Travelling with her husband, Dustin, and their six children has provided plenty of inspiration for Lisa Hoffman’s award-winning range of beauty products (and, sorry, but how much did nonstopmama love Last Chance Harvey, co-starring Lisa’s other half and Emma Thompson? But back to the beauty range). From her evocative signature fragrances – cleverly formulated in pulse point roll-ons, in four strengths to take you from morning to night – to the single-dose skincare ampoules and simple, pump-action packaging of the Spa shower and bath treats, everything has the hallmark of a beauty buff accustomed to scrubbing up – in style – on the go. Nonstopmama caught up with Lisa to find out what keeps her glowing.

What inspired you to create your own beauty collection?

In all my years of travelling, I have learned so much about beauty rituals from around the world. I wanted to create high performance products incorporating the best of these cultures that are both sophisticated and simple to use.

Do you still do a lot of travelling with Dustin and the family?

Yes, we divide our time between Los Angeles, New York and London, as well as trips in between. And it’s so much easier to pack now! The entire line is designed with a focus on convenience.

From the outset, what criteria did you want the Lisa Hoffman range to meet?

A desire to simplify those few treasured moments we allow ourselves for our daily regimen without sacrificing the quality was high on my list. To work with esteemed cosmetic chemists to formulate products that offered real results. My goal was to incorporate the latest technology and active ingredients into products with luxurious textures that would be easy to use.What are your personal favourites in the range?

Definitely my Vitamin A & C Serum. I call it liquid gold. From the way it feels when you apply it to the instant smooth texture it gives the skin; I absolutely wouldn’t want to be without it. When we did the clinical trials on this product and the results came back with 83% of participants noticing an improvement in the texture of their skin, I felt that I really captured what women want out of their skin care. Another product I cannot do without is my Spa Facial Lip Moisturizer. I could never quite find a product that adequately addressed moisture retention on the lips. Either they didn’t penetrate well or I didn’t really see any improvement. Formulating my skin care line was my opportunity to create the perfect lip product.

The delicate scents of the products and fragrances themselves – French Clary Sage, Tuscan Fig, Tunisian Neroli, Madagascar Orchid and Japanese Agarwood – are beautiful.

I wanted to create a collection of discreet fragrances that embodied femininity with intricate aromas and at the same time are practical and easy to wear. My idea was to design fragrances with variations, so the essence of what you love could be translated into a morning, daytime, evening and bedtime fragrance. Working with top perfumers, we developed truly unique scents from essences found in the most exotic and remote places on the globe; then we developed each fragrance into four variations.

The Spa products make a quick shower feel like a pampering retreat. Was that important to you?

Absolutely. In this day and age, we need to take our moments when we can get them. Our Spa Bath and Shower line can turn even a short shower into a mini-escape with sensuous textures and exotic fragrances that leave the skin feeling velvety soft. I find that even just taking a few extra moments to massage the serums and creams into your skin can provide a feeling of pampering. Those little moments of relaxation are de-stressors and contribute to our overall well-being.

Your schedule is nonstop. What helps you stay energized?

I do Pilates at least three times a week. Even when I travel, I like to take a Pilates video with me. I also try to do some cardio every other day like walking or swimming.

What make-up brands and products do you love?

Some of my favourites are Yves Saint Laurent concealer, Shu Uemura mascara and Stila Lip Glaze.

Aren’t you tempted to expand the line into cosmetics?

Who knows what the future will bring. There are so many exciting innovations in the industry that constantly fuel me with ideas for new products and expanding the line, but right now my plate is quite full. At least for now, my focus will be on fragrances and skincare.

What helps you unwind at the end of a busy day?

I draw a warm Spa Bath, light some candles, apply the Hydration Mask and try to slow down my thoughts for a half hour or so and just relax.

The Lisa Hoffman range is available at Harvey Nichols stores nationwide and online at harveynichols.com.

This entry was posted by Jen on Tuesday, January 5th, 2010 and is filed under interviews. You can read other posts in interviews here. You can follow any responses to this particular entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Alternatively, you can always read other posts in interviews, beauty, fashion, health, food, homes and family.