A passion for skincare drove Jane Wurwand to become the founder and creator of The International Dermal Institute and Dermalogica, the most professionally requested brand of skincare in the country. “Taking care of your skin is like taking care of your teeth. It is a health necessity!” says Jane. Read on as Jane Wurwand shares her secrets to success and great skin with Teen Vogue.
1. When did you first decide that you wanted a career in skin care?
I worked in a local hair salon after school from the age of 13. My mother was widowed at age 38 and left with 4 girls to raise under the age of 14. She taught us the most important thing was to learn how to DO something that could put food on the table at any time in our futures. The message sank in and I determined that I would follow my passion AND my mother’s practicality!
2. Did you have problem skin growing up?
My skin problem growing up was with dermatitis and eczema but not breakouts. Because of my chronic eczema though I could not use products with fragrance, lanolin, artificial colors, formaldehyde or drying alcohols. That became the premise for the Dermalogica formulations and the reason that so many people can tolerate even our products.
3. What inspired you to create your own skin care line?
I was tired of ’steaming and creaming’ with products that looked and smelled pretty but did not deliver any changes on the skin. I just knew we could do better.
4. How do Dermalogica products differ from other skincare products on the market?
Apart from their ingredient differences as to what we leave OUT of the products, the products are developed for professional use and then in turn, recommended to their clients to use at home. That means we formulate the products at an active level that can achieve results on the skin and are not designed to be ‘picked off the shelf’ and used without prior recommendation.
5. What is your favorite product in the clean start line and why?
Having a favorite product is like naming a favorite child! I developed the products with both my girls in mind [they are aged 10 and 14] and I know that THEIR favorite products are the Smart Mouth Lip Shine and Bedtime for Breakouts. As a concerned Mum, I would have to say the Welcome Matte SPF 15 is certainly one of my favorites — you can never have enough sunblock!
6. Why do you recommend young women regularly get professional skin treatments?
Because it’s never too early to begin taking care of your skin, if you can adopt good habits at an early age you skin will reflect that.
7. Why do young women need teen-specific skin care regimens?
They should be using lightweight products that address their skin concerns at this age like oil control, breakouts and deep cleansing, versus heavier weight formulas which they may not like the feel of or texture of.
8. What is the one thing teens can do to have healthy skin in the future?
Start wearing sunscreen now!
9. Are there any ingredients in skin care products that teens should stay away from?
* Artificial fragrance and color which irritate the skin
* Mineral oil that causes small bumps and undersurface congestion
* Pure lanolin that causes irritation to the follicle and can produce breakouts
* Isopropyl Myristate that is an alternative to using oil but is used in so called “oil free” products to provide a smooth texture but again causes irritation to the skin.
* Alcohol it dries and strips the skins natural barrier lipids.
10. Why is skin health such a challenge for teens?
Because their hormones are raging at this time as their body develops into adulthood. Testosterone comes into play and this can switch the sebaceous gland into over drive causing oily skin, breakouts and acne. Teens’ natural reaction to this is to scrub, deep clean and strip which creates more problems. This is also when they begin to wear make-up, which may contain harmful ingredients like we mention above and to add to this they may not be removing it properly.
AGE: 15
