Our journey in a nut shell
In 2003, driven by our passion for eco-sustainable life and our purpose to create a sustainable income, my husband Gregg and I, Kay Saarinen, embarked on an extraordinary journey. With only a caravan as our home, a couple of truck batteries for power, we ventured into the mountains of the far south coast in Wyndham, NSW. Inspired by permaculture principles, we designed our property and home, becoming certified organic in the process.
Initially, we focused on growing certified organic vegetables while constructing our strawbale home. However, our innovative approach was ahead of its time, and the concept of certified organic veggies was not well understood. Undeterred, we shifted our attention to cultivating medicinal herbs, igniting the spark of our journey towards eco-sustainable skincare.
Immersing myself in extensive studies, equipping myself with invaluable knowledge of formulating, manufacturing & natural stabilisation. Our daughter Gemma was born with eczema, fortunatly i was studying topical natropathy at the time - amazing how things work out, and this led me on my skin care journey. Each product is carefully handcrafted using certified organic herbs grown on our permaculture farm. Embracing regenerative farming methods and powered entirely by our 100% stand-alone solar energy system, our skincare products embody the essence of sustainable living in every aspect.
We recently launched our big dream of equipping our solar powered lab with a hospital grade auto clave so we now can reuse our returned packaging.
We have ticked so many of our boxes though we are not finished yet.
Facts
It was our Passion to create a eco sustainable lifestyle
It than became our Purpose to create an eco sustainable income.
Hello & Welcome
My name is Kay Saarinen and with my Hubby Gregg we founded Saarinen organics 15 years ago.
Our story started well over 20 years ago when we quit our professions, me as a chef & Gregg as carpenter, we landed here on our beautiful six acres of land in Wyndham, in the mountains of the Sapphire coast NSW
After getting our whole property certified organic, we started growing and selling organic veggies. We planted fruit, nut and berry trees & milked goats. It was a big job but it wasn’t a sustainable income (we certainly don’t pay enough for organic veggies), so we pushed on in our search.
I was studying herb culture in addition to the horticulture and permaculture courses under my belt as we decided to work towards selling medicinal and culinary herbs. As part of my studies, there was an assignment where I had to value-add a horticultural product. At the time, my main crop was calendula flowers so I decided to make calendula ointment. I got an A, YAY! Not long after that, our beautiful baby girl Gemma arrived.
Six months later, she had eczema down her neck. As I left the doctor’s office with a cortisone prescription I thought what am I doing? I have been studying calendula and I have made the ointment, I’ve got this! So I decided to try it on her (not tested on animals, tested on babies!). It worked. It wasn’t a cure—as it turned out to be caused by wheat—but the ointment helped with the tight dry skin and gave her protection.
I found that I enjoyed making the calendula ointment and as there were many herbs in my garden, I wanted to make products from other herbs too. I decided to start a naturopathy course, studying all the skin element subjects I could find. I was also lucky enough to have a mentor who handed down recipes that were nine generations old. That was the true beginning of Saarinen Organics.
My very first market stall was 10 years ago at Nethercote with five products. Now 10 years down the track, I have a purpose-built lab, 37 products, a thriving permaculture farm and we are self-sufficient with our income, food, power, water and straw bale house.
As I type this, I cannot believe we have made it! I would be lying if I said it was easy (it wasn’t). There were many times when we felt overwhelmed and defeated by natural disasters, failed crops, and exhaustion, but we have done it (and we’re still married—LOL).
We haven’t finished though.
Another turning point was people wanting to pay to have tours here. Gregg and I both thought we were years away from that. Now others can come and appreciate our hard work. Sometimes Gregg and I just see what needs to be done. Now we proudly stand before tour groups and tell our story and show people around. Happy dance!
We would love to share our permaculture systems so we have started keeping video logs and putting them on our Youtube channel and Facebook page, so do pop over and have a look. They are a bit raw but we are happy to give away our secrets to a successful permaculture life.
Getting back to Saarinen Organics and skincare, we have decided to source as many local ingredients as we can. As farmers ourselves, we know how important it is to be supported locally so we have endeavoured to source what we can locally. I must say the quality is fantastic with local low heated beeswax and honey (can’t find better), Mt Darragh lavender, local echinacea, olive oil, and chilli. For the ingredients we can’t source locally, we buy certified Australian organics.
We make all our bases here in my lab from scratch. Yes, that’s right, from scratch! That is unique in itself. I also make all of our fresh herbal infusions, herbal apple cider vinegar tinctures, and extracts from herbs we grow right here on the farm.
Our motto is to help you glow naturally.
We don’t make claims of wrinkle-free products. We’re about clean, healthy, fresh-looking skin.
That’s it in a nutshell. Thank you for taking the time to read this and also for supporting our eco-friendly, sustainable, all-natural skincare.
Saarinen Organics —all-natural skincare.
Helping you glow naturally,
Kay Saarinen x
NO Mineral Oil
NO Silicones
NO Propylene Glycol
NO PEGNO ALES
NO Fragrance
NO GMO
NO Petrolatum / Paraffin Wax
NO Parabens
NO Ethanolamines
NO SLES
NO Synthetic Dye
NO Phthalates
NO Synthetic Retinol
NO Animal Testing
NO Nature Identic
You’ve probably heard how important a healthy skincare routine is many times. This news always came from the more prominent companies, the companies with a voice. Now, the smaller companies have prominent voices. Organic skincare brands have taken the world by storm. So why is organic skincare so important?
Non-organic products may contain extremely harmful chemicals. These associated chemicals have revealed several concerning issues such as hormone imbalances, skin irritation, and organ toxicity. Many brands have improved their chemical use; however, it’s still not enough.Organic face products are non-allergic. Most allergic reactions to products result from the chemicals used; however, the only allergic response to organic products is from natural allergens such as peanuts or strawberries.Organic skincare products are cruelty-free. Our permaculture farm is a certified organic farm, which means no animal testing is involved in our process, no harsh or artificial chemicals, just pure goodness.Organic products are better for the skin. With ingredients such as coconut oil, honey, and aloe vera, you will benefit from the natural smoothing properties your skincare range will offer.
Eco seed to skin
Why Trust Saarinen Organics
In the heart of Saarinen Organics, nestled amidst the serene mountains of the Far South Coast of NSW, lies my solar-powered laboratory, where the magic of creating bespoke skincare comes to life. As the founder and a certified microbiologist, I pour my passion, expertise, and commitment to sustainability into formulating skincare products that truly work.
One of the key pillars of our skincare philosophy is the use of 100% stand-alone solar power. With a deep respect for the environment, we harness the energy of the sun to power our lab, ensuring that every step of the production process is powered by clean, renewable energy. This commitment allows us to create with a clear conscience, knowing that our products are not contributing to harmful emissions or environmental degradation.
At Saarinen Organics, we believe in the power of local ingredients. We carefully select high-quality, locally sourced ingredients to create our skincare formulations. This not only supports local farmers and businesses but also ensures the freshness and efficacy of our products. By sourcing ingredients close to home, we reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to the sustainability of our local community.
As a certified organic brand, we are passionate about utilizing the benefits of organic herbs in our skincare. We grow our own certified organic herbs on our permaculture farm, ensuring that they are cultivated in harmony with nature. Organic herbs offer a wealth of benefits for the skin, from their nourishing and soothing properties to their potent antioxidant content. To maximize their effectiveness, I personally make tinctures and herbal infusions from scratch, capturing the healing essence of these herbs and infusing them into our formulations.
Every cream and product we create is meticulously formulated with purpose in mind. I develop bespoke bases for each cream, carefully selecting ingredients to address specific skincare concerns. Whether it's targeting mature skin, providing relief for itchy skin, or combatting pimples, our skincare is tailored to deliver real results.
With Saarinen Organics, you can trust that your skincare is made with love, expertise, and a deep commitment to sustainability. From our solar-powered lab to our locally sourced ingredients and certified organic herbs, we invite you to experience the transformative power of natural, effective skincare that is crafted with care.
You will find our blogs and videos showing you exactly how we make our products on our website. We are not shy and keep no secrets! Contact us today to start your organic skincare routine or for any further queries.