A book review of a family broken

HIDDEN VALLEY ROAD

Robert Kolker

Anchor Books, 2021 (Paperback)

Biography/Psychology

A lot of reviews of this book use the word “riveting.” I’d add spellbinding, enthralling and even a little bit of plain, old “can’t put it downable.” I devoured this book. Finally, a five-star read for 2021. There are really no secrets to give away here. It’s the story of a young couple, married in the mid-century. He’s an officer (albeit in a few branches of the service) and she’s a stay-at-home mom. Of twelve. Ten boys born almost back-to-back, followed by two angelic girls. A picture perfect Catholic American family, until it wasn’t. Six of the boys grow up and grow into the mysterious at best, devastating at worst diagnosis of schizophrenia. Through painstaking research wrapped into elegant prose, Kolker offers a complete history into this family and how each member was affected in a different way. The journey is fascinating and terrifying and sweet and inspirational. There’s a picture of three of the younger, scrappy boys in their hockey jerseys that actually broke my heart in that way you’ll never forget how a moment made you feel. But in the end I was left feeling hopeful that this family’s journey, and this writer’s words, will become a new and necessary piece of a puzzle. The puzzle of understanding schizophrenia once and for all. For now, this book has revealed one major key to accomplishing this quest: compassion. 

Five Stars

• 

• 

Back to School, Back to Life.

September has always been the start of my New Year. There’s something about organizing and launching five kids back into school and life that inspires me. It’s not just the start of school that’s exciting for me. Here in New England the seasons start to change. (Read: it’s not so hot and humid anymore!)  And here on Martha’s Vineyard the pace of life slows down. We go from 100,000 people back down to about 20,000. Of course, for all of us, this September and back-to-school time is looking a lot different, but for those who know me, there are still silver linings.

For one, I may be the only parent on the planet that likes having their kids learning remotely from home. I like having my kids around. I like being (overly) involved in their educations. I love the slower pace of waking up and not rushing anywhere except the dining room table and having family lunches together. I’m also feeling more gratitude this time around. I love my family, I love my house, and I love my business. 

This time of year is usually my time of resolutions. I make schedules, I cook actual dinners. And I naturally use this season to simplify and organize the spaces around my house. I get inspired. And all this has inspired me to simplify and organize my studio and my product line. 

I’m sure you’ve noticed that there are less products on my website. Some of this is a function of manufacturing. The stresses of securing packaging and ingredients without sacrificing quality have been enormous. But I’ve also streamlined my slate of products to best meet the needs of my customers. Everything I make works in tandem with my other products. This way the website can be one-stop shopping. 

You can also except some new makeup and skincare coming this fall. I’ve already added our new Skin Tint formulas. These are tinted moisturizers made with hibiscus extract. Hibiscus extract has high levels of Vitamin C and other antioxidants, in addition to anti-bacterial properties. Vitamin C been shown to promote anti-aging and antioxidant properties required for collagen production. Vitamin C is involved in the regeneration and maintenance of many tissues. Skin Tint also contains silica. This natural and ethically sourced mineral helps blur fine lines and makes for a silky soft finish. 

Skin Tint

So here we are. I am looking at this time like it’s the real start to 2020. And I am looking forward to all the new adventures it brings.

xo Gwyneth

When Life Gives you Lemons, make Logos!

Here I am, two months since my last blog post, and I’m in some state between shock and awe about how much has changed in just ten weeks. I am still in Hawaii, which has been a blessing since my husband and oldest son managed to get here right before a global pandemic lockdown, but it’s also been stressful because two of my kids got stuck parentless on the Vineyard. Luckily one of them is my twenty-seven-year-old daughter who is basically my co-parent anyhow, so all is good there. But my mamma heart misses them terribly! I am anxious to get home and get back in the studio, even though I have no idea what summer is going to look like on my little island.

Phoebe keeping Mikey alive.

Usually this is the time I am gearing up for the summer show season. Although no definitive announcements have been made, the shows will most likely be moved to an online platform for most of the season. My hope is to have a small showroom in my studio for appointments so you can still come and try my products when it is deemed safe. (From the virus. I can never guarantee safety from my kids, my dog, my kids 4000 friends…) 

I have been working on launching a new website for a while, and now it’s become a front-burner project so I can better serve all of you. The website has been a constant work in progress, because what I really want to do is make lotion all day, not figure out how to make my website look like it wasn’t put together by a toddler. These extra few weeks in social lockdown while I wait to safely get back to work have given me time to wonder exactly why things like websites, and logos, and brand development (whatever that actually means) are always such a “work in progress” for me. I have been asked some variation of two questions since I started selling products. “Who is your target customer?” and “how to you define your brand?”

In eight years, I still haven’t fully been able to answer these questions. After a little pandemic fueled introspection, I think I know why. I’m afraid that the answers I really want to give to these questions is wrong. But there is no right or wrong answer. 

My brand and my mission are to make luxurious, beach-inspired and effective hand-crafted beauty products for you.

And all of you, are my dream customer. 

It’s really that simple. I make beauty products for anyone who wants to feel special. And I do it while staying true to my inspiration; my daughters. Kind, smart, hard-working yet free-spirited beautiful souls who have been raised and influenced by the sounds and sights of living by the ocean. 

• 

• 

• 

I feel awful about all the business consultants I’ve exasperated, and for all the designers who’ve done EXACTLY what I said I wanted only for me to change everything. I guess I just needed these changes to come from within me. (I’m not a fan of the phrase control freak. I think the technical diagnosis would be indecisive, and difficult to reel in girl who likes glitter.)

So, in light of my mission and my expansion into bringing you a full line of natural makeup, I’ve decided to trust myself and make some changes. And now…we have a new name and a new logo. And yes, I designed this myself.

WE ARE NOW…

So later today we will launch our new website! Right now, everything is 20% off and your order will ship on June 1 when I officially reopen the studio. The website will be a work in progress as I update labels and pictures (but don’t worry-the formulas you love will remain the same!) I just decided I wasn’t going to let a little pandemic stop me from moving forward with something that just feels right.

I am most blessed with health, family, my business and of course, all of you!

Here’s to a most wonderful 2020 season, whatever it looks like.

xo Gwyneth

Reading (Rainbows)

Well we are finally settled into our Hawaii house! We had some longer-term tenants this year, so Natalie and I spent the month of January in an adorable little “ohana” rental. (You know, Ohana means family…so basically the converted garage apartment.) Although this particular apartment had a real kitchen with a full-size refrigerator.

We left the Vineyard right after the holidays. I DO NOT recommend this. My house and brain were a jumble after company, kids, events and cooking for the month of December. Plus getting the house ready for a renovation…I’ve never been so happy to get on a plane! 

What I’m trying to say is this; in all the craziness, I didn’t quite make my “ten books a month with reviews” resolution. I also haven’t walked three miles yet but that’s a different post for sure. I did, however, make a small dent in my to-read pile and it’s only February 12^th so I’m not even that far behind! I call it a win. Here are my reviews for the worst and the best books from my pile:

JANUARY 2020 BOOK REVIEWS (from Hawaii-where there are rainbows-get it?)

Family Trust, by Kathy Wang

I’m a sucker for anything that is faced directly towards me at the airport gift shop. This book is kind of hot in the trade-size paperback world right now, plus I always could use another red-spine book on my rainbow themed bookshelves. Basically, it’s about a dying patriarch of an Asian-American family and his tangled-up mess that includes his kids, his current crazy wife and his ex-wife who thinks they’re all crazy. The themes of gender and race are clear, but the story is mostly about a dysfunctional, family with characters all getting themselves into some kind of mess. Pretty much like every character in every light- hearted book about dysfunctional families.

Nothing new and awe-inspiring here, but easy to read none the less. I thought I liked this book until I realized I never finished it! I read it on and off through thirteen hours of flying. It was quirky and cute and predictable; everything you could want in light reading while taking anti-anxiety meds to actually get onto the airplane. We made it to Hawaii where I put in in my pile and just now realized I never picked it up again. I also must admit that I had to read the back blurb to remember exactly what it was about. So, while it wasn’t awful enough to instead review the “emergency card in the seat pocket in front of me” for entertainment, I’m going to say it’s a 2 ½ stars on my one to five scale.Any book where I can’t remember what it was about after just two weeks automatically gets only three stars; I’ve got to knock it down even further if I just completely forgot to finish the book.

Daughter of Moloka’i, Alan Brennan

I love historical fiction. I’ll give a book one star just for even trying to write something about life before 1975. (That’s about when I can remember everything; you can pretty much dupe me with embellished facts from anything before that.) This is a loosely connected sequel to Brennan’s amazing Moloka’i about the Hawaiian island once deemed an outpost for all people with leprosy, and the often negative and racist impact this program had on the entire Hawaiian island community. (ummm…coronavirus anyone?) In this new book, Brennan focuses on a Japanese-Hawaiian family that moves to California only to become victims of Japanese detainment camps. In 1942-1946. As in less than one hundred years ago. As in there are people still walking the earth that remember this. And as a good little American educated citizen in the 1970s and 1980s, I never heard about these camps. I’ve learned a few tidbits along the way, but I got more startling information from this book than I did in my college American History 101 class. Read this book people! In addition to being historically accurate, it’s also an amazing story of one family through the generations. The characters are well developed and intriguing, and the story itself is one that will take your breath away and make you sad when it’s over. You will cry and cheer for these people. Their strength and resilience is inspiring. And in our current political climate that seems to have gone askew, you will draw conclusions that might make you get a little more socially active. I give it a resounding 5 stars.

————–

This month I also read Every Last Lie, by Mary Kubica. I’d give it 3 ½ stars. Simple read, simple plot, simple characters. But I still wanted to know what happened. (Note, not all psychological thrillers turn out to be all that thrilling.)

Company of One, by Paul Jarvis. This was my business/self-help/get-your-shit-together book of the month. The premise is basically “make your business better and more profitable by not growing too fast or taking on too much.” So obvious, except I did the exact opposite just two years ago. There is a draw to the “grow big, be seen” business mentality and even I fell victim. While the book was somewhat repetitive and needed more product-based business examples, I found myself loving it with a highlighter in hand. If I love a book enough to pull out a highlighter, it’s getting 4 stars.

The Crush, by Gary Paulsen. I try to read my daughter one book out loud each month. She’s twelve and hasn’t yet implemented the “please stay ten feet away from me” part of adolescent girlhood, so I can still get away with this. We chose this book because I love Gary Paulsen, we hadn’t read this yet and it was a short read with a large font. And OMG. Read this to your kids! It’s laugh out loud, pee your pants funny. Seriously we laid in bed with tears streaming down our face. Honestly, I don’t know how we’ll ever go back to vampires and mermaids. Fourteen-year-old boys navigating girls and dating is hysterical. 5 stars a million times over. 

Okay so that’s the January list. Hopefully things settle down, so the February reviews get in before March. But honestly, they probably won’t. Because, for those who know me…hockey playoffs are right around the corner!

Welcome to 2020

Well that was amazing! Thanks to our customers, 2019 was a truly magical year here at Bluewave Body Company. We were thrilled to be a new vendor at the Chilmark Flea Market. We made so many new friends and customers, and the venue there is so inspiring. 

You can find us in a few new stores these days, including the super-cool and chic Vaalbara Supply in Newburyport. We’re excited to share Bluewave with a whole new crowd!

One of our most exciting additions in 2019 was our new makeup line Wave Beauty. We debuted with a full range of lipsticks and lip glosses, and our customer favorite Color Wash cheek tint. We could barely keep the sheer mauve shade Sweetheart in stock!

We also had to weather a few adjustments. Bluewave is a labor of love for me! It is my greatest joy to share what I create with you, but sometimes that work/family balance can get the best of me. (Hello working moms, I’m talking to you!) 

We are also outgrowing out space! Our online store is growing quickly so right now we’re closed as we refurbish our studio a bit. The good news though…we will have space to host focus groups, VIP events and hands-on workshops. With champagne, of course!

So where am I right now? (the hint word is Aloha…) I’m here with my little mermaid/daughter until May, and we’re both in school! While she’s busy being in seventh grade, I am currently working through my classes with the International Organic Skincare Entrepreneur Program. I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am to start incorporating these new formulating skills into our products. And…right now our manager Kim is here with me at my home in Kailua, Hawaii! As you know, so much of my inspiration is drawn from my time traveling and my time here in this tropical heaven. We are working hard (in our “office” on the beach) to map out what’s in store for 2020. Get ready for some big but exciting changes!

Over the next two months, we will be reaching out to our followers to get opinions on what products they love, what could be improved and what products you’d like to see. As we add more makeup and some new skincare formulas, some of our current products will be retired. Don’t panic! We will be in the studio for a few weeks next month so you can order your favorite items before they disappear. Keep an eye on the website where we will announce the sale. 

We are also working hard on moving toward even more sustainable packaging, so be ready to see some of our products in new glass and tin jars. Along these lines of sustainability, we have decided to add ocean and beach conservation to our mission. Because we believe our decisions have global impacts, and because I have built a life around two oceans, we are in the process of partnering withThe Ocean Conservancy. This global organization is “another leading advocacy group working for the protection of special marine habitats, the restoration of sustainable fisheries and for reducing the human impact on ocean ecosystems.” We will keep you up to date on #teamocean as this all comes together.

So, here’s to 2020! Summer will be here, and we’ll be back under our tent before you know it. We love our customers! Let us know if there’s anything you’d like us to make, or to do. It’s going to be our best season yet!

xoxo

Gwyneth

Confessions (September-19)

I am a magazine junkie. I am buried in them. No really. To change the sheets on my bed today I had to remove sixteen (16!) magazines that were scattered all over my covers. You would think in this day and age I’d read all my content online. But there is something about physically touching those glossy pictures that inspired me.

I know what you’re thinking. As a beauty formulator, I must be reading them to get new product ideas. But I promise you, my love of magazines predates my current career choice by about forty-five years. I can vividly remember the feelings of awe and hope when I got the new issue of Seventeen magazine. Okay, okay. Awe and hope? I realize I sound a little crazy here. And I do understand and agree with the fact that these images can be unrealistic and even damaging to some of the readers. So why do I read them like it’s a full time job? Why do I get a little rush every time a new month’s issues hit the stand?

Okay for one; I’m old. I’m well behind the digital and social media curve. I did not grow up receiving content from a screen so while I like it, I’m still most drawn to the glossy covers at the airport news stand. (Don’t travel with me. I will make you stop at every airport news stand from security to the gate.)

Two, while I’ll admit to being a little envious when I read articles like “twenty seven ways to organize your laundry room” accompanied by women who actually get dressed and showered every day, and who also actually have laundry rooms, I’m basically just inspired by what’s out there to tackle. Books to read! Museums to see in Prague! Casseroles to bake! (note to self-buy casserole dishes.) Prada bags to buy! (Another note to self-get a new, hip wardrobe to look like someone who would carry a Prada bag)

But without a doubt, I have been most enthralled for all my magazine reading life with the simple to extravagant displays of color. How different textures and colors in hundreds of different items can lend themselves to a certain lifestyle and feeling. That feeling can be boho chic or coastal preppy or classic Italian villa. Really it can be anything. And this is what drives my choices in color and products.

People ask me all the time where I get my ideas for new makeup. One of my favorite color inspirations comes from, of all places, my monthly Better Homes and Gardens magazine. Each month they showcase different colors of house paint. Something about the way they style the shades in everything from wall colors to ottomans to floral arrangements, always makes me want to use the color choices in my products in some fashion.

So this month I am thrilled to announce my new Better Homes and Gardens inspired mini eyeshadow duos. They will include a range of colors; some new and some of our regular shades. I don’t think I can actually use the magazine name in the official product launch, so instead I’m calling each palette by the month they are showcased and I’m thrilled to bring you “September-19” with two of our favorite rich colors, dark gray Smudge and deep purple Reign. Both these colors can be used for a pop of accent, or allover from the lash line to above the crease and blended to create a vibrant smoky eye for fall.

This first of many duos debuts on our website today for $15 each and come in a sparkly silver magnetic case. We’re going to have some serious fun with these!

Oh and you can confidently wear them while hanging out in your laundry rooms…

xo Gwyneth

 

 

A long but important post.

So..is it natural? This question, one I’m asked almost daily by customers, is by far the hardest one to answer. The reason? Because “natural” means different things to different people. And absolutely nothing to the beauty business industry. Natural is a marketing term. There are no regulations around the use of the word. A product could have one natural ingredient in it and say, “made with natural ingredients.”  Then there are the questions surrounding how the ingredient is sourced. Did it come directly from nature, as is, like coconut oil, or was it “naturally” created in a lab, like a coconut flavor oil, which mixes some components of a coconut with other ingredients, like sugar?

I’ve been struggling with how to define my products for a while now. So instead I’ve decided to focus on what my products truly are. I believe that cosmetics should be easy to use, be made with superior ingredients and yield maximum results. I have painstakingly researched every component of what I make right down to the packaging.

And here’s what I DO and DON’T put into my cosmetics.

• I DO use natural, fair-trade sourced and sustainable ingredients. I only buy from vendors who guarantee their ingredients have not been tested on animals. Shea butter is natural. But if it’s sourced from unethical vendors, tested on animals then sent to me, I don’t want it.
• I DO NOT use any mineral oils or byproducts, like silicones because their processing is not sustainable by our environment.
• I DO USE natural ingredients that have undergone a chemical change through a natural, but lab regulated process. An example is coconut oil. I use a lot of liquid, or fractioned coconut oil (technically called Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride on a label) in the products. Basically, it is a form of the oil that has had the long-chain fatty acids removed via hydrolysis and steam distillation. Just this one change makes the oil liquid at room temperature and extends the product’s shelf life. 
• I DO NOT use any of the “dirty” ingredients, whether they are natural or not. This includes mineral oil, palm oil, paraffin waxes, glycols, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, vinyl, Vitamin A or BPA plastics.
• I DO vet every ingredient I choose against an extensive set of databases to ensure its safety.
• I DO NOT use any ingredient that has not been approved by the FDA, the European Union Standards for Cosmetics or the Environmental Working Group. All of these groups rate and recommend ingredients based on their safety to the consumer.

This is what I tell people. Every ingredient I choose is one I feel comfortable using on my children. I choose quality ingredients that I know are safe and that work. I also believe that a huge part of the “is it natural” debate is about transparency. Which is why very soon you’ll find a link on our website explaining what every ingredient is, what it does and why I chose it.

So, what are my two biggest hurdles for someone looking for something absolutely natural? While I do use essential oils for medicinal purposes, I also use synthetic fragrance oils. Why? Because they smell amazing!
I only use fragrances from suppliers that can guarantee that they contain no phthalates, the component of fragrances that are most likely to cause a negative reaction. Without this ingredient, fragrance oils are 95% less likely to cause an allergic reaction than an essential oil would.

Also, after years of research and in-house testing, I’ve come to terms with using a synthetic preservative called Optiphen Plus or GSB (glucondalactone and sodium benzoate) in many of my body products. These broad spectrum preservatives are readily accepted worldwide as a safe and necessary component of any product, especially if it contains water or is in a jar. They are free of all parabens and formaldehyde and approved by all major regulatory agencies. I feel strongly that safety is paramount, and I want to guarantee no yeast, molds or microbes will be in the finished product over time. The percentage of preservative needed is low; less than 1% of the total volume of the product. But it guarantees the safety and effectiveness of what you buy.

So are my products natural? I let my customers be the judge. What I can tell you is that I oversee every aspect of production. I use safe and effective ingredients, in their most natural forms. I research every ingredient and have said no to many natural and synthetic components. (Like alcohol. Many brands use alcohols in production and in the final product which is completely natural but not always safe.) Ultimately my goal is to be completely honest with my customer and let them decide for themselves. My customers absolutely love what I make and keep coming back for more. I am proud of my work and thrilled to share it with all of you!

xo Gwyneth

Lip Smacking Good!

It’s that time of year again, seasons change and our skin seems to change right along with it. For me, it’s the chapped lips that really do me in. As soon as the temperature drops and the air loses some humidity, my lips and the skin around them go dry. My hair is happy, but my smile, not so much. I know the first instinct is to reach for some lip balm, but that’s actually the second thing to apply. The first thing you want to do is exfoliate!

According to Rachel Krause, the associate beauty editor at StyleCaster.com, to properly moisturize chapped lips, you need to get rid of the flakes and dead skin cells before your hydrating balms can really get in there to heal. Otherwise the balm just sits on top of everything.

Sometimes it’s not enough to coat your lips with balms and oils. To really cure a constant chapped lips problem, exfoliating away the rough, dried skin is essential in helping fresh layers of skin come through. Just as body scrubs are an important part of any skincare routine, exfoliating lip scrubs are crucial in maintaining a healthy, smooth pout.

And the best exfoliator for the job is sugar. Sugar tends to be smaller in size than other exfoliants, making it ideal for sensitive or delicate skin. And, because it’s much gentler on skin, it’s perfect for removing layers of flaky skin without running the risk of irritation or abrasion. Plus, sugar is a natural humectant, meaning it actually draws moisture into your skin and does not strip skin of its natural oils.

How often you use a lip scrub depends on the severity of your chapped lips. For the most part, using a lip scrub once a week is perfect for maintaining a smooth, flake-free smile. But, you can absolutely use every day if your mission to a beautiful smile is top priority. Follow your scrub with an ultra-rich lip balm, and you’ll be totally kissable!

Pucker up!

xoxo Gwyneth

 

Our lip scrub is made with organic sugar and lightweight apricot kernel oil and currently comes in two all-natural flavors; Sweet Orange and Honey or Tropical Berry.

 

 

Aaaaah Honey, honey….

Today on my social media channels I posted a picture of our Amazing Honey Mask with a promise to write about it on my blog. Tonight. As in right now.

Let’s just say it’s been a loooong time since I’ve written a blog post. But I’ve been here before. So rather than bore you with another “let me tell you where I’ve been for the past year” posts (and it really was a heck of a year) I’ve decided to just jump right back in. Thanks for still being around!

Today in the studio I made our Amazing Honey Mask. This year I started using locally sourced raw MV island honey. The mask became so-well-amazing, that I was recommending it to all our customers. And basically not selling any of the other masks on the shelves. I realized that this one mask was meeting everyone’s needs.

Raw honey is one of nature’s greats. It retains many medicinal (and skin loving) qualities that get removed as it is processed to be shelf stable. And it is safe for all skin types. Qualities include:

• Antibacterial-great for decongesting and cleansing acne prone skin
• Anti-Inflammatory-calms redness, irritation and rosacea symptoms 
• Moisturizing-loaded with nutrients and enzymes to nourish skin, and it’s a natural humectant, meaning it draws moisture into the skin
• Exfoliating-has exfoliating ability and reveals fresh, smooth skin by safely removing dead skin cells that can clog pores and make your skin look dull
• Antioxiant-contains varying concentrations of polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants

We combine this magic ingredient with a trio of healthy skin oils including my favorite, kukui nut oil from Hawaii which is well known for its healing and rejuvenating properties. We hand stir in extracts of comfrey to soothe, and white tea full of antioxidants. Finally, we add a blend of oatmeal and clay to gently exfoliate and decongest skin.

Is it sticky? Yes. It will feel like you are rubbing honey all over your face! But I promise you, it is worth it. Apply an even layer across your face, avoiding eyes and let it sit for about ten minutes. Wipe off with a warm washcloth and your skin will be soft, smooth, clean and glowing. Safe to use as often as you want.

Go ahead honey! You’ll love it.

xo, Gwyneth

Loving Press…

http://pointbrealty.com/marthas-vineyard-real-estate/vineyard-vacation/drawing-on-island-inspiration-bluewave-body-company-makes-natural-beauty-products-on-marthas-vineyard

 

http://www.mvtimes.com/2016/09/28/business-news-bluewave-body-co-makes-waves-marthas-vineyard/

 

MV TIMES

Business News: Bluewave Body Co. makes waves on Martha’s Vineyard

Mix one part passion and a whole lot of local collaboration.

By Brittany Bowker – Sep 28, 2016

Bluewave Body Company has collaborated with Chilmark Coffee and Martha’s Vineyard Sea Salt. Courtesy Gwyneth Wallace.
Gwyneth Wallace, an Edgartown native and mother of five, had her own bath and body shop five years ago. She was always interested in cosmetics, but mass-market products she tried weren’t … quite right. So she decided to to start making her own. (How very Vineyard of her.) She began with a trial lotion for her son’s eczema, and when that worked, she realized she might be able to start a business.

“I researched it to death, watched a million YouTube videos, and it took off from there,” Ms. Wallace said in a recent conversations with The Times.

Now Ms. Wallace has her own all-natural cosmetics line, Bluewave Body Co., featuring Island-inspired beauty products — lotions, salt sprays, sugar scrubs, toners, oils, balms, masks, and more. All ingredients are fair trade and FDA-approved. And as of last month, many of them are local.

“I wanted to have more control over the ingredients going in,” Ms. Wallace said of her decision to include ingredients from Martha’s Vineyard.

Two of her most popular products are the sea salt hair spray and the coffee scrub (the caffeine in coffee scrubs has been shown to exfoliate and stimulate blood flow, which helps eliminate wrinkles). So she figured, why not involve Island vendors? She reached out to business owners Todd Christy of Chilmark Coffee, and Heidi Feldman and Curtis Friedman of Martha’s Vineyard Sea Salt, and is now using their products in hers.

“They loved the idea of collaboration. We’re promoting each other,” Ms. Wallace said. Now that the businesses work together, their logos appear on each other’s products and their products appear at one another’s stores.

The collaboration officially rolled out a month ago, after a crazy summer on all ends. Now that things have slowed down, Ms. Wallace plans to further promote and fundraise within her community.

“One of my part-time helpers has a daughter on the field hockey team,” Ms. Wallace said. “Many of the girls have sore feet, so I put together a little trial pedicure set for them. Now any sales for the pedicure sets go to the MVRHS booster club for the field hockey team.”

She’s hoping to carry out more Vineyard partnerships.

“I’d love to start working with farms to source dry herbs and flowers,” she said, “I infuse my own oils from rose petals and chamomile flowers into my lotions, so it’d be great to source these locally.”

Ms. Wallace oversees production and packaging of every product from start to finish. Each product takes about two hours to make, and is punctuated by a process of cooling, settling, and stirring.

“The best part is when you get the oils and waters to come together to actually make a lotion. I’m still humbled and awed by the process, and the public’s reception of it,” she said. According to Ms. Wallace, nothing hits the shelf until it’s been thoroughly tested.

“I don’t test on animals, I test on my children,” she laughed.

According to Ms. Wallace, 80 percent of people who buy from her at the Vineyard Artisans shows end up later returning or ordering something online. Now she has to keep up with the demands of a growing business, which means restocking, refilling, and remaking her products at a more rapid pace.

“The business part is the most challenging part,” she said.

She keeps her ideas fresh by following artists of similar work, reading magazines, and simply observing.

“If I read an article in a fashion magazine about a certain color that’s very popular, I think, Wow, that’d be a great color for a new lotion line,” she said.

Some big ideas will carry Ms. Wallace into 2017. She plans to create subscription packages, open an Etsy store, and add mineral makeup to her line.

“Luxurious but affordable. Chic but beachy,” said Ms. Wallace. “I want to make sure everybody finds something they love, and they’ll want to come back for more.”

Bluewave products can be found at the Vineyard Artisans Festival on Oct. 8, as well as at the Made MV artisans store on Circuit Avenue in Oak Bluffs. Ms. Wallace’s products can also be found online at bluewavebodycompany.com.

https://www.instagram.com/bluewavebodyco/