MEET TERESE LINKE: EDUCATION/TRAINING DIRECTOR, AMALA NATURAL SKIN CARE
A commitment to health and wellness has guided Terese Linke’s career path over the past 25 years. Currently, she is global education and spa training director for Amala, a natural skin care line used in spas and wellness centers across the nation. She works behind the scenes to make sure that the aestheticians that use and sell Amala completely understand the line and how to customize treatments for each individual client. Here Terese shares her natural skin care expertise with Beauty in the Bag and details the benefits of using only natural and organic products on your skin.
Tell us a bit about your background. How did you become involved with green beauty products?
Having a very strong interest and enthusiasm for health—wellness, sustainability, beauty, and fitness have been my life’s passion and inspiration. My primary goal in life is to be conscience of life, meaning, and destiny with a self-felt calling to cause good growth in my life and the lives of others. This has inspired me to follow a career that includes education and training, manufacturing, and sales, specializing in international training of products and healing lifestyle treatments, over the past 25 years.
In April 2006, I co-founded WPR Source, a world-class health and wellness education business development company that specializes in luxury spa and boutique retail. Prior to this, I worked for 11 years in the private education sector and during this time I become an accredited fitness instructor in 1988 and an esthetician and massage therapist in 2000. I have spent over 15 years in sales management and international training for several authentic green companies including Amala and PRIMAVERA. I have a real passion and enthusiasm for the training and education of others, which together with my commitment to my primary goal, has been a major force in energizing and inspiring others whom I connect with both personally and professionally.
Many active anti-aging ingredients like retinol or growth factors are not included in natural skin care products. How can natural products turn back the hands of time?
Rooted in nature’s wisdom, natural and organic products and treatments nurture and feed the skin with powerful plant botanicals. In addition to correcting problems, the right natural skin care products have the ability to create a more healthy and youthful appearance as we age. We need to remember that our skin is our body’s largest organ; therefore, our skin eats too. I cannot stress enough how important it is to choose only certified natural, organic skin care products as opposed to commercial products that are made with cheap, synthetic inorganic ingredients, where some of these ingredients have been proven to be harmful to our overall health and the appearance and health of our skin. Natural products that use organic seed and plant oils actually penetrate deeply into the skin to improve the structure and hydration of the skin rather than just sit on top of its exterior. Natural plant ingredients also help the skin to become thicker and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. They also help tighten and lift the skin, as well as improve discoloration and uneven skin tone that we all experience with aging.
Does Amala skincare have a hero product? Why is it so popular?
Our hero product is without a doubt Amala Rejuvenating Advanced Firming Complex. It  really stands out because it is our most results oriented, anti-aging product to date and the first Amala product with proven seven day clinical results. Since its launch in 2012, it has rapidly become Amala’s number one international best-selling product due to its amazing results. Our customers just can’t seem to get enough of it. I love the Rejuvenating Advanced Firming Complex not only for its fast and effective results, but also for its instant smoothing benefits and ultra-luxe texture. It’s very hydrating without being overly heavy.
Is the shelf life of natural beauty products shorter than traditional products?
Yes, it is. Certified natural and organic beauty products are made from ingredients from nature, therefore do not use any harmful chemicals, toxic preservatives, or cancer causing binders or fillers that you find in more traditional, conventional beauty products.
All Amala products are of 100% natural origin, free of petrochemicals, parabens, and synthetic or genetically modified ingredients. In the world of natural and organic skin care, Amala emphasizes quality over quantity in regards to a product’s lifespan. Synthetic products may offer an extended “shelf life†with chemically-based preservatives, but Amala’s all-natural preservation system allows the benefits of its living plant ingredients to remain fully intact and active. Natural botanicals, used in all Amala products, are the ideal preservatives. Amala’s cosmetic chemists are aligned with nature and use the intelligent properties of plants via extracts and essential oils to harness their innate   intelligent system of anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. By using the highest quality raw botanical materials that are grown in their idyllic setting, Amala capitalizes on nature’s “logic†to naturally fight bacteria and preserve its products.
What is your beauty philosophy?Â
I feel that many women these days spend way too much time worrying about their bodies and a few lines and wrinkles here and there. Beauty is so much more than just skin deep. I believe real beauty is a result of happy, healthy living, and doing good for yourself and others. It is about self-esteem, self-confidence, and being comfortable in your own skin. It is about how we feel about ourselves and how we also teach our daughters to feel about themselves. I believe in aging gracefully. It is not about looking “young,†it is about looking healthy and being the best I can be. Beauty is reflected from the inside, out. I focus on noninvasive alternatives to surgery, like using pure, natural and organic skin care, a healthy balanced diet that is rich in organic, preferably locally grown fruits and vegetables, and throughout my entire life I have placed a very high importance on personal fitness. I embark in daily exercise consisting of combinations of cardio, yoga, and Pilates.
What’s next for Amala and natural beauty?
The natural beauty category is really moving towards high performance skin care that is results driven, with proven benefits comparable to those from traditional beauty products. We are seeing more and more demand for active anti-aging and skin brightening products that deliver visible results without potentially harmful chemical ingredients. Amala is continuing to push the boundaries of what natural ingredients can do, and you can expect to see more and more highly advanced skin care products from our line in the coming years!
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