DR. ALKAITIS BEAUTY SPIRIT WITH TRISH ALKAITIS

You are what you eat. We’ve all heard it before. But after talking with Trish Alkaitis, the daughter of cult organic skincare line founder Dr. Alkaitis, we’re starting to believe that this oft-stated philosophy extends beyond what we put in our body and into what we put on it. “Any products we put on our skin, we now know penetrate our skin,” explained Trish to Nomad Chic earlier this summer. In other words, our skin is eating the products we place on it. We shouldn’t put anything on our face that we wouldn’t ingest.

Dr. Alkaitis products are made entirely from edible, living ingredients like cold pressed virgin olive oil, organic plantains, lavender flowers, and Atlantic seaweeds. An organic cellular repair mask is crafted from strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, grapes, bilberry and oat buds – it’s made to sooth damaged and aged skin, inspired by ingredients grown on the Alkaitis family farm in 1970's Holland. Minus the bilberry (a cousin of the blueberry), the list sounds like a recipe for a rather hearty morning smoothie.

Some are multi-purpose: the soothing gel, applied to moisturize and tone skin, is often taken as a shot when people have an upset stomach. It’s made from Aloe Vera gel, wild chamomile, myrrh, rosemary and wild fennel among other products—a very fresh group of organic kitchen ingredients. The organic day crème is a mix of Aloe Vera gel, virgin cold pressed shea butter, marigold blossoms, citrus seed extract, and other raw materials- all organic and edible.

The scents used in Dr. Alkaitis products are essential oil-based and medically proven to be therapeutic – a type of external acupuncture for the body. Yling Ylang to lower blood pressure and lift the mood. Almond Oil to boost the immune system. To test a product, place a dab on the inside of your wrist or ear and wait up to 12 hours for a response.

When describing the line, Trish Alkaitis is less a promoter of her family’s products, and more the voice for a certain brand of holistic living. She’s like a skin therapist. One makes beauty confessions and feels open to ask any and all skin questions. There’s no judgment. She’s not trying to sell anything. Rather she shares common lifestyle tips— the essence of which is that, although the products that one uses ultimately do matter, lifestyle is key. When choosing to live healthy – drinking a lot of water, eating whole, committing to sleep – you’ll see it in your skin.

Do the Dr. Alkaitis products offer sun protection? The Herbal Toner is recommended for the face and body before, during and after, sun exposure. The Nourishing Treatment Oil and Day Cream may be worn on the face for daily sun protection. If one lives in a place that has four seasons, use products for warmth in cool months, cooling in the summer. And when possible, get an hour of sun on your belly everyday. We really shouldn’t even wear sunscreen, says Trish. (Many studies suggest that titanium dioxide contributes to skin cancer). Cover skin, wear zinc in exposed areas, or stay out of direct sun between 10am and 4pm- the way of life for generations in tropical regions. An extra tip for those on the summer move? When traveling, only use travel size sprays on the plane. Open containers or bottles become damaged due to the large amount of bacteria circulating in the stale air.

The advice boils down to a commitment to an awareness of what we put in and on our bodies. It’s simple, straightforward, and natural—no high-tech ingredients, no chemical peels or infusions, no microdermabrasion or lab-developed peptide complexes here. Just a collection of complexion enhancing organic food products, drawn together from a West Coast farm. You can put them on your face, hydrating and cleansing, or—using a slightly different process and maybe leaving out an ingredient or two—mix them up for lunch.

~Ashley Simpson

2013