Inspiration…

Three young women stand in a classroom, listening to a woman giving a presentation at a digital screen. The room has colorful decorations, bookshelves, and boxes on the floor.
Three girls in black shirts and leggings in a classroom, around a small table with books and supplies, engaging in an activity. A decorated cardboard structure labeled 'SOPHORA' is next to a bookshelf with books and educational materials.
Three girls are in a classroom around a decorated box, appearing to perform a skit or activity. One girl on the left is smiling and the girl on the right is speaking into a microphone. Behind them, a large screen displays a music note icon. The classroom walls have posters about sustainable development and world history, with shelves of books and classroom supplies visible.

From a Fifth-Grade Classroom to a Clean Beauty Mission

Sometimes the most powerful ideas don’t begin in boardrooms or laboratories—they begin in classrooms.

For me, the spark came during a presentation by a group of fifth-grade students at Atlanta International School in Atlanta, GA. The topic the children chose was sustainable beauty. What began as a school project quickly became something much more profound. The students spoke about the environmental impact of cosmetics and the hidden dangers of chemicals commonly found in beauty products—particularly phthalates and endocrine disruptors.

Listening to those young students present their research was a pivotal moment. As a parent, it opened my eyes in a way I hadn’t expected.

At the time, my daughters were eight and ten years old. Both are passionate dancers who compete with their dance team, spending long weekends at rehearsals and competitions. Like many kids their age, they were also beginning to follow beauty trends. Lip glosses, balms, and shimmering lip products were everywhere—on social media, in dance bags, and on the wish lists of nearly every girl on their team.

As a parent, I had always discouraged regular makeup use for kids so young. But the reality is that children want to fit in with their peers. The pressure to participate in trends—especially within dance and school environments—can put parents in a difficult position.

After hearing the students’ presentation on sustainable beauty, I felt compelled to learn more about what was actually inside the lip products my daughters and their friends wanted so badly.

What I discovered was alarming.

Many popular lip products contained ingredients linked to carcinogenic effects or hormone disruption. Even more concerning, several were technically permitted in lip products because they were labeled “for external use only.” But anyone who uses lip balm or gloss knows the truth: we inevitably ingest them throughout the day.

If a product sits on your lips, some of it ends up in your body.

With my medical background, I understood the implications immediately. Exposure to carcinogens and immune-disrupting chemicals at a young age can compound over a lifetime. Children’s developing bodies are particularly sensitive to endocrine disruptors, making early exposure especially concerning.

That realization turned concern into a mission.

I set out to create lip products that parents could feel good about and that kids would actually want to use. Products that were clean, effective, and appealing to the younger generation—without compromising safety.

Because : Makeup is optional, harmful ingredients are not an option.

A deeper dive

Text overlay reading "Areas of Focus" and "Toxic Chemicals" on a dark, brownish background with bubbles or droplets.
A woman smiling wearing white protective coverall and hood against a black background.
Alert message about FDA finding 'forever chemicals' in nearly 1,700 personal care products and questioning if the FDA should require safety testing for these products.
A smiling young woman with dark hair is looking at her phone, wearing a tan shirt and white apron, in a bright indoor space with plants in the background.

What followed was months of deep research and hands-on experimentation. I immersed myself in the science behind clean formulations, studying organic chemistry and exploring the structure of oleogels, the stabilizing power of antioxidants, and the benefits of fractionated and plant-derived oils. I learned how natural ingredients could be combined to create textures, shine, and performance comparable to conventional products—without relying on petrochemicals.

From the beginning, the principles were clear and non-negotiable:

  • No petrochemicals

  • No “forever chemicals”

  • No endocrine disruptors

  • Only natural, plant-based ingredients

  • Sustainably farmed raw materials

  • Ethical sourcing with no violation of human rights

  • Source Organic ingredients

  • Have a premium feel

  • Be something kids would want.

Creating products that met these standards was not the easy path, but it was the right one.

What began as a moment of concern in a school auditorium evolved into something much bigger—a commitment to rethinking what lip products can be. Safe enough for young users, sophisticated enough for anyone, and rooted in transparency and responsibility.

In many ways, this company was inspired by children asking the right questions.

And sometimes, that’s exactly where meaningful change begins.

Onto Something special

The next phase of the journey is what truly surprised us.

We decided to do a soft launch at the Atlanta International School Christmas Market, an annual holiday vendor market held at the school that brings together families and small businesses from the community.

We arrived with our first small production batch—excited, nervous, and unsure how people would respond.

What happened next completely blew us away.

The response from the community was overwhelming. Parents, students, and teachers immediately connected with the story and the mission behind the products. Many shared that they had worried about the same issue but had never seen a solution that truly addressed it.

Again and again, people thanked us—not just for creating a product, but for taking action on a problem that had quietly concerned so many families.

By the end of the market, something incredible happened.

We sold out of our entire initial stock.

More than the sales themselves, it was the conversations, encouragement, and gratitude from the community that confirmed we were onto something meaningful. What began as a concern sparked by a classroom presentation had grown into a shared mission—one that resonated with parents, kids, and anyone who believed that beauty products should never come at the expense of health.

That day marked the real beginning of the journey.

Illustration of Atlanta skyline with the text 'From Atlanta with Love' and a logo celebrating 40 years of Atlanta International School.
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Our mission continues to evolve…

Neon sign with the words 'Giving Back' in white cursive lettering on a purple and pink glowing background.
A smiling woman with long blonde hair and a nose piercing is talking into the ear of a young girl with blonde hair, who is wearing a pink quilted jacket and a colorful headband, during an outdoor event. The background shows people walking around on a paved surface, with some in casual winter clothing.
Promotional image displaying four logos of different companies: The Buckhead Training Company, PostNet, The School Gloss Company, and Blue Divine Aesthetics.

We continue to keep improving the product, raising awareness, and spreading the word about safer beauty choices. As we grow, we are also bringing in the expertise of a professional cosmetic chemist to further refine and strengthen our formulation—ensuring that our products meet the highest standards of safety, performance, and integrity.

We are firmly set on a path to realize our vision: clean, natural, truly harmless, and fun lip gloss for everyone.

But our mission extends beyond the products themselves.

We are committed to giving back—to supporting schools, encouraging girls to pursue STEM fields, and staying deeply connected with the community that helped bring this idea to life.

On March 8, 2026, we were proud to take an important step in that commitment. We made our first gift to support education grants at Atlanta International School—the very place where this journey began.

It was a full-circle moment.

A reminder that this company was never just about creating a product. It was about listening, learning, and taking action—and about investing in the curiosity and courage of young minds who inspire change.

We are not even a year old yet, this is only the beginning.