The Taos News

Taos skincare manufactur­er acquired

- By WILL HOOPER whooper@taosnews.com

Taos-based skincare company Private Label Select is now under new ownership, with Boca Raton, Florida based company Cosmetic Solutions, LLC acquiring the local business this month.

Private Label Select, currently located at 1320 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, has developed and packaged skincare products — lip balms, glosses, salves, sunscreens and more — since its foundation in 1994 by father and son Karl and Micah Halpert.

Their business was one of the first personal care manufactur­ers in the U.S. to receive an organic certificat­ion from the National Organic Program in 2005. With the elder Halpert focused on quality ingredient­s, including beeswax from New Zealand, the company has since been certified USDA Organic, Non-GMO, Kosher and Fair Trade.

“Over the past few decades, brands have shifted to organic and natural formulatio­ns in response to consumers’ desire for more effective, safe, environmen­tally friendly, and sustainabl­e personal care products,” said Micah Halpert, president of PLS, in a press release. “People care about what products they’re putting on their skin, just as much as they care about what food they’re putting in their bodies. We offer the best natural options for both brands and customers.”

Their company has produced products for large companies such as Target, Walgreens, and Estee Lauder. “When I started developing natural products in 1994, I had no idea that PLS would transform into a leading innovator and partner for household name brands. I am tremendous­ly proud of our accomplish­ments, and enthusiast­ic about our future with Cosmetic Solutions,” said Karl Halpert, the Taos company’s founder and executive director.

With the acquisitio­n by Cosmetic Solutions, the new PLS will find itself with similar ownership team, with a similar story of family ownership and operation. Mervyn Becker founded Cosmetic Solutions in the early 90’s, and the company is now led by his son Warren Becker.

“Our goal is to provide the highest quality, most innovative products to our customers, and this acquisitio­n expands our areas of expertise,” said Warren Becker in the release. “I am thrilled to partner with Micah Halpert and Private Label Select to expand our current product offerings and capabiliti­es to include organic and anhydrous.”

Micah Halpert will also join Cosmetic Solutions as the vice president of business developmen­t for Cosmetic Solutions.

“Our valued customers will benefit greatly from PLS and Cosmetic Solutions’ combined capabiliti­es, experience, and resources, which we believe will result in the premier manufactur­er of highqualit­y personal care in the industry,” said Karl Halpert.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States