Indie Beauty Profile

Lynne Florio and Renee Tavoularis, Planted in Beauty

By …as told to Deanna Utroske

- Last updated on GMT

Lynne Florio (left) and Renee Tavoularis
Lynne Florio (left) and Renee Tavoularis

Related tags Indie beauty Organic food

In their Indie Beauty Profile, Lynne Florio and Renee Tavoularis, founders of Planted in Beauty by Well Within, explain how they’re making good use of the various business services available to startups in and beyond beauty and reveal what they’ve hearing from consumers about anti-aging.   

Every day it seems as if there are more and more indie beauty brands cropping up. And while there are good lessons to be learned from those with longevity, it’s also useful to take notice of newly launched startup beauty ventures. Planted in Beauty by Well Within is just such a business. Started by industry veterans Lynne Florio and Renee Tavoularis, Planted in Beauty is a brand that caters to consumers according to psychographics rather than demographics and that is on track to carve out its own niche in beauty.

Here, the beauty entrepreneurs share a profile of themselves and the brand.

Names:​ Lynne Florio & Renee Tavoularis, co-founders

Indie Beauty Company:​ Planted in Beauty by Well Within

Launched:​ April 2017

Headquarters:​ New York, New York

Growth rate:​ We launched 7 skincare products – boasting 4 certifications – in just 14 months. And, we had 1,000 subscribers for our Well Within Beauty e-newsletter before our official marketing efforts even began.

Delegation:​ We are both devoted to this full-time, and our business is supported by outside agencies for the following activities: branding and creative services, web development and ongoing support, digital marketing, public relations and brand communication, product and packaging development. In addition, we work with a network of about a dozen freelancers and consultants.

Distribution: ​Planted in Beauty is available exclusively on wellwithinbeauty.com.

Years in beauty: ​Lynne 38, Renee 24

Years at Planted in Beauty: ​Our indie beauty company has been 15+ months in the making, but we officially launched April 20th, 2017!

Entrepreneurial experience:​ While we’re well versed in the beauty business thanks to our collective decades of experience with La Prairie, this is our first foray into the startup world.

The business: ​Planted in Beauty by Well Within is a collection of plant-based skincare, created with the belief that wellness and beauty are inextricably linked. The product range is derived exclusively from natural sources and contains the highest level of organic ingredients while remaining completely free of [hazardous] chemicals and toxins.

The wow-factor:​ Our philosophy is if it doesn’t exist in nature, it’s not in our products. We have gone to great lengths in order to offer the consumer a line that is this pure and clean and sustainable (developed based on EU Guidelines), boasting organic agriculture and holding certifications from Ecocert for Cosmos Cosmetics Standard, EWG VERIFIED, Leaping Bunny, and Vegan Action. As we believe in a holistic approach to beauty and wellness, our site also includes plant-based solutions in nutrition and lifestyle for optimal skin health and wellness.

The customer:​ We’re targeting wellness seekers (at all ages and stages of their wellness journey) who are focused on age-embracing instead of anti-aging, on being well, not fixing sick, and on investing in their health and well-being. They are intrigued by and/or committed to the notions of natural, organic, chemical-free, and holistic living; and that extends to beauty, nutrition, and lifestyle.

Milestone moment:​ We’ve had an incredible response from consumers writing into our site who are applauding us for moving away from anti-aging and towards age-embracing.

Advice for fellow indie beauty entrepreneurs:​ Passion and purpose must drive the process. Never lose sight of the end game – it’ll keep you laser focused.   

Just one: ​Asked about their go-to products, Lynne says it’s our Detox Exfoliant. I use it three times a week to scrub the “city” off my face. It helps my skin shine from within. And for Renee, it’s the Planted in Beauty Eye Complex. My tired eyes and dark circles are my nemesis, and this works wonders at smoothing and firming.

Related topics Brand Innovation Skin Care Packaging

Related news

Show more

Related products

show more

Exosomes: Passing Trend or Transformative Reality?

Exosomes: Passing Trend or Transformative Reality?

Content provided by Naolys | 26-Mar-2024 | White Paper

Exosomes, microscopic vesicles naturally present in abundance within Plant Cells, have garnered significant attention within the scientific and cosmetic...

How Nutricosmetics Can Enhance Skin Beauty

How Nutricosmetics Can Enhance Skin Beauty

Content provided by Activ'Inside | 11-Dec-2023 | White Paper

In the ever-evolving realm of nutricosmetics, where inner wellness meets outer beauty, few natural ingredients have captured the spotlight quite like grapes.

Ultimate Antimicrobial Solution for BPC

Ultimate Antimicrobial Solution for BPC

Content provided by Acme-Hardesty Company | 11-Oct-2023 | White Paper

Sharomix™ EG10, a versatile broad-spectrum antimicrobial liquid blend for preserving personal care products, ensures safety at usage levels ranging from...

Related suppliers