studied for its ability to uplift spirits and combat acne, this voluptuous essential oil is best known for its softening and revitalizing effect on even the most environmentally challenged complexions.

TCM: Roses are such a classic symbol of beauty, but how do they actually contribute to more beautiful skin?

CP: Aromatherapeutically, roses connect us with our heart center, which opens us to our innate connection to divine love and ecstatic pleasure. The look of love and kind enjoyment creates the most appealing, instant glow. Scientifically, rose oil has been studied for its calming, anti-inflammatory and soothing benefits. It is rich with antioxidants which helps to challenge free-radical formation, which can lead to inflammation. Historically though, rose oil is known most of all for its softening and toning effects, in addition to its undeniable romantic quality.

TCM: Your Beauty Elixir I: 1,000 Roses is as intense as it sounds. Tell us a little about the oil?

CP: Beauty Elixir I: 1,000 Roses is the ultimate beauty multi-tasker. Open a bottle and you will smell a field of sun-kissed, heirloom roses tossing their warm honeyed-rose essence. This potion features the oil of over 1,000 organic Bulgarian roses as well as our proprietary blend of vitamin E, vitamin C and the only U.S.-made CoQ10. The high concentration of CoQ10 quenches free radicals to smooth and even skin tone. Vitamin C and vitamin E work synergistically to support collagen and to protect against environmental assault. These ingredients are blended into a rainbow of botanical extracts and oils, like UV-protective pomegranate and glycation foe, and black raspberry seed oil.

TCM: Can you tell us more about the farm where the roses in the elixir come from?

CP: The rose essential oil comes from roses grown in Bulgaria. The family who owns the farm and distills them uses organic and biodynamic farming practices to cultivate their fields. Even more impressively, they have worked with the UN to help replant Afghanistan’s poppy fields with roses so the people of Afghanistan have another commodity crop with which to enter the global economy free from war industries, sex trade and illicit substances.

Just like wine grapes, the same plant can grow in many parts of the world, but will smell completely unique to where it is grown. This has to do with the climate, as well as the minerality of the soil and water. The roses were not first grown in Bulgaria, but growing Damascene roses and distilling them for rose water and rose oil was perfected there. The roses themselves are an heirloom varietal believed to be the result of cross breeding, and they look utterly pre-historic with their wild prickly thorns and fluffy blossoms. Most roses today have been bred to yield sturdy flowers, which has caused their luscious fragrance to become a recessive genetic trait. Damask rose blossoms are more delicate and their petals are outrageously fragrant.

TCM: Favorite uses of Beauty Elixir I: 1,000 Roses:

CP: In the morning, blend a few drops into your moisturizer for soft, luminous, delicately fragrant skin all day long. And at night, a few drops mixed in with our herbal retinol-like Moonlight Catalyst for a petal-soft, radiant complexion awaiting in the morning. Plus, the scents invite nuzzling, cuddles and sweet dreams.

Win 1,000 Roses!

KYPRIS Beauty is giving away one gorgeous bottle of Beauty Elixir 1: 1,000 Roses (retail value $225). Enter to win by leaving us your comment below: tell us your own favorite sustainable or local resource, then jump on Pinterest to repin from both the KYPRIS and The Chalkboard Pinterest pages! Good luck – everything’s coming up roses!

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Comments


  1. Chase’s attention to sustainable beauty is to be admired; will repost this on my blog on sustainable beauty products!

    kate | 01.08.2014 | Reply
    • Thank you Kate! It’s by no means an infallible process or assessment, but I think if we keep asking the questions and making the effort we can make a difference.

      Chase | 01.08.2014 | Reply
  2. Chase is an absolute rockstar, and beautiful friend both inside and out. So generous with her time and talents, and I’m excited to read this interview even though I don’t want to share her! Love the glass packaging, love the products, love this lady. Yay!

    Shannon McClure | 01.08.2014 | Reply
  3. I love my local farmers and food purveyors f gorgeous NY State. Would love this magical rose elixer!

    cristina | 01.08.2014 | Reply
  4. Loving the new vegan restaurant in my area (Seabirds Kitchen) – which touts the use of local and organic fruits and vegetables in their delicious meals!

    Karin | 01.08.2014 | Reply
  5. My favorite sustainable resource is SoCal’s sunlight. I’m so proud as more and more of my neighbors install solar panels on their roofs!

  6. We have so many resources in my area, but a new favorite is the Grand Rapids Downtown Market!

    Robin | 01.08.2014 | Reply
  7. What a gorgeous brand~would LOVE to experience this line!
    For the last 5 years we have been supporting our local farmers here in KC. We completely changed our lifestyle, and it has completely changed our lives! Our children, 5 &3 have only known this food, and it is such a blessing and a privilege to have this relationship with our community!

    gina | 01.08.2014 | Reply
  8. witch baby soap! a gal in my town just started making these lovely bath and beauty products.

    Alex | 01.08.2014 | Reply
  9. My favorite resource is Carlsbad Alkaline Water in Carlsbad, CA. It is wonderful tasting and healthy natural alkaline spring water. It costs $.60 a gallon and you can refill it whenever you want! I no longer buy any store bought water jugs or water bottles. All my containers are glass and BPA free plastic. I feel like I am doing my part in not contributing to the landfills with water bottles. Plus I refer everyone I talk to about getting in on the “good water”. People come from SF to buy this stuff. It’s amazing!
    Chase, your products sound and look wonderful. I use a rosewater tonic from Italy that I absolutely cherish. Thank you for your great work.

    alina | 01.08.2014 | Reply
  10. This is a stunning giveaway! Roses are lovely. 🙂
    I love doing trades with friends. Fish for honey, peonies for extra lettuce and zucchini, homemade jam for a day of raspberry picking. It’s one of my favorite things about our friends and family.

    Josie Alex | 01.08.2014 | Reply
  11. Love local makers of amazing beauty and supplement products.

    Theresa | 01.08.2014 | Reply
  12. Honey! I’m lucky enough to live in an area with tons of local apiarists who take great care of their hives. We’re flush with local, raw honey and bee pollen.

    Katy | 01.08.2014 | Reply
  13. Chase’s heart-full wisdom is poured into every drop of her products! Her brand, Kypris, is unlike any other I have ever known of in terms of commitment to sustainable, ethical and truly-uplifting practices…and a product that is radiantly sublime! Her definition of beauty and meticulous realization of these products is a HUGE gift to the world! I am so honored to use her products! Not only has my skin improved a million-fold, but my relationship to my own beauty has changed. She is a living example of a beautiful woman, inside and out, and I commend her for her dedicated work to empowering all our birthrights to natural beauty!

    • Amy, You lovely woman you. Thank you so much for the beautiful endorsement and amazing support.

      Chase | 01.08.2014 | Reply
  14. What a fantastic company. I’m digging the usage of CoQ10 and true rose oil!! Shared with all of Pinterest. 🙂

    Sean | 01.08.2014 | Reply
  15. This sounds amazing! Rose Oil has been on my “to-buy” list for awhile, along with a few other essential oils. I wonder what the effects would be on my super cool new stretch marks. Supporting my local farmers by buying my greens and bee pollen from them helps me give back to my community. Now to ask them about raw honey….

    Kelsey Cavan | 01.09.2014 | Reply
  16. I love visiting and eating at The Present Moment Cafe in St Augustine Florida, also supporting all the wonderful local organice farmers at our Farmer’s Market. I grow old roses myself and they are such a joy! I would love to win this wonderful giveaway. Thank you!

    Margaret | 01.09.2014 | Reply
  17. I pinned both KYPRIS and the Chalkboard!

    Margaret | 01.09.2014 | Reply
  18. Chase’s beauty and wisdom ooze into every drop of her products. Everyone claims to be on the sustainable bandwagon and full of the next age-defying cure, but the only thing Chase peddles is the truth and a heart felt desire to fill every woman with a true sense of beauty. I absolutely love her products and her, and especially admire her determination to create her own wagon rather than jump on everyone else’s. Brava to her and Kypris. The real roses always stand out!

    denise wheeler | 01.09.2014 | Reply
  19. I love going to the farmers market in my neighborhood, even in winter they are still going strong!

    Jessica | 01.11.2014 | Reply
  20. One of my favorite local resources is Sea Wench Naturals (www.seawenchnaturals.ca). Hand made and grown cosmetics located in paradise on the far west coast of British Columbia – Clayoquat Sound. But this Bulgarian Rose Garden looks like paradise as well! This company sounds amazing and I will definitely check them out. Thank you for sharing.

    Angie Barkley | 01.13.2014 | Reply
  21. Rose is my absolute favorite fragrance, and this elixir is so intriguing. I love the company’s store too!

    Sarah | 01.14.2014 | Reply
  22. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND CONGRATS TO OUR WINNER, KELSEY C!

    The Chalkboard | 01.14.2014 | Reply
  23. I am really loving the 1000 roses sample size bottle I received in my Petit Vour box. My coworkers & I are all in agreement that it smells a bit like cannabis though.

    Shelly | 09.22.2014 | Reply
  24. A little confused.. this seems to happen a lot when a new company comes and says they want to do something new like using a pure rose oil and COQ10…. off the top of my head many companies use rose oil and or COQ10 that are natural like Acure Organics (which is priced much much more economically and organic) or May Lindstrom and Yuli. I don’t have anything against the piece, just that it’s a little of off taste to rave about your own thing at the expense of others when it’s not the total truth.

    Shannon | 03.08.2015 | Reply
  25. Si l’ensemble des soldats combattants sont encore en vie quotidienne Ă  la termin de la combat, ils reviendront dans cet château sobre clan.

    clash of clans gemmes illimités sans verification humaine | 11.27.2015 | Reply

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