It is the 1960's, and boy meets girl. They share a love for beauty, business, and the arts. They soon share a love for each other. A child is born, and work beckons father to San Francisco, California--the perfect place for this blossoming family to land.

Spare time is spent exploring the wonders of the Bay Area, from Camp Mather to the Palace of Fine Arts, from Playland Amusement Park to the California Academy of Sciences. The Conservatory of Flowers and Japanese Tea Gardens serve as second homes. Father shares stories of travels in Turkey, further Asia, and America. Mother shares from her heritage about the wonders and uses of botanicals and herbs for healing, pleasure and pampering through creams, soaps, salves. Beauty and art is always combined. As the family expands, creative time is spent making lovely treasures of art--through metals, materials or raw ingredients. A memorable project is berries brought in with wax coatings, melted off and poured into handmade candles.

The family later relocates to Sonoma County, wine country. New adventures are found along the Russian River, in the shadow and vineyards of the Sonoma Hills, among the former cotton and mustard seed fields.

As the children grow, they too are inspired to climb their own mountains. One child's romantic remembrances lead her to her own path of adventure. She becomes enamored with the call of the wild, and her jobs lead her to work all over the world.

• In South Africa in the early 1980's she is introduced to the wonderful rooibos beverage. She brings this tea back to the US and begins to experiment with ways to benefit internally and externally from the plant's needles. Her longtime fascination with Western Africa--Burkina Faso & Togo in particular--later leads her to build her knowledge of Shea Butter, naturally rich in vitamins, as used in food & cosmetics.
  
• In Australia she seeks out the Tea Tree and its beneficial antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties. She also seeks information on Emu Oil, which is rumored to have properties that can relieve arthritis symptoms. But, knowing the resources for topical treatments from the plant world were vast, she eschews material that means taking a life.
  
• In the Sonoma County vineyards, crushed grape seeds yield a most silky and softening oil.
  
• In Japan & Taiwan she finds that fine rice powder provides excellent absorption and bamboo is both decorative and exfoliating. China brings the interesting use of crushed pearls for skin recovery (not so good on the oysters!). Poland offers the most exquisite sliver of soap. Egypt's collections of rare essential oils, and Central Europe's absolutes, leave her craving to bottle her experiences.
  

By now, the child had become an adult, and was making her formulations primarily for personal use. In the 90's, friends who had moved on to harsher climates began lamenting the condition of their skin. What are secrets if not to be shared? She turned to nourishing avocado, cocoa, and shea (to name a few) heat infused with calendula petals using a slow cook process to extract the beneficial properties of the plant. Multiple were the offerings, and the offerings were an instant hit.

And so is Solessence ^® --an ever-expanding collection of cosmetics, fragrances and skincare incorporating everything under the sun that we've found to be inspiring. We hope you'll be inspired to pamper yourself.

Experience the Power of Pampering,

Hillary
Founder & Formulator

Solessence ^® seeks to beautify the world, one life at at time, through decadent products in beautiful packaging. Luxury premium ingredients such as mango, avocado and shea butters; delicate and antioxidant rich evening primrose, grapeseed and tamanu oils; and heady, rich fragrances in the form of absolutes, C02s, high-quality skin-safe fragrances, and therapeutic essential oils, are sourced from around the world and innovatively formulated for rich and rewarding skin "treat"ments.

Our products are free of paraben, wheat, formaldehyde & formaldehyde donor, with natural or no added colorant. All beautifully packaged, this upscale spa-quality yet mid-range-priced line fills a void in the market for eco-lux: quality skincare products with amazing textures that are beautiful enough to use for yourself or to give as a gift.

Our Ingredients undergo Gas Chromatography (GC) Analysis--a qualitative and quantitative method for analyzing the composition of an essential oil.

Gifting companies request Solessence ^® when looking for fabulous items for their discerning clientele. Billboard Awards, People Magazine's "50 Most Beautiful – Los Mas Bellos," and E!/Style Network private celebrity parties are a few of the places that have extended Solessence products as a way of saying "Thank You" to their high profile clients.

Our products are enjoyed in spas, retail boutiques, natural markets, and individual homes worldwide. Why not yours?