Meet The Woman Who's Making Natural Beauty Mainstream (And Affordable)

At mindbodygreen, we get to meet the female entrepreneurs who are passionate about making the world a healthier place. In this new series, we're profiling #WellnessWonderWomen who inspire us with vision and dedication — and hopefully inspire you, too.

I first met Adina Grigore, founder of S.W. Basics, in 2013 at a dinner for one of mbg’s favorite organizations, Environmental Working Group. There, I sampled S.W. Basics for the first time and realized that she was helping to pioneer a new category of natural beauty.

At the time, there was no metaphorical “middle” in the natural beauty world. There were high-end cleansers and moisturizers for TriBeCa and Venice women for sale at luxury price points, which you could only buy at niche stores like ABC Apothecary and Spirit Beauty Lounge.

There was also a rising DIY movement inspired by women like Sophie Uliano and other green beauty experts, who championed making skin care at home with ingredients you could find at your local Whole Foods Market.

Enter S.W. Basics, which was both accessible and inspirational. Adina set the standard for women who wanted simplicity and effectiveness without breaking the bank. S.W. Basics all have an EWG Skin Deep rating of 1, Low Hazard (the best rating from a clean perspective).

There’s an attractive simplicity in S.W. Basics' marketing and branding, which is aligned with a modern, 2016 beauty psychology. There are no unrealistic marketing promises of looking younger or reducing fine lines. There are no airbrushed models, just the story of the simplicity and sustainability of the ingredients, which are organic, fair trade, or sourced from family farms.

Natural Beauty has now gone from a trend to a movement as S.W. Basics (and other clean lines) are now sold at Target, Birchbox, and Urban Outfitters. And natural skin care lines like Acure, Drunk Elephant and Ursa Major are gaining traction.

mbg: What's the best career advice you've ever received?

AG: From one of my best friends: "It's only going to get worse."

And the worst advice?

To be "scared of my competition." How debilitating.

What would you tell anyone looking to turn a passion into a career?

Remember that passion is only part of the equation. There's going to be a whole lot more you have to figure out, including how to feel passionate about being an entrepreneur — and not just about whatever it is you're selling.

Can you share a little about the early days of S.W. Basics?

What do you love about being an entrepreneur?

Setting my own dress code.

What you would change?

That it forces you to look at relationships as a means to an end.

How do you maintain balance as an entrepreneur?

Lots of being unbalanced, but I relax hard-core whenever I can. I also take really good care of myself so I don't break under the pressure that I feel all the time.

What's your morning skin care routine?

In the morning I only rinse with water, and then I spritz with a mix of S.W. Basics Toner mixed with Lavender Hydrosol. If I'm really dry I'll apply our Cream or Herbivore Botanicals Phoenix Oil.

What is your evening skin care routine?

I repeat what I do in the morning but leave my skin bare. (So no moisturizing!)

What are your go-to supplements?

I hop brands a lot because I don't really trust any of them, but I take a probiotic and vitamin D every day [that I remember to]. I do actually love Olly vitamins; I take their vitamin C and sleep supplements sometimes.

Any tips for people looking to go on a skin cleanse?

Don't treat it like it's a huge undertaking. Make it as easy as possible or you'll hate it and it won't improve your life. If that means you only skip one product in your routine for one day, great. If it means you use olive oil on your legs because anywhere else terrifies you, awesome. Be open to the shifts and watch for what happens, but do not force yourself into some revolutionary shift. It's meant to be empowering, not overwhelming and suffocating ... because who needs more of that in their life?

Any predictions for the natural beauty industry in 2016?

Personalized routines, diet, and wellness as part of having good skin (and therefore part of your beauty routine), lots more natural and independent brands going mass.

Any intentions for 2016?

To figure out how to transition from being a founder to being a CEO. To stop obsessing over failure and embrace that this is all happening right now.

What does mindbodygreen mean to you?

Excerpted from Skin Cleanse by Adina Grigore