SARAH BUSCHO, Co-FOUNDER, EARTH TU FACE

As a girl who was born and raised in California now living in New York City, whenever I see/ hear/smell something West Coast my ears perk up.   Earth Tu Face  is a  botanical skincare line created by two herbalists based out of Northern California that not only perks up my ears but excites my senses about going green.  These products work like a BOSS (and smell incredible!) while being 100% plant -based, consciously sourced, and produced in the USA.  If there's anyone to sit down and learn about green beauty from it's Earth Tu Face's co- founder and native Californian, Sarah Buscho.  I loved listening to her passionate, honest, and trailblazing approach to skincare and environmental awareness.  After speaking with her I was reminded by something Tupac Shakur once said: West Coast for life. #itsplantporn

IPP: WHAT'S YOUR BACKGROUND AND WHAT LED TO THE START OF EARTH tu FACE?

SB: I’ve always had really sensitive skin.  I could only wear 100% cotton as an infant because anything that was blended with polyester or any other fiber would give me exzema all over my body.  That let to a pervasive interest in holistic health and also Western or allopathic medicine.  

I studied indigenous medicine in my undergraduate and a lot of different types of healing modalities after graduating.  I was on my way to becoming a nurse and nurse practicitoner as well as an herbalist in my 20's.  I wanted to merge all of those things; simultaneously I always made my own skincare.  So I started a 3 year herbalist program in 2007.

During the program I was making my own skincare, from something very rhudementary in the beginning  to adding essential oils, learning more and more about it.  By the last year of the program I had come up with a line of products for fun and gave them away as gifts, while teaching a little about the topic.  

A couple who had a boutique in Napa wanted to carry the products and bought everything.  That was the Aha! moment where I thought everyone should be able to have accessability to really truly green  products that also work.  So in 2011 I rebranded with Marina Storm ( co-founder) to launch as Earth Tu Face.

IPP: WHERE DO YOU SOURCE YOUR INGREDIENTS FROM?

SB: About half of the Earth Tu Face line is still handmade.  We can't grow as many things as we did in the beginning because we make bigger batches now but we still grow roses, lavender, and calendula. They are grown in the Bay Area organically and hand picked and dried.

We source everything meticulously, from all over.  We try to keep things as local as possible.  Our packaging is US made and comes from different places but mostly California. 

photos courtesy of Earth Tu Face

 

IPP: how Does California influence you?

SB: I  think the Bay Area is a natural birth place for creative things.  The  farm to table movement- Alice Waters- really affected our products and what Earth tu Face is all about. 

 I don’t know if its because we’re on fault lines or something but it definitely has that shake it up, make a change, create something new energy which is a really fun thing to be a part of.

 

 

 

 

IPP: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE EARTH TU FACE PRODUCT?

SB:  It changes all the time!  I use our face wash consistently and I  love the blend of essential oils. 

 

 

 

IPP:Why is a green philosophy important?

 SB:  Trying to live sustainably and in harmony with something we depend on necessitates us all to think about our choices.  The entire life cycle of a product is very important to me:  what we are using, what we are supporting,  how products are made, what happens to products after they are done being used, and what happens to the packaging.   I don’t think we have the luxury anymore of pretending like our decisions don’t impact a larger system. It is better for our bodies, it is better for our children, and it is just a win win to think about it on a larger scale.

Earth tu Face founders Saeah Bucho (left) and Marina Storm. 

 

"I THINK WE ARE ALL GOING TO BECOME ENVIRONMENTALISTS IN THE NEXT 10 to 15 YEARS IF WE’RE NOT ALREADY. "

 

IPP:What IS your spirit plant and why?

Alpine Pasqueflower. They grow at very high altitude, like a view, and live in really rocky soil. They are toxic in large doses but medicinal in drops- I think I am pretty intense like that and grow in extreme situations. I love the mountains and ocean and deep, far out nature space. 

Alpine Pasqueflower seed pod. 

Thank you Sarah!

Discover more at www.earthtuface.com

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