Our story
Kate Porter
Originally from the North of England, I now live in Hertfordshire with my husband and our two children. Before creating Harborist I'd spent 14 years as an artist in the film industry, helping to create everything from death-eaters to an Oscar winning AI robot.
Sensitive, allergy prone skin affects my mum, my children and myself. The idea for Harborist was bourne out of frustration that the luxurious, ethical brands I enjoyed using were often the least suitable, while the best were bland and utilitarian.
With reports of sensitive skin as high as 40% worldwide¹, it seemed there should be more choice; products that felt good to buy and put on the skin, which would acknowledge the problems people like myself can have. By understanding the problem, we could make things better.
To put the idea into action, I sought out independent labs with a focus on research, creativity and with an advanced understanding of reactive skin. Harborist launched in 2017 with the Balm-Gel Cleanser. The super gentle yet luxurious formula went on to win multiple awards and remains a firm favourite today.
Our range so far was formulated all the way over in the Blue Mountains of Australia; next we'll be working on collaborations with specialist UK labs and scientists, all with the mission of creating a better experience for your sensitive skin.
¹ Misery, L. , Loser, K. and Ständer, S. (2016), Sensitive skin. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol, 30: 2-8. doi:10.1111/jdv.13532
