PARAGON OF VIRTUE

Having sensitive skin shouldn’t be a barrier to using high-performance skincare with multiple benefits – at least, this was Nina Gajic’s thinking when she created Skin Virtue.

Sensitive skin shouldn’t be a barrier to using high-performance skincare.

Although Nina Gajic has been developing her new skincare brand for the past 12 years, it was 2020 when she knew her formulations were perfected and ready to share with the world. And then COVID-19 reared its ugly head. “We were supposed to be launching in March but everything got shut down, so we have just begun slowly introducing Skin Virtue into salons,” says Gajic.

Gajic had been running a cosmetic centre in Eastern Europe, working with dermatologists and plastic surgeons. “It was there that the products started to evolve,” she says. “First, they were developed as treatment aftercare, then as standalone products.” Knowing how efficacious they would be at helping to repair damage caused by our harsh climate, she returned home to Australia to launch the brand.

“Now the main thing we are trying to make people aware of is that we are a brand that focuses on sensitive skin,” says Gajic. “And I don’t know if it’s lifestyle related, or because we are dealing with more airborne pollutants, but there are certainly a growing number of people in Australia dealing with sensitive skin. That’s why we have made the entire Skin Virtue range suitable for sensitive skin types.”

Gajic’s own skin concerns mean she has a vested interest in products formulated for sensitive skin. “A few years back, my skin was so out of control I had to have it desensitised twice by immunologists, and then I ended up in hospital with preanaphylaxis. When I started looking into what could be going on, I realised I was using products that were damaging my skin barrier. So when I was developing Skin Virtue, I chose ingredients that replenish and protect the skin barrier, because I know that this is our first line of defence against the environment.

“There are a lot of harsh ingredients that scrub away this protective layer, and people are now realising this isn’t so great for their skin,” says Gajic. “There’s a better understanding now that you have to be kind and gentle to your skin, and question and investigate the products and ingredients you are using. It’s all too easy to use the wrong ones and disrupt the top layer of skin where all the lipids and good stuff are.”

Gajic warns even over-cleansing can upset your skin. “I definitely recommend a good cleanse in the evening, but I only ever cleanse in the morning if I feel my skin needs it.” As for those who feel their skin does better with regular exfoliating, she recommends the Skin Virtue Pure Exfoliating Mask, which she promises is gentle enough to use as a daily treatment, or as a mask.

“It looks white when you apply it to your face, then it will disappear. After letting it sit for a while, gently rub your face in a circular motion and it will flake away, taking the dry skin with it.” Hydrating and repairing, the peel is also formulated with natural pumice microbeads that do not harm the ocean, making it an ecofriendly choice.

While all products in the Skin Virtue range can be used on sensitive skin, the brand has three distinct lines. For oilier skin, there is the Skin Virtue Super Clear Collection, and for drier skin types there’s the Skin Virtue Pure Anti-Ageing Collection. “When we looked closely at skin types, we found that even people with ‘normal’ skin tend to be on either the oilier or drier side. We didn’t want to make a large, overwhelming range. We wanted to make a focused, results-driven range from which people could quickly and easily identify what they need.”

Gajic says the third line, Skin Virtue Future Advanced Collection, can be used by all skin types and has been developed to target age-related concerns. “As we age, we have different needs. This range covers all bases – plumping the skin, minimising lines and discolouration, and hydrating from within. The Future Advanced Line Filler, for example, is formulated with a patented, biotechnological dehydrated hyaluronic acid that penetrates deep into the dermis, filling it up with water and providing an instant filling effect that smooths out fine lines and wrinkles. At the same time as targeting this specific issue, antioxidant ingredients are working away in the background.”

This synergy, says Gajic, is key to Skin Virtue’s effectiveness. “We like to use a mix of natural, active and biotech ingredients because delivering results is our priority. Some natural ingredients are effective on their own, and some work better in a synergistic blend with science.”

“THE RANGE IS FOR ALL SKIN TYPES AND COVERS ALL BASES.”

NINA GAJIC