Cosmetics by Mia Sala

“Mia was a true blessing. She turned out to be a surprise, which we did not expect at all. Her birth gave me a second youth. Now she is ready to come to you!” — The mother of Mia Sala and her two brothers.

I have a special attitude towards cosmetics. I love this everyday ritual: picking up a beautiful container, inhaling the herbal aroma, and massaging my face after applying the cream. This is the moment when I look at myself in the mirror and see something new every time.
I believe that people have too much hope in cosmetics while not really taking it seriously.

Healthy lifestyle is the key to beauty!

Do not expect a miracle from a 10-euro facial cream. Even if it costs 1000 euros, a miracle will not happen either. Your skin is primarily a reflection of what you eat and drink. No makeup can replace an active lifestyle and a positive attitude towards the world. If you want your skin to be beautiful, start eating healthy. The less sugar in your diet, the longer your skin will remain young. A variety of vegetable oils with green salad that you eat will bring more benefits than when applied in the form of cream ingredients. Proper sleep will prevent the appearance of the first wrinkles better than an expensive cream. By quitting smoking, you will give your skin much more than some facial cream. Good cosmetics work, but only in combination with a healthy lifestyle.

Surprisingly, most consumers talk only about the concentration of active ingredients and the fact that manufacturers always reduce them. However, I think that now we need to talk more about the ingredients themselves. When new ingredients appear, I am interested not only in their properties, but also in the long-term health effects in general. To be frank, I would not want to apply them on my skin. On the other hand, many products now have the phrase “Not Tested on Animals” writer on the packaging, although this is an advertising move; according to European law, it is prohibited to test products on animals.

How cosmetics are tested?

Before I finally decide on their composition, texture, and smell... my cosmetics are tested by my friends and acquaintances! Sometimes it takes about a year to approve the final composition.

The first attempts to test my cosmetic products on volunteers were doomed to failure. All my illusions turned into surprise and disappointment. It thought it was the end. Those were well-selected formulas of vegetable oils and active ingredients with high concentrations. When I created the recipes, I only wanted to make sure that the product worked well. I disregarded the qualities that did not directly affect the property of the final product, such as smell... Although, it smelled really nice. The smells of essential oils have always evoked positive emotions in me. I watched the first reaction of the person who tested the product. The first thing that surprised me was the following question: “Why is the cream not quickly absorbed? Is my skin still oily?” Who told you that a good cream involves instant absorption? We are so accustomed to the cream, which consists of a large percentage of water, that products with a high concentration of healthy oils cause a negative reaction. If you apply the cream, and after a second there is nothing left on the face, do not think that it has absorbed into the skin. The skin is not a sponge; it consists of building blocks, the task of which is not to let anything pass inside. Oil needs time to get through the upper stratum corneum. If the cream was absorbed in a second, then it consisted of a large percentage of water, which quickly evaporates.

Night or day cream, which one is better?

Daytime skin care products are lighter; they include oxidation stable oils that are suitable for sun exposure. As for night cream, it is a real treat for your skin. Their formulation is richer. I use valuable oil with polyunsaturated fatty acids. Ideally, you need to use night and day products, as their effect on the skin can be very different.

A lot is not always better.

I like to use a wide range of ingredients to achieve the desired effect, but don't expect to see a long list of ingredients in one product. Of course, for the buyer, a long list of exotic components can be very attractive. As a result, it can be a decisive factor for the purchase. But a long list of ingredients does not always lead to excellent results. Inside the container, a reaction takes place between the ingredients. As a result, the final product properties may not be as intended. I try to select and combine the ingredients in such a way that they enhance the beneficial properties of each other.

Want to know the effects of different ingredients on your skin?

In my opinion, it is better to try products with a reasonable amount of ingredients so that you can understand their effect than the same cream with a very long list of ingredients. In addition, if you are allergic, make sure you use cosmetics with a small amount of components. In case of allergic reactions, it is easier to understand which ingredient you reacted to.

Do eco-cosmetics make sense?

I am the mother of three children. There was a time when I tried to buy products only with the Eco label for my children, even if they were very expensive. Later, I learned that obtaining a “green” certificate costs money, which makes the product more expensive. It is great that there are organizations that monitor the quality of goods and issue certificates for eco-products. But since we live in the countryside, I know that many small producers cultivate their fields and treat their animals with an environmental philosophy, but without any certificates. My goal is to make good products at an affordable price, and so I decided not to spend money on environmental certification. My products are made of high-quality natural ingredients; many of them grow in our area. I like to use natural oils and herbs of the Mediterranean. I want my products to be affordable, but of the same quality as with the Eco label.
Brand founder and Mia Sala’s mother