A Skincare Brand Founder & CEO Breaks Down The Importance of Clean Beauty
Bethany McDaniel tells all.
The clean beauty movement is happening in full force right before our very eyes. We see words like non-toxic, paraben-free, sulfate-free, and so on and it gets overwhelming. What if a brand was here to make it simple and straight to the point with its product and message? That's where Primally Pure comes in. The clean beauty brand has made its mark in the industry, particularly with its natural deodorants.
Primally Pure is made up of certified organic ingredients that are truly safe for everyone's skin. More brands have become transparent about what actually goes into products, but Primally Pure was ahead of the curve. The founder, Bethany McDaniel, was kind enough to chat with C&C about how she came up with the brand's concept, competition in clean skincare, and why natural products are important for our health and wellness.
Create & Cultivate: You’ve gone from an organic livestock farm to owning your own beauty business. How did farm life inspire your brand?
Bethany McDaniel: When you put it that way, my transition from farming to skincare seems like such a bizarre shift! But in reality, it was a very natural next step. When my family spontaneously started a farm, it got me started on a path of cleaning up my lifestyle – and skincare was a huge part of that. I had dealt with acne, rosacea and other random skin problems for years, and began making natural alternatives to the toxic products I had been using since my teenage years with little to no success. Within only a few short weeks, I observed a noticeable difference in the health and appearance of my skin. The further I strayed from conventional products over the next several months, the better my skin looked and felt. I was sold on natural skincare and wanted the rest of the world to experience the same benefits that I did!
What has creating your own beauty products taught you about the industry as a whole?
The more we’ve grown, the harder it is to stay true to your mission and core values as a natural skincare company. Natural ingredients are not easy to work with. Not every batch of essential oil, arrowroot powder or shea butter is the same, and natural variations often make it difficult (but not impossible) to produce high-quality natural skincare products at a large scale.
For this reason, it’s commonplace for natural beauty brands to switch over to synthetic alternatives as ingredients and have their products made by a manufacturing facility located offsite or even overseas. But despite this being so much simpler and more uniform, we are 100% committed to continuing to source the purest, most natural ingredients possible. We make our products in-house and train our staff on what each ingredient should smell, feel and look like in order to detect any possible inconsistencies. This has become more and more difficult as we’ve grown and scaled, but it’s the foundation of our brand and everything we stand for – and those values aren’t changing!
Primally Pure consists of clean beauty products. Can you explain what exactly makes it clean and how it’s different from other clean beauty brands?
We believe that products made with fewer, better ingredients truly do yield superior results. Our products are formulated with fewer ingredients so that the pure oils, clays, herbs and other elements we use can have the space to do what they’re meant to do – transform your skin. The market for natural skincare products is on the rise, and it’s become commonplace for brands to take advantage of the consumer’s desire to find products made with pure ingredients. For example, you can find phrases like “made with organic essential oils” on just about anything these days. And while that may be true, organic essential oils (or whichever ingredients are being talked about) are often times at the very bottom of a long list of not-so-natural ingredients.
Our niche is crafting products made with pure ingredients that aren’t diluted with chemicals. We use nature’s most precious + healing elements to formulate our products–and you won’t find them buried under a long list of cheap fillers and stabilizers.
It seems as if there’s a sudden boom in the clean beauty movement. With many retailers being more transparent about product labeling, are you hopeful that this will convince more brands to consider transitioning to more clean ingredients?
Absolutely. And while the beauty industry has a long way to go as a whole, we’re already seeing so many steps in the right direction. There’s been a huge shift in consumer awareness in regards to what we’re putting on our bodies over the last several years, and brands are scrambling to keep up. I don’t view it as a bad thing to have more competition in this area. No single product or line of products will work for everyone, and more choices mean more demand and education/awareness —which is a win for everyone!
Primally Pure is most well-known for your natural deodorant. Can you tell us a bit more about this product and why it's so important for women to swap out their antiperspirant for a more natural option?
Deodorant alone may not seem like that big of a deal. However, when you think about all of the assaults our bodies go through daily in terms of toxins we’re exposed to in the foods we eat, air we breathe, the water we drink, etc., it’s important to do what we can to lessen our toxic load by making changes in the areas we do have control over.
Switching to a natural deodorant is one of the most powerful changes one can make, as our armpits are extremely absorbent and easily take in what we apply. The biggest benefit of using natural deodorant is a less toxic burden on the body. After making the switch, many people find that they’re sweating more than normal as your body rids itself of toxins. This typically normalizes after a few weeks. And once it does, most people find that they sweat even LESS than before.
The market for natural deodorants seems to be growing. What makes Primally Pure's unique?
Every day, customers tell us that after trying loads of natural deodorants, ours is the first that has worked for them. Not every natural deodorant is created equal and there are a number of different pitfalls that can occur when using natural deodorant including odor, irritation (usually caused by high levels of baking soda found in most natural deodorants), and more.
Through years of trial + error, we’ve formulated our deodorant with the perfect amount of baking soda – enough to combat odor but not enough to cause irritation for the vast majority of people. The results are fresh-smelling, perfectly nourished pits.
Our deodorant is made with a short list of ingredients including organic coconut oil, organic beeswax, organic arrowroot powder, baking soda, organic tallow from grass-fed cows, and organic essential oils. Ingredients like these allow the skin to breathe and function as it should. Nourishing vitamins and essential fatty acids with anti-inflammatory + anti-microbial properties help to improve the health of skin, leaving pits smooth and protected.
You’ve managed to own a successful brand in what many presume to be a saturated space. What advice do you have to women who are looking to start their own beauty business, but are hesitant about actually going for it?
Even though the space may seem saturated, I strongly believe that the natural beauty movement is only just beginning to pick up steam. There are SO many people on this planet. And in the grand scheme of things, very few of them are on the natural skincare bandwagon. But more and more are getting on it each and every day! It’s easy to assume that something has already been done and that there’s no use in doing it – but the truth is, there is no one who can do that thing (whatever it is) in the same way that you would do it.
You’ve made it clear that Primally Pure believes that beauty goes much deeper than skincare and involves a lot of self-care. How do you practice your own self-care?
As an introvert, having “me-time” is super important. But as a wife, mother to a toddler and business owner, this doesn’t happen as often as I would like.
I know that at some point I’ll be able to exercise regularly, sleep longer, read often and get together with friends again more than once every couple of months. But for now, I try to care for myself in ways that are easier for me to stick with. I go on walks with my daughter around the lake by our house, take baths with Epsom salts and organic essential oils a few times a week, and sneak away for massages whenever I can. I do what I can and I don’t stress about all of the things I’m doing wrong, because I know life won’t be this way forever.
What can we expect from Primally Pure for the rest of 2018 and beyond?
We just moved our headquarters into a new 11k square foot space, and it’s been so exciting to work through the design process. The best part of this move is that we’re putting an actual spa into our new headquarters! We’re beyond excited to provide our local community with holistic + organic facials and massages. Additionally, we always have new products in the works and can’t wait to share more on those in the coming months!
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5 Experts Share Their Best & Newest Skincare Tips
Glow on girls.
It’s seemed like the who’s who of beauty editors and experts gathered in New York this past weekend at the Create & Cultivate Beauty Summit featuring Mary Kay®. So, who better to ask for skincare tips than this range of experts?
We tapped some of the best in the biz for the goods, so you can look good.
Kelly Bales, the digital editor at Allure kept it simple. “Consistency,” the beauty expert shared. “And,” she added, “make sure to exfoliate at least once a week-- twice in warmer weather.”
Luis Casco, Mary Kay’s Global Beauty Ambassador, who was on hand to help showcase Mary Kay's® new TimeWise® Miracle Set 3D™ skincare line (launching 5/12), shared the following: “I think number one is to be regular with skincare,” he explained. “It’s really important to be consistent and to be patient. With makeup we can do wonders instantly, but with skincare you have to be patient. With TimeWise® Miracle Set 3D™ you can see a visible difference after four weeks.”
“It’s really important to be consistent and to be patient. With makeup we can do wonders instantly, but with skincare you have to be patient.”
Michelle Lee, EIC at Allure, knows a thing or two about skincare. She shared, “My number one best tip is using peel pads twice a week to exfoliate. It cleanses everything off and allows all your other skincare to be absorbed super easily.”
Sam Gen, of Sam Jen Makeup had this tip: “Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize, even if you’re oily. There is a great moisturizer for everyone.”
And finally, Dr. Lucy Gildea, Chief Scientific Officer at Mary Kay® was kind enough to share her 2-cents. “Always cleanse and moisturize with an SPF,” the doctor shared. “A lot of people have the perception that they don’t need to cleanse their face. TimeWise® Miracle Set 3D™ is a simple 3-step regime. It’s three simple steps, twice a day: you cleanse, apply your day or night cream, and then the eye cream. Eye cream is important to use, because it’s where one of the first signs of eye cream ever show up on the face. And it’s important for people to know they should use an eye cream before signs ever show up. The whole point of 3D™ is to have a proactive approach-- it’s a 3-dimensional approach to skincare: to delay the onset, to defend against free radicals on the skin, and to deliver visible results. And you get more results in less time.”
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Matte Matters: The Four Times This Moisturizer Will Save Your Face
Day to night and everything in between.
How much time do you spend getting ready in the AM? An hour? Five minutes? Whether you clock 60 seconds or 60 minutes in front of your bathroom mirror, every on-the-go working woman could use something to keep her skin fresh from day to date. Or day to drinks with a potential client. Or when she’s simply in a rush, because that’s the world we live in.
Like we always do, we’ve got a simple solution.
And we’ve rounded up four totally normal day-to-day situations where Origins new deliciously hydrating Original Skin Matte Moisturizer will save you.
#1 Your alarm fails to go off.
It happens to the best of us. You set your AM alarm for plenty of prep time before a big meeting. But something happens (whether you hit snooze, or phone dies, or simply tech fails you) and you wake up with stressful serious time crunch. All you need to do is splash a little water on your face, brush your teeth, and smooth on this unique moisturizer for skin that looks as good naked as it does glam’d up.
It’s an innovative pink water cream that hydrates while absorbing excess oil in a flash.
And flash-forward, you’re on your way, miraculously on time, and looking like a fresh-faced babe.
#2 You’ve got drinks after work with a potential client, but are heading straight from a meeting.
Given that the moisturizer is matte and helps prime for makeup, it’s perfect for situations like this. First, it moisturizes your face during the day, which means it’s ready for you to throw on some makeup before your meet up.
You don’t have to worry about getting oily during the day because of the pink water cream.
#3 You’ve stayed up super late working on a presentation, but don’t want to look tired when you present.
You’re in luck. The matte’s main ingredients are exactly what your skin needs. You’ve done the work prep, so let them do your face prep.
Canadian Willowherb: found in Northern Canadian prairies, helps delete dullness and restore skin’s ideal glow.
Pink Rock Rose: grown in the Mediterranean and traditionally used in herbal medicine, helps to keep skin looking healthy and glowing with its calming and soothing capabilities.
Persian Silk Tree: native to SouthEast Asia, is known to have stress-relieving properties and is called the Tree of Happiness because of its calming herbal properties.
#4 You have a date. But a boss who is not about you leaving the office early. (Like most bosses, let’s be real.)
Enough said. Not only does the matte moisturizer easily take you from day to night, but if you are thinking of getting up close and personal, the Willowherb and Pink Rock Rose act as an instant glow-booster that brightens skin and shrinks pores.
So get close. Get personal. And feel great about your skin.
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Finally, This Major Blogger Is Launching a Solution for This *Hush Hush* Beauty Issue
Say hello to Megababe status.
photo credit: 12ish Style
Boob sweat? Thigh chafe? Raise your hand if you’ve been there. Yeah, us too. And it’s why megababe Kate Sturino of 12ish Style is launching her Megababe product line.
Determined to deal with the not-so-chic, but oh so relatable parts of fashion, Kate developed Megababe Thigh Rescue ($14) to deal with the issue. Forget men’s products. Forget rubbing Vaseline on your body. The fashion blogger took matters in her own hands.
The deodorant-like stick, which is available for pre-order now, starts shipping on June 26th. Crafted with ingredients like aloe, grape seed oil to promote collagen production, lime oil for healing purposes, and pomegranate seed extract to protect the skin, it is a toxin-free formula that will keep skin happy, hydrated, and chafe-free. While you’re at it, Bust Dust, which is set to launch mid-July, is a ultrafine, 100% natural powder. Kate calls it the “final word on boob sweat,” because “talc is nasty stuff.”
We caught up with Kate to talk the sweaty motivation and why this is product you’ll want to pull out of your Chanel bag.
Why launch a product line?
I have been dealing with thigh chafe forever! And yet judging by the anti-chafe products out there, chafing seems to be reserved for men and athletes. I was sick of toting a men’s stick around in my handbag, and even worse was having to pull it out in front of people. Even though some of what’s out there does work, a lot of it is full of toxins and none of it is designed for me to pull out of my Chanel bag! And I was done wearing bike shorts under skirts -- the last thing anyone wants on an 80 degree day is another layer!
All I wanted was a non-toxic anti-chafe stick that would make me feel cute and not embarrassed. And year after year I couldn’t find it, so I decided to make it myself.
Tell us about Megababe?
Megababe was born out of a personal need for cute solutions to not-so-cute issues like thigh chafe and boob sweat. Start asking around and will you discover how many women of different shapes and sizes actually deal with these “hush hush” things. So many! I don’t know how or why there came to be a stigma around these very normal issues, but Megababe is here to say there’s nothing embarrassing about your thighs rubbing together or your boobs sweating on a hot day. We’re going to take care of it for you so you can get out there and live your life!
"Megababe is here to say there’s nothing embarrassing about your boobs sweating on a hot day."
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Where can we buy it?
Exclusively at megababebeauty.com ; IG: @Megababe
There you have it. Sweaty girls unite.
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Beauty Brand Founder's Favorite Emails Are From Women Who Don't Wear Makeup
Find out why.
Who: April Gargiulo, Founder, Vintner's Daughter
Where: March, the first stockist of her product, Lower Pacific Heights
Favorite spot to find the perfect chair: Hedge Gallery or Almond Hartzog
Where she'll grab a glass of wine with a career peer: The Progress
The facialist to whom she entrusts her skin: A Facial Massage from Julie Lynge. Her hands are magic.
Where she'll take a client dinner: Octavia
Favorite spot to grab coffee with a friend: As Quoted
If she could choose to sit and be still anywhere in the city, it would be: Wood Line. An installation by artist Andy Goldsworthy in the Presidio.
Tourist attraction in SF she's never visited: I’ve never walked across the Golden Gate Bridge.
She's a designer, wine maker, and now skin care expert, but the through line of April Gargiulo's career has always been "businesses that are focused on quality and expression at the highest level."
April founded Vintner's Daughter an active botanical face oil "designed to be a powerhouse of multi-correctional activity." She calls it her desert island product (and has the skin to prove it). "It address all of my skincare needs (acne, discoloration, elasticity, tone and clarity) at the highest levels and without toxins. It's the product I would never go without. Interestingly, because we addressed my skincare needs at such a foundational level, Active Botanical Serum is able to correct a multitude of skin issues; from rosacea to acne."
"I love helping woman feel confident in their skin. The best emails I ever receive are the ones that say 'I have stopped wearing makeup.' It might sound silly, but there is a lot of freedom in that."
"
The best emails I ever receive are the ones that say 'I have stopped wearing makeup.' It might sound silly, but there is a lot of freedom in that."
It's also a face serum for the busy working woman who doesn't have the time for a multi-step skin care regime every night. 6-8 drops, 30 seconds of pushing and pressing per the serum's instructions, and you're glowing. "I am a business woman," she notes, "who is focused on creating the most uncompromisingly effective skincare made from the world’s finest ingredients."
"The most surprising part of entrepreneurship in the beauty space is how intimate it can be. When talking about skincare, you cut through so much artifice so fast."
photo credit: Andrea Posadas
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The Importance of Making Time for Your Skin
Don't let the complexities of a career ruin your complexion.
photo credit: Laura Dee Photography
This post is in partnership with Cetaphil.
Your approach to career is simple: every day you bring enthusiasm and dedication to your work. Two simple and effective practices that streamline your process.
But can the same be said for your skin? When we get caught up in the hustle of our careers we tend to fall into a couple of bad habits. A great skincare routine isn’t one that should fall by the wayside. No matter how hectic work gets you can achieve great skin with a few gentle yet powerful products from Cetaphil.
Here’s how to get on the good side of great skin.
THE NIGHT BEFORE IS CRUCIAL
You wouldn’t walk into an AM presentation without preparing. That’s just bad form.
While your skin doesn’t need a thorough color-coded Keynote, a refreshed looking face starts with night before prep.
Dermatologists have been advising clients for decades that cleansing their face before sleep is one of the best steps to take for health and beauty. Skin has the ability to be replenished while you’re asleep.
The best-selling, mild, non-irritating Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is designed to work on all skin types, gentle and soothing enough for even the most sensitive skin. It removes the residue that can clog pores without stripping your skin of its natural protective oils.
It’s so simple you have no reason to not opt for healthy and beautiful skin.
If you’re in a rush, or working on your computer in bed, you can apply a liberal amount and remove excess with a soft cloth. You don’t even need water, it’s that gentle. That’s a skin routine that works for those of you who are constantly working it.
GET A MOISTURIZER THAT DOES MORE THAN ONE JOB
If you want a moisturizer that’s pulling double duty like you, Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion is ideal for use on your body and face. It contains a blend of 6 moisturizers plus skin-essential Vitamins B5 and E to provide long-lasting hydration for healthy-looking skin.
Moisturizing your skin helps keep it looking refreshed and it also helps keep makeup from looking cracked. Look, dryness and irritation can be distracting. You don’t want to waste time worrying about your skin. By incorporating a simple moisturizer into your day-to-day you’ll spend less time looking in the mirror and more time staring straight into your very bright future.
"Spend less time looking in the mirror and more time staring straight into your very bright future."
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Don’t underestimate the power of a healthy glow. Confidence is directly correlated to productivity.
WHEN YOU’RE REALLY ON-THE-GO, WE GOT YOU
If you’re the sort to squeeze in an AM spin class before hitting your email, or you have a tendency to go straight from the office to after work drinks, it can do a number on your skin.
Take a few moments in between dashing to wipe down the day’s dirt, impurities, and makeup with Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths. These ultra-soft and gentle cloths are based on the classic award-winning Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. They're super convenient and will leave skin feeling fresh and clean in all situations-- even when you’re hustling through a 12-hour day.
We’ve all been there, we know that sometimes the hustle doesn’t sleep, but we also know you can still look good while chasing your dreams.
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7 Ways Successful Women Say Yes to Their Day
Today is definitely the day.
Moaning about Monday is very 2015. This year is all about finding ways to infuse our days with happiness and joy that lead to a sense of fulfillment and empowerment. Shifting your mood and what you say YES TO affects your career (and life) in more ways than you know.
So we checked in with our friends at “Yes to” who know a whole lot about just that. So yes to you with these 7 tips that will make your day naturally brighter.
1. SAY YES TO MUSIC IN THE MORNING
Music isn’t just entertainment. It can also give you the sense of power needed to get you through the day. Scientists have found that songs with heavy bass (hello #LEMONADE #sorry #formation) motivate us and give us the energy needed to make it through the day.
So whether you sing in the shower (while detoxifying with Yes to Tomatoes Charcoal Cleanser), drive to work, or rock a headphone while on the subway, you can play tunes that inspire feelings of power and more complex conceptual thoughts.
2. SAY YES TO FLOWERS ON YOUR DESK
Everyone knows that fresh flowers look pretty, but studies have shown that florals in an office setting can also help reduce stress (yes, please) as well as pollens in the air.
You may not be thinking about air purification when decorating your space, but when you breathe easier, your head is more clear. Which means, you’re working smarter. A lot of people assume air plants and greens are best for desks, but did you know that gerbera daisies pack quite the air-purifying punch? They are a pop of color that also work to filter out benzene that is spread in the air by inks.
3. SAY YES TO A COFFEE BREAK
As if you needed an excuse to take one, a mid-morning java run is good for the brain (and body). It’s important to keep moving during the day and leave your desk from time to time.
A coffee break also boosts workplace culture two-fold. One, there is something about a coffee break that feels like you’re rewarding yourself. It sends signals to your brain that you’re doing a good job and you deserve it-- which, let’s be real, you do. Two, if you snag a co-worker and bring them along, they are receiving the same reward benefit and you’re also building non-competitive office culture.
4. SAY YES TO SOMETHING SURPRISING
No matter what, you are going to have to say “no,” to certain projects, people, and proposals. That’s part of any job. But sometimes we tend to say “no’ to things because of an unaddressed fear. Maybe you don’t want to take the lead on a meeting. Maybe you think that you’re not quite capable of taking a client meeting alone. Maybe someone offers you an in-person interview when you’d rather send an email Q & A. There are a lot of ways we say “no” to things during the day at work out of fear-- oftentimes without even realizing it.
Next time your knee-jerk reaction is to say “no,” say “yes” instead and inject your career with a bit of confidence when you realize you are capable of handling the situation.
5. SAY YES TO WIPING OFF YOUR MAKEUP BEFORE HEADING TO THE GYM
If the work week is a marathon, the individual days can feel like sprints. And sometimes we forget to do the most simple tasks. From remembering to drink water (proven to increase productivity and focus) to taking off our morning makeup before we head to the gym to let off some steam, these small actions are important. Keep Yes to Cucumber Facial Wipes in your work bag and be sure to remove the day’s ups and downs from your skin. Sweating is great for our mind and body, but if we’re sweating with pores clogged from makeup it can create impurities known to affect self-confidence. This in turn, affects our work.
6. SAY YES TO A HEALTHY DINNER
On average you can raise your productivity by 20 percent if you are eating the right foods. Fish is the classic brain food fortified in Omega-3 fatty acids and rich in oils essential to brain function and development. Omega-3s also help our memories as we age. Sushi for dinner anyone?
7. SAY YES TO GETTING A GOOD NIGHT SLEEP
A good, restful sleep is imperative to starting the next day with a fresh perspective. That means, keeping the tech out of your bed--sorry! How many of us sleep with one hand on our phones? Or scroll Instagram before snoozing? Or get locked in a three-hour Netflix binge on accident? It’s affecting our sleep-- we know you know this. Get a calming night sleep, do your skin a favor with Yes to Cucumber Calming Night Cream, and say yes to you and wake up refreshed.
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