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With twenty years of experience in the industry, Wellington-based Amy McLennan knows a thing or two when it comes to makeup.
As an "organic eating, animal and environmentally caring, conscious human", Aleph's clean beauty was a no-brainer for Amy. Some of the reasons why she loves Aleph include being New Zealand made, fragrance-free and leaving the skin looking beautiful, no matter the age of the wearer.
I have worked across all areas, but I really cut my teeth working in film and TV. I almost exclusively worked in this area until I had my first child four years ago. And then I branched out into other areas of the makeup industry.
This is a hard question to answer – I really like to challenge myself and do it all! I love owning a character in film, being part of a team and production. I revel in the immediacy and 'big' makeups or hair required for theatre or ballet. I get great pleasure from being part of people's special wedding days. I like to push myself in the fashion field. But I think most of all I like to work one-on-one with private clients to enhance their everyday beauty.
In Newtown, my home suburb with my kids. On our days together we frequent Peoples Coffee, the many parks of Newtown, the Library and the great plethora of op-shops on our doorstep.
After you've done your makeup, take time in the mirror to really look at yourself objectively. Are your features looking balanced? If you've applied foundation, have you put colour back into your cheeks and lips? If you're wearing lipstick, have you enhanced your eyes? We all get into habits with our makeup – it's about keeping observational and keeping the balance with your features and product application.
"When it's sophisticated, effective and professional, why would one not go clean?"
Use our Shade Matcher to quickly find the most complimentary shades for your unique complexion, or connect with one of our makeup artists for a personal colour consult.
See your recommendations on the next page.
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Face a window with natural light
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A natural gum extracted from the Acacia Tree.
A soft plant butter obtained from the Karite tree (Butyrospermum parkii)
Melts at body temperature.
Softens and smooths the skin.
Prevents moisture loss.
Shea almonds from the Karite tree (Butyrospermum parkii)
Made from the seed of the camellia japonica plant (also called Tsubaki ) and a long-time essential ingredient in both Japanese and Chinese medicine traditions, camellia japonica seed oil has a great ability to boost collagen synthesis, thus improving the skin’s elasticity.
Known as a natural anti-inflammatory and a great protector of the skin barrier, camellia japonica seed oil reduces the transepidermal water loss, resulting in a decrease in wrinkle formation and fine line appearance.
Skin soothing, moisturising and anti-inflammatory properties.
Helps promote collagen synthesis, retain skin elasticity, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
Camelia Japonica Seed
A medium chain triglyceride derived from coconut oil offering protection to the lipid barrier of the skin to guard against loss of hydration.
Pigment dispersion
Moisturiser
Coconut
Natural replacement for silicones. This creates a barrier to the skin with superior moisturising qualities. Made from renewable, sustainable ingredients using green chemistry.
Moisturising, holding the pigment in place
RSPO certified palm/palm kernel oil and coconut oil.
Castor Bean Oil.
A fine and light oil, carthamus tinctorius (or commonly known as safflower) seed oil, is a natural skin conditioner and lubricant. Rich in linoleic acid and highly moisturising, it is easily absorbed and supports your skin’s natural barrier function. The result is a soft, smooth skin texture.
Known for acne fighting properties
Moisturising
Safflower
A fine oil absorbing powder from the European Beech tree.
Oil Absorbing, blurring effect
Fagus Sylvatica(European Beech)cellulose.
Forms part of an emulsification system binding water and oil to form a cream.
Product stability.
Fatty acids derived for RSPO Palm (Elaeis guineensis), coconut (Cocos nucifera), sugarcane (Saccharum), rape /canola
(Brassica), sugar beet (Beta vulgaris), corn (Zea mays)
A natural emollient made of 100% sustainably-sourced coconut oil fatty acids, coconut alkanes help to lock in moisture into your skin while nourishing it. An effective alternative to silicon, this also aids with pigment dispersion without forming a sticky, greasy film on the surface of the skin.
Fast absorbing and light
Offers a soft silky skin feel
Coconut
This light and non-oily skin conditioning ingredient is a natural emollient alternative to mineral oil and silicone. A natural blend of sustainably-sourced, non-drying coconut alcohol, naturally-derived capric acid and caprylic acid, it is quickly absorbed into the skin, leaving a velvet-smooth, non-tacky skin texture ready for immediate make-up application.
Used as a non-greasy, non-tacky, biodegradable alternative to silicone, ethyl macadamiate is an ester made by blending fatty acids of macadamia oil with ethyl alcohol.
It is naturally nourishing yet because it offers better spreadability than its synthetic counterparts, it doesn’t feel sticky on your skin. This natural emollient offers greater protection and increases hydration and skin radiance.
It also offers better pigment dispersion so make-up application is more efficient.
Skin Radiance
Skin Hydration
Silky Feel
Macadamia integrifolia
Due to the rugged and arid climactic conditions of it's native Mexico, this plant produces wax to protect itself from water loss.
Water repellant
Lustre
Film Former
Candelilla plant
A moisturising and emulsifying emollient used for it's antimicrobial properties.
Antimicrobial
Coconut and/or RSPO certified Palm oil
A plant cell complex derived from the Blue Bird Hibiscus plant, this anti-oxidant stimulates the skin metabolism, slows down the natural oxidation process and reduces the production of free radicals. The result is a visible decrease in wrinkle size and depth, as well as an improved skin tone.
High in antioxidants to repair skin damage and help even skin tone.
Slows down general cell oxidation.
Reduces excessive production of free radicals.
Blue Hibiscus
Sunflower seed oil and made of triglycerides of linoleic acid and oleic acid, it helps to restore the skin’s natural barrier’s protection, resulting in greater hydration and a visibly improved skin texture. Also rich in Vitamin E, this powerful anti-oxidant with known anti-inflammatory properties, repairs, strengthens and soothe the skin
Rich in Vitamin E
Sunflower
A solidified version of olive oil
A mineral used to add colour to cosmetics either on their own or by coating a mica substrate.
Colour Pigment
Iron Oxide
A natural ester derived from moisturising jojoba oil, this non-greasy emollient improves the staying power and stability of pigments on your skin while nourishing and protecting your skin with antioxidants and Vitamin E and B. The natural high oxidative stability of jojoba oil allows a longer efficacy of the formula.
Improve barrier function
Enhance oxidative stability of the product
Moisturising
Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba seeds)
A compound of the mineral magnesium and stearic acid for enhanced slip and adhesion.
Adhesion to the skin
Oil absorbing
RSPO certified Palm oil and minerals derived from the sea.
A natural alpha-hydroxy acid, thus a great skin brightening and smoothing ingredient, malic acid is found in fruits like apple and pear. Milder than its synthetic counterparts, it offers a gentle exfoliation process and boosts ceramide production. The result is tighter pores, a decreased pigmentation and a reduction of visible lines.
A silicate mineral which is coated with various other minerals including iron oxides to create various effects from pearlescent to matte textures. Aleph chooses to only work with suppliers committed to using ethically sourced Mica.
Offers colour, texture and dimension to makeup.
Muscovite
Ultra fine powder derived from wood used to create a soft focus blurred effect.
Smoothing effect
Blurring effect
Wood pulp
Sustainably harvested and naturally processed from the fruits of the Myrica Pubescens tree. Found in Colombia
Hair conditioning properties
Berries of Myrica Pubescens tree
A long chain fatty acid used for pigment dispersion and moisturisation.
Pigement Dispersion
Moisturisation
Coconut and Palm oil (RSPO Certified)
Unique to New Zealand, Totarol is sustainably sourced from the heartwood of recycled Totara trees. With antioxidant properties seven times more effective than Vitamin E, Totarol also has antibacterial properties effective at fighting acne
causing bacteria.
Antibacterial
Soothing, Calming
Antioxidant properties
Reclaimed Totara wood
Part of a patented combination of ingredients set to guard the skin against the damaging effects of urban pollutants and blue light.
In combination with other ingredients:
Guards against blue light and urban pollutants
Rice
Traditionally used in Chinese medicine and the Ayurvedic tradition of India, this natural antimicrobial acts as strong antioxidant and free radical scavenger and helps to protect
the elasticity of the skin.
Preservative booster
Helps to protect elasticity of the skin
Red Raspberries
A thick plant oil high with a low molecular weight to penetrate the skin easily for added skin softening.
A skin soothing and softening
Castor Bean Plant
Extracted from the highly fragrant wood of the Santalum Album tree and considered one of the most sacred oils, Sandalwood has been used since ancient times in religious ceremonies, for cosmetic and perfume.
Sandalwood oil helps balance and soothe the skin as well as aiding in toning and firming the skin.
Santalum Album Tree
One of the earths most abundant minerals, in cosmetics used as a powder providing high oil absorption.
Oil Absorption
Mattifying
Silky skin feel
Silica
Derived from the fatty acids from the milk thistle plant, silybum marianum ethyl ester is a sustainably-produced dry oil rich in Omega 6 fatty acids. It protects the natural skin barrier function and helps to soften the skin.
Strengthens skin barrier and helps retain optimum moisture levels.
Creates a silky feel and holds pigment to the skin.
Milk Thistle
An organic cold pressed oil extracted from the seeds of the Jojoba shrub. Technically not an oil but a wax, Jojoba has a very similar molecular profile to human sebum.
Penetrates deep into the skin to help balance sebum production.
Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba Seeds)
A sugar alcohol used as a humectant
Derived from the Australian superfood Kakadu plum, the richest source of Vitamin C known, terminalia ferdinandiana seed oil is a powerful anti-oxidant and collagen synthesis booster. It naturally regenerates your skin and helps your skin to fight free radicals, slowing the appearance of skin ageing, soothes and brightens, resulting in a more even skin tone and a smoother texture.
Antioxidant
Emollient
Humectant
Skin protecting
Kakadu Plum Seed Oil
Creates a hydrating barrier to the skin preventing water loss while nourishing the skin. Cocoa butter also smells heavenly!
High in antioxidants, hydrating and nourishing to the skin and provides a luxurious skin feel.
Cocoa Butter is obtained from the fruit of the Cacao tree (Theobroma Cacao)
A naturally occurring white mineral used in cosmetics to provide opacity, brightness and pigment.
Colour Pigment
Ability to refract light
Titanium Dioxide
Vitamin E used as an antioxidant
Antioxidant properties to prevent oxidation of lipids
Sunflower Oil
A palm-free alternative medium chain triglyceride derived from castor bean and coconut, Tripheptanoin is a non-sticky and non-greasy natural emollient.
A formula enhancer, it helps other ingredients to penetrate the different layers of the skin faster and feels light on the skin.
Nourishing to the skin while assisting pigment dispersion
Coconut and Castor Oils
Coenzyme Q 10 is a potent antioxidant used by the mitochondria of the cell to help produce energy and function optimally.
Neutralises free radicals
Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Evens out skin tone, and helps fade and prevent dark spots by blocking out tyrosinase, a catalyst in the production of melanin.
Microbial fermentation
This superfood grown in New Zealand contains a host of benefits for the skin including antioxidants like Vitamin E, as well as high concentration of omega 3s to maintain moisture.
Grown in New Zealand and up cycled from the food industry, Kiwifruit seeds are cold pressed to extract a 100% natural oil with an extremely high concentration of Alpha Linolenic Acid.
Also known as Arctic Winged Kelp. This brown algae is made up of a network of elastic fibres helping it survive in extremely strong tidal pressure waters.
Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Firming and toning.
Helping reduce the accelerated aging protein Progerin in aging cells.
Arctic Winged Kelp
Sourced through a group of cooperatives of Argan production with the intention of providing employment to women in rural areas. This extract from the Argan Fruit Pulp has been produced to help plump and redensify the skin over the long term.This ingredient is organic, Cosmos and Ecocert approved.
To boost type 1 Collagen production
Fights against "adipocytes ageing"
Argan Fruit Pulp
Used in traditional Chinese medicine for a variety of benefits, this antioxidant rich plant has been shown to offer skin benefits.
Boosts hyaluronic acid synthesis
and increases elasticity
Astragalus Root
A rich butter produced by the fruit of Amazon Native Murumuru tree.
Murumuru butter is rich in medium- and long-chain fatty acids, such as lauric acid and myristic acid, which can help to restore the skin’s moisture barrier.
Fruit of the Murumuru tree, native to the Amazon region of Brazil.
A gentle yet powerful plant-based alternative to retinol. Bakuchiol acts to improve skin texture, reduces fine lines, brighten skin tone, and support collagen production and elasticity.
Improves skin texture, reduces fine lines, brightens skin tone, and supports collagen production and elasticity.
Psoralea corylifolia plant
Preservative
A combination of Biotin and Tripeptide-1 this string of amino acids helps delay hair follicle senescence, facilitate hair fixation in dermal hair follicles to prevent hair loss helping lashes grow stronger and longer.
Improves eyelash length and strength
Synthesised from Amino Acids
A component used in the coating of a substrate to achieve the desired effect of certain colour pigments.
Commercially known as Annatto, the Bixa Orellana plant has been used since Mayan times for it's culinary and many healing properties. In this instance, the seeds are cultivated, sundried and ground to release a potent extract that delivers matifying and pore refining properties.
Decrease sebacious gland activity
Decrease pore size
Maintain Skin Hydration
Mattify the skin
Bix Orellana Plant
A natural, palm-free fatty alcohol used as natural structuring agent and secondary emulsifier.
Improves stability and texture
Naturally derived from waxes found in plants from the Cabbage (Brassica) family.
Texturising agent, improves the feel on skin or lips
Hydrogenated Palm Oil (RSPO) and Palm Kernel Oil
A glass type material used as a substrate coated with Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide or Silica to create colour and sparkle.
Reflective and Pearlescent and irridescent.
Mineral - Silica
Humectant
A mineral used to absorb oil.
A glass type material used as a substrate coated with Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide or Silica to create colour and sparkle.
Reflective
Pearlescent
Irridescent
Mineral - Silica
Wax which exudes from the leaves of the Brazilian Palm tree.
Film Former
Water repellant
Brazilian palm tree known as ‘Copernica Cerifera’, also referred to as the "Tree of Life".
Mamaku, New Zealand Native Black Fern Extract contains unique biomimetic biopolymers
which it uses as defensive and adaptive mechanisms to survive and
thrive in its environment.
Together with NZ Red Seaweed creates a synergistic effect of
immediate lifting and tightening of the skin.
Hydrating, Lifting and Firming
Mamaku, New Zealand Native Black Fern Extract
Preservative
Synthetic
An light, skin conditioning emollient.
Forms part of the active ingredient system
Coconut and/or RSPO Certified palm oil
A component used in the coating of a substrate to achieve the desired effect of certain colour pigments.
Part of a patented combination of ingredients set to guard the skin against the damaging effects of urban pollutants and blue light.
In combination with other ingredients:
Guards against blue light and urban pollutants
Organic Soy Bean
A Clay mineral used to deliver a silky skin finish.
Silky, Velvety texture.
Mineral/Nature Identical
A natural surfactant
A component used in the coating of a substrate to achieve the desired effect of certain colour pigments.
Enhances keratin production while conditioning the lashes, preventing break off allowing for longer, stronger lashes.
Conditioning and Strengthening
Synthesised from Amino Acids
Upcycled and sustainable, Rice Bran Wax is extracted from the bran layer that has been removed to create white rice.
Adds structure to the formulation.
Water repellant.
Rice
Part of a patented combination of ingredients set to guard the skin against the damaging effects of urban pollutants and blue light.
In combination with other ingredients:
Guards against blue light and urban pollutants
Rice
Part of a patented combination of ingredients set to guard the skin against the damaging effects of urban pollutants and blue light.
In combination with other ingredients:
Guards against blue light and urban pollutants
Glycerin and Stearic acid (Palm Free)
Preservative
The high quantities of oleic acid found in this oil give it exceptional skin softening properties. Traditionally Sweet almond oil has been known to assist in the healing of skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.
Regenerating, soothing, and moisturising properties
Almonds
An emulsifier derived from 100% natural and renewable feedstock.
Emulsifier
Coconut and/or Palm oil (RSPO), Castor oil
Synthetic Vegan Red colour
Synthetic Red Pigment
A synthetic red pigment
New Zealand Native Red Seaweed contains natural biopolymers that are known to form a fishnet like matrix that can help hold
water molecules, while also acting as a structural
scaffold to tighten the skin.
Developed using Clean Chemistry to ensure ultimate bioavailability of its active compounds.
Hydrating, Plumping, Tightening
Wildcrafted New Zealand Red Seaweed
An ancient adaptogenic plant popular in Chinese herbalism for centuries, and valued for its high levels of antioxidants to protect the skin from environmental stressors and free radicals. This berry extract has also been revered for its ability to visibly revitalise skin tone and texture by significantly improving cutaneous firmness, resilience, and elasticity.
Increases the skin cells’ energy level and vitality
Helps the skin to adapt to the impact of pollutants, free radicals and mechanical forces
Significantly increases skin elasticity
Visibly improves fine lines
Improves skin tonicity and smoothness
Schisandra berries
A biopolymer produced by an aerobic fermentation process.
Fermentation of sugars with strains of Sclerotium rolfsii.
Ethically produced and Sustainably refined to produce a skin softening butter.
Skin smoothing and softening
Seeds from Karite tree
Shea almonds from the Karite tree (Butyrospermum parkii)
Preservative
Hyaluronic Acid is a humectant capable of holding 1000X its weight in water. As we age the natural HA produced by our bodies declines contributing to moisture loss, increasing the signs of aging.
Hydrating, plumping
Byproduct of the bacterial fermentation of Corn, Wheat and Yeast Extract.
Sodium sulfate a simple inorganic salt and not to be confused with surfactant sulfates such as SLS commonly found in personal care items. Sodium sulfate is used in one of our ingredients to aid with the drying of the resin mix and not a surfactant. This appears at less than 0.001% in the final product.
Is known as the Toothache plant due to its numbing properties when chewed. In skincare it’s known as a source of a Phytotensor Molecule which has Vasorelaxant and antioxidant activities, beneficial for their lifting effect as a fast-acting muscle relaxant while also having a positive effect on the skin’s collagen network.
Stimulates, reorganizes and
Strengthens the collagen network
Antioxidant
Muscle Relaxing aiding in the visible reduction of fine lines and wrinkles
From a natural and renewable source, this olive derived emollient mimics a lipid found in the skin offering additional nourishment and moisture.
A component used in the coating of a substrate to achieve the desired effect of certain colour pigments.
Plant derived sugar
A lipid composed of glycerin and hydroxystearic acid.
Helps colour payoff.
Castor Oil
Purified water
To allow for evaporation in order to set the product. Or sometimes found in very small amounts as part of an ingredient system.
Water
Texturising agent
Polysaccharides produced by an aerobic fermentation process.
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