When did your fascination with skincare begin?
My grandmother was an Ayurvedic doctor in South Africa and I spent my childhood watching her prepare remedies in her kitchen for her patients. She created incredibly therapeutic skin preparations based on traditional Indian (where she was from originally), African and Native American remedies. I would help her by picking the leaves, flowers from her garden. It was all very precise and particular – picking leaves at certain times of the day to ensure correct potency etc. I just found it all so fascinating even at that age. My grandmother was a very influential person in my life; she was very inspiring in many ways. She was very supportive of my satisfying my curiosity. While my grandmother knew her remedies worked, she did not know why. I wanted to know how and why these herbal compounds worked so well. This is what led me to study sciences at University.

How was the concept for Organic Apoteke skincare born?
It was while I was studying towards a chemistry degree in the 1990’s. I’d found my Grandmother’s diary with all her remedies and although they were brilliant herbal complexes, they were in petrochemical base creams. I was already conscious of the beauty world’s affect on our environment – and health. My mother had suffered breast cancer when I was in my teens and I still believe that some of the beauty products (which contained aerosols) had a link to her illness. I wanted to take my Grandmother’s knowledge and my Mother’s experience and create something that would be safe, healthful and effective. After finishing my chemistry studies – I realized that understanding human physiology would support what I learned and would help provide some of the missing links. So I went on to become a medically-trained homeopathic doctor and spent the next 10 years working on organic formulations free of all toxins (parabens, petrochemicals and synthetic ingredients).

Why does Organic Apoteke stand apart from other organic skincare brands?
Our formulas are based on a unique combination of influences, the traditional healing arts along with the most current and ground-breaking scientific and cosmecutical advances. We have several patents associated with the formulation process as well. Our products are so pure you could eat them - not all “organic” products are as pure as you might think. The entire range is also alcohol-free which is virtually unheard of amongst organic brands. Finally, purity is just the means to an end the end being results. We don’t want to make pure skin care that doesn’t really do anything for the skin – we want it to be effective – for it to deliver proven results. To ensure the highest quality for our customers we manufacture right here in England. As far as the organic certification - we opted for EcoCert certification as they have very strict guidelines and are recognized worldwide.

I’m very active with the organic side of the industry and work closely with key industry bodies to ensure that the correct ingredients are given approval and others are rejected. As a scientist, I’m keen to ensure that my skincare and organic knowledge is shared with others and I regularly attend talks and sit on discussion panels worldwide.

What is involved in sourcing the high quality organic ingredients for your products?
Quality is imperative to organic skincare, especially a luxury brand like ours. We have spent many years locating the best farms and even educating the farmers in organic standards. This isn’t a one-way activity; we are in constant contact with our suppliers. We have linked European farmers who are experts in the field of organic farming with farmers in developing nations as a means of sharing knowledge and information. This doesn’t only ensure us a worldwide network of quality suppliers but it helps bring the latest in sustainable farming practices back to disadvantaged communities.

What are some of the benefits to our skin using Organic Apoteke skincare line?
There are so many chemicals in our every day lives alen1n. jpg, using Organic Apoteke enables the consumer to know that this is one area they aren’t being bombarded with unnecessary chemicals. And of course then there are results! Our products really work! It’s a serious skincare range with proven studies and results. We have mountains of research and findings on our products that prove they are effective. Alen1n. jpg

How did you come up with the phrase: Luxurethic Cosmeceuticals?
It was simply a combination of what I felt our brand was and is about – luxurious ingredients, ethical sourcing and business practices, and of course this is a doctor band that delivers results. This term captured how I was describing what we doing and how we were doing it. It helped people understand the Organic Apoteke difference.

What are some of your favorite products from Organic Apoteke?
I love the Body Hydrate Oil as it moisturizes the skin without leaving you feeling oily. We’re just launching a new scent – Turkish Rose, it has the classic Rose scent with an unexpected spicy base-note. Within the skincare range, I’m most proud of our hero product the Rasayana Rejuvenating Serum as it’s active ingredients have proven, age-defying properties and has even been described as ‘face lift in a jar’ by the media. Our Buttermilk Cleanser was a finalist at the CEW Beauty Awards; it’s a gentle exfoliator with deep cleansing properties and was a clear favourite by the beauty expert members.

Some people like the idea of organic skincare but are not convinced they actually work. How would you clarify this myth?
What really matters when it comes [alen1n. jpg] to efficacy is the formulation-science. Whether it is organic or not, a product that merely sits on the surface is not going to benefit the skin. Our products use a revolutionary Nutrient Delivery System and the key lies in the formulation – we actually have a patented system for creating our micro-emulsions which carry our active complexes to the areas of the skin where they can really make a difference. We also conduct client trials on all our products to ensure clinical efficacy.

Can you tell us about the Care programme you have developed?
As a beauty brand, we’re aware that sometimes the bigger picture can get lost. By setting up our Cares programme, we are ensuring that the brands success is shared by a growing number of people. We set up the Cares programme to support two charities each year by donating 5% profits. One charity that is focused on social programs and another that supports environmental initiatives. 2008 sees us support the Earth Day Network and Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.

Why have you decided to make and produce Organic Apoteke by yourself and how would you describe your journey?
Our processes are very particular and nuanced; there is an art to how to manufacture each formulation. We also wanted to ensure the quality, efficacy and purity of each product. As for the journey – it has been a tremendous learning experience. It is truly an adventure – and is not without its challenges, alen1n. jpg but it is very rewarding to see the company grow. I would have to say that there is nothing like a gushing thank you note from a customer to keep you going.

Which people inspire you most in life?
I would have to say that my Grandmother and my Mother. I spent a lot of time with my grandmother over the years; she mentored me and supported me in my passions. She gave me a grounded insight into nature of healing. My mother was a chemistry teacher and she instilled in me a great respect for the scientific method. Her health challenges have also driven me – it has kept me on a constant quest for healthful living.

What other passions do you have besides skincare?
I’m passionate about the environment, as well as health and well-being. Where I can reduce carbon footprint, I’ll make changes. When it comes to packaging and manufacturing, we’re always looking for areas where we can reduce waste and improve efficiency. I really enjoy the creativity involved in this aspect of the business – I like to look for solutions – to find new ways of doing things.

Working with farmers and communities in underdeveloped countries is very rewarding and an area where I enjoy being personally involved. It can be interesting trying to communicating in different languages but it’s a rewarding challenge.

In my twenties, I spent four years working in health clinics in South Africa. I’m particularly interested in alternative therapies for HIV Aids and have conducted research on the subject. My ultimate goal is for the brand to enable me to fund further research and to set up health clinics in Africa and India.

It was a pleasure to interview Nitisha you can find out all about her growing company and skincare line at