About Us
Hi, I’m Chelsea, founder and formulator of Skin Balm Apothecary.
Growing up, I spent countless days exploring barefoot, with dirt and tree sap clinging to my feet. My best friend and I would concoct our own creations using flowers from our neighbors’ gardens. We’d sell these flowers back as "improved" potpourri – after spraying whatever perfume my mom had left out on her bathroom counter. This was my earliest taste of entrepreneurship, driven by a love for nature. Thankfully, my business ethics and formulation methods have refined quite a bit since then!
Fast forward to my college days when I discovered that many expensive skincare products were full of artificial, low-quality ingredients. Frustrated, I decided to do something about it. I went to herbalism school, then skincare formulation school, to truly understand the power of plants and their amazing abilities. Learning about herbalism first, is one reason we prioritize herbs over essential oils in our formulations, using whole plants to nourish your skin more gently and effectively.
Since 2013, I’ve been committed to sourcing the purest ingredients. We use cold-pressed, virgin, unrefined, organic, and wild-harvested ingredients whenever possible. I also love working directly with farms, ensuring not only top-quality ingredients but fair treatment of the workers who help bring them to us.
SBA is a family-based business in every sense. My husband works alongside me full-time, handling coding, website data, and COO responsibilities.
From my first creation, The Eye Balm™—our signature eyelash and brow growth balm—to our expanding range of products, we’re here to help you embrace your natural beauty.
If you ever have questions about our products or business, feel free to reach out. We love hearing from our SBA family!
Warmly,
Chelsea Henderson
Founder & Formulator, Skin Balm Apothecary
Connect with us on any of these platforms:
Instagram: instagram.com/skinbalmapothecary
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skinbalmapothecaryLLC
2013
THE EYE BALM™
I wanted something that was nourishing for my lashes and brows, while also helping hold a curl. Vaseline, spraying hairspray on my eyelash curler (cringe), and clear mascara were not doing it for me. So, I decided to get to work and come up with a lash and brow balm because there was nothing like it on the market in 2010. The Eye Balm™ was created after many failed attempts, and is now used by thousands of ladies and known as our flagship product.
The Eye Balm™
2017
launched SBA
For years, I stayed behind the scenes, making products for friends and family while balancing school and work. Attending herbalism school for fun sparked my passion for bringing nature into skincare. By 2016, enough people were requesting my products and pushing me to go online. After a year of prepping labels and building my website, SBA officially launched on January 1, 2017. I’ll never forget the excitement of those first few orders—it was when I realized this could be more than just a side hobby.
2018
LEFT MY 9 to 5
After a few years of hard work, sales started coming in consistently. I took a huge leap of faith and left my job as a high school teacher to pursue Skin Balm Apothecary full-time. I moved from California to Arizona and ran the company out of a shared office with my dad, who became my first official employee.
2019
Married SBA's Current COO
SBA is so much more now because of what my husband brings to the table. With his degree in business and my education in herbalism and formulation, we truly make a great team! SBA really took off after I said 'I do.'
2020
Purchased a building
Okay, more like a fixer upper. With yellow walls, purple carpet, and major updating needed - we had our hands full. Moving out of our basement, where SBA was running since I moved to Arkansas in 2018, into a 3,000+ sq. ft. building, gave us a lot of room to expand our team and product line.
2021 - Present
SBA Continues to grow
In more ways than one! As we continue to grow our product line, our family is growing too. Balancing kids, life, and a thriving business keeps our plates full but our hearts even fuller. Each day presents new challenges and joys, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. We’re grateful for the support of our wonderful customers and community. From our family to yours—thank you for being part of our journey!