I admit that I am very snooty when it comes to skincare. After all, no one is exempt from the effects of Father Time and it is your SKIN - the largest and most visible organ on your body! I never even gave organic skincare a second glance for fear that it would not work as well as the fancier department store brands. But my latest obsession is Pangea Organics. I met Joshua Onysko, Founder and CEO of Pangea Organics in San Francisco last week and his mission and products are more than skin deep. It's positive consumption on all levels.
I had seen Pangea Organics featured in the top magazines such as Allure, Lucky, Vanity Fair, and Men's Health to just name a few. So I wanted to know how this company came to be. Turns out, like most great entrepreneurial ideas, a hobby turned into a multimillion dollar business. In Joshua's case, it all started for him by making soap with his mother — a small idea that turned into one of the fastest-growing organic skin care businesses in the country.
Pangea Organics, whose soaps, facial muds and skin care products can be found in Macy's, Whole Foods and other retailers is on the fast track (check below for GSR’s favorites). Sales in the USA and four other countries reached $5.4 million in 2008, double 2007 sales.
Joshua says a big hurdle he had to get over was that there’s a misconception that organic body and skincare means poor performance. Quite the contrary, he adds because Mother Nature, after all, is the longest clinical trial around. What's found in nature is the nourishment your body needs. Do you trust all these fancy "extracts" that are mostly chemicals? I certainly do not. These days, I think a lot of people need to know what is being absorbed by their skin - especially by those who are pregnant.
Pangea Products:
According to Joshua, it is critical that you understand what you put on your body because skin is the largest organ you have. Especially since most of what goes on your body, makes its way into your body. The vitamins and essential oils provide nourishment your body needs the way they nourish the earth. Pure and simple.
It is harmful to wash your body with those harsh chemicals (i.e. petroleum-based ingredients, sulfates or detergents, synthetic preservatives, artificial colors and fragrances) found on grocery store isles, even some luxury and salon brands! And yes, even those that are carries at places like the organic mecca - Whole Foods! Read the back of the bottles, even those that say organic. You’d be shocked.
The Pangea Practice:
The products are nurturing, handcrafted, organic and fair trade and cruelty-free. The company believes in supporting sustainable agriculture and culture – everything from fair trade sourcing and organic farming to living wages and the use of renewable, recycled and recyclable resources.
Pangea and the Planet:
“What we choose to consume today, directly impacts how we – and future generations – will live tomorrow.” – Pangea Organics.
With this philosophy in mind, a portion of our profits go to help build the Pangea Institute, an emerging non-profit organization dedicated to researching and teaching all aspects of sustainable living and business practices.
In addition, Pangea believes in the Cradle-to-Cradle philosophy. Pangea bodycare starts biodegrading in 48 hours (while others contain chemical foaming agents that can take closer to 200 years to break down).
Green Scout’s Favorites:
- Egyptian Calendula and Blood Orange Cleanser $28
- Egyptian Basil with Mint Body Lotion $18
- Italian White Sage, Geranium & Yarrow Body Wash $16
- Pyrenees Lavender with Cardomom Soap $8
For more information or for a store near you, visit Pangea Organics.
Photos: courtesy of Pangea Organics.
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