You know that expression, “good enough to eat?” Yeah, well – Edible Beauty made it a real thing. Developed by naturopath and nutritionist Anna Mitsios, Edible Beauty Australia creates luxurious "edible" skincare products containing therapeutic botanicals and wildcrafted Australian ingredients that leave you glowing both inside and out. Edible Beauty also offers gorgeous beauty teas and wellness supplements.
Anna feels strongly about using nutrition through food and herbs to obtain radiance, vitality and youthfulness. She believes that the radiance of our energy, skin and personality is a direct reflection of what we put on and in it. After all, we all know how the saying goes – we are what we eat.
We caught up with Anna about everything from the inspirations behind Edible Beauty to her favourite Boody items. Delicious.
What was the inspiration behind starting Edible Beauty?
About six years ago I transitioned from a career in finance to naturopathy. This was triggered by my diagnosis as a type 1 diabetic at the age of 18. I became very passionate about the incredible ability of natural herbs, diet and supplements to manage my health condition. I also became increasingly conscious of endocrine-disrupting toxins in the beauty products I was using.
The Edible Beauty range was created four years ago whilst working at a natural fertility clinic. I was recommending that in addition to changes to their food and lifestyle routines, my patients make changes to their personal care products. I was shocked to find that there were very few options available for skincare products that were "edible", luxurious and therapeutic.
As a result, I embarked on creating my own range of skincare products. I was literally whipping shea butter, cocoa butter and rose water in my mother’s cake mixer and started sharing my creations with friends and family. After much research, courses, cosmetic chemist meetings, the Edible Beauty Australia skincare range was born.
The Edible Beauty tea range represents an evolution of the herbal formulas I frequently provide to my clients to address health issues from the inside. The teas contain organic, traditional and therapeutic herbs which are easy to incorporate into one’s daily diet.
How has being a naturopath and nutritionist helped with the development of Edible Beauty?
My experience as a naturopath has increased my awareness of the purity of what we are putting both on and inside our bodies. It has created an incredible passion for me to find therapeutic and natural alternatives to harsh chemicals found in conventional skincare products. It has also sparked my passion to make people aware of the fact that beauty truly does come from the inside.
What we put both onto our skin and into our bodies has a lot to do with our outer radiance and glow. Our ‘beauty tea’ and skincare range embodies this philosophy of “inside out beauty” and also reflects my passion and belief in the therapeutic value of botanical herbs, which are abundant in the products.
Aside from using your wonderful products, what other beauty tips can you share with us?
One of my inside beauty tips is to stop feeding the “bad guys” in your belly. The bad flora in your gut does really have a field day on sugar, dairy and processed grains. These can play havoc with hormones, promote insulin resistance and create free radicals which zap your body of beautifying nutrients, accelerate ageing and promote excess sebum production which leads to acne and breakouts.
If you can starve the little critters by reducing your intake of foods such as dairy and sugar and increase your consumption of greens, fermented foods and prebiotics, your skin will start to thank you.
On the outside, I recommend that people pay attention to what they are feeding their skin. By providing your skin with an abundance of nutrient-rich pure foods and antioxidants it will be provided with everything it needs to repair, regenerate and flourish. Being conscious of eliminating ingredients which may be synthetic or “not edible” also ensures that the skin’s PH balance is maintained and that irritation, allergens and toxic substances are reduced.
Which is your favourite product in the Edible Beauty range and why?
One of my favourite products in the range is our Sleeping Beauty Purifying Mousse. This is a sleep mask and what I love most about it is it provides a brilliant quick fix for the skin literally overnight. The mask contains pink clay, zeolite, avocado oil and Snowflower Seed, and unlike most clay masks it is hydrating and purifying rather than peeling and drying, so you can allow it to work its magic whilst you sleep.
This product is a must-have to prevent morning face puffiness or dull skin after an indulgent night out eating and drinking. It also works to correct an oily T-zone or hormonal acne breakouts.
As a nutritionist, what dietary tips would you offer those wanting to improve their diet?
Targeted nutrition and drinking plenty of water is crucial to ensuring the skin is radiant and clear. I have a few key tips for what to include in your diet to ensure that your skin is radiating from the inside out:
Antioxidants: Antioxidants work on both the inside and outside to protect the body against damage. Top antioxidant-rich foods include maqui (in powder form, it’s awesome in smoothies), kiwi, Kakadu plum, greens (especially broccoli and kale) and berries.
Healthy fats: Essential fatty acids are a key component of the skin’s intercellular matrix. Incorporating omega-rich foods like avocados, flax and walnuts into your daily diet help to lock in moisture to keep your skin firm, plump and supple.
Liver health: Making sure the body is ridding itself of toxins and free radicals is the key to combating hormonal acne and stopping the break down of collagen. Load up on dandelion, cruciferous veggies, turmeric and lemons. Sipping on dandelion root tea or green tea is also a great support.
Vitamin A and C: Eating a vitamin-rich diet can actually slow down the ageing process. Sweet potatoes, kale, spinach, papaya and carrots are great sources of beta carotene, the precursor to vitamin A.
Protein: Adequate protein levels ensure you have the building blocks for optimal collagen production and skin repair. Amino acids are the main building blocks to collagen production so this makes sense. Fill your plate with plant-based sources such as hemp seeds, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds.
Drink more H20: Aim to guzzle at least two litres of water daily. Skin cells respond very well to extra hydration and you will be surprised at the increase in plumpness and skin luminosity you will see when your body is adequately hydrated.
You can add lemon juice and chlorophyll to improve hydration. Non-caffeinated, herbal tea is another great option. Reduce your sodium intake to ensure that your body is being utilised most effectively.
As well as skincare, you guys also offer fantastic beauty supplements. Can you tell us a bit about them?
Our Edible Beauty Tea and Native Collagen have been created to empower people to look at a holistic approach to their skin and health. What we often don’t realise is that what we put both on and in our bodies is affecting our vitality. The Edible Beauty tea range reflects herbal formulas which I provide to my clients within my naturopathic practice. They are filled with antioxidant-rich herbs and botanicals to address health and beauty from the inside.
Our Native Collagen is a superfood supplement containing Australian native herbs along with antioxidants to combat free radicals and designed to promote gut health including Aloe Vera and Baobab. The collagen provides your body with everything it needs to boost collagen production, improve gut health and combat free radical damage, all of which promote a radiant and youthful complexion!
We hear you're big fans of Boody at Edible Beauty. What is it about our eco-friendly, everyday basics you love?
I absolutely love everything about your eco-friendly and sustainable brand. I am very conscious of underwear material and have had trouble in the past finding eco-friendly and breathable fibres so was so lucky to have found your products at a local health food shop. The comfort factor and durability of the products makes them the perfect everyday essentials.
It is also reassuring to know that all of the fibres and natural dyes used by Boody are safe and toxin-free, so I have no hesitation buying them for my family!
What is your favourite Boody piece and why?
I must say I have a few Boody favourites. I absolutely love the comfort and breathability they provide. The quality is also phenomenal, I have been incredibly impressed by the durability of the clothing!
I love your underwear range, in particular, your Boyleg Briefs. My other favourite product is your leggings. I have the black Full Leggings and they are incredibly versatile. I wear them to the gym, on walks at home and even under skirts as tights when it’s cold!
What are your plans for the future, either Edible Beauty-related or not?
We have our first little boy due this August. Being pregnant has been an incredible experience and has allowed me to put into practice much of what I was recommending to my fertility patients!
We also have an ocean-safe sunscreen on the way which is something our customers have been asking for! We are excited to be offering a product that will provide SPF50 protection along with being sustainable.
