This week we talked to Janine Knizia, the German born, Italian based Founder of visionary new clean beauty platform Muse & Heroine. Janine exclusively supports non-toxic, sustainable, luxe cosmetics and is a renowned ambassador for this high performance natural skincare sector.
With a shared passion for beauty rituals that enhance emotional health and wellbeing, we are delighted to partner with Muse & Heroine and were keen to talk more to Janine about her transition from the Fashion industry, her present launch and her future vision for all things ‘green beauty’.
Janine, you moved from working in fashion to beauty. What called you to make this career transition?
I was for more than 15 years in the fashion business and in the last years, I spent more time at airports, airplanes and hotel rooms than in my own home. My mind and my body was very tired, I was very often sick and I felt this inner need for a change. So, I subscribed at the Integrative Institute in NY and made an additional degree as a holistic health coach and when I finished this study, I knew that I had to quit my job and follow my passion: beauty, health and overall wellbeing.
We know you are an advocate for non-toxic, organic, sustainable beauty. When did you first become interested in clean beauty?
I grew up in Germany and we have these very old-fashion organic food stores where you can buy beauty products beside the bread but this is how it started. Any how I have tried all kind of beauty products and price ranges and I had quite problematic skin (acne) in my 20’s and any dermatologist was unable to help me. So, I made a lot of research, studied books, INCI codes and I kind of mixed my own natural tinctures and cremes. When I finally did the complete sweep from conventional beauty to clean beauty, my skin cleared up and today I have my best skin ever.
For anyone who is interested in incorporating consciously formulated beauty products into their routine, which product categories would you recommend they start with?
I always recommend to start investing in a good cleanser. You can use the best and most expensive cream in the world, but when your pores are not clean, the following products can’t be absorbed.
What do you foresee as the top beauty trends for the second half of 2020?
I think clients are getting so conscious about clean beauty and wellbeing products that this sector will sky rocket. But clients also want performance and I feel the trend of combining clean beauty with science.
You have just launched your conscious beauty online platform, and we imagine you must have been extra busy these past few months. Did you have any rituals to both energise and calm yourself, depending on your mood?
Yes, I wake up every morning quite early (around 5.30am) and I need to jump out of my bed into my gym clothes. To exercise in the morning makes me so happy, energised and balanced that I can’t live without it anymore. The opposite is happening in the evening, I love to take a long relaxing bath, preferably with my Susie Mermaid bath oil and face mask as well as a magazine or a good book. These to rituals are key for me.
The name of your platform, Muse & Heroine, is beautiful and inspiring. What does living like a heroine mean to you?
It has a very big meaning for me as I was not really living the life I wanted for many, many years. I was not taking care of myself, I was putting other peoples needs and expectations always first until the moment when I realised that I can’t go on like this. From that day on I decided that I have to live like a heroine and I have to be my own muse in order to find true happiness and satisfaction. And this is kind of my daily mantra, this is the powerful story of Muse & Heroine!
As a holistic facialist and bodyworker, I believe that living a holistic lifestyle leads to a happier, healthier life both spiritually, mentally and physically. Do you incorporate holistic practices in your day-to-day life? If so, what are your favourites?
Yes, 100% agree. You can’t split parts of your body, you always have to look at it as a whole. For me it starts with mind work, but I’m not really able to meditate. I just love to manifest wishes and dreams on a daily base. I exercise and try to eat as healthy as possible but also to enjoy my pasta arrabbiata and straciatella gelato. I support my body with supplements, massages, natural skincare products and good sleep. I don’t need a lot of sleep but I don’t like to go to bed later than 11pm. Last but not least, I love my bathroom rituals: cleansing, face masking, face yoga, face massages etc. I am so much looking forward for these moments every single day.
Did you take up any new holistic or wellness practices during lockdown? If so, which ones?
I didn’t take up any new holistic wellness practises, I just intensified my existing ones. That was enough for me.
We know you are a bath lover. What is your perfect bath ritual?
Yes, my perfect bath is really hot, so I’m sweating all the toxins out of my body and I always put some alkaline salt + bath oils into my bath. And once per week I do my apple vinegar bath for 50 minutes.
What beauty product do you think still needs to be invented?
I’m still missing clean body and eye care products, there is still so much potential and most of the brands are focusing on safer products to sell.
What was the first beauty product that you remember using?
Body cream
You live in Italy, a country very dear to my heart. Which areas in the World do you feel a strongest connection with?
I love Bali and Los Angeles. Two completely different areas, but both feel like home to me.
I would also like to ask – you selected Susie Mermaid Skin Therapy for your store, why is our collection so special for you?
First of all, I love the authentic concept and the ingredients are amazing. You see and feel the performance of the products and that is key for me.
Finally if you had to pick one, which is your favourite product and why?
All the products are made with passion and knowledge but my favourite one is the Sirens Glow Firming Radiance Mask as well as the Sea Goddess Bath Oil, the smell is so mother earth and I feel immediately grounded.