FTA x Dr.Barbara Sturm
Dr. Barbara Sturm counts many beauty insiders, including Gigi Hadid and Jordanian makeup artist and YouTuber Mohammed Hindash, as well as Huda and Mona Kattan, as clients of her eponymous skincare line. Known for its non-invasive approach to skincare, her brand takes a natural yet highly scientific approach to beauty. Dr. Barbara Sturm is a forward thinking, nimble, new age beauty company, having launched its own antimicrobial face covering during the early days of the pandemic. The results-driven brand has a cult following in the Middle East and has launched a special skin set in collaboration with Fashion Trust Arabia that features two of its best-selling products. The limited edition skincare set is available here and includes Dr. Sturm’s Hyaluronic Serum and Face Cream Light.
Dr. Sturm shares some of her beauty secrets with FTA.
Dr. Barbara Sturm
Q You are famous as the woman who created the vampire facials. What would you say is your hero product today and why?
A I don’t have “hero” products or ingredients – they are all special and work as a complete system. I think that if I had to single out one, it would be my anti-aging Face Cream. It moisturizes the skin and nourishes it with valuable oils like Grape Seed, balancing the complexion and protecting it from dehydration. It also contains purslane, which calms the skin, promotes anti-aging and has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
Q Keeping the skin calm is a top priority these days, especially with all the mask wearing we need to do. How can we avoid maskne?
A Wearing a mask is imperative for the health and safety of ourselves and those around us, but wearing a face covering for any extended period has a damaging effect on the skin. When you wear face masks, the oil in your cosmetics and any excess sebum produced by your pores sits inside on the surface and the mask rubs against the skin, causing chafing and irritation that can also damage the skin barrier and also lead to “maskne.” I only wear my Sturm Nano-Silver Mask, because I believe it is the safest and most comfortable mask. I created it at the outset of the Coronavirus pandemic for my patients to protect their skin. It’s a reusable, antimicrobial face mask made with a triple-layer fabric (as recommended by the World Health Organization) and gentle on the skin.
Q What made you decide to partner with FTA? Tell us about this special skin set.
A I’ve always loved fashion as it’s an expression of your creativity and gives you space to experiment. It’s a really exciting project, and I am so happy to be involved with a non-profit that supports and nurtures talent in the Middle East. We have strong relationships with our clients based in the Middle East who are very educated and invest in science-backed skincare. The FTA high-performance, limited-edition skincare set features two of my most fundamental creations: the hyaluronic serum and the above-mentioned face cream. The set comes in a chic, reusable velvet travel bag. Thirty percent of the proceeds for each set sold will go to FTA.
Q Your brand has always been inclusive to skins from different cultures. Tell us about your Darker Skin Tones set?
A Darker skin tones have some specific dermatological needs. I spent years and my own funds researching and developing an ingredient- and science-based skincare line to address the unique inflammation challenges of darker skin. My Darker Skin Tones line contains potent ingredient science to combat irritation and to help even skin tone. [Products are] infused with ingredients that help balance out the sebum production of the skin and ingredients like Lumicol, which even skin tone for a natural, healthy glow.
Q When do we see you back in the Middle East?
A Watch this space. I can’t wait to see everyone again and share some more exciting products and skincare education with my wonderful Arab clientele.
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