Boreal Folk offers natural skin-care products
B.C.-based body care brand Boreal Folk is built around the idea of celebrating the natural bounty of the Canadian wilderness.
The company’s small-batch products are made using natural, plant-based ingredients that are sustainably sourced from the forests and land. Oh, and they’re made in a “Wilderness Lab,” right out in the open, too.
We caught up with Raphaëlle Gagnon, owner and formulator of the company, to learn more.
Q For those who aren’t familiar, what is Boreal Folk?
A Boreal Folk is a unique apothecary company handcrafting natural skin-care products inspired by Canada’s wilderness. We create plant-based products made from sustainably gathered wild plants and Canadian ingredients. We handcraft our line of goods in a mobile 99-square-foot workshop called the Wilderness Lab. It’s an inspiring mobile studio that we tow into the woods where we do our best work. Our line is inspired by the beautiful Canadian boreal forest.
Q What makes it different from other skin-care brands?
A Our line is 100 per cent natural, plant-based and wildcrafted. The ingredients we use include sustainably gathered wild plants, ethically harvested Canadian Prairie salt and clay, beeswax from local apiaries, Canadian-manufactured organic carrier oils and essential oils. Our products are packaged in recyclable, reusable and compostable packaging. Each product is made by hand using traditional methods in our mobile studio.
Q Who is your target customer? A People who love being transported into the heart of Canada’s wilderness but also appreciate natural, local, quality, handcrafted, sustainable and sustainably made products.
Q Is there a “hero” product in the line? If so, which one and why do you think it has proven to be so popular?
A Our huckleberry lip butter has become our most popular item. It is made with wild-harvested huckleberries from Tofino that naturally add a light-pink hue to the lips. We use hydrating coldpressed seed oils that moisturize, hydrate and plump out the lips. It comes packaged in a biodegradable tube which usually lasts around one year with regular use.
Q What is the price range for Boreal Folk products?
A Our line ranges from $12-$42.
Q Where can people check them out?
A Our products can be found on our website, borealfolk.ca, or throughout Canada at local shops. The list of stockists is listed on our website. aharris@postmedia.com