What do all of the brands here at Fait avec Coeur have in common? They’re all environmentally-conscious; they have complete transparency on their products and ingredients; their ingredients are sourced sustainably; and they are founded by amazing women from all over the world.
The other thing that they all have in common is that each of the founders have a unique and interesting story about why they started. This is how most brilliant brands begin. Something interesting, or life-changing, or tragic happens to catalyze this idea, this inception. Nothing could be truer than for Earth Harbor’s founder Ali Perry-Hatch.
The Story
Just a few years ago Ali was in the throes of her career. With a Masters in Public Health and Engineering, she spent much of her career traveling, and working as a humanitarian project manager alongside organizations such as WHO, The Gates Foundation, Freedom from Hunger, and Water For People.
Ali and her husband were both working and studying at the time, and were living their humble lives in a treehouse (yes, that’s right) that they had built in their hometown in Georgia. This treehouse was built as an off-the-grid, fully-sustainable home—something that a lot of us dream of doing. Ali had also studied Herbalism and found joy in making her own skincare products as a side hobby in her little treehouse.
In a tragic turn of events, one morning Ali and her husband were on their way to work in their classic Toyota Corolla when another driver, while texting on his mobile device, t-boned them on Ali’s side. The harrowing accident left her with a brain injury, broken bones, collapsed lungs, and a plethora of other injuries.
At the time, understandably, the side effects were absolutely devastating. Ali lost the ability to do many things due to her injuries. Simple things like looking at a computer screen because the light was too much for Ali to bear. She could also no longer work—a role she had absolutely loved. Ali felt like she had lost her identity.
The combination of life changing so quickly, and losing all control over everything in her life caused Ali to fall into a depression. She recalls, “I started experiencing things like migraines, depression, and anxiety/ptsd for the first time ever in my life. I basically wasn’t the same person personality-wise either.”
After months of rehabilitation, Ali began doing the only thing she could physically manage, which was to take up her hobby again. What started out as a way to keep herself busy and distracted from the negative feelings she was experiencing, became her saving grace.
Making her own skincare was of great benefit to her health, too, as she knew she needed to use cleaner and safer skincare to facilitate her healing, health, and wellbeing. What better way than to make your own products?
Over the weeks and months, Ali realized that her mental health was dependent on her acceptance of her new circumstances. She knew she had to embrace the change that was thrust upon her, and instead of pining for her old life, she decided to look forward, and go all in and make her hobby a full time career. Thus, Earth Harbor was born!
Another driving force for Earth Harbor was when Ali unexpectedly fell pregnant. At the time, she felt like her body was still deep in recovery, and a pregnancy just wouldn’t be on the cards so soon. Alas, she was delightfully wrong. Ali refers to her son as her “miracle baby”, and rightly so. Something so precious deserves to have nothing but the best—and that includes the products he is exposed to.
So Earth Harbor was created not just for Ali’s wellbeing, but for her entire family, her customers, and ultimately, the planet.
Earth Harbor gets its name from the idea of harboring the earth. Earth Harbor is a sanctuary, where the ingredients are sourced sustainably and ethically, they are clean, and the packaging is not harmful to the environment.
The Ingredients
Earth Harbor’s ingredients are lovingly sourced from the land and sea, and formulated into incredible skincare products that are completely transparent, effective, and sustainable.
Purely natural, ethical skincare with high-performing ocean nutrients & organic island botanicals. Here is beauty from the sea — proven, nontoxic & inspiring.
This artisanal skincare range is not only effective and completely free from toxic synthetic ingredients that you’d typically find in conventional skincare, it is affordable and accessible to the masses. After all, what’s the point of having products that can make an impact if only a fraction of people can afford it? Making the price point affordable also keeps the brand relatable, people-centric, and planet-centric.
The Products
There are 29 skincare products in Earth Harbor’s range. Let’s take a look at some of their most popular products, and how to use them in a gorgeous ritual.
The Ritual
Sunshine Dew Cleansing Oil
An oil cleanser is one of those staples that everyone should have in their arsenal and be using as a first step in a ritual. An oil cleanser works beautifully to melt away any makeup and dead skin that has built-up on top of the skin’s surface, without affecting the epidermis’ acid mantle.
Our skin’s epidermis contains lipids, or fatty acids that are important to our skin’s health. If you use a cleanser that is too harsh, or that strips these fatty acids from the skin, it can be left feeling dry, tight, and itchy. An oil cleanser will effectively remove any impurities, while protecting the lipids, and reinforcing the skin’s microbiome, which is home to fantastic bacteria skin needs to thrive.
The Sunshine Dew Cleansing Oil contains meadowfoam seed oil to balance the oil and sebum in skin, and Jojoba, known for its anti-inflammatory properties. This oil will nourish, and brighten skin, leaving it looking and feeling clean and dewy.
Ahoy Love Cream Cleanser
After oil cleansing, especially if you were wearing foundation, it’s always advisable to follow with a cleanser. A cream cleanser works beautifully on skin that has been oil cleansed once. Cream cleansers are typically for dry skin, however, it does depend on the specific ingredients as to which skin type will really benefit from particular cream cleansers.
Ahoy Love Cream Cleanser is designed for those who have dry skin, but who may also have acne. So those of you who may have irritated, dry, but inflamed skin would really benefit from this cleanser. It does not foam up, meaning it won’t take away any of those lovely natural fats and oils from the skin’s surface that we need to protect and heal our skin. Aloe vera is soothing, while Hibiscus reduces inflammation, while brightening dull skin. Seaweed is also a notable ingredient known for its anti-aging and protective properties.
Skin is left feeling hydrated, pores will be minimized, complexion will be brighter, and skin’s pH levels will be balanced.
Tidal Rose Crystal Hydration Toner
Are toners really necessary? Generally speaking, they are not absolutely imperative to a ritual. But they can really add an additional dose of hydration to your skin, they can soothe irritated skin, they can minimize enlarged pores, and they help facilitate your treatment and moisturizing products. It all depends on their ingredients.
Tidal Rose Crystal Hydration Toner is a unique blend of Rose Flower Water, for balancing and soothing red skin; vegetable glycerin, known for its plumping and hydrating properties; white tea extract for its antioxidant and protective properties; and radish, which is high in Vitamin C, zinc, and phosphorus, all great at nourishing dry and inflamed skin.
Blue Crush Marine Perfecting Mask
Using a face mask once or twice a week is a wonderful way to give your skin a boost of nutrients. My favorite thing about face masks is that you can use different ones in the same ritual if you’re looking to tackle different skin concerns.
The Blue Crush Marine Perfecting Mask is a 2-in-1 treatment. It can be used as a cleanser. Just apply it after your first oil cleanse, massaging it in for about a minute, then rinse it off. Or use it as a face mask. This product comes as a powder, and you simply add water to activate. Or for an additional boost, add the Tidal Rose Crystal Hydration Toner.
This is one of Earth Harbor’s best sellers, and is perfect for skin that is dull, clogged, or inflamed. Blue-green algae is rich in protein and fatty acids, which help to lift and tone the skin. Indigo root has been used in Ayurvedic traditions for centuries as an anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and antibacterial agent in skincare. Kaolin and Bentonite Clay are both detoxifying minerals that give skin a boost of nutrients, while brightening and smoothing skin. The unique crystal organic sulphur MSM is a vegan compound sourced sustainably from the ocean. It boosts the skin's collagen and keratin production, while slowing the signs of aging.
Nymph Nectar Superfruit Radiance Balm
As mentioned above, you can add various masks to your ritual to treat different skin concerns. Follow the Blue Crush Marine Perfecting Mask with another best seller, the Nymph Nectar Superfruit Radiance Balm. End the ritual here by using it as a moisturizer, or wear it as a sleeping mask to further nourish your skin.
With ingredients like olive fruit oil and kokum butter, skin will feel cleansed, soft, and supple. Mango seed oil soothes and calms irritated and inflamed skin conditions. While cranberry, raspberry, and sea buckthorn are all incredibly high in antioxidants, which protect the skin from free radical damage. Skin will feel more plump and firm, and look radiant and fresh.
The Packaging
As mentioned above, the packaging Ali has selected for her products are all environmentally-friendly. All products are in glass bottles or jars, and the lids can be recycled.
Philanthropy
Being from a coastal State of Georgia, combined with her experiences working with various organizations as a humanitarian project manager, Ali has always had a deep connection to the earth, and particularly the ocean. So it’s really no surprise that Earth Harbor is committed to helping our planet.
Earth Harbor are fellow one percenters, where 1% of all sales go to protecting our planet. To ensure that they are spreading their support across different facets, they also contribute to Waterkeeper Alliance, Water For People, and Wild Earth Allies, Inc, three incredible organizations that are devoted to bringing clean water to those in need, and protecting our animals and communities across the globe.
Conclusion
I see it so often, beauty brands that claim to be “sustainable” and “ethical”. Meanwhile, their packaging is made from 100% virgin plastic, and their ingredients lists are as long as my arm, and contain things like fillers and synthetic sulfates.
Earth Harbor’s business model was built upon the idea of clean, sustainable, and ethical ingredients first. With a planet-first mindset, and a name that stands for “harboring the earth”, Earth Harbor is the poster-child of the clean and sustainable beauty movement.
Emma Masotti is an Australian now living in Austin, TX, and has been a trained esthetician for over 15 years. She is a sustainable skincare writer, educating and building awareness around proper skin health that doesn’t cost the earth.
Some of the products promoted in our blog are from our online store. Many others are brands we have researched and found to be great examples of sustainable, ethical, and innovative brands in their field, and we don't make any profit from mentioning them in our blog. #CollaborationOverCompetition
