Stress-free choices for sensitive skin

Kate Porter, founder

Originally from the North (is that a place?) 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 Oscar-winning visual effects on Hollywood films and some British ones too.  

The idea for a new skincare line came in 2015 after becoming frustrated that many products in the green sector didn't go far enough in addressing possible triggers for the reactive skin common in my family. Meanwhile, the often recommended French pharmacy brands felt utilitarian. 

With reports of sensitive skin as high as 40% worldwide¹, it seemed there should be more choice; products made with bio-derived ingredients and beautiful-to-use formulas, which would acknowledge the issues people like myself can have with them. 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. Our first three products were created all the way over in the Blue Mountains of Australia; next we'll be working on exciting new collaborations with specialist UK labs and scientists.  

Harborist's first product, the Balm-Gel cleanser, launched in 2017 and went on to win multiple awards. With an average testing panel score of 9.7, it was named as the overall winner of the Free-from Skincare awards 2018.  With two more products in pre-production, we look forward to offering you more choices for your sensitive skin in the coming months.

¹ Misery, L. , Loser, K. and Ständer, S. (2016), Sensitive skin. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol, 30: 2-8. doi:10.1111/jdv.13532