"With a laugh, Amala founder Ute Leube recalls that “25 years ago, being green meant you were a tree hugging Museli eater.” Fast-forward to 2010. If the word “green” brings to mind peace vans, well, think again. With the introduction of brands such as Amala (which, translated from Sanskrit means “most pure,” in Tibetan, “revered mother, and in Spanish, “love her”) into the beauty world, the territory of green skin care is forging new ground.

Since the stateside launch of this brand one year ago, the German-based skin care line has planted itself as a staple in luxury hotel spas such as the Mandarin Oriental in New York, Fontainebleau in Miami, the Four Seasons in Chicago, and the Jumeirah in Dubai. And, with stunning success, Amala’s founder Ute Leube has bridged the gap between the worlds of luxurious, effective (but chemically based) skin products and environmentally friendly, green skin care.

What is it though, exactly, that makes Amala one of a kind? First: the products work. Proven by clinical trials, in-house testing, and the rate at which the company is expanding, it’s clear that, in efficacy and quality, this green company competes with the La Mer’s and La Prairie’s of the world. Second, it’s Leube’s understanding of beauty—and nature—for that matter, that define the core of every Amala product. Beauty, to Leube, starts with the inside. She explains, “I am completely convinced that every person who is balanced and who is centered and living his or her life from the center of the being, this person is beautiful.” She goes on to explain that this beauty, in turn, “shows in the skin and in the radiance of the person.” Her ideal of beauty, combined with a passion to “create products that improve quality of life, and that have a healing aspect,” fuel Amala’s growth. Her love for nature, and belief that nature provides everything that people need for healing, is reflected in Amala’s products.

Depending on skin type and age, customers can choose from four lines: Purify (best for oily, acne prone skin), Rejuvenate (which helps to tighten and smooth aging skin), Hydrate (for dry, dehydrated skin), and Detoxify (a deeply cleansing body collection). Price points range from $20 basic essential oils to $320 for the the anti-aging Rejuvenating Serum. Drawing from Leube’s rich background in plants, Amala’s products rely upon plants like the Rare Blue Lotus flowers, which infuses skin with all natural vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to prevent and heal blemishes, or Cocoa Bean, known for its ability to stimulate cell renewal, promote circulation and repair skin barrier.

After growing up in the bucolic German countryside, Leube travelled stateside, where she learned about plant therapy. Postponing plans to study medicine, she forged into Native American culture and alternative healing, which sparked her passion in working with natural resources. This summer marks the 25th anniversary of her foray into natural products. In the early 80s, she started Primavera, which started off as an aromatherapy company based on the healing qualities of essential oils. From this platform of knowledge and experience, she launched Amala. For each product, whole plants are cultivated organically and sourced wild in their natural habitats. This, Leube believes, is essential in producing the most pure, efficacious ingredients. Working from a large network of organic farms in lush stretches of Peru, Turkey, China, Morocco, and France, all of Amala’s products are culled from whole plant ingredients, which, Leube explains, help the plants to retain full healing capacities. Portions of sales from each product are funneled back into these small farming communities.

So, for Leube, if she had it her way, the world would be one in which '…people live a conscious life in regard to interacting responsibly with people and all beings, as well as the environment.' Her life’s work—with Amala, with her family, and with nature, are all shaped by a commitment to living mindfully and taking responsibility for our actions, both large and small. If we all start living our lives with compassion, humility, and love, Leube believes that we all can—and should—make the world a better place, one day at a time."

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