AYOND SKINCARE –SANTA FE/NEW YORK

The healing power of the New Mexico desert and the enthralling energy of New York City: these forces are the inspiration behind Ayond, a new genderless skincare brand, based between Santa Fe and New York, making waves across the beauty world. Like many good things, it was spurred by misfortune. After a cooking accident left her badly burned and none of the traditional remedies worked, Shani Van Breukelen, an African American/Dutch former fashion designer living in New York experimented with the desert oils sourced by her boyfriend Porter Yates – a mechanical engineer and Santa Fe native – with astonishing results. The experience prompted the couple to create a skincare line using the magic of the desert plants. The result is a capsule collection of 4 safe, clean, non-toxic, vegan, cruelty-free products (a cleansing balm, a face oil, a serum and a day cream) created with integrity and consciousness, as “well-being comes from being conscious of ourselves and of the world around us” says Shani; and infused with a potent cocktail of botanicals from the desert (resins, floral waxes, plant butters) and plant oils from around the globe rich in natural stress blockers and anti-oxidants. See the Rock Rose Face Serum (140 US dollars), made with sand verbena, wild indigo, and California poppy: it features rock rose, the star ingredient of the brand, a resilient desert plant that grows after a wildfire. The line aims to protect the skin from environmental and personal stressors, with an emphasis on sustainability: the biodegradable packaging is assembled with eco-friendly materials and post-consumer waste, and the brand offers a recycling program. In addition, every product is accompanied by a poem by Brooklyn-based artist Lynn Gentry: as “skincare can be stoic in design and can focus on concern while ignoring emotion. We wanted to create efficacious skincare that is purposeful in design but also evokes emotion” says Shani. A face mask and a night cream will be launched in 2020. We are counting the days.