GSL Organics Founded by a Mom On a Mission
Candy Ann
St. Martine-Pack, founder of Green Street Luxuries (GSL) Organics apothecary, never
intended to start a natural skin care products business. In 1991, when her
infant son suffered from severe eczema, allergies and asthma, she became a “mom
on a mission” to help her family.
“I
wanted to help my son get well without using harmful drugs or chemicals. My
father used to give me honey when I had a cough. I became curious about what
our ancestors used for ailments,” she recalls. She spent a lot of time in the
library researching holistic living and later created what would be her first
GSL Product, After Shower Extra Moisturizing Cream. It remains her best-selling
product.
In
spring of 2009, St. Martine-Pack began selling her products at a local farmers
market. By that autumn, she opened a retail store. The current GSL Organics
line includes moisturizers, salves, sugar scrub, exfoliants, bug spray and
more.
St.
Martine-Pack firmly believes that what is put on the body is just as important
as what is put in the body. Her products are formulated to naturally help
improve skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, dry skin, sensitive skin,
acne and rosacea. She affirms that all GSL Organics products are free from
parabens, sulfates, petroleum products, mineral oil, formaldehyde, phosphates
and synthetic fragrances. She uses vitamin E as a preservative.
The
natural healing ingredients she uses include extract from calendula, a flower
in the marigold family. “It has internal and external healing properties,” she
says. Her carrier oil of choice is olive oil, which she says is rich in
antioxidants that help fight free radicals on the skin. “The combination of calendula
and the antioxidant properties of olive oil offers an amazing blend of healing
properties.”
St.
Martine-Pack does not recommend applying oils directly onto the skin because they
may clog pores and cause blackheads and discoloration. “Applying it pure does
not penetrate to the dermal level, which is where you want the good oils to go.
When you emulsify good oils into a cream, they are able to be absorbed at the
dermal level.”
Raw
ingredients are used in GSL Organics products, and because nature is imperfect,
products may vary slightly in color. Shea butter is not naturally white, but
can vary in tones from cream to light orange, with a strong, earthy scent. It has
a high moisturizing content and can provide some protection from the sun.
Many
women are stymied by crepe skin on the neck and chest, which St. Martine-Pack
says can often be lessened by regular exfoliation and moisturizing. Sugar has
glycolic acid, which helps exfoliate. “We have a natural sugar scrub with a
carrier oil. In a pinch, table sugar mixed with suds from bar soap can also be
used. Moisturizer should be used year-round, with a lighter blend for the summer.”
GSL
Organics’ popular pet products are back for the summer. The line for dogs
includes flea and tick repellant, which has a safe formulation of essential oils
for dogs. (St. Martine-Pack emphasizes that cats are sensitive to essential
oils; cat owners should consult an integrative veterinarian before use.) The
dog shampoo has a combination of calming essential oils to help with allergens
and skin issues.
As a
small-batch company, St. Martine-Pack says all products are made as ordered and
crafted seasonally to guarantee freshness. She can also customize a formula to
omit a particular ingredient a customer may not want. She is the point of
contact for most customer correspondence and firmly believes in listening to them
to understand what they may or may not truly need.
St.
Martine-Pack is a certified aromatherapist and also leads classes to educate
people about natural skin care solutions. Her son, now age 31, is doing well,
his eczema is long gone and he has few problems with allergies. “I’m inspired
to educate people about better ways to heal the skin. You are what you eat—and
what you put on your body.”
GSL
Organics is located at 216 S. Church St., in Quarryville. For more information,
call 717-844-1444 or visit GSLOrganics.org.
