Jenefer Palmer, Founder of OSEA
Jenefer Palmer once used her background in anthropology to study how people lived; she now uses her knowledge to help people learn to live better. Palmer, the founder of OSEA, an all-natural, vegan skincare line, creates products that are both good for the skin and the environment, sticking to her mission statement: pure, immediate, simple.
HL&S: How did you decide to create a skincare line?
Palmer: I didn’t pick skincare, it picked me. In 1981, I became spa director at Murietta Hot Springs and reopened its legendary mud baths and spa. To choose skincare vendors, I did a lot of research about ingredients. I was horrified to see ‘chemical baths’ [being offered]in the name of beauty. The [ingredients]seemed to be basically the same, ‘cheap’ prices were determined by packaging and marketing and sales pitches were preying on people’s insecurities. I was outraged at the possible side effects and thought, ‘I can do better than this’.
HL&S: What makes your products stand out?
Palmer: We spend most of our money on ingredients. OSEA cleansers and creams use red and other marine algae, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants, vitamins, and essential oils. We pioneered a botanical preservation system, which allows a three-year shelf life. Also, when I was trying to think outside the box to find packaging that was environmentally friendly and still cost effective, I thought, ‘Why a box at all?’ Most of our products are shipped simply in glass bottles; it requires less preservatives, is recyclable, and no polycarbons are released afterward from packaging.
HL&S: Is this what led you to a holistic lifestyle?
Palmer: I always thought of natural approaches to wellness as an umbrella that looks at the underlying energy of healing. My grandmother was the first female chiropractor in the U.S.; I thought it was normal for a grandma to adjust your neck. I practiced cranial osteopathy, polarity, Shiatsu, acupuncture, Rolfing, Lazlo, thalassotherapy, herbology, aromatherapy, Bach Flower Essences, and iridology. Our spa practitioners use breathing techniques to center [both]themselves and the clients for the healing benefits of that moment. We want the feeling to be, ‘You have all the time in the world.’
HL&S: What have you learned that you’d like to share?
Palmer: People don’t really think about what they put on their bodies and skin. With shampoos, moisturizers, cleansers, and makeup, we average 10 to 15 products a day. Be aware that what goes on is the same as what goes in, [and pay attention to]not just what you breathe and eat, but also your personal care products. Let’s tread on the Earth lightly, make less garbage, and treat the environment as our home.
By Judith Lazarus
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