A Ferreira skincare
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A Ferreira skincare recently launched from an ingredient concept that fuses raw Brazilian botanicals with science-based actives. Belying the A Ferreira skincare product formulation is the founder’s experiences with severe psoriasis caused by extreme cortisol levels, I caught up with her to discover more about Brazilian ancient wisdoms, plant-based ingredients and discuss why stress as a symptom isn’t discussed enough.
As a sensitive skin sufferer who has experienced psoriasis outbreaks myself, I was piqued by the story of Latvian native, UK based A Ferreira skincare founder, Sandra Mihailova, whose childhood psoriasis was diagnosed as hereditary and even saw her hospitalised. ‘There are different types of psoriasis and it is triggered by different things: in my 20’s living in the UK with two young children, I was on antibiotics which ended up triggering it so badly it was even in my hair!’
Aware of the harsh environmental aggressors, water and stress levels of modern life in the UK, Sandra moved to Brazil for four years and a slower life of sun and sea cleared her skin and any psoriasis symptoms at all. However, concerned for her young child’s sensitive, inflamed skin she began to research the native Brazilian plants in her garden asking locals to share stories of their ancient healing properties and finding efficacy in her new ‘clean’ beauty regime. Utilising calming, nourishing ingredients like cupuacu butter and cacay, Sandra experienced the firming, hydrating, nourishing efficacy but realised with the modern developments in science they could be enhanced with ‘good’ actives.
For personal reasons she returned to England, cognizant of the harsh effects on the skin barrier and the toll of cortisol levels, she decided to utilise her plant-based knowledge and enrolled at famed formulation school, Formula Botanica. Initially with an interest in anti-ageing, ‘I then drifted from it because anti-ageing is not a one size fits all concern and so many things such as dehydration, stress, gut health belie it.’
Sandra has been meticulous in research and formulation; ‘I wont just put lots of trending ingredients together,’ so she drew upon her personal experiences to put it into a first product, The Restorative Cream. Combining science proven actives such as Liftonin with nutrient rich botanical extracts of Cupuacu butter, Cacay, Acai oils and antioxidant rich guava extract and orange blossom essentials, powered with moisture locking hyaluronic acid and coenzyme 10, the Restorative Cream is a powerful yet lightly textured cream that can work on ageing adults, thin skin on the hands, or even acne ridden teens.
Sandra explains, ‘Liftonin is a powerful active that gives the skin that feeling of lift and firmness – its science backed and also supports collagen production. The hyaluronic acid is an amazing ingredient and can hold even more moisture when mixed with a butter. The Coenzyme-10 is a very popular ingredient as it supports collagen and protects the skin barrier from environmental aggressors, stress, biological stress and climate change even.’
She continues, ‘I instantly thought back to the products in Brazil and how clean they were, I was using absolutely no synthetics and I just couldn’t find anything like that here.’ Hence why the core concept of A Ferreira skincare includes absolutely no synthetics or fragrance to any of the formulations – even the preservatives are plant based I am astounded to hear.
So, what is next for A Ferreira skincare?
‘There is a Face serum on the way,’ Sandy enthuses. ‘It’s similar to the restorative cream but a serum can always get deeper into the skin layers whilst a cream can lock in the moisture so ideally they are designed to be used together.’
Sandra also is passionate about making sure she keeps returning to Brazil and re-discovering new plants and doing her research, most importantly she is looking to ‘give back’ to local Brazilian farmers and support the land.
It’s a win, win brand.