What is your background and what inspired you to found Ere Perez?
I studied nutrition back in Mexico, and I am from a family of holistic health experts. I was lucky to inherit a passion for natural healing practices from a young age, and always knew that I wanted to create a line of products that not only perform well, but also benefit our bodies too.
We would always talk about the toxins and nasties that we consume via our diets, but toxins in beauty products was rarely discussed. After arriving in Australia in 1999, I noticed that there were very few natural cosmetics available and extremely underdeveloped. This prompted me to create our Natural Almond Mascara with a blend of powerhouse botanicals, and here we are!
How did growing up in Mexico and also living in Australia influence the products you create?
Like here in Australia, the beauty industry is ever growing in Mexico. We are lucky to have fantastic teams in both countries, and as I continue to split my time between Mexico and Australia, it allows me to understand what products we want to develop. Colour cosmetics is rapidly increasing in Mexico which gives me the opportunity to continue to play with bright colours, whereas Australia are progressively focusing on eco conscious ingredients, packaging and manufacturing. By living in Bondi, I have been influenced by the eco lifestyle of Australia which in turn, has evolved Ere Perez Natural Cosmetics to incorporate values that are not only safe for your skin, but more importantly, good for the earth.
Why are natural ingredients important to you and how do you see clean beauty as an integral component of skincare?
Clean beauty is a way of detoxing your life in a big way. Nature is full of amazing healing potential both for inside and outside our bodies. Wherever you apply products with chemicals on to your skin, your body will absorb them. It’s exciting to see how much the beauty industry has grown. As we all try to live, eat and exercise healthily, it’s fantastic to see natural and sustainable beauty products becoming readily available alongside mainstream brands. High-performing beauty products do not have to include toxic ingredients!
How do you think sun safety is an important element of health and beauty?
Oh, very! Your skin is your largest organ. Sun safety should never be taken lightly, which is why the manufacturing of sunscreens in Australia are extremely strictly regulated. When we ignore basic guidelines, we increase our risk of premature ageing, permanent skin damage and of course, deadly illnesses. Much of this is not reversible. Not only should we apply sunscreen every day, but we should be reapplying it frequently too!
How do you integrate sun safety into your beauty routine?
After cleansing my face, and applying my favourite Australian Blue Cyprus Face Nectar I always apply a natural sunscreen to the skin. I choose ones which are 100% natural zinc oxide, SPF 30+ and light on the skin. Whether I mix it with a few drops of our Quinoa Water Foundation, or just pop a bit of Arnica Concealer on blemishes or my under eyes, I treat my sunscreen as a compulsory base in my daily routine.
For more on Ere Perez, go here.