A Sussex company has produced a formula for success and good health in the beauty industry.

St Leonards-based IT&C (International Toiletries and Cosmetics) is reaching international markets with its brand, Body Holistic.

The Body Holistic treatments are described as "formulated to assist the body's natural ability to balance, heal and maintain itself by the use of combinations of essential oils".

The range includes face masks, liquid talc and anti-

cellulite gel.

Director Brian Murdoch said: "Essential oils are the whole organic substances which give fruits and plants their aroma and are a natural concentration of the plant.

"Each has its own characteristics and therapeutic qualities. Through research, we have combined oils to work to give well-being for the body and mind.

"The range has been in development for more than a year. We have been manufacturing for clients around the world for more than three years.

"We have access to professional laboratories and our own chemist on site to make formulae for new products.

"The process is like baking a cake. Anyone can put flour and sugar together but if you do not get it right the cake will be a flop. We know about making excellent recipes to get great results.

"The Body Holistic range was a way of capitalising on our expertise and doing something completely new. We know of no any other toiletry or cosmetic range of this kind with the holistic element in it."

The company began forging links in Mexico after one of the directors read about the market in a trade journal.

Mr Murdoch said: "We began talking to a Mexican-based company called Born Trading, which was run by two people from England.

"They placed orders with us and, with support from Sussex Enterprise, we built a business partnership. We set up a new company together, called Ku Cosmetics, to market the Body Holistic range to Mexico.

"The official launch took place in May and the response during the first few months of trading has been good."

The company is now preparing to expand its sales into Spain.

Mr Murdoch said: "The product has an international appeal and we have chosen Spain for the next phase because of the language compatibilities.

"Mexico is Spanish-speaking so our packaging is instantly transferable to the Spanish market. We are planning an official launch at the UK Embassy in Madrid in January or February 2002."

UK consumers can buy the goods from the Sky Ideal World Shopping Channel or the company's web site.

IT&C was founded in 1998 by two directors, Mr Murdoch and George Payne, who have more than 20 years' experience in the cosmetics industry.

www.ku-cosmetics.com