Good Morning, Friends!
This morning, I found myself reflecting on how our business has evolved since 2017. What started as a small endeavor after losing my job due to health issues quickly grew into something much bigger. In 2018, I fully committed to launching Grandma Tee’s Bath & Body, focusing on minimal ingredients, natural formulations, and preservative-free products. However, I quickly realized that the demand in my local area leaned toward vibrant colors and strong fragrances rather than purely natural alternatives. Without marketing experience, I struggled to reach the right customers beyond my community.
To grow the business, I made compromises, incorporating synthetic colorants and fragrance oils into my soaps and lotions. While this helped attract customers, it didn’t fully align with my passion for clean, natural skincare. Despite building a loyal following for Grandma Tee’s, something always felt off. I knew I needed to return to creating products that I truly believed in.
That’s when Sand & Sea Soaps was born. Inspired by my deep connection to the ocean, this rebrand allowed me to refocus on more natural formulations while still offering a few of the best-selling products from Grandma Tee’s. However, despite my efforts, marketing remained a challenge. Farmers' markets brought some success, but the demand still leaned toward conventional, mall-style skincare.
In 2023, I decided to take a step back from skincare to pursue another passion, herbalism. We had introduced loose-leaf teas in 2019, which sparked my interest in plant-based wellness. Enrolling in an herbalism course deepened my knowledge, and I saw an opportunity to merge my love for skincare with the power of botanicals. That’s when Peak Botanicals was founded, bringing all of our offerings under one brand, with a renewed commitment to natural ingredients, eco-friendly packaging, and holistic wellness.
As we transition back to our roots, I also want to address a common misconception about water-based products. While water is sometimes seen as a “filler” ingredient, it actually plays an essential role in formulations. For example, hyaluronic acid serums rely on water to hydrate the HA powder and activate its skin-plumping benefits. Similarly, lotions, while water-based, are still packed with nourishing ingredients that hydrate and soothe the skin. Water itself is not the issue; rather, the key is formulating products with high-quality, skin-loving components.
I’m excited for this next chapter of Peak Botanicals and grateful for everyone who has supported us along the way. Thank you for being part of this journey, I can’t wait to share what’s coming next!
Stay tuned for more updates, and as always, embrace the beauty of nature.
With gratitude,
Teresa
Peak Botanicals