There’s something so electrifying about this time of the year: good cheer, well wishes, and a general sense that life is good and the best is yet to come. For me, the end of this year is perhaps a bit even more special. I’m celebrating the first birthday of my blog and the journey it has been. It started out from pure passion and a desire to share my obsession with all things beauty, but somewhere along the way, it’s become a journey of self-discovery, growth and a new found identity. There are more chapters to this story and I do hope you’ll stick around a little longer.
So rather than lighting a candle and celebrating the year that’s rapidly winding down, I decided to reflect on the wonderful experiences that impacted me the most and share with you some of the people that were most influential to me this year.
Meet Maja and Helena, two beautiful and inspiring women, creators and founders of Rosalena Bio-Active Skincare and two of my most favorite people of 2016. I met them through Instagram about a year ago, around the same time I began my blogging journey and started my Instagram account ( @DailyCatL ). I was immediately drawn to their brand ethos: Pause, Breathe, Be, or in other words searching for a mindful moment in our busy day to day lives. Maja and Helena believe that ultimately we are the products we use: what we apply on top of our skin is absorbed into our bodies and can impact the quality of our lives, physically and mentally, in a positive way or in a negative way. Together Maja and Helena created Rosalena, a bio-active skincare brand headquartered in the ever so posh city of London.
Rosalena products are 100% natural, formulated purely from plant ingredients, purely plant goodness and purely food for the skin. NO added preservatives or artificial ingredients or chemicals. NO hidden ingredients or ingredients with names we can’t pronounce. Their products are naturally scented and combine the ancient wisdom of plant oils with contemporary botanical actives for maximum skin benefit. I have reviewed in detail their Rock & Rose Face Oil here and their Frank & Sense Face Oil here.
But I feel that in order to truly appreciate their products to the extent deserved, you have to meet Maja and Helena. I had the utmost pleasure and tremendous honor to interview these beautiful ladies and ask them the questions I thought would help give you a glimpse into what goes on behind the scenes and into creating a successful brand and product. Without further ado, here’s what Maja and Helena had to say ….
1. Describe yourself in one sentence.
Helena: Energetic, loud & passionate about family, life and having fun, with a slight shoe obsession a more than slight addiction to tea, a penchant for champagne and a famously dirty laugh.
Maja: A straight talking-softie, annoyingly organized, constantly curious with a need and love of travel (even if it’s only to try a new London restaurant) and feet that were made for dancing (all night long!).
2. What inspired you to create your own skincare line?
Our vision was to develop a skincare range that delivered healthy, glowing skin without the use of chemicals and where the experience of using it is was to be as beautiful as the results. We couldn’t find a product that ticked all these boxes. We wanted a range of natural face oils that smelled beautiful and that could be used every day and not just as a treat, so we made it ourselves and the rest is history!
3. Oils have recently taken over the beauty world and I for one am a big believer in their magic. Can you tell us more about the benefits of using oils? How do your oils stand out in a sea of oils?
We love and can talk for days on the virtues of face oils! In a nutshell: oils penetrate at a far deeper molecular level, moisturize better for longer than creams can and also carry with them all the goodness of pure plant ingredients, right to where they are needed. What’s not to love?
What makes us stand out? Delivering shine free hydration -we love smashing the myth that oils can make you greasy. We designed our products to please most oil-phobic customers! Customers say we stand out because of our quirky product names , their unique smell and function, the way in which they’re used, the fact that they’re completely natural and the results, ie the famous Rosalena Glow which speaks for itself.
4. How do you source your ingredients and how do you decide which ones make the cut?
Ingredient integrity is at the heart of Rosalena. It took 2 years to research & develop the range of face oils before we launched. This was because every ingredient needed to provide maximum skin benefit as well as forming the character and personality of each product. We didn’t want obvious oils that are already commonly available. Our combination of oils have stories to tell, for example the Buriti oil in our Frank & Sense Face Oil is such a powerful skin cell rejuvenator that the Amazonian women use it to heal and treat wounds. We use this secondary plant metabolism in our face oil to super boost skin cell renewal and therefore healthy skin. But we digress! To make the cut, every ingredient must be 100% natural, organic where appropriate (organic doesn’t always mean it’s best) and most importantly have the biggest impact on skin condition and health. Function is everything. We wanted our skincare to work, with noticeable results.
5. What is the most challenging part of formulating your products?
The formulation of Rosalena products isn’t really ever seen as a challenge (although the bureaucracy of the European Cosmetic Product Regulations can certainly be!). We are never happier than when we are concocting new products and creating products that we pour our heart and souls into, it’s this passion to formulate amazing skincare that drives everything. We are at the mercy of mother nature’s unpredictability though, which can be challenging. As we only use natural ingredients the oils can never consistently be identical, no two harvests are the same! But we reframe this as a positive because it’s the natural, non-formulaic magic makes our products so special.
6. How should one incorporate your products into their routine?
Our mission is to show people that our face oils can replace their creams. We designed Rosalena not to be used sparingly as a treat or occasionally as a treatment, but daily as a moisturizer as part of their daily skincare routine. If you can add a moment of peace and appreciation when applying even better, Pause, Breathe Be, a mindful moment benefits skin AND mind. Our face oils are purposefully not difficult to use; one oil for all your needs, around your eyes, morning, noon and night. We were busy mums who didn’t have time for specialist face, neck, eye, morning, night products.
Similarily our Goodness & Tonic Face Mist (G&T) is fun to use – skincare can in our opinion sometimes be fun to use too. G&T is a portable refreshing toning spritz to be used under or over your face oil and we love hearing about how our customers use theirs! In the gym, on the plane, after cleansing, during yoga, as midday pick-me-up at work, as a morning hang over cure and our current favorite: from a mum of a newborn who says it’s the only thing that sees her though the night feeds! For us- – it’s always time for a G&T!
7. Can we expect any new launches this upcoming year in 2017?
Absolutely – Watch this space!! As it’s you, we can divulge that very soon we will be launching the Rosalena daily cleansing balm!
8. What does a typical day in your life look like?
Luckily we only live around the corner from each other, in London, which is just as well because we have 5 kids between us making Rosalena and family life a team challenge! Many a Rosalena day is interspersed with school sports matches, nativity plays, ill children, forgotten packed lunches etc and we hold the fort for each other and enable Rosalena to work around this. It’s a perfect balance, one helped by a great friendship, supportive families plus wine and much laughter! Our mantra has always been to enjoy the journey. Pause Breathe Be!
9. What are some of your skincare secret weapons and top-3 must haves?
Helena: Water, Yoga and Love & Laughter
Maja: Rosalena, Rosalena and more Rosalena!
10. Can you each share 5 unique things about yourself?
Maja:
- Born in Cape Town but met a Scotsman whilst travelling in London and stayed!
- 2 boys (with good Scottish names), Fraser aged 8 and Charlie 11 along with the most inquisitive 14 year old beagle called Baxter.
- Shopping in Anthropologie on Regents Street has to be the best shopping experience for me – the scent & clothing combination never fails to excite and inspire me.
- Loves a sneaky brunch at The Ivy in Chelsea when nobody’s looking.
- Started taking ballet classes – a great excuse to wear ballet shoes and a tutu.
Helena:
- Married my childhood sweetheart who I’ve been with over half my life and have 3 amazing children: Bella 13, Ollie 10 and Alex 7 – plus 2 cats, Steve and Toni, a tortoise Bob and a lots of fish, all with names.
- Am a sunshine girl at heart, love London but crave the sun, favorite place on earth is Miami.
- Afternoon Tea is my quintessentially English favourite thing to do.
- Bucket list top 3: Christmas in Hawaii, Swimming with sharks, see the aurora borealis lights in Iceland.
- Am a brown belt karate ninja – don’t mess with the Rosalena girls!
Rosalena have very kindly offered my readers a chance to try ANY of their products for 20% off. Use coupon code DailyCatLoves at checkout. Note: I don’t get anything from people using the coupon code, it’s just something Rosalena kindly offered my readers.
SO here you have my FAVORITE POST OF 2016 along with my favorite people/brand of the year.
I am signing off now but before I go, I wanted to quickly say THANK YOU to all of you for your uplifting and motivational comments you leave here and on my Instagram ( @DailyCatL ). I am beyond blessed to have met so many kind and inspirational people. I have such a sense of pride every time I log on and am able to connect with so many of you. I want you to know how much I truly and deeply appreciate you visiting my blog, following me on Instagram and supporting not only me, but each other!
Happy Holidays and a Happy and Healthy New Year!
What a great interview!! Congratulations on your blog anniversary Cat, that’s fantastic! I look forward to seeing all 2017 has in store for you.
Thank you so much, Regina! You are one of the kindest most thoughtful people I’ve met thru blogging and Instagram. I adore your skincare blog and look up to your expertise. I’m always learning something new from you! Hope you’re having a great holiday season and a happy and healthy New Year! ~ Cat L.
I really enjoyed reading this interview and I’m very happy for you!!! Congratulations on your success and keep up the good work! You are very inspiring! P. S. I need to try this brand, it sounds divine!!!
Thank you so much for all your love and support here and on Instagram! I appreciate your comments so much, they always make my day. You yourself are very inspirational. I trust your recommendations and admire how much you give to your family. As far as Rosalena, yes I cannot recommend this skincare brand enough! You need to try their products in this New Year! ~ Cat L.
I can’t believe that you’ve had this blog only for a year! I was under the impression that you’ve ran it for longer since it looks so beautiful and professional! Congratulations for scoring this interview ?? I’m wishing you more success in 2017 ?????
Thank you so much for the kind words and well wishes. Your support means more than you know. I wish you a great holiday season and hope that this New Year will bring you health, happiness and only the best things life has to offer. May all your dreams come true! ~ Cat L.
First, congrats on your one year anniversary! I absolutely love reading your blog and keeping up with you daily on Instagram. I appreciate your support, thoughtful posts, and positive attitude! I also have to thank you for putting Rosalena on my radar months ago. My skincare routine is my “me time” in my day, though sometimes I am too busy going through my to-do list. Adding Rosalena to my routine is a great daily reminder to pause and breathe. Helena and Maja are so sweet and inspiring, and I loved learning more about them! I can tell in everything they do that they take great care and are 100% believers in their product. You have something in common with them – you are so inspiring too! I’ve loved keeping up with you and getting to know you more through this year! Fabulous post!
xoxo Jenn – http://www.beautybyjellybean.com
Oh Jenn I don’t know how to thank you for such thoughtful and blush worthy compliments! It is feedback like yours that inspires and motivates me to keep going even when the going gets tough (yes, blogging is not always peaches and cream!). So a BIG thank you from the bottom of my heart! I am also so glad you’ve enjoyed the Rosalena products as much as I have. I believe in this brand whole heartedly which makes it so easy to talk about their products and educate people about the benefits of using products that are 100% natural. Given your background in chemistry, that’s something you already know. I am also a BIG fan of your blog and find your honest opinions very refreshing and admire your positive outlook.
Congratulations are in order for you as well as I just read you celebrated your two year anniversary. I am so grateful to have connected with you and am looking forward to seeing what you have planned for this upcoming year. ~ Cat L.
Love this interview!! Helena and Maja are an inspiration!
Thank you for stopping by! Rosalena is such an authentic brand and the ladies behind it are so inspirational that I couldn’t have thought of a better way to end this year on the blog! SO glad you enjoyed the interview and find it helpful! ~ Cat L.
YAYYY congratulations on 1st anniversary of your blog ??? I thoroughly enjoy and treasure reading it – your writing skills and knowledge inspire me and your IG shots are more than spectacular. Humbled and blessed to have come across and gotten to know such a wonderful person like yourself, Catalina ? (I love your name)
Wonderful interview and I respect the brand even more by understanding their philosophy and appreciating their passion for Rosalena and life itself. Being whole-heartedly beautiful and down to earth, shows in all that you create.
Terrific effort in making this happen darling and thank you for sharing it with us.
p.s. can’t wait to try the cleansing balm ???? Great call on this next product creation Rosalena!! ❤
I don’t even know how to begin as I feel a simple, yet BIG, thank you is not enough. It seems impossible to put into words the immense gratitude I felt when I read your comment. To say it made my day, would be an utter understatement. You are one of the people who inspire, motivate and humble me every single day. I love interacting with you here on my blog, on your own blog (which you already know I adore) and on Instagram. You see the best in people and situations and that is something I’m still working on. You always have a positive attitude and something nice to say. I feel so grateful to have crossed paths with you and get to know you. Blogging and Instagram are wonderful resources, but sometimes it can be a little tough to handle. Thank you for always being there for me and lifting me up. Wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year and looking forward to your upcoming posts. ~ Cat L.
Hi, Cat, and thanks for posting the story of the two ladies behind the Rosalena brand. Getting to know the people who created such lovely oils is fascinating to me. About the brand: an oil that is good and healthy for the skin, one that moisturizes while not making my face greasy is exactly what I am looking for. Happy holidays and happy blog anniversary, lovely!
Thank you for stopping by and leaving such a lovely message, Daphne! I too find it extremely fascinating to learn about successful stories. It makes me realize that it is quite okay to dream big and aim even higher. Rosalena is such a beautiful brand. Not every face oil out there is created equal. I hope you do get a chance to try their products and see for yourself.
Hope you’re having a wonderful holiday season. I plan to squeeze a few days for some rest and relaxation, ie catching up with blogs and videos (your YouTube channel being one of my favorites). Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year! ~ Cat L.
Congrats Cat for your blog anniversary ! It’s always a pleasure to read you here and on IG ! Truly appreciate your work and your tastes too ! This skincare brand sounds so good and can’t wait to try it ! Hope you all the best to come and more and more blog anniversary as you deserve so much 🙂 Kisses
Kédidja | beautymoodboard.com
Kédidja, thank you from the bottom of my heart for such kind sweet words. I am so grateful to have connected with you thru Instagram and on your own blog. You are one of the most supportive and thoughtful people I’ve come across. I hope you have a great holiday season. May this New Year bring you health, happiness and the best life has to offer! ~ Cat L.
Congratulations Cat on your first year of blogging! You are so inspirational, positive and supportive and I enjoy every interaction. I loved reading the story behind the brand and will be certain to check out their products. I love your positive energy and kind spirit. Wishing you the best in the coming year! Xo
Dom
Thank you Dom for such kind lovely and most thoughtful words! I feel so blessed to have met you on Instagram and have discovered your blog. I love your recommendation and taste in beauty. Your kindness and positive outlook are so inspirational to me. I just finished the DIY mason jar idea I read about on your blog. I put together two jars filled with beauty products for my next door neighbors. Thank you for always being there for me! Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year! ~ Cat L.
Happy First Cat!! ??
Theres always something new I discover with your blog and this brand seems another find! I have an oil obsession and I have never heard about the Amazonian Buriti Oil! Will definitely want to try Rosalena!
Loved the Pause, Breathe Be…
sending you immense love
Arti
Thank you so much, Arti! You’ve been one of my biggest supporters from the very beginning and for that I will forever be grateful to you. I think you would adore the Rosalena products. The Frank & Sense buriti oil is absolutely divine and I’ve never ever tried a product quite like it! I cannot recommend it enough! Hope you’re having a great holiday season! Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year! ~ Cat L.
What a great idea, Cat. I loved the interview and Maja sounds so lovely (she’:s married to a scotsman?) I really have to try their oils. They sound amazing and both women are so lovely.
Merry Christmas
Love,
Désirée
Thank you so much for stopping by, Désirée. So glad you enjoyed the post. I know you’ve been following me on Instagram almost from the very beginning (thank you so much for that) so you’re probably already familiar with my love for the Rosalena oils. I feature them in my routines often and recommend them to anyone who crosses my path. Hope you do get a chance to try these and hope you enjoy them as much as I have.
Hope you had a very Merry Christmas filled with love and laughter. ~ Cat L.
What an amazing interview Cat, I really enjoyed learning more about this brand and I can’t wait to try out their oils…just waiting to finish up a few more products in my stash first before I purchase more! And a cleansing balm sounds like the perfect product addition to their line, I’m sure I’ll hear all about it from you when it’s released 😀
Lastly, congratulations on your 1-year blog anniversary!! Your posts are always so informative and full of beautiful photos, truly a joy to read each time!
Jenny thank you so much for the wishes and for such kind, sweet words. So glad you enjoyed the post. Definitely try these amazing oils when you get a chance and keep me posted. I read a post on your blog about how to use oils and I know you’re a fan, so I already have a feeling you’re going to adore these oils as much as I have. ~ Cat L.
Congratulations Cat, this must have been such an exciting year for you! This is a fantastic review, I can’t wait to try Rosalena in 2017! Thank you for the inspiration xx
Wow I can’t believe you’ve only been blogging for a year! Your blog is so professionally written, and aesthetically beautiful, it’s a real pleasure to delve into. Loved this wonderfully written piece, and thank you once again for your friendship! :*
A truly fabulous post! Having been part of the Rosalena journey also I really feel that I know way more than I did before. Beautiful ladies that have made such an impact on so many of us and its is a sheer joy to see them grow and succeed as its all well deserved.
Thanks Cat, for this great interview!! Thank you also for your friendship as that truly has been a highlight. Happy New Year my lovey friend. Kelly xxx
http://www.KELLiLASH.com
Congrats to your blog anniversary! And what a lovely interview~~ I definitely wana try out this brand soon^^
Great Article on the ladies Cat! Definitely have me a more personal view of them , I feel like I know them ! Keep up the good job, always look forward to you post ?
Wow amazing interview and amazing story. I love brands that are created by inspiring women with passion and love for skin. I shall try that brand really soon. Frank & Sense oil sounds like my cup of tea. Congratulations on your absolutely lovely blog Cat. xx
http://www.trendissimo.pl