What’s next for moss?
I have done a lot of soul searching around moss. Here are some of the many things I contemplated:
- change the name
- change the label
- change the products
- cancel everything and open a tiny green beauty brick and mortar boutique
- cancel everything and go work for another beauty company
- cancel everything and make an online course about…something TBD
- cancel everything and be a stay at home mom
- cancel everything and move to Europe
- cancel everything and move home with my parents
In the midst of this contemplation, and as the months slid by, I slowly ran out of my own moss stash. Which was fine, because as you may know if you read this previous post, I was in the middle of hating my own business. So I happily used all the other skincare I had lying around. That was when I wanted to open up the green beauty boutique – there was so much fun skincare that I was using and wanted to share!
Except…my face was slowly getting congested. When I ran my fingers over it, it was feeling like sandpaper! I was getting more breakouts. (And here I thought pregnancy was supposed to make acne go away?!)
It was getting irritated too – more often than not, it would flush red when I applied products.
Also, I was having the typical sensitivity to scents that pregnancy often brings. I hated ALL THE SMELLS.
Lastly, I was exhausted and craving something truly minimal and effective. I was DONE with all the layering.
And finally, out of desperation, one day I found myself formulating again. Taking my two most successful formulas and combining them.
And then, after months of not even being able to set foot in the lab, there I was, mixing up test batches of my new skincare duo. A serum and an oil-serum.
And I had made some serious changes from the core moss principles.
For one thing, I had not made any effort with regards to the scent. NO ESSENTIAL OILS.
But also, NO AVOIDING the natural smells that many of these potent ingredients had. If something smelled unusual but was effective, the effectiveness won out.
Also, no WAY would my line be 20 products strong ever again (well, at least not for a long time).
This serum and oil-serum would be super simple and easy to use and would constitute a COMPLETE acne-clearing system in just 2 products.
Ah yes – also: back to the founding principle. I am making skincare to truly heal acne. That is my mission. It doesn’t have to be anti-aging or luxurious. It doesn’t have to appeal to everyone. It just has to be non-toxic, safe to use even during pregnancy, and a pleasant, nurturing experience. It has to support the skin, not battle it.
At night, cleanse first (use whatever cleanser you want), then apply the serum and the oil-serum. In the morning, cleanse (or not) and JUST apply the oil-serum. Couldn’t be easier.
Best part – the serum is POWERFUL. You will soon find yourself being able to use it only every other day or every 2 days for maintenance so it turns out to be economical.
Just one short week after making these two products, my skin was smooth again and existing blemishes were healing.
So in a nutshell – here is what is next for moss.
I will be bringing these 2 products – ONLY 2 – to market. Everything else is discontinued. (I may add a cleanser, depending on how my cleanser idea beta test turns out)
I made a mistake growing the line so big and so fast. So not making the same mistake twice.
I will also be outsourcing the manufacture, and DEFINITELY be hiring an employee to do all the customer service and shipping – which I personally do not love doing and I’ve come to realize: THAT’S OK!
To that end, if you or someone you know lives in the LA area and wants to work for me, I expect to open a position in Feb/March of 2017, so stay tuned.
Want to know more about the serum and oil-serum? Click here!
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Karolina Biskup
Hi Celestyna,
I’m glad you are back to work and of course – congratulations on your pregnancy!
I discovered your brand last year, shortly before you took time off. I was sad, thinking your brand might be discontinued because I found some gems for my skin. First – Zen physic no other spot treatment ever worked for me, this one helped a lot already throughout one night. I couldn’t be happier with discovering it! I use it regular on my spots and I’m very happy with the result. Another one – which sample you sent me with my order – behold eye cream: instant love! Beautiful product with amazing ingredients which I ordered from your website straight after finishing the sample.
Recently you came back and I couldn’t be happier thinking: yes! I knew this is brand perfect for my acne prone skin, you are back to business so I will be able to continue using your beautiful products….until today when I read what’s coming. Although I am excited about your two new products and I am also to trying to make my routines as simple and possible….I cannot get over the fact that you are discontinuing my two favorite products! I am really disappointed, I thought I finally found products that I will use for long time ( Zen physic and Behold)
I hope you’ll consider bringing those two as a limited edition every now and then, so we (I’m sure there is more people loving them) can stock up on them. Otherwise it will be really sad to loose such amazing products me skin loves and needs.
I hope my comment is not too pessimistic.
Wish you the best health and success with moss skincare!
Kind regards,
Karolina Biskup
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