Already registered? LOG IN to manage your preferences
ADVERTISEMENT
Subscribe
This I Know: Patricia Bazán Garrubbo and Gina Garrubbo, co-founders of Terralina
Developers of natural skincare line give the goods
By Courtney Dunlop
Published: Jun 03, 2008
PRINT
DIGG
NEWSVINE
DEL.ICIO.US
YAHOOWhat makes a beauty company successful in this age of over-hyped claims, deceitful marketing, and consumer confusion? Is it dependant on million-dollar advertising budgets and celebrity endorsements? Or does it require bending the truth in order to be seen as a “green” brand? In the case of natural skincare company Terralina, the answer is no. For co-founders Patricia Bazán Garrubbo and Gina Garrubbo, success comes through dedication to creating safe, eco-friendly skincare in the most honest and straightforward way possible.
Patricia and Gina, cousins by marriage, began their journey into natural products when they were pregnant at the same time. “We became concerned about what we were putting in and on our bodies,” explains Patricia. “You learn things like how you’re not supposed to use Retin-A, and it makes you think.” But the cousins were disappointed by the lack of quality natural products in the market, and so the seed was planted to make their own. With Patricia’s background in law and pharmaceuticals and Gina’s in media and business, the partnership fell into place perfectly.
Once the plan was in action and the research began, Gina says she and Patricia were shocked to find out there was no regulation for natural products. “I’d go to the store and look at the natural brands, and first of all, I didn’t think they were a lovely texture or nice smell, but then to find out that not all these “natural” brands were actually natural! They had parabens, PEGs, artificial fragrance, etc.” That started Patricia and Gina’s commitment to create only the safest and most natural products they could, without sacrificing the luxury feel they were used to.
Not that there weren’t roadblocks along the way. The co-founders spent three years formulating, doing research, and trying to go against industry standards so they could create the most natural products possible. Even their top chemist resisted at times. “He didn’t think it was possible to be as natural and as luxurious as we wanted,” explains Gina. “We pushed him. But we think we think we’ve achieved the most elegant and effective moisturizer there is.” The result is a line, launched in September 2007, of 98.85% natural products with nourishing ingredients such as olive leaf, white tea, and chamomile. In addition to facial moisturizer are a cleanser, toner, and body lotion, and there are more products in the works. All Terralina products are free of potentially harmful ingredients including parabens, PEGs, sulfates, glycols, and mineral oil, and there is no animal testing.
And the company’s goal goes beyond just selling skincare. “A big part of our commitment is to make consumers aware of what’s going on out there,” says Gina. Therefore, the Terralina website is not just an e-commerce site, it’s also a resource for health and personal care information, with links to news articles and the Environmental Working Group website, and a glossary of terms. “We want people to read a skincare label like they read a food label,” says Gina. “The more people understand what they put on their skin, the better.” The packaging is eco-conscious, too, with recycled materials used whenever possible (including two 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles), even for shipping and packing materials.
It’s clear that Patricia and Gina are not interested in cutting corners just to boost the bottom line. “It was hard and it took longer to get here, but we believe our consumer cares that much,” says Gina. “Every day we were faced with the choice of compromising, and we’d call each other and debate it and then say, ‘No. We’ve come too far.’ We’re really proud of the fact that we’re doing something meaningful.”
Click to the second page to see what Gina and Patricia know.
Leave a Comment:
You must login to leave a comment.