San Diego isn't just home to some of the best spas in the nation, our emerging city is now where beauty bigwigs call home.
Brittany Clotfelter, a local out of La Costa, just launched Glory for Girls, a refreshingly mature take on adolescent skin care.
Though Brittany's background is based on new product development and marketing strategy for such mega corporations as Microsoft and AT&T Wireless, her knack for beauty and skin care emerged as innate as her blueprint for introducing Bluetooth to the wireless market.
Brittany is the proud mother of daughters Remy, 11, Reece, 4, and son Treat, 9. When Remy returned from a birthday party with a bedazzled gift bag full of gaudy-tween make-up goodies, her face soon broke out in premature blemishes. Brittany turned to the product labels and learned the face creams and bronzing lotions were full of dangerous toxins. Fueled by motherly concern and a fresh perspective of female skin care, Brittany realized there must be a way to package natural products with hip appeal.
As an involved mother, Brittany knows young girls begin to experiment with make-up and products far before their teenage years. And as the youngest of three daughters who secretly dipped into my 16-year-old sister's beauty stash - and wardrobe - on a daily basis from the ripe age of 8, I completely back Brittany's vision and business plan.
While the glitzy glamour of pastel and sparkly products may appeal to young girls, the synthetic ingredients and dangerous chemicals in no way benefit their health. Following the gift bag incident, Brittany began doing research on products with organic ingredients, but found herself knee-deep in the other extreme, "The majority of natural products appear too medicinal or hippy to catch a young girl's attention."
Brittany quickly discovered the key to helping girls like Remy is to market organic products to the young consumer. And just a few years later, Brittany launched Glory for Girls, the all-natural line that offers all the benefits of organic skin care with the same iconic appeal of the top beauty brands, enabling girls of all ages to have skin care that's fun and safe without sacrificing their image.
The Glory for Girls line includes everyday products for face and body, sunscreens, scrubs, as well as mild clarifying solutions. In each product, parents will find (and girls won't notice) such natural ingredients as chamomile - a healing, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory agent, açai fruit extract - a powerful antioxidant, green tea - an antioxidant that also heals and aids in sun protection, and coconut oil - to hydrate and protect. In addition to completely natural ingredients, the formulas are biodegradable, the packaging is made of recyclable plastics, and the entire line is made in the USA.
What you won't find in this line are such known toxins as artificial colors and fragrances, parabens, petrolatum, pthalates, and sodium laureth. If you don't know what it is, chances are you don't want it near your healthy and growing girl's skin.
Brittany explains, "Glory for Girls is perfect for teens and tweens, from 8 to 18-years-old. Most girls start to explore using cosmetic at a young age, and it's important to have them on the right track from the beginning. Our products are gentle enough to use everyday, and are simple two-in-one formulas for body and face."
Glory for Girls is currently only available for purchase online, but will hit San Diego spas and stores in 2009. You will soon find this line at select spas and the stores young girls frequent the most, such as City Kids and Tilly's.
So, I wondered, where does an innovative local like Brittany go for beauty indulgence? Brittany shares, "Some of my favorite San Diego spas are Mirabella Mansori in Solana Beach and the Spa at the Four Seasons Resort in Carlsbad."
Not only is Brittany a longstanding local herself, the Glory for Girls line has deep roots in San Diego. A few power players behind this hip and green skin care line are Jennifer Moores - a current minority owner of the San Diego Padres; Paul Masturzo - General Manager of MANA Products, former President of Erno Laszlo - the first dermatological skin care line, and former President of Max Factor & Co; Richie Cunningham - with over 10 years experience in the healthcare industry and former NFL place-kicker for the Dallas Cowboys.
For product details, skin care advice for girls of all ages, and tips for easy ways to lead a green lifestyle, visit GloryforGirls.com.
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