Organic skin care brand Leyende is fast becoming a legend in the local beauty world. Made from all-organic ingredients, Leyende products keep you pampered from head to toe.

By Yvette Tan

Leyende was conceived in 2006 by Neva Talladen, who was frustrated with the selection of skincare products out on the market. Back then, organic lines were very expensive and commercial brands tended to make her skin break out.

While on vacation one summer, she took classes in the manufacturing of organic skin care and did a lot of research on suppliers and the local market. Her first batch was made in her condo unit, with her and her boyfriend doing everything by hand. Leyende was officially launched in the February of 2007, and has continued to grow since.

Leyende's products have since developed a cult following. Neva has guested on Lucy Torres's The Sweet Life, where Lucy declared that she loves Leyende's skin butter. Model and columnist Rissa Mananquil has recommended it in her column and a lot of makeup artists have become fans of the Face Canvass moisturizer and makeup base.

What sets Leyende apart from other skin care lines is its insistence in using ingredients and materials from certified organic sources where the planting and harvesting process doesn’t include chemical fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides. This means no synthetic chemical residue and less chances for allergic reactions.

Products include organic essential oils from Australia and organic shea butter from West Africa. The brand is enthusiastic about using more local products, but can only do so once a rigid organic certification program for local suppliers is in place.

Some people have reported lesser skin problems after using Leyende for some time. The brand's packaging is equally earth-friendly. Most of the brand's packaging is made from recycled plastic, while all of it is recyclable. As a green incentive, the brand gives away a mini body butter free for every six empty full-sized containers returned (be sure to wash them first!).



Leyende has a wide range of products to choose from, from hair products to body scrubs to colognes to post-pregnancy creams, all of them in classic scents such as strawberry.



Try the No Rumple Silk Skin Butter (P380), a mineral oil-free shea butter that's non-greasy yet leaves skin soft and supple after just a few applications.



There's also the Face Canvas face moisturizer and makeup base (P450), a non-greasy moisturizer that doubles as a makeup primer. It has natural SPF and is good even for super oily skin.



The Shake It Off Body Exfoliant (P450), with its smells-so-good-you-can-almost-eat-it scents is a yummy way to get rid of dead skin cells and the Kiss Kiss Balm Balm (P200) lip balm is a fast and fun way to get your puckers soft and kissable.



The petroleum and paraben-free product also doubles as a moisturizer for cuticles and a balm for minor cuts and burns.

With such effective, earth-friendly, and most of all, fun to use products,it's no wonder that Leyende is fast becoming the stuff of legend.

Leyende can be found through various dealers on its website, www.leyende.multiply.com, and inside Crossings Department Store, Shangri-la Plaza Mall.