How Ellovi Sets New Standards For The Skincare Industry

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” - Mahatma Gandhi

No matter what your skin type, it is fair to say that skincare finds its way onto the priority list in many of our daily lives one way or another and choosing a product that’s affordable yet healthy for your skin is a near endless battle. While browsing the market, some may find themselves making a mental note of what they’re looking for; a hydrating formula, sustainable, travel-friendly and not being tested on animals may come to mind. Some eight years ago, Ellovi was born in the kitchen of its founder and CEO, Kelly Winterhalter, as she too struggled to find a skincare product that didn’t adhere to eyebrow-raising industry standards with ingredients that are often as harmful on the skin as they are to pronounce. Handmade in California, Ellovi offers the globally famous, all-over moisturizer known as Butter and a collection of Lip Butters that push the boundaries beyond that of the skincare industry’s norm.

Where It All Began

Winterhalter took her first steps in this journey in 2012 while working for a mainstream cosmetics distributing facility. Being a user of these products herself, she grew suspicious of a connection between skin irritations she was experiencing and the ingredients behind the moisturizers she routinely applied. Not only were these highly popular skincare essentials not working, but they weren’t exactly easy on the wallet either. After countless hours of research into the skincare industry, the call for a brand like Ellovi was heard loud and clear, and Winterhalter set out on a quest fueled by inspiration to create a clean, sustainable product that she and so many others desperately needed.

According to Winterhalter, her research into the industry shed light on how loosely regulated the market is, along with the discovery of labeling loop-holes and many other troubling yet somehow acceptable standards. Knowing that human skin deserves better, Ellovi was created in her kitchen after many trial and error attempts to find the perfect formula by mixing together only the finest of various ingredients she could get her hands on. This passion project began as a hobby for Winterhalter and she recalls gravitating towards plants and the harmony found when using purely plant-based products. “I became fascinated with the healing properties of essential oils and fell in love with that world,” she shared. Once Winterhalter was confident in her game-changing Ellovi skin food, she shared her creation with friends for feedback and was met with acclaim. “Their reactions ignited me to pursue this. I’ve always had an entrepreneur drive to share something with the world.”

Ellovi’s Early Days

Following the disposal of the overly expensive products from her prior skincare regime, Winterhalter found herself amongst some 5,000 glass jars with reality setting in that Ellovi was about to set sale for public purchase and distribution. “It was a moment of, ‘I’m doing this. What happens? What if?’ I spent so much time with the logo for Ellovi, its website and working on the essence of the brand being clean products,” she recalled. “Through this, I realized this hobby of mine became a passion for creating a positive, global impact and being compassionate with animals.”

Guided by the pure intention to inspire and the goal of being the resolution for notoriously dry skin, Ellovi found its place in the world on April 20, 2013 in Berkeley, Calif. at the local Berkeley Vegan Earth Day event. Winterhalter remembers the many supporters she met that day that believed in Ellovi’s mission and were excited to be a part of something bigger. Seven years later, the hydrating and versatile Butter continues to be sold worldwide while Ellovi remains loyal to its deliverable promises that can only be achieved by using plant-based ingredients.

Why Butter is Better

Have you ever spent the day in the sun and planned to go home to wipe off your makeup, give your hair a nourishing mask, moisturize your body and face for some after-sun care, protect and hydrate that fresh, new tattoo and then ask your partner if a shoulder rub with your favorite massage oil is out of the question? Would you believe that you can do all of that and more using the same product for each phase in your very specific R and R campaign? Ellovi is known worldwide for its versatile Butter, a 6-ingredient, vegan, cruelty-free and non-toxic body and facial butter that can be used as a healing cream, to prevent stretch marks, as moisturizer for babies, mild abrasion treatment for youth and adults alike and beyond.

Petroleum and harsh sulfates are just some of the common ingredients found in other leading brands in the skincare industry, according to Winterhalter. “There’s a ton of man-made chemicals that work in the sense that they’re giving the customer what was desired for,” the Ellovi founder explained. “But, it alters the natural balance of the body, changing its chemistry.” She noted that many find using expensive or name-brands to be effective, but when they stop normal usage, break outs occur. “There are addictive ingredients out there, while plants have been naturally healing humans for thousands of years,” Winterhalter said.

Ellovi’s original Butter consists of six simple, naturally found ingredients that support effective absorption and maintaining skin elasticity: hemp seed, arrowroot, marula oil, Shea butter, macadamia and ylang ylang oil. Other flavors of Butter include lavender, mint, vanilla, tangerine and rose. Lip Butters sold individually consist of these same scents, with the exception of ginger lemon and tinted rose. A Lip Butter Collection is also an Ellovi patron favorite as it features four Lip Butters at an affordable price.

Ethically-Sourced

When Ellovi began to expand their naturally scented flavors, they began exploring the balance between finding how to acquire each ingredient in its purest form and where the most ethical expression of that ingredient could be found. Global Mamas in Ghana, a community of hard working women that promote their craft work to be sold on a global scale, is one of Ellovi’s ingredient suppliers. They receive product from locations such as Hawaii and Madagascar as well.

“Every piece that makes our brand, to its essence to the color choices, has a deeper connection,” noted Winterhalter. To her, Ellovi’s mission is to always do the right thing, promote utilizing the power of plants, remain sustainable and be one in harmony with nature all while also changing the skincare industry standards for the better. There’s no slave labor, no testing on animals and they’re not adding water to their moisturizers.

If water is used in a lotion or body butter, the use of preservatives must also be present, according to Winterhalter. While water isn’t the worst thing out there for the skin, she chooses not to add it to Ellovi butters as it would simply dilute other ingredients, inhibiting their effectiveness. Applied externally, water can be dehydrating, so Winterhalter believes it is best to leave the plants to their work, entirely unmodified.

How Ellovi Helps Today

Being a small business in the skincare industry doesn’t mean a company can’t make an impact. With only five employees, Ellovi has stayed true to its word of honest sustainability and currently is making contributions and varying donations when possible. Recently, Ellovi joined Brands X Better, a coalition of fellow entrepreneurs that have vowed to donate up to 10 percent of profits for the month of May. “Brands X Better really aligns with Ellovi’s purpose of being a positive force. We have enjoyed connecting with like-minded brands driven by the same passion,” she said.

Introduction to Skincare

Whether you’re just stepping in to the skincare routine world or have been greasing up religiously for years, the discovery of a healthy, eco-friendly moisturizer is hard to come by. “Skincare at its core is deeper than the physical act of putting lotion on; its about the energy you put into your personal care,” Winterhalter said. She recommends having an intention behind each choice you make when searching for a product that works for you. “A love for the self naturally translates into being respectful to the environment and wanting to use clean products,” she added. She concurs that when individuals feel good inside, that positive mindset is reciprocated on the surface in every move one makes.

Winterhalter recalls an experience she had with food poisoning following the consumption of a seemingly perfect smoothie. From grabbing the groceries at the store to concocting the chilled treat, she couldn’t escape a sensation she noted to be weird vibes. This taught her the important lesson of trusting your inner tuition and being in-tune with one’s body. The creator of Ellovi advises youth and those new to skincare to focus on the different properties a product offers. “Smell them, go for one with a deep connection that resonates with you and always love yourself,” she shared.

Discover Ellovi

On Ellovi’s easy-to-navigate website, customers can research the brand, read reviews, subscribe to an emailing list for exclusive offers and purchase a jar of Butter or Lip Butter for themselves. They also offer $25 and $50 gift cards for anyone looking to introduce a loved one to a vegan and non-toxic formula. With free shipping on all U.S. orders over $15, this affordable and effective skincare line might find its route into your life, and the option to share it with friends and family has never been easier. Anyone can become an affiliate with Ellovi, and one can do so easily on their website or by emailing [email protected] and inquiring. Affiliate benefits are a 15 percent discount granted to applicants to share with their respective social circles. In turn, Ellovi grants allifilates $5 for every $30 spent using their discount code.

Going green and clean is a lifestyle choice with a desperate demand for widespread adoption. Small businesses like Ellovi consist of a handful of employees with a passion for igniting a fire that helps save the planet, with a bonus of nurturing our skin. The workers behind the handcrafted all-over butters in Berkeley are the unsung heroes of a movement much larger than ourselves. To co-exist with nature is possible, and this core value is on full display as Ellovi continues to inspire, educate, and develop innovative ways to protect Mother Nature by incorporating it into something so many utilize regularly. As cliche as it may be to say, it is true; together, we can make a difference. Ellovi makes it easy- six ingredients at a time.