This month we’re all about keeping that summer glow shining right through the year as we chat to natural skincare company Naya.

We spoke to founder Sarah Zimmer to learn more about Naya, their ethics and just what ingredients keep skin feeling and looking youthful, glowing and nourished – as well as help support a sustainable environment.

Tell us about Naya!

Naya is a new ‘green’ skincare company. We use only bioactive botanicals sourced from South America. Our products are 100% green and without filler ingredients that have no purpose nor effect. Our range is expertly crafted by a professional formulator and aroma therapist and made in Germany.

Our promise to customers is that our products are free from harmful and unethical ingredients, synthetic fragrances, colourants, parabens, mineral oils, silicones, sulphates and other nasties.

We are PETA certified, 100% vegan and our packaging is completely recyclable. In addition, we’re looking to be part of the B Corporation Community whose mission is to be purpose-driven creating benefits for all stakeholders, not just shareholders.

We are not certified organic as some of our ingredients are sourced via our community network of indigenous people who wildly collect the ingredients from the rainforest. Sustainability is important to us and we work only with farmers who properly care for the environment.

We set out to create an ethical brand that is luxurious, effective yet affordable. Our oils have been tested by labs in South America and Germany, and is suitable for all skin types and ages, including sensitive skin. We cannot stop the ageing process, but we can create products that support the concept of ‘ageing-well’ in a natural way.

Our Everyday Face Oil with pure Cacay Oil (our star ingredient) was launched in April this year and ever since we have been receiving very positive feedback from our customers, which makes all the effort worthwhile.

Naya – produced with care and integrity – we offer your skin more.

Why did you choose to start a business in ethically sourced skincare products?

I didn’t see it as a choice but a necessity. As the world’s population grows and more countries move from developing to developed, the demand for everything is increasing; from food to energy usage to travel and services. On top of that, the divide between the haves and have nots is increasing. This is putting a huge strain on our planet economically and environmentally.

I don’t believe we can or should stop progress but we must develop a more sustainable way of living so that generations of people after us can enjoy what we have. It is our responsibility to ensure we leave a place better than, if not as good as, the state we found it. After all, we are just a tourist on this planet, allowed to enjoy it for a brief moment.

What can people do to help the cruelty-free initiative?

Sadly, laws around this topic are archaic. It is upsetting to observe that the United States – along with a majority of countries have not banned this outdated practice altogether. It is even scarier that a few countries actually mandate animal testing for all cosmetics before it’s sold in their country. Furthermore, there is little policy around testing practices so many of these experiments are far from humane.

There are some changes on the horizon but it could take a while. For now, look for products that carry the PETA certification and/or leaping bunny logo. These organisations take brands through a rigorous processes to ensure that no animals are harmed in the making of a product. Naya is cruelty-free and PETA certified. We are undergoing the leaping bunny certification.

What make the products in your skincare special – and what ones should consumers look to avoid?

All our products are expertly formulated with bioactive botanicals – substances that have therapeutic effects on living tissues. Our bioactive ingredients are rich in essential fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins to provide the nutrients needed to nourish and protect the skin from free radicals and keep it deeply hydrated. The result is naturally beautiful balanced skin from inside out.

Our ingredients are sourced mostly from South America and our star ingredient, Cacay Oil, is unique to this region. It is an incredible powerhouse as it has three times more retinol than Rosehip Oil, and contains 50% more vitamin E and twice the amount of linoleic acid than Argan Oil. The effectiveness of our oils have been tested so we’re confident they deliver results.

Our products also go through rigorous safety assessments so customers can buy with peace of mind that our products are of the highest standard.

We avoid a range of unethical, questionable ingredients including alcohol (dent.), artificial fragrance, high and unsafe levels of essential oils, parabens, petro chemicals, PEGs, silicones, SLS, SLES and many others that are not plant-powered.

I would advise everyone to take an interest in the ingredients that are being used in their skincare and beauty products. Learn which ones are harmful, understand what can cause (common) allergies and decide if a chemically created product is really what you should be putting on your skin.

Why did you choose The Accountancy Partnership?

They met all my needs and requirements when I started the business. I shopped around and compared them to other accountancies, from one-person shops to bigger accountancy firms. I felt that TAP provided the perfect balance between value and service. As a new kid on the block one needs to carefully manage the money available and still ensure professionalism.

TAP are a small organisation so they understand my mind-set and what my needs are to effectively support me in the early stages of my start up. TAP’s team is super responsive responding to queries within the same day, which I highly appreciate – especially when working towards a deadline. While I have a dedicated accountant, TAP work as a team so I am well looked after even when my accountant isn’t available.

Overall I find the team very friendly, helpful and supportive.

Would you recommend The Accountancy Partnership?

Yes, I’d be happy to recommend TAP to other people and in particular to female founders as TAP is female-friendly and is made up of a very supportive team.

What are your future plans for Naya?

We only recently launched and at the moment we are focusing heavily on growing our brand awareness and recognition in a very competitive market. We have recently been certified as ZERO Plastic which we are very proud of considering the increasing importance of this urgent topic to reduce our plastic use.

Over the next few months, we’ll continue working with local communities in Colombia where we source our Cacay Oil from to ensure our oils are sustainably sourced and of the same high standard. And we have some exciting new products in our development pipeline which we are targeting to launch in the second half of the year.