Shula Starkey & ARK Skincare

“I have always had an interest in my skin health and body wellness,” says Shula. “My passion for skincare has grown over the years. Our inner health and lifestyle choices show through our skin. Good skin is healthy skin, it gives self-confidence and empowers women.”

“I’ve always been interested in health and beauty, as well as loving creative subjects like Art and Design at school,” says Shula who was born in Liverpool and moved to London in her early twenties.

“I studied Feng Shui and Reiki, which inspired me to open my own salon. I wanted a salon with a different ethos to those already on the market. ARK came from the combination of my name and my husband’s name. Though it has come to represent our philosophy and stands for Acts of Random Kindness. Here at ARK we believe that we should always go that step further to be kind to others.”

“Finding the right location and premises was my first objective and it was imperative that the products were all produced in the UK, something I am very proud of. Our first salon opened in 1998 in Fulham and since then we have opened several salons and have performed over 100,000 facial treatments.”

Developed over four years of research, ARK Age Aware Skincare is the result of collaboration with Dr. Penny Kendall-Reed, a naturopathic doctor and expert in preventative health and nutrition.

ARK Age Aware Skincare looks at your skin’s changing needs as you age, rather than skin type. It focuses on the physiological and environmental changes that your skin undergoes as you get older and aims to support these natural chemical and hormonal processes by nourishing the skin from the inside and protecting it from the outside. This is what ARK calls “age appropriate” skincare treatment.

There are two main skin transition periods, they believe, in the ageing process where there is a dramatic shift in hormone production and a significant change in the way the body functions.  These are in the late 20s to early 30s and in the late 50s to early 60s. By looking at these transition periods, Ark Age Aware Skincare has divided its skin therapy into three “age appropriate” product lines:

Age Prepare (Teens to mid-30s – protection for younger skins), Age Maintain (late 30s to 50 – nourishment for skin showing signs of ageing) and Age Repair (50 plus – support for mature skin with established signs of age)

ARK believes that the best possible maintenance programme for your skin is one that evolves as you evolve.

The range comprises of 40 face and body products including a range of therapeutic Skin Response Serums to treat specific skin conditions.

“Age Maintain Moisturiser and the Hydrating Serum are ARK’s bestsellers,” says Shula, “both are highly effective, multi-tasking products, which treat a number of skin concerns in one formulation. Both are quickly absorbed into the skin, leaving no surface residue.”

The dispensing system for the moisturisers allows you to dispense the correct amount, avoiding wastage. This airless pump allows ARK to use more active ingredients, which helps avoid cross contamination and oxidation.

Shula’s dedication has earned ARK an enviable reputation as a leading skincare brand. Her philosophy in life and in business lies very much in Eastern traditions and her mantra of living in the moment keeps her and her team focused on being the best they can be every day to deliver service and excellence in all they do.

“I am surrounded by the support of my friends, family, husband and an amazing team. A project like this is something you can’t do on your own,” she says.  “My mother and younger sister have been a great help in product development and ideas for the future. Between the three of us we each fall into a separate age appropriate skin care range, becoming the faces of ARK Age Aware Skincare.

“When you care passionately about your business, it is difficult to stop it taking over your whole life, but I love every moment of it.”

Poppy Watt

Women Talking would like to offer one of our readers the opportunity to try one of the ARK Age Aware Skincare products for themselves.

To enter answer the following question and state which product in the range you would like to win:

How long does an ARK Age Awareness Assessment take?

For assistance visit www.arkskincare.com

Send your answers to competitions@womentalking.co.uk ensuring you place the words ARK in the subject header and also include your Women Talking username with the submission. This competition is only open to Women Talking subscribers so any entry with a valid username will not be accepted.

Please note this competition has now closed.

Posted Thu, 01/19/2012 - 18:10 by Poppy Watt