JOHN MASTERS ORGANICS-AHEAD OF ITS TIME

By Michael Hepworth

John Masters is a New York based hairstylist who has a line of organic products, and who also firmly believes that organic products do a much better job than the standard harsh chemicals widely used in the industry. After settling permanently in New York after stints in Miami . he started seeing clients in his New York apartment, using ammonia-free herbal and clay based dyes from Europe while experimenting with non-toxic forms of hair care.  He opened his first salon in 1994 in the Soho district, and it gained a reputation as the only salon in Manhattan performing services without using toxic chemicals. Obviously ahead of time, Masters had to move to bigger premises in 2001, in fact ten times the size of the original. Shortly after he introduced his line of paraben free organic facial skin care products, and it is now sold in over 20 countries. In 2004 he won the Soil Association Award for the best new Organic Product Line in Europe .

Today Masters still spends time in his salon, but finds himself devoting more time to the product line. Newest entry into the arena is his Moroccan Clay Purifying Mask ($30), specially formulated for oily or combination skin. Key ingredients in this effective mask besides the clay are Batsan Copaiba (anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial) and oat beta glucan ( stimulates collagen and promotes cellular turnover). Other ingredients include the ubiquitous aloe-vera, lavender, sunflower and aspen bark. A must purchase if you use masks on a regular basis.  Eye gels are pretty commonplace these days, but the John Masters version helps reduce puffiness with the key ingredient being oat kernel which firms and stimulates collagen production, and spirulina that nourishes the skin with fatty acids and vitamins. The Rose Foaming Face Wash uses plantain leaf which nourishes and relieves sensitivity and irritation, while rose flower oil treats dry and sensitive skin.

Finally the other product I tried was the Pomegranate Facial Nourishing Oil that contains 14 organic plant and essential oils that instantly penetrate and nourish dry or mature skin. Pomegranate seed oil is a powerful antioxidant by itself, but add in primrose oil, rosewood oil, sage, sweet almond oil and carrot oil, and you have an effective moisturizer.  The strict guidelines that John Masters uses are adhered to with a passion, and all products used must be at least 75% organic, and in many cases 100%. All the essential oils must be steam-distilled and not extracted with propylene-glycol, and all plant oils must be cold pressed. No animals can be used inn the testing of products, and no artificial colors, fragrances or fillers may ever be used.

Website: www.johnmasters.com