Meet Heather Lentz | Founder and Chief Formulator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Heather Lentz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Heather, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
What you put on your skin doesn’t matter. Our skin is one of our largest and most vulnerable organs. Skin is our barrier to the outside world, and it’s very permeable. Whether anecdotal or scientific; evidence does exist that certain ingredients in skincare can be harmful. Especially when used over time. In the United States, there’s almost no oversight of the chemicals used in personal-care products in contrast to the EU where premarket safety assessments and mandatory registration of cosmetic products are required by law. Many multinational companies even create separate formulations to sell in Europe, while their U.S. products continue to contain unsafe ingredients.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am the Founder and Chief Formulator of Koi Botanicals. I began experimenting with making natural soaps back in 2014 because at the time the market just didn’t offer products that I was willing to put on my skin. All the products I saw were chemically dominate and had a harsh, long-term impact on the skin. Over time, I perfected my own soap making process and in what some might say is a bold choice, I decided to use the benefits of real food ingredients, straight from the kitchen, in all my formulations. I founded Koi as a natural continuation of my early skin care exploration. But my business also helped me restore my lost confidence and rediscover my true self after leaving a toxic and emotionally abusive marriage. I found that the research and development process was not only fun, but gave me energy and focus, for my journey toward emotional healing. My confidence began to grow and deepen when I saw, heard, and read about the impact my products made in the lives of the women who used them.
Through my ongoing study of time-tested herbs and compounds, I found botanicals and natural extracts that are analogous to ingredients in conventional personal care products that equally work wonders on the skin yet are much better for our skin. My extensive scientific and research work experiences and studies in cosmetic formulation, taught me to effectively craft healthy skincare products that work well to deliver noticeable results. I continue to keep up to date with important scientific trends, while embracing proven, ancient healing and natural herbal traditions. This strong, dual mind approach, which brings together the old and the new, is how Koi Botanicals is able bring the most effective, natural skincare…and make you love your beauty routine!
My efforts to make effective healthy skincare products easily available, in a marketplace that was lacking in this area, was a simple labor of love for me. I never dreamed I would be showered with notes and messages from women who had been battling a range of different skin challenges for years, only to have these issues cleared away through the consistent use of Koi products. Ultimately, my work to build up Koi Botanicals, as a viable boutique skincare business, inadvertently led me to uncover my greater purpose – to help every woman rediscover her best self and reconnect with her own special confidence and sense of personal beauty, through glowing, naturally healthy skin.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well of course the beach! Honestly, even just walking around the city and taking in the Art Deco buildings, and vibrant atmosphere are one of my favorite things to do when visiting Miami. A stroll through the Lincoln Road Mall and Ocean Drive is certainly something to experience at least once.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have received so much support and love from many people from my customers (my greatest supporters) to my best girlfriends to fellow women in business that I honestly cannot single out just one. So my shout out is to ALL women that have crossed my path because they all have inspired me and my business in one way or another.

Website: https://www.koibeautybar.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koibotanicals

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/koibotanicals

Image Credits
Kirsten Delpinal of Creative Eye Designs