Sans Sheriff

Sometimes what's not in a product is more important that what's in it.

The hair and skincare line by Lucy Marr is named 'sans' as it is just what's not in it that's so vital. It is without chemicals: the sulfates, silicones, petrochemicals, artificial dyes, colours and fragrances and parabens that so many so-called 'natural' products still contain.

Instead, it contains potent vitamin actives to repair and protect hair from pollutants and damage.

The organic Sans range is "pure and highly active" says Brooke McAlister, the stunningly beautiful chemist at Marr Lab, pictured with Liz Hyndman, Area Manager.

"It is four times more active than other products as it isn't full of fillers" says Brooke. We term it a 'new generation ceutical' rather than a 'beauty product.' The key ingredients are Phytokeratins, much smaller particles than large keratin particles so they're more easily absorbed. Our scalp circulation complex contains Baobab (an African tree) extract."

I've never met anyone with a favourite enzyme before.

Brooke's persinal fave is in the Nourishing Hair Wash. "Alpha Lipoic Acid is my favourite enzyme; it works in water and in fats. It's great for anti-ageing; I use Solgar ALA capsules with it in, too."

"In the body range, the Activator 7 Body Oil ($70) contains lemon verbena which smells amazing and it's been really good for my daughter's eczema. The Baobab Regenerative Body Cream ($70 for 250ml) has a high concentration of Retinol Palmitate in a form most readily absorbed by human skin, therefore expensive to use. A major ingredient is Vitamin A and Omega 3, 6 and 9."

I tried the Sans Nourishing Hair Wash ($36) shampoo and conditioner and commented that while I loved them, I took a while getting used to the fact that they didn't lather.

"The catch-22 of being so organic is that it feels quite raw as it contains no sodium laurate sulfates which make things foam. Some products on the market contain a 'peg' (surfactant) so in reality, they're not an organic product" says Brooke.

Thread absolutely loved their signature hair treatment Nourishing Hair Hydratant Ultra+ - a tiny amount did me for a week- and my hair hasn't felt so soft in ages. Brooke agrees. "It's the most silky luxuriant I've used in my hair in my life." You leave it on ends for 30 minutes and it nourishes with hibiscus extract, avocadin lipids and Baobab.

"I love the product. I love the science behind it" says the woman whose youthful looks belie the fact she has a BSc with Honours and was working at MAC before becoming Store Manager at The Department Store Marr Lab in Takapuna Auckland. Rather than being just a job, she's enthusiastic about it and evangelical about the product. Brooke enjoys the customer side and the training of hairdressers at Stephen Marr salons where Sans is currently exclusively sold. In 2010 she'll be training them in a 'University' for Stephen Marr to educate stylists in things such as what antioxidants actually are and do.

"I love how Lucy is so passionate about it. Usually a company does four trial runs and make changes with new releases. We hired Annette Lasham, a biotech scientist who did culturing in the lab independently; it was so well researched."

The products are packaged in a minimalist white bottle, with a clean and simple design and typography- which is sans serif of course! - and the plastic is PETG, the most easily recycled plastic.

Sans. Don't let your hair be without it.

Words and photos Megan Robinson