Behind the Brand

Behind the Brand: Grahams Natural Alternatives

The brainchild of parents with fierce determination and an idea, Grahams Naturals creeped onto the natural skincare scene more than two decades ago. Since then their natural skincare and haircare products have helped eczema and psoriasis sufferers combat their debilitating skin conditions, growing from a humble two products to more than 65 since formulating the first blends from their very own kitchen. Now a firm favourite they've come a long way since their days mixing in the galley.

Here we share the story behind the brand and what inspires them to continue creating their much-loved range with a few skincare tips thrown in for good measure. Read on for one inspiring brand story…

Can you tell us a bit about the Grahams journey and how you got to where you are today?

Grahams started about 21 years ago in the aim to help Geoff Graham’s (the founder) son Ryan overcome his severe eczema. Geoff was one of the worst reported cases of Eczema as a 3-month-old baby back in the Royal children’s hospital in Melbourne that specialists had seen at that time. Throughout Geoff’s life he used cortisones and steroids that had a real personal effect on his well-being and when he passed on the eczema gene to his son, he knew he didn’t want Ryan to go through the same pain he endured. After exhausting all the products out on the market, Geoff and Shannon (wife) knew they had to do something to help their son. That’s when their first products, the C+ cream and Bath oil were created in their very own kitchen. 21 years forward and lots of hard work and determination, Grahams now have around 65 products in the range that help a wide range of skin conditions and we ship and export all around the world helping thousands of people every day. Even pets!


How do your products differ from others specialising in natural skincare?

Grahams was one of the first brands in Australia to register our products as Class I Medical Devices within our industry. We hold a range of products within our Therapeutic range that are registered as Class I Medical Devices to ensure Grahams is always advancing and meeting the above standards of being the specialists in the natural treatment of skin problems. This not only ensures that the ingredients are formulated for the specific skin condition we are claiming, but also gives the user of the product confidence in using Grahams products for the intended purpose.


Which skin types are your products best-suited to?

The great thing about Grahams products is that they are suitable for all skin types! Because of the ingredients we use, all of our products are ideal for people who have sensitive skin, dry skin, eczema prone skin, (or any other skin condition skin). Because our products are formulated especially for people with skin conditions, they are definitely best suited to anyone who suffers with these conditions or who struggles with sensitive, dry skin.


Tell us about your new SunClear Sunscreen. How does it work and what sets it apart from other sunscreens?

Our SunClear Sunscreen was one of our amazing products back in the early days, however a couple of years ago we took it off the market to make a new and improved formula. We based the formula off the old one to ensure we were bringing out one of the best natural sunscreens Australia could offer. Its natural ingredients make it one of the only vegan sunscreens in Australia, formulated especially for those with sensitive skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea. Most sunscreens have chemicals and preservatives that can affect those with vulnerable skin in negative ways which is why we created this sunscreen. We also have one of the best formulas on the market as we do not use water in our formulation, are preservative free, and we only use ingredients that helps to protect you from the sun’s harsh rays. SunClear, unlike other sunscreens, allows your skin to breathe and keep its moisture which is extra important to those who suffer from skin irritation. Other benefits of our Sunscreen include SPF 40, 2-hour water resistant, microfine zinc oxide with no chemical UVA/ UVB filters and Reef Friendly. SunClear is one of Australia’s best natural Reef Friendly Sunscreens, as coral bleaching is a huge problem all around world, and we pride ourselves on keeping the environment safe through our products!

 

Do you have any tips for how to care for sensitive skin in the cooler months?

Wintertime can be a huge struggle for people suffering from skin conditions or sensitive skin. A few tips that we can give include:

1.       Avoid taking extremely hot showers. This is probably the hardest ones as hot showers in winter is the best feeling, however the hot water actually enlarges your pores causing it to dry out quicker. We suggest before a shower applying an oil-based product like our Bath oil to prevent the water entering the skin, as well as using warm water.

2.       Dress in layers. Try wearing thinner layers that you can remove one at a time, rather than thick, heavy clothing. Also be mindful of what fabric you wear, as certain fabrics like nylon, wool or rough linen can irritate the skin

3.       Moisturise! This one may seem obvious, but moisturising will be your best friend. A thick moisturiser can help prevent dry skin and should be applied at least three times a day!

4.       Pat your skin dry when you hop out of the shower. As your skin is more sensitive during these months, rubbing it with a towel will scratch your skin and cause further irritation.


If you had to choose one product you couldn’t live without, which would it be and why?

This one is extremely hard as we love every product in the range! But if we had to pick one that is very versatile and doesn’t get enough praise it would be the Sooth-It Gel. This product was one of the first products in the range and it has so many amazing uses and benefits. It can be used on inspect bites, stings, rashes, sores and basically anything you can think of. We also just recently found out it makes for the perfect makeup primer too!

Sarah Vercoe

Article by Sarah Vercoe

Sarah is a freelance writer and award-winning photographer with a special interest in health, travel, and fitness. Based on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, she can be found hiking the trails of Noosa National Park, or, more likely, chasing after her one year old daughter, Illyana.

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