7 Secrets of Beauty & Wellbeing: Dr. Victoria Neymann, founder of VERDILAB
We’ve been intrigued by Swiss-born skincare range VERDILAB, since we first encountered it: a really high-performance super-luxury naturals range, founded and formulated by third-generation doctor, Victoria Neymann. Testers loved it in this year’s trials, and we (Jo and Sarah) have hugely enjoyed using the trio of hero products ourselves, after being invited to try them.
We know many beauty founders and are always in awe of the energy and work that goes into creating any range – which is why we often interview these women for this section, as they have generally mastered the complicated art of integrating work, family and downtime. Acknowledges Victoria, ‘Since I founded VERDILAB, my big challenge is to balance my time. I devote about 12 hours each day to my work, with slightly less on weekends. I miss the days when I had the freedom to pursue my passions – playing the piano, hitting the gym, or playing tennis. But right now, those activities require too many hours that I simply don't have.’
Here’s what works for her, though – to keep her focused, driven, balanced and (we think!) looking great.
Nature keeps me motivated. It balances my busy-ness and gives me incredible strength, so I have made it a priority to be closer to it – rain or shine walking to work instead of driving. Taking in the breathtaking views of Lake Lugano and its stunning surrounding mountains along the way fills me with energy to tackle the day ahead. Additionally, meditation has become a crucial part of my routine which helps me keep my mind clear. Starting and ending my day with gratitude calms me down and makes me feel positive. I highly recommend giving these practices a try - you won't be disappointed!
I deeply admire those who are true to themselves, as it's a rare quality these days. Throughout my personal and professional experiences, I've met many who compromised their beliefs for comfort, status, or money. I am drawn to those who are authentic, transparent, and open about their opinions – such people have my trust. I am no exception to this approach. I've always been open about sharing my thoughts, even when it had negative consequences, especially in my professional career, although I have no regrets about that. In fact, it inspired me to create a brand that aligns with my personal values and beliefs without compromising quality for profit.
Classical music elevates me to an entirely new realm and helps me to switch off. I love Chopin, Rachmaninoff, or Liszt. To unwind, I also immerse myself in nature; I walk or tend to my garden – a wonderful stress reliever. Meditation is a constant companion, bringing structure and clarity to my thoughts. Cooking for my family and friends brings me great joy, too, though I wish I had more time to do so these days.
I find inspiration everywhere. Nature, music, art, science – I draw from all of them. But what truly inspires me are the thoughts and insights of other people. Scientists and artists, in particular, have a unique sensitivity and perspective that I find incredibly valuable. Talking to them helps me tap into new ideas that I probably wouldn't otherwise have considered.
The best beauty tip I ever heard is to accept yourself as you are because you are stunning, no matter your age. Don't change who you are just to impress others. Invest in yourself and keep growing. Make sure you have time for your loved ones and also for yourself. When it comes to beauty, I personally put safety of ingredients and treatments first because the guiding principle of the doctor, and therefore mine, is: ‘do no harm’. I also really advocate avoiding creating clichéd beauty standards, focusing instead on emphasizing individuality. After all, there's nothing more beautiful than being yourself!
I believe in the power of nature to support our skin’s natural healing. VERDILAB’s formulas, which I have created, are 100% natural and free from any synthetic or potentially harmful substances. They are not only exceptionally pleasant to use but are also formulated to benefit your skin’s cells and supports the natural immunity of the skin, thanks to ImmunatuRNA® Technology – to help make it healthy and beautiful. Personally, my hero product from our range is VERDILAB EXTREMELY NOURISHING Rose Radiance Cream-mask (winner of GOLD AWARD and BEST NATURAL in SLEEP IN MASKS Category of the Beauty Bible Awards 2023). It's absolutely divine! I always use it as my night-time treat; with its lusciously velvety texture and super rich composition, it provides me with rested, nourished, moisturised and oh-so-silky smooth complexion the next morning.
I'm a big fan of natural methods of staying healthy and in good shape and avoiding medication until absolutely necessary. One of my personal go-tos is taking ice-cold showers – it seriously stimulates the immune system. But when it comes to supplementation, I'll usually supplement the deficiencies of vitamin D in the winter, zinc and microelements.
Beauty Bible readers can take advantage of a special offer on VERDILAB until 20th September 2023, with 20% off and two free samples (plus free shipping) if you spend over £200. For more details of the offer, click here.
