Naturopath and nutritionist Anna Mitsios saw a need for clean beauty products, but decided none met her needs. After whipping up products in her mother’s mixer for herself, friends and family, she launched Edible Beauty Australia, a line that includes topical products and supplements powered by a wide range of natural ingredients. Her most popular products, No.3 Exotic Goddess Ageless Serum and her personal favorite, a sleeping mask called & Sleeping Beauty Purifying Mousse, can be found in beauty outlets like Sephora.
 
Happi checked in with Mitsios to learn more about her approach to formulating and what she has in the pipeline.
 
Happi:What are today’s consumers looking for in their skin care routines?
Mitsios:Consumers are searching for skin care routines and products that are not only simple and highly effective but also sustainable and natural. With a growing awareness of the impact of our beauty routines on both our bodies and the planet, the promise of the disappearance of fine lines and wrinkles is not enough. Our customers are incredibly educated on ingredients and their efficacy and want to see results without compromising their health and that of the planet.
 
Happi:Your brand is focused on natural and clean formulations—can you share how you approach your ingredients in this respect?
Mitsios:We definitely take natural and clean ingredients very seriously and make “edible” our gold standard for safety as the skin, being the largest organ of the body, absorbs close to 60% of the products that we place on it. Given we absorb such a large percentage of what we put on our skin and the fact that what we put on our skin bypasses our digestive and detoxification systems, what we are putting on our skin becomes just as important as what we are eating.


When formulating a skin care or wellness/ingestible product, I go back to my naturopathic roots to create a solution to a skin care concern which blends the art and science of botanical medicine.  I always have broader naturopathic principles in mind and these include harnessing the healing power of nature, thinking about skin care concerns “holistically” and addressing the underlying cause of a condition rather than just providing symptomatic relief. 

When it comes to the actual formatting of a skin care product or ingestible, my approach differs from conventional skin care formulation; instead of working on the combining of emulsifiers, emollients, preservatives and fragrances, I consider the therapeutic actions that I want the product to have; that is, antimicrobial, astringent, anti-inflammatory etc. A cleansing milk may need to be antimicrobial along with hydrating and anti-inflammatory. This product provides a good example of providing a holistic solution as typically foaming cleansers will “clean” the skin but may actually contribute to acne as they strip the skin of its natural oil balance, sending sebum producing cells into overdrive. 

I will then consider botanicals that will provide this action. This is critical as the botanicals determine how effective the product will be. When I consider botanicals, I go one step further to think about where they are sourced. Australian natives are one of my favorite ingredients and they are fantastic as we support local indigenous communities wild harvesting these plants. Plants which grow in very arid, mountainous or challenging terrain are particularly intriguing as they inherently contain a great antioxidant capacity than traditionally farmed antioxidants. Blending art and science via the use of botanicals makes this step even more fun. Understanding the traditional use of a botanical is also of key importance along with examining the clinical studies surrounding the ingredient. 
 
Happi: Are there any new products in the pipeline?
Mitsios: We have two exciting ingestible products which are on the way!  Beauty Detox Shot is a detox formula which I have created to support liver function as this is so intricately linked to the health of our skin. A sluggish liver can mean a slow clearance of hormones from your body, which often leads to excess oil production from sebum producing cells. Then comes clogged and breakout prone skin, as well as feeling tired, bloated and even experiencing unbearable premenstrual syndrome. The formula contains liver-loving nutrients such as choline along with digestion supportive herbs such as burdock root and globe artichoke, and antioxidant-rich turmeric to enhance the detoxification process.

Beauty Dew is a Hair, Skin and Nail formula which I have formulated as so many women I speak to want a fix for hair loss, dull skin and lacklustre hair. This is a naturopathic formula designed to support collagen production and connective tissue for healthy hair, skin and nails. It is formulated with a proprietary extract of black rice and prickly pear, which is shown to reduce hair loss by working on hormone imbalances. This product also contains a highly bioavailable form of silica, along with vitamin C and zinc which our body needs to boost collagen production.