By Hannah Yakobi

Photography courtesy of Arbonne

The idea to provide skincare products unparalleled in quality and effectiveness developed in Switzerland in 1975, when Petter Mørck – together with a group of leading bio-chemists, biologists and herbalists – fulfilled his vision and founded Arbonne.

With a focus on botanical principles, the brand started gaining popularity in the United States in 1980s. The product is sold via Arbonne consultants as opposed to over-the-counter, and this concept has proved to be very in-demand. Following further international expansion, Arbonne arrived in Canada in 2006.

In this issue, we chat with Donna Sweetnam, senior director of marketing at Arbonne Canada, about the company, its latest products and the skincare tips for fall.

Donna Sweetnam.

The beauty industry is very competitive. What would you say are the biggest strengths of Arbonne that make it really distinct from other brands?

We have botanically based products that are vegan-certified, which makes us interesting and unique. More than 30 years ago, the founders of the organization recognized that people were looking for products that were safe, pure and beneficial. Being vegan, with no animal products, no animal bi-products and no animal testing is something we’ve just always done, and a lot of organizations have now caught up with it.

What is your current favourite product?

I love the night cream, personally. It’s really rich – I happen to have very dry skin, so I use it all the time.

With fall in full swing, we have to slightly adjust and change our skincare routine. What are the most important tips you can give to our readers this season?

In Canada, there is a transition from humid to very dry and cold weather. From a skincare perspective, you need a good moisturizer. There is also a transition into fall from a colour perspective, so the colours are bright: particularly, bright reds and bright turquoise.

Everyone should also exfoliate daily. As our skin ages, you want to ensure you’re exfoliating in a non-abrasive way. It’s key for keeping those fine lines and wrinkles away. If you can moisturize with an SPF product, that’s even better.

Arbonne is very personalized because it’s mostly women coming to talk to other women about the product. What do you think are the biggest strengths of that program and approach?

It’s a very personal experience based on a relationship of trust, and that’s a huge strength. We also offer a customer service experience and you are not going to get the same kind of experience buying them from a department store. We offer people the opportunity to try it and see how it works for them, what works, what doesn’t, get comfortable with it.

If somebody wanted to sign up to become a representative for Arbonne, do they do that through your website?

Yes, they can be introduced to it by someone they know, or we will make a connection with somebody for them.

Great products for fall