Articles

As a business owner or brand manager there are so many things to learn and take in. Feeling overwhelmed is nothing unusual especially these days when the world wide web of misinformation penetrates every waking second. Big decisions rest on your shoulders and it is up to you to lead from a solid base. One of the most common areas for concerns is around-ingredient choice, safety, legality and suitability for purpose especially in light of the fact that the cosmetics industry can whisk you away to the four corners of the globe in an instant. While being at the helm of a globe-trotting brand sounds like a whole lot of fun, trying to cater to varying ingredient preferences and legal frameworks can be a nightmare. So, what do we do?

Over the last few years Decyl Glucoside has become one of my closest surfactant friends and a 'must have' in my cosmetics laboratory. Why, because it ticks all of the boxes in terms of irritation potential, foaming, sustainability and performance. In fact when it comes to surfactants, Decyl Glucoside is a chemical Genius! So, let's find out what it is that makes this chemical so much fun to work with.

As wonderful as natural oils are their beauty doesn't last forever and over time they can become smelly and flat looking. You may have noticed that some seem to suffer this fate more quickly than others and you would be right, it's all to do with the chemistry you see!

Silk Peptides, Proteins and Amino Acids and your skin.

Have you ever wondered why us cosmetic chemist types insist on putting silk and stuff into your skin creams and hair products? I'm sure that the thought has crossed your mind once or twice but for most of us the association between silk and silky smooth soft skin/ hair says it all but is that really all there is to it?

Support, Education, Motivation and a great cup of coffee

As a business owner you can sometimes find yourself feeling alone, out of your depth and in need of a shoulder to cry/ laugh or just talk openly on about the challenges and triumphs that surround you. Over the last twenty years New Directions have helped thousands of people start up and grow their own personal care brands and related businesses and now that it is your turn we want you to know that we are here to help.

If this was the year when your New Years Resolution was to own your own skincare brand then you've come to the right place! The team at New Directions have helped thousands of people's cosmetic dreams come true whether it be a parent wanting to make their kids bubble bath, doting dog lover wanting to perfume their pooches bed with lavender room spray or the next Anita Roddick we've seen and helped them all!

Was it the alluring aroma? The velvety touch or the way that your skin shimmered under the light that made you fall in love? When it comes to cosmetics it's not only how it makes you look that matters and so it is worth paying attention to the aesthetics, feel and aroma of your latest love affair. Welcome to the place where science meets art – sensory evaluation!

Ever dreamt of having your own cosmetic range? Feel that your nine-to-five has become less about go-getting and more about wishing that the boss would get-up-and-go? Then why not do it? Getting into the beauty business has never been easier and in uncertain times, the prospect of steering your own gorgeous ship to international stardom is almost too much to resist.

Australia, land of the parched mouth, wrinkled brow, squinting eyes and fly-flapping hands. This is a land of endless beauty, opportunity and space but it is also a land that leaves your complexion needing a little TLC. So what's a girl (or guy) to do?

Firstly, it doesn't matter that you are not making a specific sunscreen claim. These days sun-protective actives are added into everything from coloured cosmetics through to shampoos and styling creams and when it comes to the sun, the most important thing is making sure you don't mess too much with nature. We'll get back to that later!

We say that beauty is only skin deep but we also say that we are not to judge a book by its cover. Further, we understand the phrase "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" to be true while remaining open to the existence of a universal beauty - a beauty absolute. At New Directions we thrive in helping you to create your brand and beauty vision. Therefore it makes sense for us to first seek to understand our relationship with beauty before we stamp our mark on the magic that is this multi billion dollar industry.