Business, Green Spot

Karen Murrell: Skincare with a conscience

Easy Green Living interview with Karen Murrell, creator and CEO of Karen Murrell Enterprises Ltd.

Tell us, how did you get your start in skincare? How did you move into natural organic skin care?…

I must admit I had many doors closed in front of me but I persisted!

Having successfully launched natural skincare brand, Skinfood, it was a natural progression to move with worldwide trends and design an organically certified brand which I have with my brand Karen Murrell.

As a consumer myself, I demand so much more than a natural product. I personally choose organic and that organic must be proven by an independent company. Thus it was natural I would aim for certification from Ecocert, the worldwide leader in Organic Certification.

What inspired you to start up Karen Murrell organic skincare and natural cosmetics?

My deep founded belief that I could create a New Zealand based, internationally certified range that would not take away from the planet. Using recycled paper from renewable sourced New Zealand trees is an example of a specification I gave myself when designing our boxes. Being placed next to big brands in the worlds leading department stores is another goal that I am starting to achieve!

How would you describe Karen Murrell’s philosophy?

Nothing is impossible, although it may take longer to come to fruition, anything is possible!

Tell us a bit about your range?

My range Karen Murrell is a skincare and cosmetic range that combines aesthetic appeal and outstanding internationally certified quality with a conscience. My influences are of course the beauty of our country New Zealand. Designers of the past have focused so much on green which has been exhausted. New Zealand has an eternal colour spectrum and texture, this beauty is my inspiration when I design.

What is your skincare made of?

A star ingredient featuring in all my products is Tamanu oil. This little gem from the Pacific Islands enriches my products with its natural healing properties. It has a unique ability to promote the formation of new tissues and accelerate wound healing. Combined with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties this oil creates a perfect base for skincare formulations.  Frankincense, Carrageenan, Ylang Ylang and Kanuka also feature in the range making each product unique to the market.

How is it sustainable/recyclable?

My range has been designed with sustainability and recyclability at a forefront! My lipstick canisters are made out from PLA (polylactic acid), a corn resign based material that will start to dissolve back into mother earth after 100 days.

Where is your skincare made?

All packaging, design and storage are based here in New Zealand.  Currently there are no Ecocert approved laboratories in New Zealand so I manufacture my products in Australia. If in due course one of our labs attains the level of standard set by Ecocert I will bring my manufacturing back to New Zealand. I do however source most of my raw ingredients from New Zealand manufacturers.

Karen Murrell range has the EcoCert stamp of approval. What does this mean?

By means of the NATURAL AND ORGANIC COSMETICS standards, Ecocert defines a requirement level that is superior to the conventional regulation governing cosmetics, thereby guaranteeing the genuine practice of environmental respect throughout the production line, respect for the consumer and the promotion of natural substances of a superior ecological quality.

Who are you a fan of? Who is your role model?

I am very fond of James Ormsby. A wonderful New Zealand artist. James’s work magically documents Maori and New Zealand history. His art evokes my thoughts into directions I would never have expected.

Do you have any natural skincare tips you’d like to share with our readers?

I love oil. Olive oil especially. I drench my skin in oil after bathing. Some times for a treat I add essential oils to my mix. I also smother my skin in olive oil prior to swimming in the sea. It places a protective layer on my skin.

To learn more about Karen Murrell skincare visit: www.karenmurrell.com | EGL Directory