Farmaesthetics

Portsmouth, RI -based Farmaesthetics is a company focused on producing personal care beauty products of exceptionally high quality.  The company's use of traditional old school type packaging options along with a commitment to natural ingredients yield a truly sustainable product.

Farmaesthetics is the creation of Brenda Brock and began as line of products sold at a local organic farm stand in Rhode Island.  Now the products are sold in Estee Lauder's Origins stores across the country and online through Farmaesthetics directly.

Using glass bottles and tins which are increasingly uncommon forms of packaging these days the company is able to both preserve and protect their product withstanding the rigors of a national retail supply chain.    

Farmaesthetics packaging is unique as well has highly functional.  Using easily recyclable glass apothecary type bottles and tins the packaging is also sustainable.  Brock uses no plastic in her packaging except for the caps and pump mechanisms on some of the products.

As her company grew from a one person operation into one that needed to meet national supply chain requirements her packaging requirements changed dramatically.  She told Cosmetic/Personal Care Packaging that initially she encountered many challenges when she needed to expand her packaging options. 

Her story is an interesting one and underscores a problem in the sustainable packaging industry many smaller companies encounter.  Most manufacturers and distributors want to handle the entire packaging operation or want a certain volume in order to have a profitable arrangement with a company.  As a result distributors and manufacturers often try to steer companies into packaging options that they can offer regardless of sustainability.  This often leaves the business owner with a difficult choice, either compromise on sustainability or risk having a very difficult time securing packaging options.

Brock made very few compromises in her packaging choices.  Because of the relationship with Origins she had to be sure her packaging met their strict requirements.  Brock established relationships with O.Berk Co., Cape Bottle Co. and J.L. Clark to secure the various packaging configurations she felt her line needed.

Using glass bottles as her primary packaging Brock encountered a challenge finding pumps and sprayers that would consistently fit.  Due to the slight differences in each glass bottle most pump/sprayer mechanisms would not work.  She was able to benefit from her relationship with Origins to help secure the proper fittings that worked with glass bottles. 

Production has also changed as the line has grown.  Originally Brock made her products herself in her own kitchen.  "The core skincare line was successfully translated from our "kitchen" in RI to dermatologic lab in New England so that we could get FDA approval and testing for shelf life etc..., so that we could distribute professionally and internationally," said Tabitha Cooney Farmaesthetics Sales & Marketing Coordinator.

Farmaesthetics currently has 46 SKUs in their product line with more coming in the spring/summer of this year.  The company also makes additional items for their professional/salon line.  Origins carries 15 SKUs from Farmaesthetics in its stores across the country.

We had the opportunity to examine and test several of Farmaesthetics best selling products.  Their Nourishing Lavender Milk is packaged in a clear white bottle with pump top.  The product is one of the company's original bestsellers and a lighter version of their Nourishing Herbal Cream which we also tested.  The Nourishing Herbal Cream is packaged in a round glass jar with a tin top.  Both products were of very high quality and our testers commented on how easily absorbed they were.  We especially liked the Nourishing Lavender Milk, its consistency was just perfect for an all around light moisturizer. 

The Hand to Heel Soften Salve and the Lip Softener were the two other products we had a chance to look at.  The Hand to Heel Salve is packaged in a round tin and the Lip Softener in a tiny glass jar.  Both products were similar in consistency and we found the salve to be highly effective for use on the hands and a welcome relief to the cold drying winter conditions of New England.

Farmaesthetics is an interested company because it challenges some of the conventional wisdom out there in the natural products and packaging industries.  It is possible to produce a highly quality natural product and still offer sustainable packaging that protects and preserves the product.  The company's minimal use of plastic in their packaging should be commended and sets them aside as unique.   We'll be interested in continuing to follow Farmaesthetics as they grow and expand into more international markets.