Kat Burki

Since 2014, the skincare range from Greenwich, Connecticut has been convincing with its special expertise: all skincare formulas are based on the knowledge of nutritional science and offer the skin wholefood nutrition. With success. A good reason to ask Kat Burki personally about her beauty philosophy ...

 

Kat Burki® Skincare is based on whole nutrition – how do you define that?

Many products in the market rely on hero ingredient stories – we do not heal from any ingredient by itself – as we see from nutritional biochemistry, important ingredients are delivered with a cast of synergistic ingredients that help drive down inflammation and increase potency. Antioxidants and vitamin therapy are essential in the complex as well – we look to the whole ingredient deck to make sure high alcohol or other inflammatory ingredients aren’t driving down efficacy and or rendering important ingredients useless. Lastly, we look at all cost to maximize absorption as all healing takes place at the deepest layers of the skin – many ingredients commonly used such as silicone and diméthicone and other pegs completely block absorption rendering the entire ingredient deck useless. It’s this ingredient building as a whole – whole nutrition – that drives efficacy in all our products.

  

How did you arrive at the nutritional biochemistry that is the philosophy behind your skincare range?

Through education, research and years in disease management. Creating policies for disease management – you dive deep into cultures around the world where health states flourish and need to understand their diets compared to others where diets are vastly different, and top diseases – cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, hypertension – all have a direct correlation to our food consumption. Then, look to how nature delivers us valuable nutrients in a similar fashion to how we are creating our skincare therapies to create maximum health outcomes.

How long does it take to develop the products?

Years! While I can develop concepts and techniques easily as I think about this every day – the time it takes to get that to approval can sometimes take years. I just want every product to be as fantastic as the last and have not only superior efficacy, but a sensorial experience with it, be it the cucumber hydrosol light and quick scent, to textures and absorption rate.

 

What surprised you?

It’s funny but we were the first to launch a balm cleanser that didn’t feel like that thick traditional balm texture. When the sample was first delivered, everyone testing it remarked that it was wrong and the gel texture was goopy, etc. -  I loved it! When it launched there was some chatter about the odd texture but now there are plenty more balms that are not that traditional balm texture. So that was a quick and very surprising development.

 

Which was your first product in 2013?

We launched Kat Burki® Skincare in 2014 and it was Vitamin C Intensive Face Cream, Hand Therapy, Power Trio Oil and Rosehip Revitalizing Serum – all still exist! Vitamin C Intensive Face Cream remains our number one selling sku globally.

  

What exactly is the KB5™ complex, the signature ingredient of the whole series?

Instead of filler water or other innocuous ingredients, I wanted to create a complex that uses this binding space within the formulations to infuse with five herbs that help drive down inflammation as well as help co-factor the other ingredients for greater bioavailability. This is another USP for the brand as most skincare ingredient decks have water listed as the number 1 ingredient.

 

Are the products unisex? Male skin is thicker than that of women and therefore absorbs active ingredients differently.

Yes, our products are definitely unisex – men, too, need products that are developed with absorption in mind and delivered with this sort of technology and efficacy. Absorption is our Skin’s Digestion.

 

Why is the newly launched C20 Velocity Serum called Velocity Serum? Does it have to do with a velo, the French word for bicycle?

Yes, kind of! It’s the rate of change over time – usually referring to distance like riding a bike, but here we are referring to skin healing. This is a higher-level active product for us, but delivered intellectually with niacinamide driving down inflammation and 20% stabilized vitamin C.

 

Do you support your routine with nutritional supplements?

I believe supplements should be just that – supplemental. I most definitely do, when low in iron, chasing a cold, or dealing with other issues that disrupt the gut or health. I try to rely on fruits, vegetables, nuts and oils and add supplements when needed.

 

You can do a lot of things wrong with nutritional supplements out of unawareness. What are the do's and don'ts for you?

I think not knowing what you are taking – do your research for sure. No need to overtake them. Also, high quality is imperative – this is one area you want to invest in higher quality.

 

Do you deliberately not use SPF in your skincare?

Yes! SPF does not belong within your skincare! It is a chemical – it will disrupt the other ingredients, possibly inactivate them, and block absorption. Feed your skin the skincare so it can be absorbed to the deepest layer – then apply the SPF.

 

For a Kat Burki® Skincare beginner: the three essentials for the summer?

KB5™ Calming Gel Cleanser, PH+ Enzyme Essence followed by Vitamin C Intensive Face Cream. This will create the perfect canvas for a healthy protected microbiome for active summer months.

 

The best beauty advice you have ever received?

Health is beauty. Good sleep, Gut health and the health of the skin is the majority of it – the rest is decorative!

 

Who is a role model?

My mom – sounds cliché but it’s true and probably true for many people. She was not obsessed with beauty – it was more effortless and a result of healthy decisions, and her warm outgoing personality.

 

Describe yourself in 3 words …

Caring – creative – intuitive

 

 

Thank you Kat Burki.