Sisters know sea’s secrets

WHO would have thought a common childhood ailment would lead to the formation of a well-known Irish company and shape two sisters’ lives?

Suffering from eczema as children played a surprisingly important part in making doctors Jane and Katherine Mulrooney the women they are today. It led to the setting up of Seavite — an organic skincare range — and to the sisters being at the forefront of cosmetic dermatology in Ireland.

“Jane, our brother James and I had severe eczema as children,” says Katherine. “The only time it would improve was when we would bathe in the sea by our Nana’s house in Sligo.”

Their father Patrick was a scientist with the Department of the Marine. He noticed the difference seawater made to his children’s skin and set about doing something with it.

“Essentially, he tried to bottle the goodness of the sea and we were his guinea pigs,” says Jane.”

He experimented throughout the 1980s and by 1993 was ready to launch a bath and shower gel, and so the Seavite brand was born.

“Seavite is actually 30 years old this year and we’ve been using it all this time,” says Katherine. “It’s by no means a cure for eczema but it has helped. It’s a superb moisturiser and using it has helped reduce the number of flare-ups.”

Neither she nor Jane suffers from much eczema today. “It’s a genetic condition and you’re predisposed to it forever. People make the mistake of thinking there’s a cure. There isn’t. There’s only control.”

Their skincare problems had a huge influence on the girls’ lives. Katherine remembers being acutely conscious of her skin as a teenager. “It affected my quality of life back then,” she says. “It’s definitely why I studied medicine and dermatology.”

The sisters studied medicine in NUI Galway. They were both accepted for the same master’s programme in dermatology in London. Since last summer they have run the Dr Mulrooney Clinic in Dublin together. And they are both involved in the family business of developing the Seavite brand.

“Mum kept the business going after dad died in 2003 and now we’re all involved,” says Katherine. “Our brother James is involved on the business side and Jane and I develop new products.”

“We’re always thinking of ways of improving our product line,” adds Jane. “These days, skincare is all about anti-ageing and our challenge is how Seavite can offer that in an organic and natural way.”

The sisters spend a huge amount of time together. “I don’t know if I’d have the practice were it not for Katherine,” says Jane. “It’s a lot to take on by yourself, so it’s good to have a partner. Also, I have company at conferences and it’s good for our patients as we can run things by each other. They get two opinions for the price of one!”

They are as passionate about skincare as ever and believe in sharing what they have learned with everyone. “There’s a lot of confusion out there about skincare and it’s no surprise,” says Jane. “We’re judging the Image Beauty Awards at the moment and we’re shocked by the number of skincare products there are.”

They urge everyone to avoid the sun. “Exposure to the sun causes the most damage to the skin, followed by smoking,” says Katherine.

She and Jane wear sun factor year round. “I wear factor 30 in winter and 50 in summer,” says Jane.

They are fans of fake tan too. “It’s the only safe tan,” says Jane.

Diet is another factor in skincare. “Your diet is reflected in your face,” says Jane. “No cream will make up for a bad diet. Eat lots of fruit, vegetables and low GI foods. Avoid sugar, which is very ageing. And drink lots of water.”

“Our skin is prone to redness and sun damage,” says Jane. “This is why many scrubs and peels don’t suit us.”

It’s also why Seavite is so popular with Irish people, believes Katherine. “We shouldn’t look to the French or to whatever product Jennifer Lopez is advertising,” she says.

“I use a foaming glycolic cleanser by Dermaceutic three times a week and I have IPL laser treatment every three weeks for rosacea,” she says.

“The paler you are, the safer laser is for your skin which means it’s great for Irish skin. I’m an addict!”

In the lead-up to summer, when we’ll be baring more skin, the sisters recommend exfoliation.

And if you have recurring skincare problems, they recommend seeing a dermatologist.

“Our father was close to nature and he looked to nature for the solution to our skincare problems as children,” says Katherine.

“We continue to use nature to help rebalance the skin. Some cases may need drugs too but we know nature and science can complement each other.”

High profile brands claim to reverse the ageing process and banish wrinkles but which should we trust with our money?

Jane says: “We recommend products that don’t have colour or perfume and we always think products that started in skincare before moving to make-up are better than those that did it the other way around.”

The sisters promote their own brand but they rate other cheap alternatives too. “Aveeno may not be organic but it’s very good and it’s affordable,” says Katherine.

Two more brands that get their seal of approval are La Roche Posay and Dermaneutic.

They also recommend combining a glycolic cleanser, prescription strength retin-A cream and oil-free sun protection for use on Irish skin.

None of these are luxury brands, but clinical tests show they still deliver results.