It’s 2017 and I’ve just graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in chemistry. I’m working as a chemist for a beauty brand in LA. It’s the age of the Mason jar trash can (iykyk) and stainless steel straws, and I’m pretty much all in. I’ve got a compost bin on the counter, I use recycled toilet paper, and I’ve stopped buying meat.

The thing I still can’t figure out?? My beauty routine. I can’t give up my moisturizers and serums for zero-waste options that don’t perform. So I buy skincare in plastic packaging and look the other way.

Here we are 6 years later. My perspective on sustainability has come a long way since then. But my belief that you can have high-performing products without single-use plastic packaging hasn’t budged. Our refill system has evolved to include both in-person and at-home refill options, and we’re growing this thing slowly and steadily (read: sustainably).

Thanks for being here :)