With 30 years as a beauty therapist under her belt, Janine Tait re-skilled to study nutritional medicine and create Bestow Beauty, a range of organic superfood powders and oils that nourish the skin from within. She talks to us about the importance of looking at skin nutrition from within – and how it can make all the difference to your skincare therapy.

What is the philosophy behind the brand?

Bestow Beauty is a range of skin super foods, but it is much more than that. It is a philosophy and holistic approach for total skin and body well-being. We promote wellness in the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual dimensions of people’s lives. We support people in their positive lifestyle changes with skincare superfoods, self-care rituals and wisdom for healthy, beautiful living.

Why did you start Bestow Beauty?

Ten years into my career as a beauty therapist, I went through a crisis of confidence.  Despite using all the tools at my disposal I found that there were often times that I just could not get the results for my clients that I hoped for.  Skin disorders particularly became the elephant in the room that I didn’t want to mention, because I wasn’t confident that I could really make a difference. My frustration sent me on a quest for answers which led me to the woman who would become my mentor, Janice Sarre-Smith. Janice was decades ahead of her time in the way she treated skin holistically; she showed me the importance of working from within through skin nutrition and took a three dimensional approach to skincare which recognised that diet, environment, mental and emotional well-being were essential elements to consider alongside topical skincare and treatments. We now call this philosophy the ‘Slow Beauty’ way.

Is it true that our skin is a reflection of how we live our life?

The way your skin looks and feels reflects far more than the skincare products you use. Your skin also tells the story of the food you eat, the air you breathe, the alcohol you drink, the amount of stress in your life, your hormonal balance and the self-care practices you use to re-balance your mind and restore your soul. The journey to creating beautiful skin is actually a journey to creating a beautiful life.  

What are your daily rituals?

I meditate morning and evening for 30 minutes, which helps me to maintain a deep sense of balance and connection in the middle of my busy life.

I have a nourishing breakfast which always includes Bestow Beauty Oil. Most days I have a Bestow Anti-Ageing Smoothie which includes the following ingredients. 

• One fresh or frozen banana
• A small handful of spinach
• A sprig of mint
• 1 cup of coconut water
• 1 tablespoon of chia seeds
• 1 tablespoon of Bestow Beauty Powder
• 1 tablespoon of Bestow Beauty Oil
• A squeeze of lemon

Blend together. Optional - Decorate with toasted coconut, goji berries and chia seeds.

What is your personal favourite product from the range?

Together the Bestow Beauty Oil and Bestow Beauty Powder provide the key nutritional blocks for beautiful healthy skin.  I call them my Twin Skin Essentials and asking me to choose between them is like asking me which of my beloved nieces and nephews I love the most!

If pushed, I would say Bestow Beauty Oil is my favourite, simply because my skin just can’t cope without it. Bestow Beauty Oil offers a blend of cold-pressed organic flax seed and safflower oil, formulated to deliver the best balance of healthy fats for clear, glowing skin. It basically moisturises the skin from within. Whenever I have had to go for any length of time without taking Bestow Beauty Oil (which has only happened a couple of times) I start having all sorts of problems with eczema and other skin issues.

What has the feedback from salons been so far?

Therapists are excited to learn a new skill and to have another tool to help them treat their clients skins.  More and more therapists intuitively recognise that a holistic approach to skincare is really the only approach that works, so they are hungry for the knowledge and the tools that will help them to become the kind of skin health coach they desire to be.

Do you have any other tips?  

I’ve discovered that wellness rituals are just as important as wellness products. Unless you figure out how you are going to incorporate your Bestow skin food into your daily life, all that skin goodness will just sit on the shelf! A daily smoothie is a great way to nourish your skin with raw food, leafy greens and your Bestow skin boosters all at once.

Like all wellness journeys, learning to live the Bestow way requires patience and dedication in the beginning, but it is truly a beautiful and rewarding way to live.