Linden Leaves has been at the forefront of New Zealand’s natural beauty industry for 23 years. Editor Trudi Brewer meets a true beauty trailblazer Juliet Blair to discover how the brand keeps going from strength to strength.
Career
What's a typical working day for you?
Every day is different. I work across marketing and product development, which keeps me busy, and I liaise with our global partners to ensure they have the tools they need to support Linden Leaves in their markets. I’m a morning person, so I prefer to start early, but these days my mornings are pretty busy with two pre-schoolers! My typical week includes time in the office, meetings and often some travel – it’s an ever-evolving mix.
What do you love about the beauty industry?
I love that there are so many strong and successful women working in the beauty industry. Compared with a lot of other industries, it really does have a great ratio of women in senior positions. I also like that the New Zealand beauty industry is very supportive – people who are basically competitors are first and foremost good humans and that makes things like award ceremonies and industry gatherings a lot more fun than they would otherwise be.
What inspires you?
I am inspired every day by this incredible country and the beauty of the rawest parts of our planet. I often work remotely in St Heliers at The Balance Project, and if I’m feeling uninspired it only takes a 30-second stroll down to the beach to breathe in the sea air and soak up the sparkling Hauraki and Rangitoto view to re-energise.
A few minutes walk from her office, in St Heliers, this is the spot to breathe in the sea air and soak up the sparkling Hauraki and Rangitoto view.
At The Balance Project, Juliet’s HQ and coworker shared office space.
What's your career high to date?
The fact Linden Leaves was awarded Best New Zealand Beauty Brand 2018. I’ve been emotionally invested in this brand for more than 20 years, so it’s an incredible feeling to see it recognised as the best in the country.
Follow Linden Leaves on Instagram
Beauty trends
What are your favourite beauty trends right now?
I love oils for both the face and body. They work really well and last a lot longer for me than any moisturiser. I use the Miraculous Facial Oil blended into two pumps of Essential Facial Moisturiser every day and have done for years. Most of the time people tell me I don’t look my age and I put it down to the magic of a quality facial oil. Oils have a pretty simple ingredient list – you can see at a glance what you are getting, which is great for anyone with allergies or sensitive skin. I also love that natural products are becoming much more mainstream. Social media has enabled small brands with tiny budgets to promote genuinely great products.
Some of Blair’s favourites from the range Miraculous Facial Oil and Essential Facial Moisturiser
“I use the Miraculous Facial Oil blended into two pumps of Essential Facial Moisturiser every day and have done for years.”
What new ingredients are you most excited about?
I’m working on some exciting new products based around (you guessed it) oils as well as some really exciting facial care ingredients, but I can’t give too much away about that yet! I’m also working on a library of new natural fragrances.
What is the one beauty product you're never without?
Miraculous Facial Oil. This product has seen me happily through two pregnancies as a belly oil, has dealt with both oily and dry skin moments, has soothed sunburned and irritated skin, and has even been known to double as an eye makeup remover, cuticle oil and flyaway hair tamer!
Linden Leaves
What's makes Linden Leaves stand out from the natural skincare crowd?
Three things: our heritage, our breadth and the love we put into every product. Linden Leaves started as a labour of love for my mother. My brother and sister both had eczema as children and she wanted effective skincare products that not only nurtured, but also provided a sense of delight. We still make many of our products by hand and everything we do is influenced by this attitude of love. The other two things are heritage and breadth. We are incredibly proud to be one of New Zealand longest established brands at 23 years young this year. As we have grown, so has our offering. We are one of the few brands in New Zealand to offer facial skincare, hair care, body care and even home fragrance, so our customers can enjoy Linden Leaves products as part of their everyday wellbeing and lifestyle.
“As we have grown, so has our offering. We are one of the few brands in New Zealand to offer facial skincare, hair care, body care and even home fragrance, so our customers can enjoy Linden Leaves products as part of their everyday wellbeing and lifestyle.”
Linden Leaves Aromatherapy Synergy Body Oil, in Absolute Dreams, $64.
How did (our favourite product) the Memories Body Oil come about?
We wanted to make a natural product that was great at caring for the skin on a daily basis, but that also had something special that would create a little moment of delight with every use. Roses are symbolic of femininity and luxury, and each bottle of Memories Body Oil has real roses inside to illustrate the product’s beautiful fragrance, which is a blend of rose, ylang ylang and geranium.
Linden Leaves Aromatherapy Synergy Body Oil, in Memories $64.
“Roses are symbolic of femininity and luxury, and each bottle of Memories Body Oil has real roses inside to illustrate the product’s beautiful fragrance, which is a blend of rose, ylang ylang and geranium. ”
How do you stay competitive?
It’s important to be constantly improving, refining and regenerating the brand. We are really excited to be launching a refreshed look and feel to Linden Leaves in the new year, and have a raft of new products in the pipeline too. Our recent releases of the Crystal Crush and In Bloom ranges were really well received and we plan to release great lifestyle gift items each year to keep us current for the Christmas and summer period.
What are your top-selling products?
The Aromatherapy Synergy Body Oils, Miraculous Facial Oil, Hand Creams and Essential Facial Moisturiser top the list.
Juliet in her office. Linden Leaves Aromatherapy Synergy Body Oils, in Pick Me Up and In Love Again,$64 complete the body oil range.
On Motherhood
How do you manage the stress of working and being a mother?
Poorly! I guess I just try to keep it all in perspective and not be too critical of myself. I try to compartmentalise – be focused on work when I’m working and focused on the family when I’m not. I’m so inspired by the successful working mothers I know. Splitting your time across work, family and all the general admin that comes with daily life is definitely a serious juggling act.
Blair’s gorgeous daughters, Isobel, 4 and Camile, almost 3.
“I try to compartmentalise – be focused on work when I’m working and focused on the family when I’m not. ”
What beauty advice would you give busy working mums?
Keep it simple sweetheart! Invest in a brand you trust and products that work for you and your lifestyle. I like that the Linden Leaves skincare range is pretty low-fuss and designed to be blended or layered however works best for you. Sleep is also key! This one can be a real challenge for me, so my follow-up advice is to make sure you stay hydrated and breathe!
Blair with her daughters at St Heliers Bay beach and at The Balance Project.
Photography Keryn Sweeney