Lawrence Hayes II, H.D., Ph.D has a goal to get people back to the basics of skincare. Growing up in the dry climate of Michigan, Lawrence is no stranger to the painful effects of eczema — and to big brand salves that claim to help, but don’t. After earning a degree in nutrition and a Ph.D in Holistic Nutrition, Lawrence set out to improve the beauty industry by offering premium-quality, yet affordable products that are naturally sourced and formulated for effectiveness. “Skincare companies make money convincing people they need expensive products, many of which are made from synthetic ingredients that actually changes the skin’s natural PH balance,” Lawrence says. That’s when he discovered the healing power of Babassu, a natural oil harvested from the seeds of the babassu palm tree in the Amazon rain forest, and an innovative idea to create personal care products with this natural ingredient emerged.

Life is not just about soap for Oregon Soap Company’s founder Gregg Arnell of Portland. It’s about being a responsible environmental steward and producing soap in the cleanest, most renewable way possible, and the ethos of his company reflects this stewardship. Maker of organic soaps for nearly 30 years, Oregon Soap Company uses primarily organic vegetable oils and natural ingredients, Oregon Tilth-certified, to produce its bar, liquid and castile soaps. These soaps are also Carbonfund-certified carbon neutral: For every 10 bars of soap sold or 5 gallons of liquid soap sold, a native plant or tree is planted in partnership with Friends of Trees and Trees for the Future. Since 2007, more than 750,000 native plants and trees have been planted. Carbonfund also supports third-party and verified renewable energy, including wind farms and solar power, to replace reliance on fossil fuels. Using renewable energy is another cornerstone of Oregon Soap Company’s mission.