7 Questions With Maya Chia’s Founder

mayachia

 

This week we’re celebrating the launch of Maya Chia at Integrity Botanicals, which gives us the perfect excuse to ask the founder, Susanne Norwitz, a round of questions about her beautiful line of skincare products. The well-edited collection features one of nature’s true super foods—chia, so the next time you’re making chia pudding or adding chia seeds to your morning smoothie, take a second to really marvel at this wonder ingredient. When you add chia oil to your skincare routine, you’ll see just how magic this little seed can be. Enjoy getting to know Susanne!

Susannah: How did you discover chia seed oil? You obviously loved it since it’s the heart of the line, so how did you find this passion of yours? 

 

Susanne: I first read about the benefits of chia seeds after deciding to do a detox, and as part of that detox the doctor recommended incorporating chia seeds into the diet. I bought a package of chia seeds, and started to read the nutrition panel, and was floored by the benefits. It was a true superfood – the world’s most nutrient-dense plant source with more antioxidants and omega fatty acids than any other plant source. Every virtue described were benefits that were amazing for the health of the skin, your body’s largest organ.

 

Why is the supercritical extraction process so important when it comes to producing chia seed oil?

 

In certain cases, as is the case with chia seeds, the way you extract the oil from the plant makes all the difference for the longevity and efficacy of the oil. We worked with the nation’s leading scientists to license the patent for supercritical extraction of chia seed oil in the United States. Supercritical extraction is a gentle oxygen-free, solvent-free process, which results in oil with a total absence of chemical residues and impurities, and one that most closely mirrors the chemical profile of the plant, and importantly for a natural product, has a two-year shelf life.  It was a long journey to find the best way to extract the oil. It wasn’t overnight, and involved many conversations and visits with industry professionals.

 

Is Maya Chia good for all skin types? Who benefits the most from your line?

 

All skin types can benefit from Maya Chia. It is very lightweight, yet provides intense nourishment. We like to think of it as topical nutrition & vitamins for your skin. It is chock full of anti-inflammatories, omega fatty acids, antioxidants, and essential minerals. If your skin is sensitive it can help to soothe, if you are prone to blemishes it has high Vitamin B3 and Zinc, which is great for combating acne. For dry skin, it is clinically proven to significantly increase skin hydration, improve skin barrier function, and reduce transepidermal water loss. For aging skin, chia oil’s high levels of omega-3s help build collagen—a key for supporting skin structure and maintaining youthful-looking skin. Dermatologist Dr. Rachel Nazarian of Schweiger Dermatology Group also says there’s evidence that chia oil can decrease the formation of hyperpigmentation (aka dark spots), another key way this oil keeps your face looking young.

 

One of the first things that caught my attention about Maya Chia is the use of the ingredient astaxanthin in the Super Couple, Ultra Luxe Face Oil Serum. What inspired you to include it in the Super Couple?

 

Chia and natural astaxanthin are two of the leading natural super ingredients to date, and that’s what excites us as a company. We’re not interested in fly-by-night ingredients or the latest in trends that may not yield the results we’re looking for. We are excited because these ingredients create high-performance products that work, that get results… and in many cases, rather quickly.  In all of our formulations, we work hard to create a proprietary synergistic combination of the best ingredients that will deliver on the promise of the particular product and what it’s supposed to do. The introduction of our latest product – the Super Couple ™ – was driven by a spate of clinical research studies extolling the benefits of natural astaxanthin for the skin. Like chia, the benefits of astaxanthin for skin are amazing. People may have heard of astaxanthin as it has gained some national exposure in recent years – as many in the scientific community recognize it has as one of nature’s most powerful antioxidants. To give you an idea of its power, natural astaxanthin has 65x the strength of vitamin c in combating free radicals.

 

Can you describe your skincare philosophy? What’s your day-to-day approach for healthy skin?

 

I’m a minimalist at heart. My belief is that you don’t need an exhaustive skincare routine, if you choose the right high-performance products. When I created Maya Chia Beauty, I wanted to introduce multi-purpose products and, when possible, I wanted to streamline my customers’ routine. One thing I’m sure of is that most people are wildly busy, and looking to simplify their life.

My routine is, therefore, ultra streamlined. I use Maya Chia’s the great cleanse cleansing oil in the morning, sometimes I use a toner such as May Lindstrom’s Jasmine Garden and then I follow with the Super Couple ultra luxe face oil, which has the bonus of adding a little extra glow and radiance to the skin. Makeup artists have advised that it makes a wonderful primer in advance of makeup. 

At night, I cleanse and nourish with the Super Couple or our Original Oil – depending on whether I want to turbo charge my routine with additional anti-aging benefits. I also use our oils along the perimeter of the orbital bone, but never too close to the eye. They act as a deeply nourishing moisturizer for the eyes. I’ve received wonderful anecdotal feedback about the Super Couple and how it has diminished customers’ dark eye circles. 

 

What do you love about running a natural skincare line?

 

This is something that I have dreamt of doing my whole life. But it always seemed out of reach. For someone else to do. But I want to encourage anyone who may be reading this article is that it can be you. You can pursue your dreams. Why should it be someone else? Back to answering the question. I know this may sound a bit dramatic but I love how we can transform the lives of people by tweaking their skincare routine. When someone feels better and stronger in their skin, they carry themselves differently and with more confidence. When I hear stories of transformation from customers – whether they are in their late 20’s or in their 50’s – it reaffirms that I made the right decision to pursue this career. I also love the creativity and opportunity to realize your vision, and see it come to life. It’s such fun to live by your passions.

 

What’s your favorite way to indulge in Maya Chia?

 

It depends on what product I’m using. I love to use our waterless wonder balm on my hands with warm, heated mitts – as if you were at a spa. Or after dry brushing and showering my body, I love to luxuriate and apply the body oil for a bit longer than normal. And, of course, after steaming my face at night and relaxing in the beautiful aroma of the lavender and chamomile cleansing oil, I love to take the time to massage my face with a jade roller as I use one of our face oils. Actually, I got this idea to use a jade roller from one of my friends on Instagram.

Do you love the sound of Maya Chia? Don’t miss your chance to win The Super Couple!

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58 thoughts on “7 Questions With Maya Chia’s Founder

  1. I have the Maya Chia cleansing oil and it is wonderful. The Super Couple Face oil has been on my must try list. Excited for a chance to win 🙂

  2. Hello ! Maya Chia is a beautiful brand that I would like to discover. I often use chia seeds but I didn’t know the benefit of chia seeds oil in skincare.

  3. I LOVE Maya Chia and i’m so excited y’all are offering her line! Don’t forget about the Supercritical Oil. It’s just as fabulous as the Super Couple! The Supercritical is amazing for my skin in the humid South Carolina summer! The Super Couple was great last winter too! I’ve run out of the Super Couple and winter is right around the corner so i’m definitely in need!

  4. I have yet to try any Maya Chia products. As someone new to the world of green self-care, I am currently doing a lot of research and slowly trying out new products. I also hope to get my blog up and running by the end of the year so I can document my journey and share my experiences with others!

  5. Maya Chia is at the top of my must try list. Super Couple and your citrus oil. They look like such beautiful products.

  6. I love The Super Couple! Combined with the Kypris Moonlight Catalyst I never get breakouts and my skin looks better than it ever has. I would love to try the oil cleanser next.

  7. I have tried another brand’s chia seed oil and liked it very much. But they changed the formulation and
    In my opinion, ruined a good thing.
    Your formulation sounds great. I like the brilliant pairing of Chia with Astaxanthin. Would very much love
    To try this product. I have sensitive – rosacea prone skin that could certainly benefit from Super Couple!

  8. I have been wanting to try the Super Couple from Maya Chia for a few weeks now, but haven’t yet. I have such sensitive skin, I was having a hard time justifying the price in case me skin did not react well. Excited for the chance to try!

  9. As always, a lovely giveaway! I haven’t had the luxury of sampling this brand, but it sounds amazing. Thanks for the chance! : )

  10. I have been wanting to try Maya Chia for my acne prone skin ever since I first heard of it! It sounds amazing, thanks for the chance to win! 🙂

  11. I haven’t tried any Maya Chia products yet, but I’ve had my eye on the cleansing oil and the Super Couple for awhile now. Thank you for this great giveaway!

  12. I’ve tried her body products and am dying to try her facial oil cleanser and the super couple! Have only heard wonderful things about them!

  13. I haven’t had the opportunity to try any of Maya Chia’s products but they’ve definitely been on my radar for a long while! The products look absolutely beautiful and I am excited to give some a try in the future! I’m still searching for my perfect skin care.

  14. This line is truly special. I have the Maya Chia super couple, body oil and cleansing oil. I’ve repurchased 2 bottles of the cleaning oil since this is hands down the best cleanser I have ever used. I use it 1x in the morning and 2x at night using the Caroline Hirones “flannel” method. However without the flannel it emulsifiers and rinses clean without stripping skin. The body oil smells devine, is moisturizing yet dries quickly and the super couple is def one of a kind. When it gets a bit cooler I plan on purchasing the balm.

  15. I have heard awesome things about the Maya Chia line, from Beauty by Britanie. I have had the super couple and the super critical omega 3 chia face oil on my need to try list for a while now!

  16. I haven’t tried Maya Chia products yet, but they sound incredible. I have heard and read SO many great things about them lately. I’m excited that you are carrying them on your site now. I hope to experience them soon!

  17. I love Maya Chia. The SuperCouple is the first oil I’ve tried (and I’ve tried them all!) that I found worth the price! I love how it smells!! Question for all of you: I want to try the waterless balm. Does it smell the same as the Super Couple serum? I love that scent… 🙂 Thanks!

  18. I havent tried Maya Chia yet but am absolutely dying to! I have a lot of scarring that I am desperately trying to get rid of and I bet it would do just the trick! 😀

  19. I’ve heard so much about this product and would love to win a bottle to test it out on my combination, easily-congested, currently dehydrated skin. Also, I enjoy chia seeds in my diet on a daily basis, would be neat to see what their oil can do topically.

  20. I have used the super couple and it is divine! Curious about the cleansing oil to see how it compares to the OLO oil cleanser.

  21. I just received a sample of the super couple with a recent order. Can’t wait to try it. Thanks for the oppurtunity to win it!

  22. This brand has been on my radar for a few weeks now and I’m excited that my favorite online retailer now carries it!! Looking forward to trying maya chia!

  23. Ooo…what a lovely launch! I’ve read great things about Maya Chia. I’m a little obsessed with chia seeds (chia fresca and chia pudding = staples!), so the idea of using them on my skin sounds like a good, logical plan!

  24. I haven’t tried anything from Maya Chia yet but I would love to win so that I can! I’ve heard such good things!

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About Susannah Compton

Susannah Compton is the founder and formulator behind Florescent, a line of 100% botanical perfumes she blends in small batches from organic and wild crafted aromatics. Plant-based skincare and cosmetics are a way of life for Susannah, who writes about clean beauty and the benefits of botanical ingredients for No More Dirty Looks, Thoughtfully Magazine and Integrity Botanicals. Florescent, however, is Susannah’s personal expression of healthy beauty. Susannah has been working with botanical aromatics for years, blending first for therapeutic purposes before delving into the art of perfumery. Having rarely experienced the depth and complexity of true botanicals in conventional perfume, she learned the art of blending and created what her heart desired — a scent that would move her the way perfume should. In search of those elevating, ethereal bouquets of scent, Susannah honed her skills behind the perfume bench. She launched Florescent in the spring of 2015 to share the lush experience and pleasing ritual of real perfume.