Going skin deep in the South End
Photos by Larissa Burgess | @larisnessmnstr
You know when you look at the back of your cleanser and there’s a massive list of chemicals you don’t recognize, and probably can’t even pronounce? You won’t find any of that at Follain, a South End beauty supply store that exclusively offers pure, healthy skin care products made in the United States—and with ingredients that are simple, clear, and easy on the syllables.
Owner Tara Foley, who welcomes customers with excitement and a genuine smile, handpicked each of the more than 100 spa-grade products she is currently carrying. The idea struck Foley five years ago when she was living in New York City and had started to become more health conscious—buying organic and exercising.
“I realized, what’s the point of doing all this stuff if I’m covering my skin with this crap?”
Foley said. “[In New York] at the time you just couldn’t go to one place to find all healthy skin care products.”
She aspired to open a place like a natural food store, but for skin care—a store where you could walk in and not have to read the labels, you would just know the products were safe. Five years and an MBA later, she opened Follain. “This is my child,” she says.
The store is set up beautifully and smells amazing. Crisp whites and earth tones complement Follain’s earth-friendly thesis. The shelves are stocked with products Foley knows by heart and any product is up for trying. Above the communal sink she has three silver drums of locally made liquid soap, part of the Follain refill system. The eco-friendly, affordable concept works like this: you pay a single deposit on the Follain soap bottle and pay a small price for refills.
“I am such a believer in this and I think once people come and try the products they will be too,” Foley said.
Lucky for us, Foley picked six products she felt were best for twentysomething skin and priced fairly.
Herbivore Botanicals Balance Skin Toning Elixir with Geranium and Lavender, $12
“Toning is really important; a lot of people don’t know about that. [Toner] absorbs your moisturizers evenly after washing your face. This toner is really good for those in their twenties [because] you still need a toner that’s going to take any debris off, and it’s going to do a little bit more of closing your pores. The lavender and geranium really wake up your skin.”
Stewart & Claire Old Fashioned Lip Balm, $6
“What makes this old-fashioned
is the safflower oil,
the black pepper, and orange bitter in here
and it’s really fun, very healthy!
It’s based in beeswax and safflower oil,
[so] it’s very fall also.”
Follain 2-ounce Refill Bottle, $5 deposit, $2 first fill, $1 refill
“This is the travel-sized refill bottle
of the olive oil based soaps,
so you can come in and refill.
They’re really basic—
it’s literally just saponified olive oil.
Use it for your hands and body.”
Earth Tu Face Cleanse with Palmarosa and Aloe, 2-ounce, $28
“It’s really good for combination or oily skin
or skin that will break out.
The aloe is really cleansing—
it will keep the skin calm
and only take off the bad stuff.
It’s a really good basic cleanser.”
Shamanuti Creme No. 1, $48
[This cream] is a really good
all around facial moisturizer.
It has neroli oil in it, it has calendula
that is going to calm your skin down.
It’s moisturizing, but it’s also really light
and it’s not going to clog your pores.”
Beridan Naturals Floral Butter, $14
“After you wash up, it’s recommended to use
a really moisturizing kind of beeswax or shea butter.
The Beridan butters are based in beeswax, coconut oil,
and sunflower oil and they are great for dry knees and elbows.
You can use it on your lips
or you can use it anywhere.”
FOLLAIN. 53 DARTMOUTH ST., SOUTH END, BOSTON. @SHOPFOLLAIN. SHOPFOLLAIN.COM.