In honor of International Women’s Day, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite female founders who inspire my daily life, through both their friendship and the gifts they have to offer. I hope you’ll take time to explore the myriad ways in which they are making the world a better place through tasty food, healing, humor, and things that smell and feel divine! Thanks to all of these crush-worthy women for taking the time to be part of this post!
Tara Foley
Founder & CEO of Follain
Kathryne Taylor
Cookie + Kate
Vetiver Grey Soap
"Osmia's Vetiver Grey Soap is my real treat in the shower. It smells amazing and doesn't dry out my very-dry skin like other cleansers tend to do. I lather it up on a hemp shower mitt and use it to shave my legs, too!"
I mean, I love Cookie because she’s absolutely adorable. And Kate’s pretty adorable, too, but I love her for her recipes! Her blog is packed with easy, vegetarian recipes that use simple ingredients and fresh flavors to make your mouth and your belly happy!
It’s almost impossible to pick favorites, but I’d say her Spinach-Artichoke Lasagna, Tortilla Soup, and her Wild Rice & Arugula salad are the prize-winners in my house. Oh, and I’m not saying no to her Hot Toddy either.
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Joanne Starkman
Co-founder & President of Innersense Organic Beauty
FAVORITE OSMIA PRODUCT:
Black Clay Facial Soap and Nectar Nourishing Drops
WHY SHE LOVES IT:
“I am such a bar babe and I love any and all things Osmia Organics bar soap but my all-time fave is the Black Clay Facial Soap. I use it twice a day, I have one in my shower, and that black beauty greets me every morning! I also have one in my medicine cabinet as it is part of my night time cleansing ceremony. I have one in the convenient cotton travel bag that stays with my travel goodies, so I never leave home without it. This black magic bar leaves my skin right in that sweet spot between feeling fresh, while perfectly nourished and hydrated. It is the perfect basis for just about any skin care routine.
Nectar Nourishing Drops are a must-have—this luxe serum works perfectly in concert with all other skin care products, I use it at least twice a day. Just a drop will do ya! It is my travel-must and I apply small drops all over my face multiple times throughout a flight, especially around my eye area or anyplace that I am feeling needs a bit more attention. Yes, Nectar is a delicious nutrient-rich drink for the face.”
WHAT SARAH LOVES ABOUT INNERSENSE:
Greg and Joanne are two of the most delightful human beings I have ever met, and I’m so glad this industry caused our paths to cross! Their company was inspired by their beautiful, curly-haired daughter, Morgan, whose journey with Williams Syndrome has taught them to trust their inner sense as her parents. Joanne was so supportive of me when I decided to stop coloring my hair, and has shared great tips for helping my wavy hair look wavier, instead like the frizz-bomb nightmare it can be when I don’t pay attention to it.
Joanne and I do events together sometimes, and while we were preparing in Denver one day, she asked me a question so simple and so profound that I’ve carried it close since then: “How good are you willing to have it?”
Ask yourself that at least once a week!
SARAH’S FAVORITE PRODUCTS:
I use lots of Innersense products, but the ones I can’t live without at the moment are the Quiet Calm Curl Control and the Harmonic Healing Oil.
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Kala MacDonald
President & Founder of YOGATOCOPE.ORG
HER FAVORITE OSMIA PRODUCT:
Sandalwood Body Mousse & Naked Body Oil
WHY SHE LOVES IT:
"My favorite right now is to put Sandalwood Body Mousse on my knees, elbows, and chest right out of the shower, and then I take little handfuls of Naked Body Oil and rub everything in. DREAMY. It feels like luxury and health at the same time, and I genuinely look forward to getting out of the shower and doing my skincare routine. I was never a full body lotion-er before because it felt like a chore. This feels like a luxury."
WHAT SARAH LOVES ABOUT YOGATOCOPE.ORG:
Kala has turned her heartbreak into healing in the most beautiful, giving way with Yoga to Cope. She lost both of her brothers in one year, and she used her yoga to navigate depths of grief she never thought she’d have to explore. She is a beacon of positivity and kindness in a challenging world.
SARAH’S FAVORITE SERVICE:
As a relatively new and overly busy practitioner of meditation, I love her free meditation downloads, which range from one to 16 minutes. Try one before your next stressful conversation, and see whether it changes how you handle your emotions!
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Jeannie Jarnot
Founder & CEO of Beauty Heroes
FAVORITE OSMIA PRODUCT:
Purely Simple Face Cream
WHY SHE LOVES IT:
"So hard to choose, but I think my Osmia Hero product is Purely Simple Face Cream. The cushiony softness it gives my skin is unparalleled. It also is comforting to know that I can recommend it to people with a wide range of skin issues, and feel confident about it. I don’t have sensitive skin, but there’s something about this formula that makes my skin feel its healthiest. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my life, it’s that the simplest things can be the most complex to achieve. Making a product this simple and perfect is not easy to achieve, or else everyone would be doing it."
WHAT SARAH LOVES ABOUT BEAUTY HEROES:
Jeannie just knows her stuff. After all her years in the spa industry, she can see right to the core values and quality of a brand as if she has x-ray vision. Combine that expertise with a deep love of people and the planet, and you have a company worth its weight in body scrub.
SARAH’S FAVORITE PRODUCT:
The Beauty Heroes Box, of course! Their subscription model allows people to experience one full-sized product from a single brand each month, allowing a rich, in-depth experience for subscribers, instead of a scattering of samples. In addition, their Blue Beauty initiative is a closer look at how seriously they take the environmental aspect of their work, and the high bar they set for choosing their beautiful brands.
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Emily Hightower
Founder of Intrinsic
FAVORITE OSMIA PRODUCT:
Black Clay Facial Soap, Coffee Mint Soap, & Rosemary Body Mousse
WHY SHE LOVES THEM:
"I am a current abuser of your Black Clay Facial Soap, the Coffee Mint Soap, and the Rosemary Body Mousse. When I take the time to ritualize my skincare, I am reminded of the Osmia message around this sacred simple gesture. I take time to feel the temperature of the water, I commit to the lather and the messy process of getting clean, and I take deep breaths sensing the smells that make the world feel right and peaceful again. When I use the Rosemary Body Mousse, my shaving bumps calm down, I remember that I love my legs just the way they are, and I remember that my skin is a living organ digesting what I am lovingly putting all over it. I walk around and let it absorb while I crank beautiful music or watch Vikings or fold laundry naked. When I get dressed from there, I feel whole underneath it all. It's a ritual that connects me to me and changes the way my day unfolds for the better."
WHAT SARAH LOVES ABOUT INTRINSIC:
Emily is a resilience coach whose superpower is breathwork. She works mostly with athletes, veterans, and recovery groups, and helps her clients harness breath in a way that leaves them empowered and calm. She works with every person’s unique challenges to turn them into healing opportunities, and is doing some incredible work around the connections between breath and movement and neurological health over time.
SARAH’S FAVORITE SERVICE:
Emily offers local or online sessions to work on anything from breath to movement to sleep to recovering from trauma. She’ll be worth every penny you spend and breath you take with her.
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Hope Gillerman
Founder of H.Gillerman Organics
FAVORITE OSMIA PRODUCT:
Black Clay Facial Soap and Sunset Body Oil
WHY SHE LOVES THEM:
"Even before Sarah invited me to participate in her “Empowered Wellness” events I was already dazzled by Sarah’s luxurious line and her gift for making beautiful soaps that have long-lasting scents that never get gummy…ever. My whole family swears by the Black Clay Facial Soap as do multitudes of her loyal followers. But it is her Sunset Body Oil I want to tip-off to you, if you haven’t already discovered it. Her unique aromatic blend of vanilla, coriander, and bergamot is an absolute dream come true. I love these essential oils from my core and she perfected this blend. Dispersed in her rich, nurturing plant oil base, Sunset puts me in the best mood ever! I love to bring it with me when I travel for some extra comfort and luxury and also because I don’t want anyone to see dry skin peeking out of my shirts or leggings! This blend soaks in deeply and is the gift that keeps on giving to my body and soul."
WHY SARAH LOVES H. GILLERMAN ORGANICS:
Hope speaks the language of plants almost better than her native tongue. Her blends are an unbelievable combination of efficacy and luxury, and I crave them—almost as much as I crave her company.
SARAH’S FAVORITE PRODUCT:
Hope’s Muscle Remedy is this Colorado girl’s best friend after a long hike or a day of nordic skiing. It smells incredible, and relaxes my body and mind instantly. The Jaw Clenching Remedy helped my teenager stop grinding her teeth at night, and now she loves the scent so much that it’s part of her bedtime routine!
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Deva Shantay
Owner of True Nature Healing Arts
FAVORITE OSMIA PRODUCT:
Sacred Rose Craft Series Body Oil
WHY SHE LOVES IT:
"My favorite product is the Sacred Rose Craft Series Body Oil. I absolutely love to end each day with a soak in my tub after adding a few drops of Sacred Rose to infuse the water and soften my skin. The way this oil supports me at the end of my day enables me to not only feel refreshed after my soak, but nurtures me into blissful sleep with soft skin and the wonderful scent of Palo Santo and Rose."
WHY SARAH LOVES TRUE NATURE HEALING ARTS:
Deva and her husband Eaden have created an incredible yoga/meditation/healing/spa sanctuary in our little mountain town. I try to go once a week and make myself slow down long enough to enjoy some yoga and a delicious hot lunch in the mindful, gorgeous environment they have created with so much love and intention.
SARAH’S FAVORITE SERVICE:
I love Deva’s yoga class, and her artwork is breathtaking. (I’m lucky enough to have one of her paintings on my wall at home!) If the time in your life is right for having an intuitive reading with her, it can be a pivotal and moving experience.