Welcome to Nourish Beauty Box, we’re so happy to have found you! Please let us know how you founded the business and how the idea of your game-changing products came about.
I'm Rachel, owner and founder of Bedrock in Seattle, Washington. I've been intrigued by business since college. I left the corporate world in 2013 to freelance and started pursuing business ideas.
In August 2016, I was trying to enjoy an anniversary getaway with my husband in California, but I had a raging armpit rash. I was going nuts. I had been driving around with ice packs under my arms and couldn't find anything to fix it!
After the trip, I found a great formulator to help me make a plant based redness cream and blemish corrector + pore minimizer. Bedrock launched at the end of 2017 with two products, Bedrock Balm and Porefector. The name Bedrock is a little wink and nod to where mighty minerals are found. In 2019, I added Freshstick, our mineral + matcha deodorant. We are launching a zinc lotion stick this summer.
How does your brand differ from so many that are already out there?
Zinc, baby. Our products are made to solve skin concerns. Our gentle formulas work for sensitive skin, babies and kiddos. Bedrock products are vegan, Leaping Bunny (cruelty-free) certified and made in the USA. In the crowded skincare space, those things aren't special anymore, and we expect them.
Bedrock has four more advantages : our products are gender neutral, made for sharing.
Where do you source your ingredients & packaging?
Our zinc oxide is from Peru and the other ingredients vary from all over the world. I love my vendors - I work with a female-owned packaging company on the West Coast for my compostable tubes, a local graphic designer in Seattle, and a local bookkeeper. I wrote a fun post about firing our bubble wrap mailers and took lots of time to source curbside recyclable mailers without plastic.
There are no ends to the demands made on a small-batch beauty brand owner. What struggles have you faced in your business and were you able to overcome them?
So many! Last holiday, my Freshstick order was delivered and I found a third of them had bumpy, partially unglued seams. I refused to sell them, so I donated them to refugees and local yoga studios.
I was stuck for a long time thinking about a lotion. There are a million moisturizers and I knew mine had to be different. I didn't want plastic packaging. I didn't want the lotion to be mostly water. It had to be multipurpose. It had to have zinc. I finally thought of creating a lotion STICK.
Glowstick will launch this summer and I'm super excited. You can use it on your face, lips, body and brows. Perfect for on the go, and the tube is super cute.
Speaking of design, I hired an expensive design agency for my deodorant. I liked it, but couldn't make the look work for three new stick skincare products.
One day when I was at the skatepark for my son, the design idea hit me. I went home, mocked it up with magic markers, emailed my designer and she brought it to life. You can see the sporty stripe designs now on Freshstick and soon Glowstick. Be patient. You'll be amazed at what your brain can do.
Who would you say you admire in the business world?
I admire my business owner friends. They inspire me. Erin is the brains behind her local family fireplace business, Wallace's Stoves. Crystal and Anthony built Regal Credit over the last decade. Taryn pours her passion into a successful coaching business called Ignite. Kristi is my newest Seattle friend, making beautiful hand soap at L'AVANT. I'm proud of my friend Crystal who built up her concrete business, sold it, and is now living her best life on a ranch in Texas.
Do you support any charities or movements?
Bedrock loves to give back. We started giving back before we broke even. We donated thousands of products to front-line healthcare workers in 2020 during the pandemic. Last year, we held a "contest" for customers to submit their hometown heroes, and we sent Bedrock to every single entry. School nurses, YMCA workers, dentist offices, salons. It was so fun!
What’s the best part about owning your own beauty business?
Bedrock products are a blessing to my family. They make me feel confident. I personally use Porefector for PMS breakouts and to keep my t-zone matte. Porefector has been a lifesaver for my tween's complexion. My son is usually covered with scrapes or scratches from playing, so we regularly “Bedrock” him before bed.
Besides our products, the best thing about Bedrock is our customers. They are scrappy, savvy, smart and sweet. My customers are hilarious, sending emails when they discover new ways to use Bedrock Balm. Debbie used our Balm for her split ends, Jacquie used our Balm for her dog's scraped nose. Mind you, this is skincare! I'll never forget a cancer survivor in Florida who used Freshtick for painful skin folds. She had tried everything. Our all body deodorant changed her life. Another story is from Michelle. She would get painful shingles and would have to miss days of work. She used our Balm and her skin calmed down much faster so she could leave the house.
Bedrock customers are the best in the world and I love that Nourish Beauty Box mavens are part of it now!
Find Bedrock’s Porefector in our November 2022 box!
]]>Welcome to Nourish Beauty Box! Please introduce yourself and let us know how your brand came about!
My name is Thelma Perry and I began formulating skincare products in 2019 and began sharing them with the world in November 2020. The name Calibrated Skin stems from the meaning of the word “calibrated”. To calibrate something is to make small changes until it reaches its potential, the goal is that Calibrated Skin products can be that small change in your skincare routine that allows your skin to reach its full potential.
Currently this is an individual project but I may someday include family, or have employees.
What makes your brand stand out from an already crowded marketplace?
Calibrated Skin is cruelty-free and we use natural, skin-loving ingredients. Although a large majority of our products are vegan, we are currently not 100% vegan. We pride ourselves on using high-performance botanicals, hydrosols, plant oils, etc… and we research the origin of each of our ingredients.
Whenever possible, we try to source our ingredients from local farms or suppliers in the Pacific NorthWest, as we are based in Washington State. We are also working toward obtaining a certificate in Cosmetic Science.
What has been your largest hurdle(s) to date in the course of running your own business?
The two obstacles that have been the toughest for me have been time and finance. Working a full-time job 40 hours per week in addition to trying to grow my small business has made it very tough.
Without my “regular” job I could not afford to grow this business, and I currently do not have the capital to expand. I often spend time applying for Small Business Grants and hope that I will receive that opportunity soon. If and when I get the grant, my goal is to open a warehouse and hire a few employees!
Who inspired you the most in getting your brand started?
It may sound cliche to name a Youtuber as someone who inspired me, but Casey Holmes Marlar has played a significant role in how I started my brand. I have watched Casey on Youtube since I was in high school and I have seen her grow, start her own business, get married, and start a family. Watching her take the leap to start a business back in 2018 and seeing the grit and drive she had through it all was very inspiring.
It was a Q&A that Casey did on Instagram giving advice to someone who wanted to start their own business that made me decide to take the leap. I knew it wouldn’t be overnight and that it would take a lot of hard work and dedication but seeing someone else go through it made me confident that I could do it!
Do you support any charities or movements?
We had several promotions where a percentage of our profit has gone to different charities / groups. In October we released a Pride body scrub and donated proceeds to The Trevor Project, which is a suicide prevention hotline for the LGBTQ community. We also created a Breast Cancer Box and donated proceeds to BCRF (Breast Cancer Research Foundation). We have also donated locally to Rod’s House Yakima (for homeless youths) and Camp HOPE Yakima (a homeless camp).
My ultimate goal is to create a foundation once I have enough capital, and to be able to give out scholarships each year and donate to causes that are dear to me. My second goal is to be able to offer employment opportunities to my community and enforce fair wages and diversity within the workplace.
What exciting things do you have planned in the future?
Some exciting things are currently happening at Calibrated Skin!. We have been able to source our products to a vendor in Canada and are working on the permits to sell in Europe! I am excited to see where we’re able to go and can’t wait to make a difference in people’s lives!
Find Calibrated Skin’s No Filter Facial Serum in our May 2022 box!
]]>
Welcome to Nourish Beauty Box! Please introduce yourself and your amazing sunscreen brand to our readers!
I’m Julia, one of the three founders of Suntribe. We are an independent company from Sweden with a vision to change the sunscreen industry. We exist because research has shown that ingredients used in conventional sunscreen are harmful both for us humans and nature, and we want to change that. That’s why we always use safe and natural ingredients and base all our choices on research and science.
I started Suntribe in 2017 together with two of my classmates from university. We are now a team of five people bound together by our love for spending as much time as possible outdoors and developing products that are good for us and the planet.
You’re entering into a well-regulated industry with a plethora of mainstream brands that have existed for years. What makes Suntribe different?
What makes Suntribe unique is that we are completely transparent about the ingredients and packaging we use, and that everybody can feel safe using our natural cosmetics.
How do you determine the sourcing of your ingredients & packaging?
It is very important for us to ensure that our ingredients and packaging have a minimal impact on the environment. Between 60% to 100% of the ingredients in each of our products comes from certified organic farming. We source all ingredients as locally as possible and produce in Europe.
What has been your biggest challenges in running your brand?
It has been challenging to enter the cosmetics industry as it is a very competitive industry with well-established players.
That’s why we focused on creating a community of like-minded people and developing high quality products that speak for themselves.
What do you think of larger companies claiming to be reef-safe?
We have found that the cosmetics industry is a rather unregulated industry with a lot of greenwashing and unfounded claims.
Our strategy has been to focus even more on educating customers to help them identify safe sunscreens and to be completely transparent about the ingredients we choose as well as how we have verified that they are safe.
Who do you follow and what brands do you personally admire?
One company that continues to inspire us is Oatly (a Swedish company offering oat-based dairy alternatives). We find their approach to challenge the conventional wisdoms of their industry very inspiring since we are doing exactly the same thing in the beauty industry. Oat milk used to have a rather boring image and the association was that it’s healthy, but definitely not cool.
Do you support any charities or movements?
Yes, we work with a number of organizations such as the Hawaiian Safe Sunscreen Council that is actively working towards banning dangerous sunscreen chemicals worldwide.
This year we have also started a collaboration with One Tree Planted, which is an NGO organising reforestation initiatives in more than 40 countries around the globe. For every Suntribe product marked with the One Tree Planted symbol we plant one tree.
We also regularly support organizations such as Nordic Ocean Watch which organises beach clean-ups in Scandinavia, and are always open for new collaborations!
What exciting things do you have in store for us in the future?
We are currently working on a few new products for the coming season - we’ll be able to share more details soon! Anyone who wants to stay in the loop about Suntribe can check us out here.
Find Suntribe’s All Natural Night Cream in our March 2022 box!
]]>Welcome to Nourish Beauty Box! Please delight us with how you came up with your beautiful brand name Rain Organica and why you founded it?
Rain holds magic. Somehow more life-giving than mere irrigation, rain has the singular ability to nourish & sustain the flora & fauna of this world in a way that cannot be replicated. Rain may be the best visual evidence of prana or life force.
Rain Organica represents my best attempt to bottle prana. I started making my own skincare in 2008 following an all-out war with acne. Circa 2002, I walked away from Western medicine’s approach to treating acne and decided to start nourishing my skin and treating it as a part of my body rather than a battleground.
Tired of not being able to find products on store shelves that I was willing to use on my face due to the ingredients list, I decided to start making my own skincare in 2008, and 12 years later, Rain Organica launched!
What makes Rain Organica different from the other conscious skincare brands out there?
At its core, Rain Organica offers a 3-step routine consisting of 3 products that are perfect for you regardless of your skin type. Oily skin, check. Dry skin, check. Sensitive skin, check. Acne prone skin, yep, these products work for you too. They’re universal, and they’re also made to be used anywhere.
This takes the guesswork out of trying to figure out which type of skin you have. And, the rest of Rain Organica’s facial products? They’re made for you to customize your routine as you please.
Live somewhere dry? Mix in a couple drops of I am Enough Botanical Oil to your face lotion before applying to create the perfect facial lotion for your skin in a dry climate.
Want something other than sunscreen to protect your skin (you and me both)? Pick up a pocket size antioxidant spray.
Desperately need brighter skin? Use Rain Organica’s dedicated night cream to encourage celluar turnover.
How do you source your ingredients?
Because of my strong belief that life force can be diminished by handling, it’s critical that Rain Organica’s ingredients are sourced in the most ethical & sustainable way possible to retain prana.
Our suppliers ensure ingredient integrity and offer certificates of analysis for each ingredient to back their claims on purity.
Packaging is almost as meticulously sourced as the ingredients themselves and great care has gone into selecting the optimal packaging available from a sustainability, product integrity, and health-conscious perspective.
Despite 12 years in the making, what do you still struggle with when running your business?
I’m a scientist, technically an engineer, so it was really difficult for me to figure out the marketing piece.
The other thing I struggle with greatly even if I don’t really see it this way is imposter syndrome. Despite 12 years of research in formulation development plus a day job in pharmaceutical formulation development and a side hobby of researching health and wellness, I still feel woefully unprepared to just start a conversation without researching it for hours. While I could easily talk for half an hour about just about anything related to skincare and wellness, my podcast episodes are proof I’ve got an imposter syndrome problem… each one of the episodes represents about 10 to 20 hours of research!
Who do you follow and what brands do you personally admire?
The Tea Spot, which hands down offers the best jasmine green tea, has been a huge inspiration for building a brand that prioritizes giving. The Tea Spot included giving into their brand practices from the start and exhibits their generosity mindset both through collaborations and direct giving.
Nicole Swartz, founder of Sprout Law, has an amazing podcast Cash Is Queen that is essential listening for any business owner. You’ll find tips about time management and work-life balance in these episodes, and the same is true of Crystal Uncorked, a fabulous weekly podcast about business, life and wine!
And, Nikki Rausch, founder of Sales Maven has been invaluable as a resource to teach this engineer how to speak the language of sales and build relationships with customers.
Do you support any charities or movements?
Yes! Rain Organica gives to Outdoor Outreach, a San Diego based organization providing opportunities for under-resourced youth to connect with nature. We’re also a 2021 community partner for Leave No Trace. We also recently started giving to Sustainable Harvest International.
Each of these strategic giving partnerships harmonizes with Rain Organica’s belief that nature’s health is intertwined with our own.
What exciting things have been happening lately at Rain Organica and what can we look forward to from you in the near future?
Rain Organica has been featured in Well Defined, Fathom, and Clean Beauty Gals.
I have also guested on a few podcasts to talk about skincare, skincare ingredients & your health. Don’t forget we also have our own podcast The Alchemy of Things that dives into topics ranging from skincare to energy healing.
A few of the most popular episodes are :
We’ve also launched our limited release products Shatavari Face Mask & Himalayan Shea Scrub!
Find Rain Organica’s Halcyon Roll-On Hand & Body Oil in our January 2022 box!
]]>We’re so excited to see Purfect in our box this month. For those who aren’t familiar with your journey, pls introduce yourself and how you founded your brand.
Hi everyone! I’m Irina and I founded Purfect three years ago together with my youngest son Dimitre. There is a “mother and son” story behind the brand, but simply put, Dimitre is the brain of the company and the creator of the business model, and I have put my soul and love in our products and they are truly my inspiration.
We are Purfect - a clean skincare brand born in San Francisco, committed to high quality, innovation and effectiveness while maintaining a first-class ethos of protecting our planet. The fundamentals in the creation of all our products are Love for the people and high ethical responsibility.
We use COSMOS organic certified oils and herb extracts, applying innovative technology to all our formulations in order to make products that effectively bring youth, health and softness to the skin.
Where did the name Purfect come from?
The name Purfect comes from PURE + EFFECT = PURFECT Pure and Effective Skincare!
Purfect at its core, is a very authentic brand. What I mean is that we as a brand have decided to be transparent and consistent in its messaging and branding initiatives. Our brand has business values we remain true to, and the most essential of them is honesty.
I understand you have a strong reason for creating your products with as many plant-based ingredients as possible. Please let us know why this is so?
The reason we’re doing this comes from a very deep personal place for us.
To me, clean living means having access to nature in as many aspects of your life as possible, whether it's what we eat, how we spend our time, and the products that we put on our bodies. I never even thought about our daily personal care products until I found one university research paper which showed that the chemicals in women's personal care products were absorbing through their skin into their bloodstream because they were finding it in the umbilical (baby) cord. And it was showing all of the endocrine disrupting chemicals that were in common personal care and beauty products. I was appalled. I began reading the ingredient labels of every cosmetic product in my bathroom. There were all these endocrine disrupting chemicals in my products, and I thought, “There’s got to be a better way. I’m sure we can get just as good results without these ingredients.”
And that’s what got me on this path. After the surgeries and therapies, I went to Bali and Thailand and dove deep into a body and spiritual detox with Ayurveda and the ancient practice of meditation, yoga and essential oils. That to me was the time to discover that Mother Nature really is the master healer.
I cleaned up my bathroom from all the Big Beauty brands and I made my first face cream from coconut oil, black seed oil and ylang-ylang oil. I thought “Wow, OK, this is an area of wellness I should look at for myself.” So, I transformed my frustration into a passion for creating a skincare line that’s good for both the people and the planet. And most importantly, to spread awareness and help women use certified organic beauty products. For me, this deep life changing health crisis was really the ultimate motivator and with the help and support of my son, we built Purfect.
What do you think makes Purfect stand out in the current organic beauty space?
We know that in this busy world there are thousands of small skincare companies in the beauty industry. Furthermore, it can be confusing for people to find organic, luxurious yet affordable skincare. That’s where we come in - following a holistic approach we have the ability to offer all of these things under one brand to our customers.
We believe that if you can’t ingest it, don’t put it on your skin! Considering that skin is the largest human organ and anything we put on it may be absorbed into our bloodstream, we wanted to make products to “feed” the skin with the purest, most organic natural ingredients.
What does a typical production cycle look like and how do you choose your ingredients?
We’ve set many stringent criteria in creating our products and believe that in order to merge nature and science effectively, we needed to work with a great formulator. We found a great beauty technologist with a strong holistic approach plus over 30 years of experience, who formulates and tests our products before any production cycle.
Our production labs are in Europe and the production cycle is under strict European standards - from formulation and testing through to sourcing and packaging, right down to the final product. We go through countless formulations and tests to get to the very best. Our organic active ingredients are COSMOS certified organic. Our White Truffle Creams are dermatologically tested in one of the best labs in Germany.
We also produce in small batches in a controlled lab environment and use organic ingredients sourced from Europe, North Africa and Canada.
We are out to prove that you don’t need to sacrifice your time and money to find high quality clean skincare products. Purfect offers all this!
I truly believe everyone could make a change towards a purer, safer and more honest way of living.
What has been the toughest challenge you faced since launching?
March 2020 was a tough month to launch a startup, as COVID-19 turned our meticulously laid out plans upside down. There was so much we couldn't control last year, but we kept showing up, putting in the work and trying to get better, and that’s what we’re continuing to do.
What can we look forward to from Purfect in the near future?
We're launching a new product this month. We’re happy to introduce to your audience our White Truffle Hydrating Face Cream With Blue Light Protection which is a light and hydrating emulsion that helps protect skin from the blue light emitted by electronic devices that are part of our daily lives – phones, laptops, tablets, computer’s screens, etc…
We’d love to offer all Nourish Beauty Box subscribers a special discount of 30% OFF on all of our products. Visit our website here and use code “NOURISH30”
Find Purfect’s White Truffle Hydrating Face Cream With Blue Light Protection in our December 2021 box!
]]>Hi Emily, we’re so happy to have you join the Nourish Beauty Box family! Please let us know what inspired you to start your amazing brand.
Lovesong Beauty was established in 2020 and we started shipping our hair care collection in February, 2021. We are an independent, family-owned, female-founded company and members of 1% For The Planet. Our products are clean, natural, cruelty-free, vegan, non-GMO and crafted with wind energy.
I worked in the natural foods industry for the last 15+ years as a sales executive leading national/natural food companies, but my real passion is clean beauty.
Take Invisible Dry Shampoo Gel : This product is the first-ever dry shampoo gel plus scalp elixir, and provides key nutrients to the scalp and root for healthier hair from root to tips – with no powdery residue.
Lovesong formulations read like luxury skincare, but for your hair! And every ingredient is meticulously selected for beauty and wellness benefits. Our name was inspired by music (a song from the late 80’s) – bravo if you can figure out the band!
As a haircare-focused brand, what makes you different from the other brands out there?
Our goal was to land on ingredient labels that include more ingredients that you can read and understand vs. otherwise. The active ingredients that we’ve selected are derived from nature, because everything we do is inspired by the beauty found in nature, which is exquisitely diverse, unique and collectively beautiful.
How do you reduce your environmental impact, which is an important issue here at Nourish Beauty Box?
All our products are bottled in glass, boxed with recycled paper, and we use eco-friendly shipping materials including cello tape, green wrap and tissue paper which are compostable and fully recyclable.
Our products are produced in small batches to ensure optimal freshness and potency, while we also conduct testing to ensure safety and stability.
We also believe that natural beauty should be easy on you and on the earth.
Did you face any challenges while running your business and what advice would you give beauty entrepreneurs who are starting out?
Talking about challenges while launching a new business, we’ve had a few (wink)! Our tips for new brands would include double checking all aspects of print, especially your labels!
Another challenge is finding excellent packaging. We were 100% set on glass and finding a specialized pump without a spring (no metal). With COVID, all delivery dates were delayed and doing business with business partners was all virtual – definitely not a typical start-up environment.
How important has social media been for your brand journey?
Social media provides us with a unique opportunity to communicate additional details about our products, like why we created them, what makes them special, how they are made, what ingredients we use and why, our brand ethos, our brand values, our brand mission, etc.
Having this platform to share our brand aesthetic and what drives our decisions has been wonderful, not to mention all the friends we have made along the way – from influencers, to fans, to founders. Social Media has truly been a community and wonderful launching pad for Lovesong!
Please follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok and Pinterest!
What can we look forward to from Lovesong Beauty in the near future?
Please check out the news section of our website as we post all the LOVE we get to this page. We’ve recently been featured in a couple of magazines and had amazing green beauty experts review our products on their blog.
Lovesong is currently developing new items! You can expect to see more hair care and possibly body care from us in the future, but our newest launches (Q4 2021) will be a shampoo + conditioner. Like everything we do, these new launches will be focused on sustainability and include the finest botanical ingredients derived from nature. Our formulations are super-clean and help support your holistic wellness journey.
Find Lovesong Beauty’s Weightless Leave-In Conditioner in our November 2021 box!
]]>
Hi Monica, welcome to Nourish Beauty Box! How did Plant Based Beauty come about?
I started Plant Based Beauty as a hobby that turned into a passion to share safer & cleaner skin-care alternatives with as many people as possible. I’ve always placed a big emphasis on eating healthy and staying active but as I continued to research ways to feel even better and optimize my health even further, I realized one missing piece was understanding the effect that household products had on my health.
I learned that chemicals in household products can be really harmful, with side effects as severe as cancer. This was so surprising to me but also hit close to home because my mom battled two different types of cancer (breast cancer and thyroid cancer). I started to clean out the products in my household and I started to make my own skincare items that led to nourished, healthy skin and I realized I was onto something that needed to be shared with as many people as possible to help them make the switch to safer, cleaner products that actually work. Before I even knew it, Plant Based Beauty was born!
What sets Plant Based Beauty apart from all the other vegan beauty brands out there?
Our organic skincare is made with superfoods and we carefully select only the highest quality, all-natural ingredients. We only use plant-based ingredients that you know and trust - like Avocado, Rose, Spirulina, Cacao and so many more good-for-you superfoods. Our plant-based botanicals come from nature and are full of vitamins, antioxidants and minerals that nourish the skin.
We are also making huge shifts towards becoming entirely plastic-free!
Sustainability plays a huge part in Nourish Beauty Box’s selection process when choosing brands to work with. Please tell us more about your plastic-free initiatives.
In 2020, we moved away from plastic face mask spoons and are providing eco-friendly bamboo spoons with our face masks. We also transitioned to recyclable metal jar lids instead of plastic jar lids which are paired with our glass jars. We no longer use plastic (shrink wrap, styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap) with any of our packaging, and all orders are packed with shredded Kraft paper in a recycled + biodegradable corrugated Kraft box.
We want to feel good about what we put out into the planet by minimizing our environmental impact as much as possible - and these small but impactful changes are so exciting to us.
What has been your biggest learning curve in the running of your business?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned when starting my business is to take the risk even if you don’t feel like you are 100% ready. With any type of change, you will never, ever feel 100% ready, but you have to believe in yourself and you have to take the leap, otherwise you’ll be waiting around forever.
This has been the biggest lesson I’ve learned over and over. And the hard part is that it even shows up with small things, too.
Can you give us an example of how this showed up in your decision-making process?
In 2020 we switched our face mask spoons that come with our Avocado & Algae Face Mask – previously we were providing mini plastic spoons and now we are providing eco-friendly mini bamboo spoons to be more sustainable as we go towards being entirely plastic-free. As soon as we launched this change, I asked myself “why didn’t I do this sooner?”. The bamboo face mask spoons are more expensive and we are absorbing the cost – meaning we aren’t increasing the price of our Avocado & Algae Face Mask with this change – which is what held me back before. But being plastic-free is so, so important to me and I want Plant Based Beauty to be known for being sustainable.
I don’t want to make my business sustainable once it’s successful or when it feels “ready” to make these more expensive changes – I want Plant Based Beauty to be as sustainable as possible now, no matter if the risk is small (like losing a little bit of revenue from these bamboo spoons) or something larger. Act as if you are successful now. Create your brand and live your mission in the way that you want your company to be represented.
How important a role does social media play in your growing brand?
Social media is the main place where we connect with our customers. You can find us on Instagram for skincare tips, eco-conscious tips, upcoming events and more. I love to get to know customers and see our items shared in others’ stories and see the small but mighty impact we are making.
We are always in awe of brands that give back! Do you support any movements or charities?
We are committed to giving back as much as possible and using our platform as a voice for the greater good. Over the last year, we have donated a portion of proceeds to :
Feeding America - an organization focused on providing meals to families in need from job losses and school closings during COVID-19.
Race Forward - an organization focused on achieving racial equality through education, training and pushing the tough but necessary conversations forward.
Rise Up For Children by Operation Underground Railroad - an organization focused on rescuing children from sex trafficking and bringing awareness to the severity of this issue.
We are always striving to be better and give back more. If there’s an organization or cause that’s important to you, please contact us and tell us more about them.
Thank you so much for allowing us to have a glimpse into what makes a superfood brand!
I am so thankful for the continued support! We were able to move to a new dedicated workspace this year and are continuing to share our mission with others. Thanks for following along and please use code NOURISH20 here for 20% off your order!
Find Plant Based Beauty’s Avocado & Algae Face Mask in our October 2021 box!
Hi Christine, we’re so thrilled to have you back on board! To those who aren’t familiar with 28 Litsea, please introduce yourself and your brand.
My name is Christine Cunningham and I am the owner of Boston based 28 Litsea. We offer a line of products that currently consists of small batch lip balms, body scrubs, and body oils made with only clean ingredients.
Creating products was something I started doing about twelve years ago as a way to re-charge from my job as a counselor. At that time, I started becoming more mindful of what I was putting in and on my body. I grew an awareness of the ingredients in many of the products I was using and started researching cleaner alternatives. Making my own products allowed me to hand-pick ingredients and formulate a line of products with the goal of encouraging others to take care of themselves and to feel good about what they were putting on their skin.
How did you come up with such a unique brand name?
I often get asked where the name comes from. Litsea is an essential oil that I have always been drawn to because of its beautiful, bright and uplifting scent. It is an oil prized for its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and stimulating properties. The positive, uplifting and energizing qualities of this versatile oil embody everything my brand represents.
He had a major influence on my life and always supported me. 28 Litsea is my heart and soul that I balance with my full-time work as a school counselor.
What do you think differentiates you from other competing brands out there?
I am proud to be a female founded, small business. Being a one-woman show means that I have the great opportunity to be involved in all aspects of my company from sourcing every ingredient, creating all my products and packaging orders. When someone uses my products, I want them to feel the love and intention that went into making them.
My products are simple steps that can be added to any skincare routine.
How do you select your ingredient & packaging suppliers?
With only a few exceptions, I have been using the same ingredient suppliers for years which has allowed me to build close relationships. I know where my ingredients come from and the mission behind the companies I partner with.
I am always researching more sustainable options for my packaging. Right now, Blended With Flowers Exfoliant For Body comes in a jar made from PCR (post-consumer resin). This means it is made from water bottles / soda bottles that are collected and reprocessed into new packaging instead of ending up in landfills. It is such a great option that I hope will be available soon for my other products.
What is the toughest thing about being a small business owner, and how do you overcome it?
There are so many positive things about being a small business owner and creating your own brand. Like many people, I think the biggest struggle I have is with balancing it all. My job as a school counselor can be very draining and there are times when I have had to make hard decisions which have impacted the growth of 28 Litsea. You often have to go with your gut instinct on what is best for you personally and for the brand. Creating products and running my business is something I am so passionate about. Ultimately, taking risks and making those hard decisions is what helps us grow.
How important is social media to your growing business?
Social media has been essential for connecting with my customers, bloggers, retail partners and other brands. Instagram and Facebook are the main platforms I use. Although the algorithm has made it very hard for small companies, I still value social media for the relationships I have developed and the ability to share the spirit around my brand. I would love to have you follow along with our Instagram and Facebook pages!
Do you support any charities or movements?
Animal rights and being a cruelty-free company is very important to me. All my suppliers are vetted to make sure they have this same mission and standards.
I am also fortunate to have connected with an organization called YW Boston. They are dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. Part of the proceeds from the launch of our special recycled canvas bag and body oil go to support their programs.
Who do you admire in the clean beauty space and do you work with any mentors?
Over the years, I have been inspired by so many other brand founders. Josh Rosebrook is someone who I truly respect and admire. I use his entire line of beautiful products and have been grateful for all his guidance and advice. Last November he chose Wild Citrus Body Oil as one of his favorites in the winter issue of New Beauty magazine. This was such a huge thrill for me.
I am truly so excited to partner with Nourish Beauty Box and have this oil available to all your wonderful customers!
Find 28 Litsea’s Red Ginger Body Oil in our September 2021 box!
]]>Hi Jeannine! We’re so happy to have you on board! Please let us know a little bit more about yourself and how / why you started Tamanu Oil Lab.
We all hit potholes in life and my personal story is no different. By the age of thirty, I had under-gone several back surgeries. I was in pain and had lost my passion for life. I felt numb and like I lost the ability to see the beauty of all the gifts right in front of me. I wasn’t able to connect or appreciate all my blessings.
I decided things had to change! I remembered I used to have a passion for life. I deserved to live a life full of gratitude, and my loved ones deserved a positive and present role model. This is when I found a beautiful group of loving, passionate and truly happy individuals in the yoga community. Through the generosity of the instructors and love of the wonderful people I have met along the way, combined with the mindfulness that yoga teaches, I learned that life could be as amazing as I wanted it to be. I just had to make that choice! I slowly began to become more present and to be grateful for every gift the world has given me and appreciate the love and beauty that was all around, especially the love and sweet spirit of my daughter. I started to live again.
From that point forward, I made the decision to find a way to share hope and inspiration. I wanted to find a way to help people. My journey into the holistic community led me toward a growing appreciation for natural products and the power of essential oils to delight the senses and positively affect the limbic system of the brain! After much research and exploration, I discovered the power of Tamanu oil and knew this was something that could help so many people and decided this was the way for me to share hope and give back!
What does building a company mean to you and what does your logo signify?
Every ingredient in our blends works in harmony with each other, offering a powerful formula that causes noticeable changes to your skin. The essential oils within each bottle produce soothing aromas help wash away stress and promote empowerment, clarity, focus and joy.
When you use pure, naturally sourced products on your skin, you look better. When you look better, you feel better, and when you feel better the sky is the limit in what you can achieve. Our mission is not just to make each and every one of our customers feel beautiful (you’re already beautiful), but to create happiness, peace, and joy in their lives each and every day.
We only use organic, cold-pressed oils in our products that are sustainably derived. Our products are never tested on animals (although we do use them to treat our furry family members).
The clean beauty space is extremely crowded. How do you differentiate yourself from the rest of the crowd?
We know that our customers care about what goes on their skin, and where it comes from, which is why we never dilute our products with fillers or chemicals. Within every bottle of Tamanu Oil Lab, you’ll find a pure mixture of therapeutic-grade essential oils and cold-pressed Tamanu oil sourced from the small, pristine island of Malekula in the South Pacific where the natives harvest it in line with their spiritual practices. All our products are 100% organic, vegan and cruelty free.
Find Tamanu Oil Lab’s Tamanu Radiant and Tamanu Pure in our August 2021 box!
]]>Hi Jennifer! Welcome to Nourish Beauty Box! Can you please introduce yourself and how you started out on your beauty entrepreneurial journey?
I started creating beauty products in my kitchen when I was around 12 or 13 years old - using things like honey, olive oil, raw eggs, and aloe vera to soothe and nourish my skin and hair. I was inspired to start Meraki Botanicals as a passion project several years later after traveling around the country learning about herbs, essential oils, and the many ways plants can be beneficial to our skin, hair, and self care, vs the synthetic & problematic ingredients in most products.
Meraki Botanicals is a one-woman brand, with me being the owner, product developer, marketing specialist, customer service rep...the do-er and be-er of all the things. Thankfully my partner and mom step in to help often, and I have a special group of friends who help with testing products and cheerleading.
How do you differentiate your brand from all the other botanical brands out there?
Every product is handmade by me in small batches to ensure the highest quality and freshness. All the ingredients are vegan and cruelty free, and I'm mindful about buying local, organic, sustainable ingredients, as well as reusing packaging from my suppliers and encouraging reusing or recycling empty product containers.
My goal for 2021 is for the products to be 100% plastic-free and to create an efficient refill system!
We love how sustainable the brand is! What do you do in order to reduce your carbon footprint when creating or packaging your products?
I reuse packaging from my suppliers - boxes, paper, biodegrable peanuts - or recycled/recyclable items like newspaper or paper grocery bags. When able, I source most ingredients locally wherever I am - shea butter, essential oils, herbs, carrier oils, salts, and sugar.
What has been your biggest hurdles in creating your brand?
My biggest challenge with Meraki Botanicals has been time and finances. Running a business can be an expensive endeavor and takes persistent commitment - showing up every day for the business, my customers, and myself.
I'm lucky and grateful to have supportive family and friends who offer their time and resources to help Meraki Botanicals succeed.
The whole process can be a quick week, or a long month depending on supply availability, postal delivery, and my own schedule. Making detailed lists and staying on top of my inventory of products and supplies, as well as only offering for sale what I actually have on my shelves has been crucial for organization and delivery. I've also learned that, for me personally, it's best to get the basics down, launch the thing (website, product, new series, etc), and let time and experience iron out the details until it is "perfect". I can spend forever in the dreaming & planning stages, so I typically will lay out what needs to be done to get the offering out into the world and once I've gotten some feedback, make changes and updates where they are needed.
How important is social media in your business?
Somewhat - in the past, it has felt a lot more important than now to be very active on social media and to have all of the accounts. At this time, I only use Facebook and Instagram regularly, and I'm looking more for authentic connections and sharing what I know with others, rather than landing sales and press. Come connect with me at on Instagram and Facebook!
Do you support any charities or movements?
Yes! Each month, Meraki Botanicals donates 10% of all sales revenue to two organizations promoting equality and justice (5% for each organization). This is important to me because these organizations are doing work to ensure all people feel supported, safe, and able to meet their needs in life. See all organizations and more details here.
Do you have any upcoming launches or news you'd like to share with us?
I started Meraki Botanicals in 2014 and just recently rebranded and updated the products for a 2020 relaunch. They have generally been the same formula over the years, with additions of more nourishing oils and a recent focus on my favorite floral essential oils and hydrosols.
The updated products feel more complete, cohesive, and offer the ability for people of all ages and skin/hair types to use all over skin, hair, and body. I'm grateful and excited to be offering my products in Nourish Beauty Box this year!
I’d love to offer all subscribers the use of code "NOURISH" for 15% off of the entire order here!
Find Meraki Botanicals’ Flora Oil and Flora Mist in our July 2021 box!
]]>
Hi Lissette! We're loved having you in our January 2021 box (which sold out by the way!) and are so excited you've rejoined us for our June 2021 box with your new perfume oil! Please share with us how you started Lilly Be.
Lilly Be has a long history that only until recently grew into fruition. As a teenager, my mother introduced me to my first aromatherapy kit. I quickly studied the text and began mixing concoctions and formulas for health and beauty. Upon entering University I inquired to be an Aromatherapy major. Back in the 90’s before it was a popular topic, the school told me this did not exist and redirected to a more stable career. So, I earned two Master Degrees in the field of Education and worked eleven years as an Educator and Curriculum Specialist for the Miami Dade District’s 25% lowest performing schools.
Throughout those years, I enjoyed my work, but I couldn’t shake the urge to know more about plants and oils. I took it upon myself to become a Certified Clinical Master Aromatherapist because I just loved the idea and I wanted to create beauty and health products, even if it was only for family, friends, and myself. I actually secured my company Lilly Be and website, although I didn’t do anything with them for over 5 years. Lilly Be was just a dream.
Going back to a 9-5 meant working only to pay for daycare. My husband and I made a decision and it was one of the best decisions we have made. I joyously became a stay at home mom. I have been raising my children for the past 5 years and loving every moment of their first years of life. I stayed home with them during the week and, in need of supplemental income, I attended farmer’s markets on the weekends. I sold my products that I had been creating for years as my hobby. You see, I didn’t know I was starting a business. To me I was simply making ends meet. But, my beautiful customers and a series of serendipitous events revealed otherwise. It was here, that Lilly Be was truly born.
After a few short months, I realized that people are in search of quality, organic beauty products and I actually know how, and have known how for years, to produce them. Every day I followed my intuition and pushed fear aside. I listened to my customers, independently studied and learned about entrepreneurship, and built my brand.
Today, we have completed a total brand refresh to truly reflect what our products do for your mind and body. Lilly Be products are not just about skincare, they inspire a state of being.
I am grateful every day to do what I love – work with organic elements from nature and bring people happiness and health all in one!
A lot of growing brands have a strong message as well as a vision from their founders which is vital to securing customer loyalty. What is your vision for Lilly Be?
This is my mission : Lilly Be is grounded in gratitude. We value the most precious parts of life i.e. family, love, friendship, being present in each moment, pushing fear aside and pursuing dreams. We look to nature as our original medicine and as a true example of what it means to simply BE.
I definitely feel we are on track and staying true to weaving gratitude and passion into every project, product or event we do.
I work closely with a charity and raise funds for childhood cancer awareness. I also donate products to families who are newly diagnosed with pediatric cancer to help them manage the stress that comes with those challenging times.
Given how saturated the beauty industry is, what do you think is your brand's competitive advantage?
I am a Certified Clinical Master Aromatherapist. I am also finishing an Advanced Diploma in Organic Cosmetic Science. I was a teacher for over 12 years, with 3 degrees in the field. I have met and worked with so many different people. I have witnessed people from all walks of life manage various forms of stress. I’ve created personalized blends to help them with their needs.
My method of blending is synergistic to target mind and body in a holistic way. I believe other aromatherapist create beautiful blends. Each founder puts a unique part of themselves into their product. Mine is that I formulate with synergy. Many areas of need are reached with just 1 product, from our physical need to emotional and mental. We are certified cruelty free with Leaping Bunny as well.
Do you have a specific audience you look for?
My target audience is wellness seekers. They are balanced individuals (mostly women in their 40’s) who eat well, exercise, and have learned over the years that their skin is just as important as their insides. They have been thoughtfully eliminating toxins from their diet and would like to do the same with their product choice.
What do you look for specifically when sourcing ingredients for your products?
I first seek organic ingredients from suppliers who are registered cruelty-free. I also make sure that they are sourcing ingredients ethically and with fair trade.
I am always looking for new, organic ingredients to continue creating innovative products for my customers.
What do you feel has been the biggest challenge you faced when starting your brand?
I have faced so many struggles. The main struggle was when I started selling at farmer’s markets my first few years.
In fact, I was working harder than ever. Raising children during the day, making product in the evening, selling on the weekend, and trying to figure out how to grow a business! Trusting that I was on the right path was the first challenge I had to overcome. Staying true to my passion, pushing fear aside, and working through challenges with a lot of prayer, visualization, and support from my husband and family are ways that I have continued this journey for 5 years. The challenges are continuous being an indie beauty brand.
Is social media an important part of your distribution strategy?
Yes absolutely. Especially now since quarantine began. I moved my D2C from in-person events and markets to strictly online only. I have my website where I direct all my traffic to now. I use my newsletters and social media channel on Instagram to do so.
In order to replicate the relationships I normally develop with my customers at in person events, I began Instagram Live sessions on Sundays. I showcase how to use products or I bring on special guests who are experts in the wellness industry.
We'd love for our subscribers to know more about the amazing essential oil perfumes that Nourish Beauty Box will be featuring from your brand.
You will be showcasing our Bamboo essential oil perfumes, Be Refreshed and Be Energized. Our glass rollers encased in natural bamboo are also refillable by lifting the roller ball and filling with your own favorite blend of essential oils. Enjoy your keepsake bottle for years to come.
I developed each oil blend to target multiple needs. They can also be enjoyed as an all-natural perfume.
Be Refreshed combines Lavender, Lime and Bergamot in Coconut Oil and Jojoba Oil. This Caribbean blend enhances relaxation and happiness. The aroma transports the wearer to a calm, tropical vacation atmosphere. It specifically targets stress related to nervous energy as the citrus oils work so well with our nervous system. Be Refreshed also promotes a positive state of mind and relieves tension from headache.
Be Energized is my newest blend. It utilizes nature’s energy boosting ingredients of peppermint, rosemary, ginger, and grapefruit. This energizing blend awakens the mind, combats fatigue. It makes a perfect companion for travel, work, study, or any moment in need of clean, energizing aromatic bliss.
Earlier on you mentioned you donate funds to raise childhood cancer awareness. Can you tell us more about your initiative?
Yes, I support local charity Sofia’s Hope, fighting childhood cancer with hope.
I met Marta Blanco, Founder and President of Sofia’s Hope, at a local market here in Miami in 2016. She invited me to be a vendor at their Spring Trunk Show. It was there that I learned that Marta started Sofia’s Hope in honor of her daughter, Sofia who at the age of four was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Sofia endured a year of chemotherapy after which she resumed a relatively normal life. Unfortunately, the same chemo that saved her life also damaged her heart and eight years later, at the age of thirteen, Sofia passed away from heart failure.
Since then, Marta has made it her mission to fight childhood cancer with HOPE by spreading awareness and understanding of childhood cancer in our community, providing service and comfort to the children and their families, and by providing much-needed support to research the late effects of treatment, specifically in the area of pediatric cardio-oncology.
Since 2016 we have been helping Sofia’s Hope raise funds through our participation in their Trunk Shows, Holiday Bazaars, and Silent Auctions. In December 2018, I decided to make a greater impact by contributing products to their Newly Diagnosed Family Kits. I knew our Be Dreamy pillow mist and Be Sunny body balm (both pediatric-oncologist approved) could help the children and their parents with the stress and unrest of their journey and with unwanted side effects from treatment (sensitive skin) and the dry hands from over sanitizing. Both have been very well received!
Lilly Be joined the fight against childhood cancer because I myself have witnessed the trials and tribulations of cancer within my own family. Although all were adults, I understand the challenges families’ face when a loved one is battling cancer. Having to endure that struggle in your own child is a fate that only those families can understand. My hope is that our products can make that struggle a little easier.
Apart from Nourish Beauty Box, where else can our customers learn more about your products?
You can visit my website or if you are local in Miami you can visit one of my partners : Grown, an all-organic restaurant, or Coconut Grove Village Market Place, the official welcome center of Coconut Grove. Both of these locations are amazing and have so much local, organic goods to offer.
Do you have any upcoming launches or news you'd like to share with us?
I will be launching a new exfoliating cleanser and summer cooling mist in 2021. They can sign up for my newsletter to stay in the loop here.
I have also been a contributor at Beauty Independent columns for over one year now and have had local press with Voyage Miami and Soflo Health.
In addition to that, I'd love to offer Nourish Beauty Box subscribers a discount code. Please use NOURISH10 for 10% off their entire order here!
Find Lilly Be's Be Energized Essential Oil Perfume in our June 2021 box!
]]>
Hi Roxane! We're so excited to have you on board this month. Please share with us how you started Cleban & Daughters.
Cleban & Daughters is a family owned, women-led Herbal Apothecary. A co-creation of two sisters, the line is based on our grandfather’s Amsterdam apothecary first established in 1850, founded by M. Cleban. We can trace our ancestors back as far as 1886, but we knew it simply as our Opa’s shop. We grew up spending our summers living in the residence above, vowing one day to do just as Opa did.
In honour of the holistic discipline of the original apothecary, we offer an inside & out approach to wellbeing. Our tinctures, mists & plant salves are made with organic & bioavailable ingredients for maximum potency & efficacy. They are an invitation to experience Mama Nature’s healing abundance. Herbal remedies that do as promised.
Little sister turned plant geek Liana is our Chief Formulator. She dove head & heart first into Herbalism after struggling with chronic illnesses. She experienced first hand what an impact medicinal herbs can have and has been passionately studying clinical Herbalism ever since (and probably will forevermore.)
With a background in retail & operations management, it is her big sister Roxane’s greatest privilege to bring these creations to market.
Besides the long-standing history of the brand being passed down from generation to generation, what else makes Cleban & Daughters stand out from the rest of your competitors?
Cleban & Daughters is one chapter in a 170+ year old heritage of community & healing, and we honour that every step of the way. The work we do is steeped in personal significance, so we feel an immense responsibility to craft Functional Plant Medicine that will genuinely have an impact.
It starts in the formulation of our remedies. Liana is a plant geek like no other, part scientist, part artist. In her world 1+1=3. She has a unique style of formulating that results in a remedy made greater than the sum of its parts. Herbs are grouped for their synergistic benefits, they feed off each other & strengthen each other. She really is such a nerd. In any case, the result is a formula you feel within minutes.
How do you source the medicinal herbs that you so carefully include into all your therapeutic blends?
To ensure the formulas Liana create really sing, we put a lot of work into sourcing. We use whole, bioavailable ingredients found in the wild. We work with local independent farmers whenever possible, but ultimately it is passion & expertise in their crop that we look for when sourcing.
Sourcing small & organic is not without its obstacles. Though we wouldn’t have it any other way, it means we are often at the mercy of Mother Nature’s whims.
To this day I can’t shake the image of billie-goats sleeping in a sunny field in Hawaii. If you know how amazing the Passionflower looks you’ll get why this visual is so captivating.
Sustainability in our processes & packaging are of paramount importance. The plant waste from our herbal remedies gets collected, to be used as compost for a farm down the road. We minimize the use of plastic in our packaging, the majority of which is glass. Our cartons are of course recyclable but also FSC Certified & made from responsible sources. We maintain every step of our operations in California in an effort to minimize our carbon footprint.
The wellness industry is a crowded place to be in. The Covid-19 pandemic has naturally made things worse. Have you had your share of obstacles and if so, how did you overcome them?
Every single day as an entrepreneur is an experience of both struggle & success. We are a tiny business - a full two women strong trying to make it work in an incredibly saturated & competitive market.
We get through it by prioritizing our relationship as sisters first, and that in turn feeds our bond & connection, which then makes our business stronger. It is something really special to work with someone who knows what you’re thinking before you say it, whose voice you can hear in your head while they’re sleeping. How do we overcome it? Together.
Social media has been a powerful tool in promoting a lot of the niche beauty brands we feature here on Nourish Beauty Box. We’d like to know how it has helped yours!
Social media is a beast, and incredibly important for our business. Without a physical brick-and-mortar space, our IG account is a space to connect with our community. Every single comment, DM, like, save, share, energizes our work & guides us forward. We hear stories about our Sleep Tincture helping to finally give someone a good night’s sleep after years of struggle, or that our Salve has supported the healing of their scars after multiple surgeries. The feedback just goes straight to our hearts and we carry that with us when the going gets tough. For practical purposes Instagram is also our calling card, it’s a way for potential retailers to get to know us & get a feel for what we’re all about.
Do you support any charities or movements?
We are proud members of Herbalists Without Borders, a non-profit all volunteer organization dedicated to fighting health injustices locally & abroad with holistic care & medicinal herbs. Supporting our business allows us to donate our Nocturne Sleep Tincture & Warrior Healing Salve, and hopefully others more.
The Tincture is offered to those in dire need of restorative sleep or to help ease symptoms of panic & anxiety. Our Warrior Salve is used to support the busy, over-sanitized hands of street medics on the ground who are caring for these communities in need, or as First Aid for those on the front lines protesting injustice.
What you do for the community is truly inspirational! What are some of the future milestones you have for your brand?
We are in the final stages of production for a Tincture for stress & mild anxiety. We are hoping for an early Fall release, though we know better than to rush the process. Last year the focus was on multiple product launches & building our community organically. This year we are actively looking to grow our distribution & partner with retailers who share the same core values. If you are a small to mid-sized retailer (online or brick & mortar) or know of one we really should be working with, email us (hi@cleban.com) we’d love to hear from you! If you’re not we’d still love to hear from you!
Find Cleban & Daughters' Electra Mist in our May 2021 box!
]]>
Hi Stephanie! We’re so thrilled to finally talk to you about your brand. Please share with us how you started your magical brand Wild Magic.
My journey in skincare began in 2014 when I became increasingly conscious about the skincare products my family, friends, and I were applying onto our bodies on a daily basis. The focus on toxic ingredients in skincare and beauty products was gaining so much mainstream traction that I began doing my own research. I found myself spending way too much time in the skincare aisle at stores, reading and researching (on my phone) every ingredient on the label before deciding to make a purchase.
Before I knew it, I was deep diving into the growing world of clean beauty, my mind curious with questions : what makes a formula clean? Why are they not ‘clean’ in the first place? How do some chemicals impact our bodies? How do ingredients work together chemically to benefit our skin? These questions resulted in nights spent researching the science of skincare - I was thoroughly fascinated. The more I learned, the more I began experimenting with my own formulations at home.
As a daughter of Chinese immigrants, traditional Chinese medicine and philosophy define a significant part of my life. This holistic Eastern practice focuses on balancing our life energy, our qi, through our mind, body and soul. It is about finding harmony in every process, no matter how chaotic it may feel.
I began to brainstorm ways I could infuse these herbs and this philosophy into a brand that I could bring to the clean skincare market.
How did you come up with the name and branding?
Wild Magic was born out of a vision to create simple, plant-powered skincare inspired by elements from my ancestral wisdom. I believe skincare should be a supplement to what our bodies already do naturally to balance its processes. Because Eastern medicine is rooted in plant medicine, I wanted the name to capture just that - the power and magic of plants.
When designing the branding, I looked at the clean skincare market and saw that many brands opted for lighter colorways, but I decided to embrace the other end of the color spectrum : the darker, deeper color tones. The branding for Wild Magic captures the more mystical side of plants, as if you were walking through a lush, deep green forest before the break of dawn.
What did you do before starting Wild Magic?
Before I devoted myself full-time to Wild Magic, I was a public relations professional in a number of industries including travel, healthcare and tech. Wild Magic felt like a calling for me to embark on the journey of entrepreneurship. For a few years, while I was still working full-time, I managed a little soap business selling handmade soaps at local holiday fairs and craft markets. Wild Magic is very much an evolution of that.
I began building the business while I was still working in PR, until March 2019 when I decided to dedicate all my energy to Wild Magic. I spent the rest of 2019 working on everything from sourcing packaging, developing formulations, designing branding, building the website, taking photos, networking and participating in business plan competitions (the PowerUP! Competition by the Brooklyn Public Library is one that helped me significantly during my creation phase). The vision finally came to life in February 2020.
I currently operate Wild Magic on my own, but with endless support and love from friends, family, customers, and fellow entrepreneurs.
With the rapid emergence of so many clean beauty brands in recent years, how does Wild Magic stay relevant and distinct in the marketplace?
I was born and raised in the bustling streets of New York City, but amidst the city's fast-paced energy, my family embraced the slow and timeless wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine.
What sets the Wild Magic formulations apart is the incorporation of many of the adaptogenic herbs that I grew up with (in the form of extracts). Adaptogens help the body respond and adapt to environmental stressors, and when these extracts are applied topically, it helps the skin do just that and strengthen it against free radical damage.
I now work closely with a team at a women-owned U.S. skincare lab to ensure the formulations are created with integrity, consistency and efficacy. They are blended in small batches at the lab, which operates 100% on renewable wind energy. Each bottle is then filled, labeled and packaged by hand with love in my home studio.
Please tell us about your launch collection!
The Open Water Cleanser clears excess dirt without stripping the skin of its natural oils. It soothes the skin with burdock root and kelp, both which have historically been used in Eastern medicine to detoxify the body.
Our Earth Mist Toner hydrates the skin and re-balances its natural pH. It is formulated with ginseng and green tea, both which help the skin fight against free radical damage.
And our bestseller, Moon Light, is a facial oil blend made of ten nourishing botanicals including goji berry, sea buckthorn, raspberry, blueberry, and tamanu. The oils are extremely rich in antioxidants and help replenish the skin’s nutrients while locking in moisture. I try my best to source organic/cold-pressed raw ingredients when possible.
Where are your ingredients & packaging sourced from?
The packaging is from overseas but all the ingredients are sourced in the United States, most of which are done so sustainably. I am working to source more ingredients from local/independent farms (still a work in progress).
Given that you’re a one-woman show, what are the struggles and obstacles you’ve had to face in your business and how did you overcome them?
I faced challenges from various angles, so I will talk about a few here.
Supply chain :
I had a vision of what I wanted Wild Magic to be. It would be simple skincare infused with traditional wisdom. The branding would be dark, a bit mysterious. Coming up with the color palette, the mood, the design - all of that came naturally. The difficulties laid in the logistics.
I started simply by searching the internet and made calls to suppliers both locally and internationally. It was challenging working with suppliers overseas due to language and time zone barriers. But over time, and after jumping over many hurdles, I built a fairly seamless chain made of different vendors, all of which came together all under one roof in my home studio. I assemble each bottle (fill, label, box) by hand.
Financials :
Throughout the process of building Wild Magic, many people had emphasized the importance of knowing the numbers when starting a business. Without analyzing the costs of everything that I was putting into the business, it would be difficult to sustain. I consulted with a close friend who had started businesses in the past, and he helped me build a cost analysis so that I can determine my startup costs and set up a plan for sales in the first two years.
It was daunting for me to tackle the numbers at first, because there were so many different elements to account for. But I knew that if I wanted to make Wild Magic a sustained reality, I would need to. I would allocate a few hours a week on entering costs, tweaking formulas, and calculating what would make the most sense financially. It became a part of my weekly routine.
To help finance the startup costs, I also entered the PowerUP! business plan competition hosted by the Brooklyn Public Library. They offered a number of valuable classes and workshops, as well as opportunities to meet other founders. One of the mandatory classes was all about financials, and it was through this class I learned to focus on important elements and functions in my cost/price analysis. Through this competition I was awarded a grant, which helped fund a good portion of my costs.
Self-motivation :
Aside from the logistics, motivation was and continues to be a significant factor in my entrepreneurial journey.
I was unable to sell at in-person artisan markets, and some parts of the supply chain were disrupted/delayed.
This put a considerable weight on my motivation, given that I am a one woman-show. I could no longer attend in-person workshops that would connect me with people going through the similar experience of building a business. New York was hit significantly at the onset of the health crisis, and given that I share a home with several older adults, I had to be extremely cautious, took on many personal responsibilities, and before I knew it, my Wild Magic business strategies were placed somewhat on the back burner.
If I had to choose the most difficult part of developing and launching this brand, it would be this - the self-motivation. The drive to keep going even in the face of significant obstacles. Given the collective grief coupled with my own made it exponentially more challenging to get things off the ground.
It wasn’t until the late summer, when I began to come out from what seemed like a long winter, that I began to pick up momentum again. I was able to put Wild Magic back into the forefront and focus on all parts of the startup strategy. I actively reconnected with other entrepreneurs who were faced with similar challenges during the pandemic.
And I slowly began to come out of what felt like a long, dark winter. I started getting back into a ‘normal’ routine. I re-ignited my running schedule to two-three times a week (which I had paused since March). I got back into yoga and strength training at home. I started journaling daily again. I am spending more time in the sunshine, soaking up all the vitamins and warmth. I am feeding my soul from all angles, and this nourishment translates into increased energy in everything I do, which includes Wild Magic. Rituals are so important to me, and keeping them helps me stay on track and helps me retain clarity.
What is your distribution strategy in getting Wild Magic out there?
Social media is currently my primary distribution strategy, in conjunction with the e-commerce website. Shoppers can buy directly via Instagram or Facebook with the new checkout function. This allows for in-app purchasing.
We’re intrigued to know if you’re currently supporting any charities or social movements?
It was factored into my business plan to donate a portion of the proceeds to the New York Restoration Project, which helps build green spaces in under-served communities. I have not been able to implement this donation just yet based on where I am with the startup phase, but do plan to in the future. Being born and raised in the city, I understand the importance of having access to green space. Studies have shown that green spaces impact both our physical and mental health positively, and I believe it should be available to all, especially those who live in urban areas with limited access.
Fill us in on the exciting events that are coming up for Wild Magic!
I am currently building relationships with other clean skincare brands that I plan to collaborate with for giveaways, Instagram Live events, etc... It’s wonderful to connect with other founders in the same skincare space. We all rise when we help each other rise. I’m excited for what we can achieve together.
I am also working on product ideas for 2021, and perhaps an in-person pop up event (likely outdoors when the weather gets warm). It would be a great opportunity to connect, participate in wellness activities, talk skincare, and more.
For Nourish Beauty Box subscribers, use code NOURISH20 at checkout for 20% your entire order!
Find Wild Magic Beauty's Moon Light Facial Oil in our April 2021 box!
]]>
Hi Heather, welcome to Nourish Beauty Box! Flower & Bone Supply is such a unique name, tell us how this brand came to life!
Flower & Bone Supply is a holistic wellness resource for the local community and beyond. We help to inspire daily rituals and lifestyles in order to live more balanced lives.
I started Flower & Bone Supply in Jan 2016. Initially I began making skin care products (food-based cooking for skin) as a way to clean up and simplify my own life. After 12 years working on other companies' products, I kept feeling this urge that my “goal career” wasn’t be anything like what I was doing. I was given the opportunity to say goodbye to all that and moved to the mountains of Northern California. I had already got it in my head that I was going to finally pursue nutrition and wellness, because it was something that was growing in me for a long time.
In Humboldt, I got immersed into the medicinal cannabis world, organic and sustainable farming and off grid living…I was such a sponge!! I put on my corporate hat and was figuring out my place in all of it. I had already started dabbling in my own skincare prior to leaving corporate, but after I left and, of course resources were more limited, I really went to town.
I met my current partner and began exploring the wilderness, off the beaten path places and taking in nature in a much more profound way. Flowers and bones were part of the things we would collect…I fondly remember the day when the name hit me. We were out adventuring and hiking. It represents the cyclical nature of life and the earth that we are all just a part of. When we help to nourish the flowers and planet, we in turn help to nourish and heal ourselves and all things that have bones.
Once I started my Masters Program in Holistic Nutrition in 2016, I decided to launch my own website for my products and services so that I could have a platform to market myself and test ideas out.
My own wellness journey started from a young age in the garden. I was diagnosed with ovarian cysts and that journey helped fuel my curiosity to help treat and reverse ALL my symptoms with food and cannabis. This passionate pursuit lead me to my current path of education and inspiration to help others find a better and more harmonious way to treat their symptoms and help bring their bodies to balance.
So many great creators start with a "Why" and we know you have a strong raison d'être for creating your brand. Can you share it with our readers?
Flower & Bone Supply is all about inspiring a life well-lived. The next generation of wellness goes beyond gyms and air purifiers and takes people off their couches and out into the real world for transformational experiences.
This vision was written with my philosophy in mind, since I practice nutrition. It has helped me to define how I work with my clients. To me wellness is about living well, celebrations and self-care. It is about enjoyment, not deprivation. I try to show my clients and customers simple ways to make their rituals absolutely delightful.
What makes Flower & Bone Supply stand out in this crowded marketplace?
There are probably two things that I think makes me stand out. One, I am meticulous about my ingredients, as with the food I eat. I read, research, listen to how the products are produced, what they are really used for and are they really necessary.
An example of this would be Aloe. It’s a fabulous ingredient, I love it, but it is best used fresh, not powdered or as a gel because god knows that it is combined with. Why bottle that?
Secondly, I honestly just infused the products with herbs. I go back and look at old folk recipes and try different combinations that are mostly anti-inflammatory and serve as a nutrient for the body. I find that it produces a much better and cost-effective product. I don’t use fancy distillate or extracts. I was actually quite shocked that there weren’t many companies in that space.
Do you have a particular target audience in mind when you create your products?
They're primarily women who are inspired by the holistic lifestyle. They may have come into it because they are looking for alternative therapies and have always tried to do the right thing but didn’t have all the information to make informed decisions. They try to be conscious consumers, to be present and mindful in their lives, eat the right foods, move their bodies, and follow a clean beauty routine. They are looking for inspiration and real connection with like-minded individuals. They are excited for home cooked healthy meals and to know that healthy doesn’t have to mean abstinence from celebrations and enjoying life.
They are hungry for what the wellness “truth” is in a confusing world full of mixed messages. They are ready to make changes that make the best impact to themselves, their family and the planet.
Because I also am a Holistic Nutritionist, I think of the skin as an organ and part of the delicate balance of systems. When our skin is out of balance, it is a sign that our body is out of balance and I usually start in the gut. People often find me when they have exhausted typical products and diets and find that "simple" is usually better for their skin and bodies.
You use a lot of local, homegrown ingredients in your creations which we love. How do you choose and source your raw ingredients and is there a process you go through to do this?
To me sustainability and sourcing is the biggest part of my business. It goes back to the name and the cyclical nature of life. I don’t see it as a “nice to have” which for many companies is just that - a feature.
To me and my business, it is a standard. You vote with your dollar. It is in the way I eat, the way I counsel my clients to eat, the way I try to purchase. However, the process is a journey and one we are rapidly seeing change as consumers ask for more transparency. It can be SO overwhelming though, to go through all the questions when choosing what brands and products. I completely understand that which I why I hope to be a resource. I will ALWAYS give shout-outs to amazing farmers, products and small businesses because when they thrive, we all thrive.
There is a way of eating that really gets the concept for me, you literally eat as local and seasonally as you can because it is the most nutrient dense and most appropriate for you, in that climate at that time and is also good for the planet. For example, if where you live doesn’t grow bananas, it honestly won’t serve you as well as say eating berries or greens in season that you may have just foraged.
There is a great example finding and supporting small businesses though that I just HAVE to mention. When I was just starting out, I was using organic jojoba oil, in small quantities but choosing the best options I had at the time. Then I ended up finding this incredible supplier Pure Jojoba online, they are second-generation family farmers. I got to tour the facility in Brea, CA, where they literally hand-sort each and every seed. They told me they did this because when you gather the seeds to press the oil you could end up with rotten seeds or even rodent waste! This is simply because the plants are out in nature on the farm so you have mold, disease, pests, rodents, etc...
He showed me the oil before and after the hand-sorting process and I was BLOWN AWAY.
What struggles have you faced setting up and then growing Flower & Bone Supply and how did you tackle them?
I am very thankful to have worked at both smaller companies and large corporations in my previous career. From the beginning I always had an understanding that it may not work, that I had to be willing to lose the investment. For instance, my first year I had $500 - $600 to invest in my products, so I thought if that never comes back, am I ok to lose it? I feel like that kind of attitude allowed to me to make choices that didn’t have me compromise my ethics : Integrity and transparency.
I would not feel bad about tossing something away (or typically I reuse it for my own personal use because I hate throwing things away). I have had several products over the last 4.5 years that I scraped and changed directions on. Since I didn’t produce too many of them at a time, I was able to do that, change up labels and act fast without too much money lost.
Has social media played an important role in your marketing strategies?
Honestly, without social media, Instagram primarily, I wouldn’t be in business. It is both a blessing and a curse as it's great for small businesses who don’t have thousands of dollars to fork over to be in print magazines or ads. It also allows for authenticity and real reviews of products.
My main strategy has been to find like-minded clean beauty bloggers, who are also small enough to just want to review my products. It has honestly been the only thing that works. I tried a few things like ads in the past and I don’t believe it works, nor do I feel authentic. I feel like my product speaks for itself and I will gift it to most anyone who wants to try it out.
This is the most anticipated part of the interview! Please share with us the products that will be showcased in Nourish Beauty Box this month!
The Miracle Skin Facial Oil is my number one seller. I formulated this item to be a multivitamin for my skin. When I started dabbling in skincare, I was also practicing nutrition where you try to get as many of your nutrients from your food. I thought about how I could make an herbal supplement and then I thought about using these herbs on skin. Your skin is an organ and your lymphatic system is just under the skin. It lead me to craft an oil that works for most skin types and provides nutrients and vitamins to help balance and heal.
The Constant Gardener I came up with this year actually. I was listening to a podcast about vaginal health, how the lubes and gels that you get at the gyro's office and for personal lubrication can literally destroy the pH and microbial balance around your intimate areas. Then I started researching all the products out there that were natural that I would personally use. I couldn’t find any that I would, and so formulated my own!
As sustainable businesses, we believe in giving back to our local community in one way or another. Do you support any charities or collectives?
This past June I was able to donate $500, which through corporate matching was able to turn in $1500 for Groundwork USA, which is an organization that helps support low income communities with gardens and sustainable projects. Access to whole foods and farming is near and dear to my heart and is at the base of my work as a nutritionist, so I try to support small farmers and small businesses through the products I use and purchase for my line as well.
For instance, I support only fairtrade suppliers of my shea butter from Ghana, since shea butter is not something that grows or is produced here. It is important that the communities that do produce it are taken care of.
With the BLM movement, I am working on volunteering within my local community to bring farming back to black and brown communities since the ties have been so severed. Charity causes and movements is something I will continue to do because it is a necessity.
Other than at Nourish Beauty Box, where else can we find your products?
I am working on adding more like-minded wholesale accounts and you will find us shortly in Pennsylvania, California, Washington and Oregon at a few retailers. Also my instagram and the website are great places to shop at! I do not sell to Amazon nor will I as I don’t really think my brand aligns to their business model.
What will you be working on in the future and what can we look forward to?
I am working on my thesis next month (yikes!) on nutrition and cannabis therapies, since I have been working with cannabis as another herbal tool for over 8 years now. I am also launching two Women's Wellness 4-week Programs launching in August and October, where we focus on detoxing your life, emotionally and nutritionally, which is great timing.
I am also launching a collaboration with a CBD company here in Oregon where we will be featuring the Miracle Skin Facial Oil and the Constant Gardener.
Find Flower & Bone Supply's Miracle Skin Facial Oil and Constant Gardener in our March 2021 box!
]]>Hi Ahlam, we've missed you! What has been happening with yourself & your brand since we last spoke?
I am so excited to be back with Nourish Beauty Box! Since COVID-19 I really had to shift the direction of my brand since I was mainly doing retail. I started really focus on selling digitally and taking advantage of platforms like Tik-Tok and Instagram. It was nice to really connect with my audience on a more personal level during this time via instagram live.
Besides focusing on sales I took a step back to give back. My friend Lianna Fertig and I started “Free Lunch Fridays.” I came to her with the idea of giving out free lunches to school-aged kids out of her pink cupcake truck since her business slowed down due to cancellations of parties, weddings, etc.
I was recently featured in a book called “Boss Ladies Of Cle” which goes in depth about my personal journey, featuring 19 other women entrepreneurs in the Cleveland area.
I have also been working on new product formulations for both Dirty Lamb and Dirty Lamb Luxe, along with working with a remote designer to modernize the logo, packaging and overall aesthetic. It is a process and it is taking longer than I expected but I know in the end it’ll be worth it. I am giving you a sneak peak at the new logo.
I feel like it represents strength, power and a stronger appeal. My goal with these improvements is to increase brand awareness and to bring the future to present day.
I plan to relaunch at Indie Beauty Expo with my new concept of Dirty Lamb and launch into more retail with two new and improved lines.
You must have had some new challenges thrown in your way during this period of change. Tell us about them!
New challenges always arise as you are growing and doing something where there is not always a "yes" or "no" answer to. I think some things get a lot easier and others more difficult.
I give tasks or hire out when I absolutely need too. I realized that it is a necessity I do all the marketing, sales & formulations. As the CEO you can’t just sit back and expect others to care more about your business than you do.
I am able to take advantage of my brother’s manufacturing and fulfillment facility called Jet Pack based in Akron, Ohio, which has been a huge help. It gives me the space to grow and house my business. I learn a lot from working in this environment. Having my office in the same building that fulfillment and manufacturing takes place allows me to oversee quality control.
Right now it’s about staying ahead of inventory and ordering a lot sooner than usual so I can be prepared for orders. I have had a lot of time away from friends but it has been for the best. I put my business first and it has been the best decision I have ever made.
What realizations have you made throughout the journey of sustaining growth in your business?
I learned how important it is to maintain a friendship with my customer base. This means talking to them on different platforms like Facebook, Instagram Live, Zoom calls, and Tik-Tok. Talking to them, figuring out their skin concerns, and giving them advice that will help them is a must.
I recently added a skin care analysis on our website to recommend the best products for our customers' specific skin type. Each person that buys from Dirty Lamb is equally important to me and their satisfaction with the products and brand means everything to me. Reviews speak volume so I continue to ask for my customers' feedback on our website and social media outlets.
What has been your proudest moment to date?
My proudest moment will continue to be when Dirty Lamb heals someone of cystic or hormonal acne. It has been amazing to me to see how natural ingredients have made such an impact on my customers' confidence and everyday lives. I will continue to strive to help them as much as I can through Dirty Lamb’s natural products.
Find Dirty Lamb's Ultra Day Serum in our February 2021 box!
]]>
Hi Tayler, thanks for being here! Please tell us about your brand, Midnight Paloma, and how it all began!
Midnight Paloma is a company dedicated to clean beauty and hero ingredients. After working in the beauty industry for 12 years, I wanted to set my focus on creating my own brand using clean ingredients. I wanted it to be modern and look cute sitting on your counter but I also wanted it to be something that you would feel good about putting on your body. I love things that are locally made and made to last : concentrated formulas. Self care is so important and I want my products to be a part of everyone’s daily routine.
Before I started Midnight Paloma, I owned a small boutique that focused on beauty products. We saw so many brands over the years, so I learned a lot.
From there it grew organically. To see the company three years later is really exciting!
How do you differentiate yourself in this really competitive industry?
We are cruelty-free, vegan, natural and synthetic-free. We are eco-conscious and are always trying to improve on that. We are 90% plastic free and we are always working towards getting that up to 100%.
What inspired you to create your very first product and how are the ingredients sourced?
All of the sourcing has come really organically. The whole line started off with my interest in charcoal. I wanted a mask that I could use with charcoal, but my skin was so sensitive I couldn’t find one that worked. Everything we’ve created has been something I would personally use or my friends would use. We are always researching solid ingredients that work.
Have you encountered any obstacles in your entrepreneurial journey and would you mind sharing those experiences with us?
Oh I have a lot. Ha! But one of the best things about overcoming obstacles is learning from them. And boy do you learn.
I had literally poured my life into the business with my partner, and to see it fail was a really tough pill for us to swallow. But it lead me to where I am now, and honestly if I hadn’t gone through all of that I would never be where I am today. I also think that starting from the bottom makes you appreciate things more. I remember getting my first big wholesale order after I really started to put my time into Midnight Paloma. I started to cry I was so happy. For someone to want what I had created was so exciting for me. I’ll never forget it.
We love your addition to this month's Nourish Beauty Box, please let our subscribers know what it is and how it works.
The Charcoal + Rose Detox Mask was our first product and it continues to be our bestseller. It's unique for a few reasons. Its powdered formula allows you to mix and tailor it to your skins needs. You can mix it with yogurt, water or honey. Each will have a different benefit for your skin. It’s gentle and has a really simple blend of 4 ingredients. Your skin feels so fresh and happy afterwards, I just love it!
Other than at Nourish Beauty Box, where else can we find your products?
We are currently offered at over 150 stores in North America and online. Getting into Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie was a big win for me, I’ve been shopping at both for years!
Find Midnight Paloma's Charcoal + Rose Detox Mask in our January 2021 box!
We’ve heard so many great things about Herbal Dynamics Beauty and have always been curious about your background. Can you tell us how this brand came to be?
Herbal Dynamics Beauty was founded in 2017 in Scottsdale, Arizona with 5 key products and has been expanding rapidly online and into retail stores and boutiques. We harness the synergy of nature and science to deliver tangible results and real benefits. Our founder, Moe Kittaneh, has always been passionate about wellness and recognizes the importance of healthy ingredients both inside and out. Making natural, creative and effective personal care products accessible remains our guiding principle.
When you choose Herbal Dynamics Beauty you choose natural ingredients, science-based wellness and gentle but effective products designed to help you look and feel your best every day.
What is your core ethos and how does that give you a competitive edge in the clean beauty arena?
Our mission is to be the eminent indie beauty brand positioned to meet the full spectrum of consumer wellness needs.
Colorful products and enjoyable scents emanate from simple, streamlined packaging to place the focus squarely on the benefits and good things within.
From our bestselling Hyaluronic Acid & Oat Overnight Recovery Mask to our Rose Water Calming Face Toner, we offer uniquely curated products featuring natural ingredients designed to serve a purpose, with options for every skin type.
What makes you stand out from your competitors?
We use the best of nature and science to deliver tangible results and real benefits and we hold true to this statement. All of our formulations are carefully curated as well as being free of additives like parabens, sulfates, and phthalates because we firmly believe that what you put on your body is of the utmost importance.
Do you have a specific target audience?
Our target audience is women and men between the ages of 18-65 who embrace a healthy lifestyle and natural living.
We believe everyone should have access to healthy products.
How do you source the ingredients to formulate your highly engaging products?
We work closely with our manufacturers here in the US to ensure that the ingredients used in our products are high-quality and safe. Most of our colors and scents come from botanical extracts and avoid heavy chemicals and processing. Our Essentials™ collection, along with several of our other products, features a variety of organic ingredients.
Even though you’re a fairly established business, what challenges do you still encounter and how are you able to overcome them?
We are now working to break through to a larger audience and to be seen on a greater scale in the US as well as internationally. Expansion on this scale does come with some challenges, but it’s been an exciting learning experience to introduce our products to new audiences and also to see such a positive response.
Fortunately, we’ve had a fairly smooth journey, and we’re blessed to have a large following on social media and in the online community to spread the word about our products.
To what degree is Social Media important in the daily operations of your brand?
Social media is of great importance to us! We thrive on Instagram and it is a large selling point for us.
We love interacting with our skincare community through photos and information that we share on our Instagram. You can also find us on Facebook and Snapchat.
We’re so excited to be featuring your RevitAge™ Antioxidant Transforming Night Cream in our December box! Can you please tell our audience a little more about this wonderful concoction?
We are very excited to include this product in the box because a night time routine is essential to having great skin! This night cream will have you waking up feeling radiant and refreshed.
Vitamin-rich botanical extracts such as Green Tea, Chamomile, Watermelon and Apple target these concerns while Sweet Orange essential oil offers a pleasant, uplifting aroma. We love this product layered with our Hyaluronic Acid or Vitamin C Serum for extra anti-aging benefits! Perfect for any nighttime regime.
Other than at Nourish Beauty Box, where else are your products available at?
You can learn more about us here or on Instagram. You can also check us out at Macy’s (online), Kohl’s (online and in select stores) and internationally at FeelUnique as well as Douglas Cosmetics (online and in select stores).
What press mentions have you had lately? We love to end our interviews on a high note!
Herbal Dynamics Beauty has been mentioned in Daily Mail, Total Beauty, Harper’s Bazaar, The Spa Insider and many more! New customers can use code NEW2020 for 20% off their first purchase on our site. We were also voted Best Skincare 2020 by Best of the Valley in Arizona Foothills and our Rose Water Calming Face Toner recently won Best Toner for Think Dirty Choice Award 2019.
We value our customers’ feedback and will continue working hard to make the best products for YOU! We have many exciting surprises coming in 2021, so stay tuned!
Find Herbal Dynamics Beauty’s RevitAge™ Antioxidant Transforming Night Cream in our December 2020 box!
Hi Stephanie, we’re so glad to be able to finally feature your brand! Please let us know a little about yourself and your inspiration behind creating Chiky Botanica.
My name is Stephanie Diamond. I am the owner + herbalist behind Chiky Botanica.
Chiky Botanica is the lovechild of a longtime appreciation of beauty and wonder, a deep respect of the natural world, and a reverence for the tradition of herbalism and medicine making.
Chiky Botanica’s evolving product line is a reflection of the places that inspire me, of the plants that call to me, and the seasons of the earth. The seed to start Chiky Botanica was planted after a decade spent traveling and exploring the world, steeping myself in various traditional healing modalities and traditions and years of studying Traditional Western Herbalism. Chiky Botanica was created as an homage to freedom and beauty, to being a bit wild yet refined, natural yet luxurious.
What is Chiky Botanica’s brand message?
We believe that self care rituals should be enjoyable and feel special.
We are dedicated to creating highly effective, organic, herbal apothecary products that provide lasting results that you can see and feel.
How do you differentiate your business from others in the clean beauty industry?
All of the products in our collection are carefully handcrafted in small batches with organically cultivated or ethically wildcrafted herbs, in attunement with the seasons and with reverence and appreciation of the land from which they come. The line is entirely vegan and cruelty free.
Chiky Botanica is dedicated to keeping things simple and sustainable, purely focusing on whole, organic ingredients in all of our formulations and taking extra time and care to infuse each and every product with love and lots of good intentions. We are dedicated to keeping things simple and sustainable, through avoiding absolutely any artificial or synthetic ingredients in any of our formulas.
Based on your strong brand identity, who are your specific target audience?
Our target audience is women, age 25-65, who are interested in wellness and a holistic lifestyle. Most of our customers are on the west coast and rocky mountain region.
How do you source the ingredients to formulate your beautiful products?
All of the products in the collection are made with organic oils + essential oils and ethically wildcrafted or cultivated herbs.
In this extremely competitive marketplace, what were the challenges you encountered when building your own brand and how did you manage to overcome them?
The beauty + skincare space is incredibly saturated. When I was launching Chiky Botanica I had many moments of questioning how I would stand out.
I love engaging with customers and meeting like-minded people who relate to my brand. I’ve learned that if you are authentic and original, you’ll discover the people who are naturally drawn to your creations. I am no longer intimidated by other brands in the field, rather I see them as a source of inspiration. There truly is a space for everyone.
As a growing niche brand, does social media play an important part in your marketing strategy?
Our instagram has been a vital means of connection with our customers. We post content regularly and aim to cultivate an engaged community of women who can relate over health and holistic beauty. Our page is dedicated to being a positive space to inspire wellness.
We’re so excited to be featuring your Serene Serum in our November box! Can you please tell our audience a little more about this wonderful concoction?
Serene Serum is our best selling product and for good reason! This ultra calming facial serum is our answer to sensitive skin.
Blue Tansy and Lapis Lazuli Gem Essence help create a cooling experience that is incredibly soothing, restorative and regenerative at a cellular level.
We love how even small businesses can make a big impact in sustainability. What movement does your brand advocate for?
We do our very best to create as little waste as possible. All of our products are packaged in recyclable glass bottles and we pack + ship with recycled paper boxes and packing materials. We donate money to a variety of different charities including United Plant Savers and One Tree Planted. We believe it is of utmost importance to preserve natural ecosystems and plant species for the sustainability of plant medicine in the future.
Before we wrap this up, do you have any exciting news that you’d like to share with our audience?
We are happy to offer 25% off our entire site to Nourish subscribers with code NOURISH25. Stay connected via instagram to learn more about our new product releases, updates and sales!
Find Chiky Botanica’s Serene Serum in our November 2020 box!
Hi Cheryl! What motivated you to kickstart FORK & MELON?
The inception of FORK & MELON was the result of many factors coming together at the same time for me and my family. Before starting to work on the idea, I had built a successful career working for leading global consumer brands over the course of over 15 years, gaining invaluable experience, winning accolades for achievements, creating lasting relationships, and also feeling the frustration that comes from lack of control in large corporations.
I've been a beauty/skincare devotee since I was a child (wanting to try out my mom’s makeup when I was little, and then experimenting with my skincare routine as soon as I hit adolescence), and although there were already many amazing non-toxic skincare and beauty brands available – I’m always trying and loving different ones myself – I wasn’t able to find some of the more everyday routine products that were 1) healthy & non-toxic 2) effective and luxurious/enjoyable to use 3) beautifully packaged with a clean aesthetic and 4) weren’t so expensive that I relegate them only to the guest bathroom. I was initially looking for a hand soap that fit these criteria, and came up empty.
Eventually, after allowing time to heal, soul-searching, talking to family and friends, the idea of starting FORK & MELON started to emerge, which kicked off an over-a-year process of research and product development prior to actual launch.
We currently have 2 beautiful, non-toxic, multi-use products : our Fine Cleansing Wash (a hand soap/body wash/bubble bath), and Rich Hydrating Cream (a hand cream/body lotion), with product line expansion planned for 2020.
It’s a family business (I own the business entirely, along with my husband). Being self-funded has been quite a challenge, but for now it’s worth it in order to keep our independence.
Where did the brand name come from?
The brand name comes from a mixture of influences : At the most basic level, it’s a combination of my married (also my husband’s) surname, and my maiden name : Fork & Melonakos. But “Melon” also stands for “watermelon”, as Watermelon Seed Oil is a signature powerhouse ingredient in our product line.
We appreciate your sharing your personal journey with us! Could you tell our audience about your brand mission?
Our brand mission is to bring clean luxury to your everyday routine without making it complicated.
Simple = ease of mind, ease of use, multi-use. In today’s world, all of us are dealing with so much on our plate, and so we aim to make it a bit easier where we can. Clean = non-toxic, vegan, cruelty-free, recyclable, refillable, sustainable, minimal. Chic = the importance of design, style, an attitude.
I try to keep this mission and brand tenets at the core of my decision-making, and we’re continually building towards this mission, albeit slowly and steadily, making the most of limited resources.
The natural personal care industry is growing larger every year with so many players and brands in the marketplace. What is FORK & MELON’S unique selling proposition?
We fill a void in everyday personal care products for your home : products that you continually replenish, that you want to work, that you want to be healthy, that you want to look nice in your home, and that you don’t want to be as expensive as most of the luxury brands.
Although it seems new beauty and independent brands are launching every day, we’re confident we have a unique point-of-view.
Additionally, being an ethical and environmentally-conscience brand is very important to us.
We offer multi-use products that cut down on the number of products you need to buy. We use minimal packaging (intentionally forgoing an outer product box, and using 100% recycled packing paper when shipping), and we offer large refill bottle sizes, making it easy to reuse your original bottles. We will continually improve in this area as we grow.
Who are your products primarily made for? Are they suitable for those with problematic skins?
Our products are extremely wide-ranging, as they can be used by pretty much anyone (all genders, all skin types), which could pose a challenge in terms of brand voice.
We share our love of art, style, and home décor on our instagram, rather than only showing product shots in every post.
With that being said, some of our most devoted customers care less about the design and brand aspects, and more about the fact that they’ve been searching for years for products that didn’t irritate their skin, and they’ve finally found ours that work well for them and/or help or have eliminated skin conditions such as eczema, keratosis pilaris, dry skin patches and cracked skin, skin allergies, itchy skin, and more.
How and where do you source these high quality ingredients to formulate your products?
We work with a small lab in Southern California committed to sourcing green and cruelty-free ingredients. We source the Watermelon Seed Oil separately ourselves, which is currently imported from France.
What are the struggles and obstacles you’ve had to face in your business journey and how did you manage to overcome them?
There have been so many! Just the sheer volume of research and learning involved, from delving deep into ingredient efficacy, product development, product packaging, figuring out all of the many details in getting set up as a legitimate business entity (registering for business license, bar codes, getting insurance, trademarking…), etc. And that’s all before launch!
Having previously come from positions within large companies where I had hefty marketing budgets and large teams to help execute brand strategy, trying to execute my vision without those things is quite a different thing.
Do you regard social media as an important part of your marketing strategy?
Social media, especially Instagram, has been very important in helping us grow our audience and visibility. We’ve gotten to connect with customers, which we love, and it has also brought us new business opportunities via people who have found us through our social media channels.
It’s been frustrating how Instagram’s algorithm changes have negatively affected the number of people who see our posts, but it continues to be a great way for us to connect to others and provide a first impression of the brand.
Just a few days ago we connected with another high profile taste-maker there who hopefully we will end up working with.
If you connect with my story, our brand message, and/or our products, I’d love it if you would follow along our journey :
Instagram
Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter
LinkedIn
We’re so excited to be featuring your Rich Hydrating Cream in our October box! Can you pls tell us a little more about it?
The Rich Hydrating Cream this month is an 8 oz. version. This makes the perfect hand & body lotion for a smaller powder room. Leave the cream on your nightstand to give your hands and feet a soothing massage before bed. It’s formulated with our signature Watermelon Seed Oil, which you can learn more about the many benefits here.
Besides advocating for the betterment of our environment, do you support other charities or movements?
We are part of the Female Founder Collective, which is very much about women’s empowerment, something we strongly believe in. We’re also committed to being environmentally conscious as I touched on earlier. We’re in talks with a company who connects brands with charities so that we’re able to donate prizes in order to raise money for charities we believe in on a regular basis.
Other than Nourish Beauty Box, where else can we find your products?
The best place to learn about us is on our website. On our site we offer the option to sign up for auto-renew, which means you always get 15% off and free shipping. You also earn points automatically for every purchase, easily adding up to credits toward future purchases.
For customers who prefer to order on Amazon, we also have a store there.
We’re currently carried in a number of boutiques and salons as well, and working on expanding our distribution in 2020.
Before you go, are there any exciting news about FORK & MELON that you’d like to share with our audience?
We’re looking forward to a number of exciting new things planned for the new year.
We’re also looking forward to expanded retail distribution. Also, we’d love to offer Nourish subscribers a code for $10 off their first order of $30 or more*, with code NOURISH at checkout here.
*Applies to FORK & MELON branded products only. Cannot be combined with other offers. Some exclusions may apply.
Find FORK & MELON’S Rich Hydrating Cream For Body & Hands in our October 2020 box!
]]>
Hi Sha, thanks for taking some time off your busy schedule to speak to us about Emanate Essentials! We’d love to know how and why you started your own clean beauty brand?
Hello! My name is Sha Hannah-Santo and I’m the founder of Emanate Essentials, a small-batch, clean skincare brand in Boston, Massachusetts. Our products are botanically based and naturally aromatic. My work background is in health and wellness with over 10 years’ experience as a massage and aromatherapist. Additionally, I hold a certification in Botanical Body Product formulation.
Emanate Essentials was born from a serious health scare. My oncologist recommended I reduce the use of skincare products with questionable ingredients. Also being a new mom at that time, I wanted to ensure the products my daughter used were clean.
Tell us about your brand mission! Do you think you’re on track in achieving your vision for the company?
Our mission is to create clean, simple and effective products that also bring self-care to the forefront of your daily regimen. I believe we are on track to achieving our vision as long as we continue to be transparent and open to feedback. This gives us a deeper connection to the community we serve!
What differentiates Emanate Essentials from so many others within the industry?
As an aromatherapist, natural aromatics are infused in our line with the intention of being holistic, and at the very least pleasing to the senses! While many of our products are also unscented, aromatherapy is definitely a key component.
Who is your target audience and why?
There is a lack of inclusivity in clean beauty and often only minimal effort from platforms, brands, and creators at best.
Our target market is most certainly a conscious consumer who seeks out inclusive and gender-free products that are as a whole, beneficial to all.
Are you selective about the ingredients you source?
We have a select few trusted wholesale accounts that offer verified natural and organic ingredients.
It’s an especially challenging time for many businesses right now. How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected you?
Being a new brand we have certainly struggled!
Sourcing the best raw materials we can afford and also balancing family life and a full time job while growing Emanate Essentials is especially challenging.
We’re thankful that we have a loyal social media following where we’re able to have an open line of communication with our customers and this has helped expand our reach. We have successfully forged some great relationships and been able to organically get new customers by showcasing our products. While we are primarily on Instagram, you can also find us on Facebook and recently Twitter.
We’re so excited to be showcasing your Cami Rose Exfoliating Grains in our September box! For those who aren’t familiar with your brand, we’d love it if you could describe this unique foaming exfoliator.
Cami Rose Exfoliating Grains is one of our most loved products! They were a custom creation that became so popular we decided to make it a permanent part of our product line.
The gentleness of the fine powders are perfect for cleansing the face without irritation. This gentle face scrub is best used 1-2 times a week, followed by a moisturizer.
We know you have a great connection with your local community. Please let us know how this shows up in your business!
What we call necessities are often actually considered to be a luxury to many in need. Last year I started Project Selfcare, an extension of our core mission to raise awareness about self-care needs for the underserved community.
Please help support our limited edition products here!
What victories have you recently celebrated since launching your brand?
I’m proud to say that Emanate Essentials was recently listed on fashionista.com as a Black Owned Beauty + Wellness Brands To Know! We are currently testing new products for the fall/winter season that will be listed on the website soon!
Find Emanate Essentials’ Cami Rose Exfoliating Grains in our September 2020 box!
]]>Hi Ali! Thank you for being a part of our Behind The Brand series. Our readers have a serious obsession with your brand and would love to know how it all came about!
Growing up on the beautiful St. Simons Island, Georgia, I was instilled with a deep love of nature, the ocean, and island life at a young age. As a child, I created natural “beauty” concoctions to share with friends and family, from marsh mud masks to sea salt sprays.
In grad school, I specialized in global environmental health and toxicology. Through my scientific research, I learned how many toxins we are exposed to daily, how those synthetic chemicals negatively affect our health, and how to use beneficial natural alternatives instead. Beyond publishing my research, I wanted to make an impact with this knowledge.
After settling down with my husband in an off-the-grid treehouse we built, I started working as an engineer at a major tech company.
A time came when healing seemed to completely stop, and I thought I would never regain my pre-accident self. At this time, I also found out I was pregnant with my miracle baby boy! The culmination of these life-altering experiences is when I knew I had to take clean living to the next level by being more critical of what I was putting both in and on my body, as well as its effects on the environment and humanity.
How did you come up with the name “Earth Harbor Naturals” and what was the biggest obstacle you faced at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey?
I worked as a humanitarian project manager alongside organizations such as WHO, The Gates Foundation, Freedom from Hunger, Water For People, etc. where I traveled all over the world, especially coastal areas, which inspired our mission, our products, and our branding!
My biggest struggle with having a natural lifestyle was finding premium natural beauty products that lived up to my strict standards of being effective, ethical, purely natural, rooted in science, and all-around indulgent (while not breaking the bank!). That’s when I started making my own right out of my tiny treehouse kitchen — and Earth Harbor Naturals was born!
What is your brand mission?
Earth Harbor was born with the mission of creating highest-quality maritime products that are beyond non-toxic, synthetic-free, and plant-based.
Both you and our planet require this comprehensive approach for long term health and beauty. Everything we do upholds our industry-leading standards and revolves around our vision for mindful beauty to become the norm rather than the exception.
The clean beauty space is becoming so competitive! How do you differentiate yourself from the myriad of brands out there?
I’d say the biggest differentiator is that our entire line has incredibly strict standards of being effective, ethical, purely natural, rooted in science, and all-around indulgent (while not breaking the bank!).
Our values are rooted in our commitment to the human family, our stewardship of the Earth, and our mission to promote a more loving existence. We believe it is each of our calling to help take on the world’s most pressing environmental and social justice challenges. That’s why we've teamed up with 1% For The Planet® to dedicate all sales to protecting the world's oceans and solving the global water crisis!
Who is your main audience?
Anyone who is mindful about what they are putting both in and on their body, and the effects it has on humanity and the planet! We really value being accessible and inclusive of everyone, too.
How do you source and select ingredients to incorporate into your formulations? Is there an “ingredient mantra” you anchor your brand in which has resulted in your being able to grow the brand so quickly?
Every product focuses on organic, high-performing, food-grade ingredients. Each is extensively researched to ensure our formulas are completely natural, safe, and effective.
The science behind our formulas results in 100% plant-based, hyper-concentrated products with the least amount of ingredients needed to obtain superior results.
We are anchored in responsibly sourcing the most premium, pure natural elements Mother Earth has to give. Therapeutic treatments are engineered using nutrient-rich plant oils, salts, herbs, seaweeds, and earth to return skin to ideal health and youthful radiance.
What about the suppliers you work with? How are they vetted?
We are committed to supporting companies that operate with sustainable, fair-trade practices and that also provide the freshest possible ingredients.
Our ingredients are predominantly sourced from within the United States. We always ensure our strict ethics align with those we source from.
What challenges did you face starting Earth Harbor from scratch and on your own? Can you give us an example of overcoming a particularly difficult hurdle in your business?
Finding balance has been the biggest struggle, but the struggles have definitely evolved over the last 18+ months (that’s how old Earth Harbor is!).
I was trying to help make ends meet since the car accident I was in took a huge toll on our family. I was also still healing from the accident so it was a huge struggle all-around.
I can remember sitting there building our website and getting horrible migraines from my post-concussion syndrome that was made worse anytime I looked at a computer screen, but I just remember feeling so inspired and moved to create Earth Harbor that that’s what kept me going. Every step of the way was a mental, physical, and emotional journey and still is!
Now, as a mom of two and a CEO of a rapidly growing skincare brand, I find that I have to learn how to practice mindfulness, prioritize each moment, be flexible, be grateful, and know how to set boundaries in order to find balance with it all.
Is social media important in helping you attain brand growth and awareness?
It is! We started off in farmer’s markets a couple years ago and Instagram was the first time we entered the online world (even before we had a website)! We’d love for you to stop on by @earthharbor!
After featuring Mermaid Milk in our January 2020 box, demand for your brand went through the roof! We’re so proud to be featuring Helios in our August 2020 box!
Helios is my personal favorite in that it incorporates stem cell technology into a beautiful youth preserving elixir that also combats the effects of pollution (not to mention is wonderful for blocking blue light from screens which is horrible for your skin!).
We’re intrigued to know if you’re currently supporting other charities and movements aside from being part of the 1% For The Planet® team?
Our line is 100% recyclable and biodegradable because we are adamant about constantly pushing to do all we can to help the environment. We also support a different water nonprofit every month that a team member chooses and we donate $1 from every review we get to that nonprofit of the month!
Apart from Nourish Beauty Box, what other platforms can our customers learn more about Earth Harbor’s extensive line of products?
Our online story is the best place to discover more about us!
We can also be found at Urban Outfitters, Forever 21’s Riley Rose, CAUSEBOX, and are coming soon to Amazon as one of their recruited beauty brands! You may have also spotted us in Vogue, Elle, Glamour, The Los Angeles Times, Harper’s Bazaar, Brides, and Tatler!
Before we end this wonderful conversation, do you have any exciting news to share with our readers about Earth Harbor?
Keep a lookout for a new sustainable retinol alternative serum we will be launching soon, as well as expanding our haircare line.
Finally, we were invited to be a part of Indie Beauty Expo and FounderMade Expo, so you can catch us there!
Find Earth Harbor’s Helios in Nourish Beauty Box’s August 2020 box!
]]>
Hi Khulan! We’re so pleased to have you here with us today! Please introduce yourself and share with us how the brand came to be.
My name is Khulan Davaadorj. I am the founder, director and chief technologist of LHAMOUR, Mongolia’s first organic skincare brand.
In 2012, I came back to Mongolia to work for Mongolia’s first wind farm company after having lived in the States and Europe for many years. I slowly started to develop allergies due to the negative external effects such as air pollution, low water quality and extreme climate, which was a great shock to me because I’ve never had allergies and having skin rashes truly affected my daily life.
I consulted with dermatologists and they advised me that I should use mild natural products. However, it was close to impossible finding this in Mongolia as these products were either imported and really expensive or were lacking in quality and purity of ingredients.
That motivated me to start thinking about products in general, looking at ingredients lists, and understanding what it truly means when we speak about natural products.
What were the steps you took to learn how to formulate and eventually build your own brand?
I decided to pursue the formulation part of it professionally by enrolling with Formula Botanica, the world's leading accredited online Organic Cosmetics Science School, and eventually became a professional skin care product formulator. I moved on quickly to taking an advanced diploma in cosmetics chemistry and soon starting experimenting with different formulations using home-grown Mongolian ingredients, which I then distributed to friends and family who had similar skin problems to mine.
Thus began my journey of entrepreneurship, using the amazingly rich plant resources we have here in Mongolia.
We love your brand name! What does LHAMOUR mean?
LHAMOUR is partially named after my niece, whose name is LHAMO.
The underlying mantra is to look after each other as well as the earth we’re living in.
Being a pioneer in anything is fraught with challenges. What were the big steps you took in order to establish yourself?
Even though the company is young (we’ve only been in existence for 5 years), I believe we have made great leaps in developing skincare products made in Mongolia, being environmentally and socially responsible and heling to develop other social entrepreneurs.
I’m proud to say that we’ve been recognized in our efforts by being recently awarded “Most Responsible Small Medium Enterprise (SME) in Asia” and “Best Startup in Mongolia”. We were also most recently featured in Forbes.
What do you think makes manufacturing in Mongolia different?
Ingredients are the fundamental foundations of our brand. Mongolia has a rich history and culture, and a huge unique variety of plants and herbs.
We use high quality, organic ingredients that are unique to Mongolia such as Sea Buckthorn, Rose Hip, Thyme and Nettle, and we work directly with local farmers and producers or harvest this ourselves. This enables us to achieve the purity that’s embodied within our brand’s identity as well as give local producers the ability to make additional income and hopefully to expand in the future.
Please share with our readers the struggles and obstacles you’ve had to face in your journey and how you overcame them!
I think the whole journey itself has been somewhat of a movie! Since we are Mongolia’s first organic skincare brand, everything truly has been a challenge. I started from home, alone, with no prior knowledge of running a business or even creating products. When I launched my first product in Mongolia, nobody even knew what natural, organic skincare meant.
Then in 2015 when I officially launched, I had to face a wave of people doubting me, refusing to believe that a young woman could actually start her own business from home. Mongolia you see at that time was heavily invested in its mining activities and social entrepreneurship was nearly unheard of.
Now, years later, we still face constant challenges like new copycat brands, those intermittent financial issues, human resource planning issues, etc…
Is social media considered important in your distribution strategy?
Yes, we use social media as our main platform. Follow us here to receive the latest updates :
- Instagram North America : https://www.instagram.com/lhamour_na
- Facebook North America : https://www.facebook.com/lhamourinternational
- Facebook Mongolia : https://www.facebook.com/lhamourskincare
We’re so excited to be showcasing your Cold Pressed Flaxseed Oil in our July box! Let us know why yours is so different from other brands out there.
First of all, our organic Flaxseed is 100% sustainably grown and sourced in Mongolia, which we then cold press without any heating mechanisms that will destroy its incredible healing properties.
Due to the high content of Omega-3 in the Flaxseed that we source, make sure you massage it deeply into skin to activate its anti-inflammatory properties.
Do you support any charities or movements?
We initiated a mentorship program called “Finding Your Passion” for teenagers aged 14-16 years old, which guides them towards finding a sustainable career path. We also did a “Girls in STEM” program to encourage girls to take a stronger lead in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) field.
We also initiated numerous other programs for children, such as going to the suburbs and providing free dental care services for public school kids, renovating the children’s section in public hospitals and distributing products to kids with disabilities.
What are your plans going forward?
LHAMOUR is launching our face care series in 2020! We have also just acquired a land to expand our production and grow our own raw material. To date, we have managed to expand our team to 50+ people, which also recently contributed to us winning the title of being the best “SME Female-Led Company of 2019 in Mongolia”!
Find LHAMOUR’s Cold Pressed Flaxseed Oil in Nourish Beauty Box’s July 2020 box!
]]>Can you introduce what Earth Science Beauty is all about?
Earth Science Beauty is the namesake brand of ESN Group, Inc. based in Santa Barbara, California. Since our founding in 1981, the Earth Science® brand has delivered paraben-free and cruelty-free beauty products at a great price to make clean beauty affordable to everyone.
Our products contain carefully selected plant-based nutrients and antioxidants, soothing botanicals and hydrating moisturizers to fit different skin types and needs.
How do you separate your brand from the competitive marketplace nowadays?
One, we have been 100% cruelty-free and paraben-free for over 35 years! Two, our products are also packed with unique plant-based ingredients such as Resurrection Plant for its natural moisturizing properties and and its ability to provide blue light protection that helps improve skin texture.
Who are your products specifically made for?
You! We have products for every skin and hair type, so that everyone can find something that works for them.
What core values do you take into account while formulating these products?
With every formulation, we source plant-derived ingredients sustainably whenever possible. Our products are also manufactured and distributed in Southern California to help reduce our carbon emissions from transit.
Please tell us more about your i-cream Nourishing Eye Care that's being featured in our June box.
We are so excited to include our i-cream Nourishing Eye Care in your upcoming box! This lightweight moisturizer is perfect for your morning and night routines. Plus, it also looks great under makeup.
Explain the importance of social media in your distribution strategy. Apart from Nourish Beauty Box, where else can our customers learn more about your products?
We use our social media channels to launch our newest products, educate others about the benefits of our ingredients, and build relationships with our customers!
Be sure to follow us on Instagram @earthsciencenat and Facebook @earthsciencenaturals for our latest news, giveaways and more. You can also visit our website at earthsciencebeauty.com to learn more about our products!
There have been lots of beauty companies with sister brands lately which enable them to target a wider range of audience especially in this tough economic climate. Have you ever thought of branching out into a multi-brand setup?
We recently launched a therapeutic skincare brand, Ceramedx, which is the first natural ceramide therapy system. It’s 100% vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, fragrance-free and GMO-free. We noticed there weren’t any affordable moisturizing systems made with clean ingredients for very dry, sensitive skin, so we developed Ceramedx for those searching for a more natural alternative!
Find Earth Science’s i-cream Nourishing Eye Care in Nourish Beauty Box’s June 2020 box!
Hi Sally! Can you pls introduce yourself to our audience and let us know how We Are Wild came about?
Hello! My name is Sally Kim, and I’m the founder + CEO of We are Wild, a new skincare brand based in Portland, Oregon. We are Wild is the first all-solid skincare system designed for everyday use. We are all clean, probiotic, cruelty-free, vegan friendly and travel ready. We started a little over a year ago and the inspiration came from my active, outdoorsy lifestyle & wanting to create products that you would be able to carry with you anywhere. I had an opportunity to live in South Korea as an expat over the past 5 years and got immersed in all the amazing skincare innovations and R&D there. Because I travel so much for my job, I was looking for easy, natural and effective products to take with me anywhere.
Before I started the company, I was a marketer for several big companies like Samsung, Microsoft, PepsiCo & T-Mobile. What fascinated me about all my previous jobs is the innovation and creativity in building a brand and also staying engaged to people and their needs.
Why did you name your brand “We Are Wild”?
At the heart of our brand is community. We call all of our customers family.
In the midst of so much competition, especially in the natural skincare arena, what makes We Are Wild different?
We are different from our competitors because we don’t consider ourselves to be a beauty company.
We also don’t target specific age groups as our products are designed for all skin types. We have customers as young as 12 to as old as 70, both male and female. Our products are for people who are busy, active and on-the-go, who are looking for an efficient and effective skincare routine. We’re all about breaking free from the typical 7 (or 10 or 20!) step skincare regimes by making skincare natural, fun, and easy!
We love how you’ve incorporated probiotics into a natural cleanser, and making that super portable! How do you go about challenging todays’s standards of beauty and creating such innovative, breakthrough products?
Our company’s mission is to bring innovation back into the market by making skincare natural, fun and easy. We believe that skincare products should enable you to live a full life, without worrying too much about what you look like, and believe that active skin is beautiful.
As a new brand, I’m sure you’ve had numerous struggles and challenges along the way. Can you give us an example of one of them and how you managed to overcome it?
We’ve had so many obstacles in our journey! Most recently we developed a sun product called Solid Block. We had 3 missed launch dates and numerous ingredient changes in order to make it safe for both the skin as well as the earth.
Even though we’ve had setbacks and missed dates, we feel proud that we stuck by our brand values and delivered a product we feel truly proud of. That makes any obstacle worthwhile.
We absolutely love your Solid Clean Probiotic Cleanser, which we’re featuring in our April 2020 box. Please let our audience know a little about this unique cleanser and why there’s so much love for it!
Our Solid Clean Probiotic Cleanser is an award-winning cleanser and one of our bestsellers. It is a 3-in-1 texture that glides on as a balm, turns into a cleansing oil to dissolve even the toughest eye makeup, and finishes off as a micro foam once activated with water to rinse off. We formulated it so that your skin feels soft, supple and hydrated and not tight or dry after use.
As a female founder, do you participate in any initiatives that support like-minded individuals?
Yes! We support women-owned businesses and events and are a member of the Female Founder Collective. We’ve supported events like SheLeads Media, and We Are Women Owned. We also support local sports and recreation organizations that support women in sports like Rose City Track Club, Burn Cycle, etc...
Where can our readers and subscribers learn more about your brand?
You can learn more about who we are on our website as well as our IG / Facebook @wearewildskincare.
]]>
It’s been a while since our last collaboration and we’re so happy to have you on board again! What’s been happening with yourself & your brand since then?
We are so happy to be featured in another one of your boxes! We have since launched a few more products and locked down a few more retailers. Being featured in more press is always exciting too! We’ve started to participate in a few local farmers markets, and being able to connect with customers face to face has been really rewarding.
Were there any new challenges that you had to face in order to grow your business?
There is constantly challenges, but that’s all a part of it. You are learning something new everyday because you don’t have the answers to everything.
We’ve had a couple labeling issues for example (None of us had any expertise in label production!) We are actually in the process of revamping the look!
How do you sustain growth in a crowded marketplace?
In this day and age of digital marketing it really feels like you could be lost at times. Making sure to stay on top of things on social media is something we really focus on. We’ve also found a little niche marketplace in bridal gifting as well. Our Rose Hand Scrub, Nail Oil Pen and Bloom Facial Mist are adorable little gifts to give to brides from venues or planners, or to bridal parties. We are constantly trying to come up with ideas as to who the customer is, not just the retail customer.
What’s been your proudest moment to date?
When we get a message or email from someone thats thanked us for making a product that helped them. For example our Lash & Brow Serum. We had quite a few messages from ladies whose eyelashes had fallen out after pregnancy or due to bad lash extensions. It’s really great when you get praise and thanks for helping someone get back on track with their beauty routine and making someone feel good about themselves again!
You can find La Bloom Beauty’s Hair Refresher in Nourish Beauty Box’s March 2020 box!
]]>
How did the name Flora & Fauna come about?
Flora & Fauna gets its namesake from two Roman Goddesses. Flora (the goddess of flowers, spring and youth) and Fauna (the nurturing goddess of wildlife, fertility, and animals).
What inspired you to start this beauty line?
Since 2015, I started creating beauty products for other companies when I got my first job as a Product Development Manager in New York. My passion for skincare and beauty was blooming and eventually, I became a product junkie spending hundreds on new products every month!
Learning how to make beauty products was evidently the next step for me. As a curious and devoted person, I took on several jobs where I was responsible for developing beauty, aromatherapy, hair and other personal care products. After acquiring sufficient knowledge and skills to develop my own products and brand, Flora & Fauna was born.
In which aspect does Flora & Fauna make itself distinctive from its competitors?
We take our commitments seriously. This brand prides itself in offering vegan and cruelty free products which are Leaping Bunny approved.
What obstacles did you face throughout your journey as a beauty entrepreneur? And what advice would you give to other emerging ones?
I was my own investor. Considering that fact that I had student loans from both undergraduate and graduate school, it was a huge undertaking.
The financial stress is what consumes, burns out and destroys a lot of entrepreneurs, so it’s important to be real about your anticipated expenses and create a realistic plan in terms of growth.
We’d love to know more about Flora & Fauna. Do you mind sharing your brand’s mission?
The name embodies the brand’s values. One, the dedication to infusing products with botanical and natural ingredients. Two, the conviction that no animals are harmed in the process. However, the underlying mission is to invoke radical self-acceptance.
I believe our body and skin are reflections of our lifestyles. Therefore, a good skincare regimen starts off with the right attitude.
As an independent brand with limited resources, what do you think is your ultimate branding strategy?
Social media - It is huge for us!
Flora & Fauna’s Instagram focuses on sharing positive, encouraging messages that promotes self-acceptance in our community.
On our social media platforms, we advocate robustly in nourishing bodies with good lifestyle and healthy habits as well as nurturing souls with meditation and positive affirmations. Check us on Twitter and Facebook too!
Being an empowered female founder, do you think it’s important to give back to women-centric organizations?
Flora & Fauna came to life as a labor of love from a collaborative group of entrepreneurial women who uplift and empower each other. Progressively, we donate products to mainly women- and vegan-centric organizations as our objective is to build self-esteem amongst women and awareness revolving animal cruelty.
I would eventually love to start giving back by reinvesting business profits into junior achievement programs in 2020.
Baby Face Age Defying Serum is featured our February 2020 box, can you let us know why you developed it?
The Baby Face Age Defying Serum is a part of my own simple two step skincare routine!
The formula is light and silky, yet combines a dozen restorative natural ingredients like Aloe Leaf Juice, Vitamin E, Organic Blue Green Algae, and Organic Neem Seed Oil — containing ample antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. My skin immediately looks healthier and hydrated after application!
Apart from Nourish Beauty Box, where else can consumers find your products online?
We have a few of our products available on Amazon. However, full-range products are available on our website.
Do you have any exciting news that you’d like to share exclusively with our readers?
Personally, I have attained many experience developing products in the regulated cannabis industry in California the last few years.
This appears to me as a unique opportunity to merge both of my passions — infusing cannabis as herbal remedy into beauty product formulations. Initially, I had conundrums elevating Flora & Fauna onto higher ground. When this idea came up, it naturally seemed like the best route forward!
Don’t forget that Baby Face Age Defying Serum is featured our February 2020 box. Click here to learn how to subscribe!
]]>What’s Glimmer Goddess all about and how did you get started?
We are a family owned and operated small business creating 100% pure skin, body and hair care products without chemicals, fragrances, or toxins.
My whole life I suffered with extreme eczema and allergies. When I was young, my mom would make homemade concoctions that I thought were a waste of time until of course, my skin healed! I've been making my own skin care products since college. After many, many, did I say MANY years of creating products for myself, family and friends, I decided with my husband, best friend and business partner, Chris to take a chance and start Glimmer Goddess®.
We are proud to say that we hired our first employee, Jessica, in April of this year. Jessica is a godsend and is a very important part of our business. It is our goal to continue to expand our company with new products and when possible, bring additional talent to our team.
Did you have full-time jobs before you decided to head out on your own?
Prior to starting our business, my husband and I worked in senior sales and marketing roles with companies such as M&M/Mars, Cocoa-Cola and Mattel Toys. We loved working with talented individuals driving the selling process, launching new products and seeing our company’s products in every retailer across the country. Every day we reflect on our successes and failures working in corporate America and apply what we learned to our business.
What sets Glimmer Goddess apart from so many other organic skincare brands out there?
Our mission is to create pure, results-driven products that are organic, natural and cruelty free. Every ingredient is researched and sourced from reputable supplies to ensure our products will nourish the skin naturally for a healthy glow.
We believe our products are meant for anyone who is conscience about their skin and want only the purest botanicals, herbs and plant based ingredients to give them the glow they deserve.
How do you manage to keep customers so loyal to your brand?
We value each and every customer and try to make their experience as memorable as possible from the moment they open their order which comes with a hand-signed thank-you note and beautifully wrapped product.
I’m sure it must have been extremely challenging starting Glimmer Goddess on your own. What challenges did you face during those first few weeks & months?
In the beginning, there were long days and nights on the computer reading blogs, reviews, educating myself on ingredients and their benefits.
After weeks of research and discussions about the kind of products we wanted to start making and how we wanted our brand to be perceived, I ordered our first ingredient samples. We were on a very limited budget so prioritizing which products to try to make first was important. I think I watched a million Youtube videos to learn the best method for mixing the ingredients. My kitchen became my laboratory. My husband became my tester!
I developed our labels, took the pictures to post on our site, wrote the product descriptions, spoke to customers, made the products, shipped the orders then started all over in the morning. My husband would tease me saying my new name is “One who wears many hats”. My husband still had a full time job and helped with everything in between. I call him “the man with many ideas”!
Where did you finally launch & how?
We launched on Etsy when we felt that we had a few products that people would like. I searched what I needed to do to be a success on Etsy.
For a few weeks, I used social media to draw people to my shop, not to mention recruiting my family members. Then CHA CHING!!! My phone chirped that beautiful sound! I can’t describe how I felt when the first batch of orders came in.
With all that on-again, off-again momentum of orders from Etsy, how did you finally manage to sustain your growth there?
I decided that I needed to find someone to help guide me in the right direction.
He took the time to teach me the in’s & out’s of how to attract customers and how to keep them. We spoke once a week for a year. I am forever grateful for the time and the lessons. Today, when people ask me for advice, I think back to when I was just starting and make sure I am 100% supportive with my advice and direction.
We’ve got your Organic Vitamin C Serum 20% in our box this month (so exciting!). Let us know what sets it apart?
Our Vitamin C Serum is unlike most you will find in the market.
When creating our formula, we wanted to have a product that people fell in love with instantly from the silky texture to the very light lemony scent to the tingle your skin feels after each application. It quickly becomes your must-have go-to serum day and night!
We chose Kakadu Plum Extract as our main source of Vitamin C in this formula because of its extraordinary healing benefits for your skin.
The fruit extract helps stimulate the collagen production naturally found in your skin to dramatically reduce fine lines and wrinkles. The gallic acid contained in Kakadu plum restores the skin’s natural barrier while also acting as an astringent, antimicrobial, antifungal and antibacterial agent, giving our Vitamin C Serum the power to return elasticity to your skin. The ellagic acid in Kakadu Plum encourages skin elasticity and suppleness.
The combination of ingredients in our Vitamin C Serum will brighten and tighten skin, even skin tone and gradually reduce age spots. It is also great for people with sensitive skin or who have breakouts!
What new products are you currently developing?
We’re introducing new products all the time. We are expanding our line of shimmer products to include a hair & body shimmer and a silky dry oil shimmer lotion in 5 new gorgeous shades.
Apart from Nourish Beauty Box, where else can readers find your products or make contact?
You can find our full range of products on GlimmerGoddess.com or our etsy shop.
Don’t forget that all Nourish customers can use the coupon code “NOURISH20” to save 20% off their order in our website.
]]>Tell us a little bit more about Niu Body, how it came to be & what your startup costs were?
Niu Body is an affordable natural skincare company. We create beauty products that are derived from nature, driven by science, and all under $40.
My co-founder, Laura Burget, and I founded Niu Body in March of 2017. Having just graduated from university, we were frustrated with the lack of natural brands which spoke to us as young millennials and which we could afford on a student budget.
What started in our kitchens has now grown to a full line of plant-based, certified cruelty-free and vegan beauty products carried across North America.
Fun fact : “niu” means “coconut” in Hawaiian. Our brand name is an homage to our initial product line, in which every product included coconut oil.
What’s your brand mission and how do you plan on achieving it?
Our mission is to make natural skincare accessible to everyone. We will achieve this by not only continuing to offer high-quality clean products at affordable prices, but also by researching new innovative plant-based ingredients to develop innovative beauty products.
In this crowded marketplace that’s the beauty industry (and particularly in the natural skincare category), how do you differentiate yourself from your competitors?
Our tagline is “derived from nature, driven by science,” and we hold ourselves to this standard with every product we develop. Our formulations are all lab-tested and use the newest processing methods to let the effectiveness of natural ingredients shine.
Our target audience is women between the ages of 20-45, with an interest in natural beauty. They may or may not currently use clean products, but are very curious and passionate about clean ingredients. They also strongly support animal welfare.
What struggles have you had to face starting your brand and can you let us know how you overcame them?
6 weeks after we launched NIU BODY, while we were both working other full-time jobs, we received a PO for 6,700 units of our makeup remover wipes. At this time, all products were still being made in my kitchen! Laura and I rolled up our sleeves, and fulfilled the entire order by hand over the course of 3 weeks.
It was an extremely stressful time both mentally and physically (our wrists were aching!), but so rewarding. We are huge believers in putting in the work, which I believe is what has helped us grow so quickly.
Your beautiful Glow Luminizing Facial Serum is in our December 2019 box, can you let us know why you developed it and why so many people love it?
Our Glow Luminizing Facial Serum is our #1 best-selling product! It’s a beautiful blend of camellia seed oil, jojoba oil, bergamot essential oil and Vitamin E.
We researched the best non-comedogenic oils available on the market, and set off to developing our own serum! This product is a fan favourite because it truly helps to minimize the appearance of pores.
Both oils promote glowing skin without clogging pores, and as they absorb quickly, don’t leave a greasy residue. It also has a refreshing bergamot citrus smell, which is great in the morning and night!
We can see you’re a big supporter of women entrepreneurs such as yourselves! Let us know how you’re able to do this even as a small, growing brand?
A big part of our mission is supporting women in business.
It’s important to us that we highlight how other women have created amazing businesses, and encourage entrepreneurial readers to do the same.
Do you have anything new in the pipeline?
We will be launching a new brightening serum in November, as well as a new day cream in December! These have been our most highly requested products, so we are super excited to share them with the world.
Apart from Nourish Beauty Box, where else can readers find your products or make contact?
You can find our natural & vegan skincare products at www.niubody.com. You can also find us in stores! As always, feel free to DM us with any questions at @niu.body.
Don’t forget that Niu Body’s Glow Luminizing Facial Serum will also be featured in Nourish’s December 2019 box!
]]>Normal / Combination Skin
This means that your skin can be dry or normal in certain areas and oily in others such as the T-zone. With skin that isn’t problematic, it’s easy to forget to nourish it. However, we’ve found people with these skin types tend to undermoisturize.
But keep in mind, these products still need to be fast-absorbing in order to reduce the chances of them clogging your pores. Products such as Niu Body's Glow Luminizing Facial Serum or Seraphine Botanicals' Cherry Rose + Nectar would be a great choice to give your complexion the boost it needs without making it break out.
Help Me, My Skin’s Dry!
There’s no need to panic. Dry skin is manageable and if it gets out of control, we have a few ideas on how to get you back on track. Dry skin often feels tight throughout the day and is more prone to flakiness. Environmental factors such as pollution, dry climates, hormonal changes and genetics (pfff…) can affect just how severe your dry skin condition can be.
The good news is that with a healthy diet and lifestyle you can help tone the symptoms down. We recommend drinking plenty of fluid and we don’t mean your 10 am margaritas or pumpkin spiced latte!
Using a face mask promotes blood flow and cellular turnover without removing your skin’s natural defenses. Check out these products that have been proven to buddy up just fine with dry skins : Dr Botanicals’ Pomegranate Superfood Regenerating Sleeping Mask and Peony Cosmetics’ Sparkling Serum.
Call Me Shiny
Oily skin can be frustrating as it’s working overtime to produce excess sebum which may result in congested or clogged pores.
The biggest mistake you can make if you have oily skin is NOT to moisturize and to do it well with an oil-free hydrator or a gel serum.
Here’s what we have in store that may help you remove that extra shine : Wyldflower Labs’ Apricot-C Toner, Iconic Beauty’s Blue Tansy + Rosehip Mist & Peony Cosmetics’ Sparkling Serum.
Stop Yelling At Me!
Yes, we all know, you are sensitive. But really what you need here is the know-how to care for your sensitive skin without irritating it any further.
It is important you don’t stress your already stressed-out skin and observe how that one product behaves on your skin. Always make sure you patch test first to avoid unwanted surprises. Avoid ingredients such as harsh preservatives like phenoxyethanol, parabens, synthetic fragrances, sulfates, mineral oils and alcohol. Here’s what we suggest from our catalog : LXMI’s Nilotica Lip Melt, Peony Cosmetics’ Rosebud Oil & The Best Kind’s Whipped Body Butter. Remember to always patch test first!
]]>How did Dr Botanicals come to be?
We are a clean & natural skincare brand created by Richard Walker in 2013. Richard comes from a British family of chemists who have been making skincare products for over 60 years. With this experience, Dr Botanicals’ team in London creates the finest skincare products available in the world today.
Was there a particular strategy to reach global recognition or did it take you by surprise?
Natural skincare is the fastest growing segment in the beauty industry.
So yes, global recognition was definitely a conscious effort that we nurtured from the start. You’ve got to have a clear idea how you want to position your brand, otherwise you’ll lose your identity and message in the clutter.
Dr Botanicals has been nominated and shortlisted for various clean beauty awards including most recently, the Pure Beauty Award for Best Vegan Innovation and Best New Natural Product. Once the industry recognizes you, many doors will open and you have to learn to systematically navigate this.
Is clean beauty for everyone?
In short, yes. Dr. Botanicals’ customers are 18-60 year-old female and male nature lovers. They are conscious consumers with a penchant for veganism, eco-friendly products and natural beauty in an effort to reduce their own carbon footprint. We are committed to creating natural, vegan products that produce real, tangible results – showing the power of botanical and natural active ingredients.
This is why it is so important for us to use ingredients that are sourced locally and responsibly. We use many effective ingredients that are harvested and crafted without damaging the long-term viability of the areas in which they are grown.
What has been the greatest struggle Dr Botanicals has had to face?
When you are really passionate about creating natural, vegan and cruelty-free products, it is very hard to compromise. Sure, you want to create a specific item that delivers on its promises, but costing is always going to be an issue. You want great quality results, but at the same time this product also has to reach customers at a reasonable retail price.
But you know, even though problems may occur on a daily basis, we love to focus on positive energies. We often donate portions of our sales to deserving charities, often changing from month to month to be able to help as many of these organizations as possible.
Being a vegan and cruelty-free company, our customers are also passionate about the issues surrounding the use of animals for cosmetic studies or testing. Supporting PETA in their efforts to diminish these issues helps our customers to also assist in preventing animal cruelty in the beauty industry through our company, if they’re not able to so on their own.
Dr Botanicals’ Pomegranate Superfood Regenerating Sleeping Mask is currently available in our October 2019 box which you can purchase on its own or subscribe to. You can also use NOURISHBB on Dr Botanicals’ website to get a whopping 20% off at checkout!
]]>