I recently had a chance to chat with Miriam Kleinman, founder of Teava Skincare, a skincare line that uses tea and rooibos extracts in its formulations. I am always excited to hear about new uses for tea, so this was a fun interview to do!
Lainie: What got you interested in skincare?
Miriam: I had just hit my mid-20′s and I started to realize that the signs of aging were right around the corner. My carefree skin regimen needed to change and that I had to adopt a preventative regimen. When I noticed that the unique components in tea could treat a skin issue and at the same time the potent antioxidants prevented the aging process…I just had to have it. I got the “I need it” feeling.
Lainie: How did you know about tea as a possible ingredient? Were you a tea person already?
Miriam: I drank tea only occasionally…I became interested in tea for skincare when I was doing consulting for a local tea company. I was researching the benefits of tea when I started putting the pieces together. I started connecting the dots between the beneficial tea components and the biological needs of the skin.
Lainie: Right. . .did you have a science background?
Miriam: Oh yes…. I have a bachelors in biochemistry and biotechnology, spent 2 years in the biotech industry and then am now completing my PhD in toxicology. I’m a huge science nerd!
Lainie: So you really are interested in the science of tea, then?
Miriam: Absolutely…I have always had a fascination with using the world around us to its fullest potential. I love how there are so many possibilities with tea because it is such a unique and complex plant.
Lainie: I’ve also noticed that a lot of your products include rooibos. Can you tell us why you are including rooibos in your products?
Miriam: I feel like rooibos is the Holy Grail to skincare. It is my favorite tea [Note from Lainie: Rooibos is not a true tea, but unique herb in its own right.] to use in skincare as well as drink. It is PACKED with so many unique benefits. Rooibos contains a large amount of zinc and magnesium, which is essential for skin healing. It contains an anti-immunogenic component that calms the skin from irritation. It also contains a component to strengthen capillaries, preventing and diminishing dark circles. Not to mention its antioxidant components that fight a different free radical than green tea does. Which is why we combine it with green tea in our anti-aging night cream…combating all free radical species.
Lainie: What teas do you like to drink?
Miriam: My next favorite is a flavored white tea…. I like the delicate flavors and the subtlety of the white tea. For a major cleansing kick I drink matcha.
Lainie: So what is your favorite product in your skincare line?
Miriam: It is a toss up between “Awake” eye cream and “Radiant”day cream. Awake works very very well at reducing the puffiness…when I first developed it and tested it I had to go to the mall after work and I was exhausted. I was in a dressing room trying on clothes and I noticed that I had no bags and that I didn’t look as crappy as I felt! That is when I knew I had the winning formulation.
Lainie: Ah!
Miriam: Also it is soooo moisturizing. Your skin is velvety smooth and when you are in the shower later that day or the next morning, your hands practically slip over your eyes…. it has a long lasting effect. Then the day cream “Radiant” contains rooibos and AHAs and leaves you skin feeling like you just had a facial…everyday!
Lainie: I know that we can buy your products online…Are there stores that carry them?
Miriam: We have recently started our retail program and are looking to go into spas, salons, medi-spas, boutiques, dermatologist offices and plastic surgeons offices. We have recently been picked up by a dermatologist with offices in West Bloomfield and Commerce Township, MI. Plus, we are collaborating with him to do clinical studies on our products. Having the scientific research and proof behind the products will be a great asset and very rewarding to see the effects in numbers as well as on the faces of our users!
Lainie: Miriam, thanks for taking the time to chat! I wish you the best of luck with your company!
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