{"id":22678,"date":"2026-08-31T09:21:52","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T07:21:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/?p=22678"},"modified":"2026-08-31T09:21:52","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T07:21:52","slug":"the-beauty-of-basics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/joburg-north\/blog\/2026\/08\/31\/the-beauty-of-basics\/","title":{"rendered":"The beauty of basics"},"content":{"rendered":"

Scents are scintillating and foams are fantastic. But when you get down to it, nothing works quite like nature. That\u2019s why Ksenia Kish, founder of the Art of Skin Nurture, is passionate not only about creating products made entirely with ingredients derived from nature, but about reminding women of their innate, natural wisdom, too.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s an art to being a woman,\u201d Ksenia maintains, \u201cand I think that we\u2019ve forgotten that.\u201d Not that we can be blamed \u2013 after all, every day, we\u2019re bombarded with messages crafted by a billion-dollar behemoth of an industry, trying to make us feel a little \u2018less than\u2019. \u201cWe need to remind ourselves that all we can do is our best, whether you\u2019re being a mother or pushing your career. You need to treat yourself, always, as you would your best, most cherished friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

The problem is that, when we\u2019re struggling with our many responsibilities, we seldom remember to do this. The time we should be spending nurturing ourselves is often compressed into the five minutes we invest in our skincare routine. \u201cAnd that\u2019s why I\u2019m furious that big companies fill the products we use during this special ritual with chemicals!\u201d Ksenia says.<\/p>\n

She explains that her distrust of chemicals started 20 years ago, when a friend suffering from a terminal illness was advised by a doctor to remove all chemicals from her home. That meant changing her detergent, hand soap, cosmetics and anything else you could possibly pour, splash or wipe. And it worked. Decades after her diagnosis, she has raised two children, lived a wonderful life, and continues to thrive.<\/p>\n

Ksenia implemented a mass exodus of the chemicals in her own cupboards when she started menopause, although her interest in how nature provides was sparked years previously, when she left her career as a consultant to become a full-time mother. \u201cI thought it would be all rainbows and unicorns \u2013 but it was hell!\u201d she reflects. \u201cIt is such hard work.<\/p>\n

I decided to approach being a stay-at-home mom as I would a profession, putting systems in place to make it easier.\u201d One of those systems entailed loading her children with vitamins to stave away colds and flu, but she soon noticed that wholesome, nutritious food was more effective in this regard than even the most expensive brand.<\/p>\n

The same could be said for addressing those hot flashes. When Ksenia replaced chemicals with natural products, they stayed away. But, she admits, she became a little slack. When planning a move from the United States to South Africa, the busy work of packing and planning meant she became less rigorous about keeping it natural. \u201cAnd what do you know … those hot flashes returned while I was on my flight.\u201d<\/p>\n

That made her recommit to her cause. \u201cIt\u2019s not actually difficult. It all comes down to reading labels,\u201d Ksenia points out. The problem, of course, is that unless you have a science degree, those multi-syllable words and ominous-sounding names can be pretty confusing, and few \u2013 if any \u2013 of us ask cosmetic companies to explain. \u201cI wanted to remove all of the confusion by creating a range that does not contain a single chemical,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s more rare than you may think, because even well-known brands that claim to be made with natural (or even organic) ingredients may contain a few nasties. After all, most consumers demand a lengthy shelf-life or stable formula, and these aren\u2019t easy to achieve without a touch of emulsifier or preservative.<\/p>\n

Ksenia doesn\u2019t care that her products might need a shake to make the essential oils and water mingle before application \u2013 and neither do her customers, both here (where the Art of Skin Nurture was launched at the beginning of the year) and in the United States, where the brand has been growing a following since 2024. \u201cYes, you can waste time with a 12-step skincare programme \u2013 but you don\u2019t need it. Just as you don\u2019t need fancy packing or perfumes. All of that is just marketing. It doesn\u2019t make the product any more effective.\u201d<\/p>\n

And for Ksenia, that\u2019s what it\u2019s all about. She\u2019s invested hours researching the ingredients that make a visible difference to her skin, trying and testing multiple times before bottling it. \u201cNothing makes me happier than seeing how my customers glow after using the products,\u201d she smiles. \u201cAnd, of course, it\u2019s fun, too. I make every product myself. I picture myself as one of MacBeth\u2019s witches, stirring my cauldron!\u201d<\/p>\n

True to her ethos of embracing simplicity, Ksenia doesn\u2019t plan to extend the range, preferring to focus instead on a few standout products that really deliver. What she does want to do, though, is create a community where women share their experiences, thoughts and ideas. \u201cI think that we all have unique knowledge, but it\u2019s only valuable if you share it. And it loses value when you keep it to yourself.\u201d
\nDetails: www.skinnurture.co<\/a><\/p>\n

Your kitchen heroes<\/strong>
\nForget chemicals with scary names. Some of the most effective beauty aids are sitting in your pantry right now. Here are the heroes Ksenia swears by:
\n\u2022 Baking soda: great for use as an exfoliator or even deodorant
\n\u2022 Castor oil: an extraordinary moisturiser
\n\u2022 Avocado oil: excellent for hydration<\/p>\n

Skin Nature products we\u2019re loving this month<\/strong><\/p>\n

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