Manufacturing
Cosmetic-Maker French Girl Cultivates Organic Beauty
French Girl built its niche by providing consumers a beauty fix
By Bill Conroy September 19, 2019
This article originally appeared in the September 2019 issue of Seattle magazine.
This article appears in the September 2019 issue and is presented by Impact Washington. Click here for a free subscription.
Seattle-based cosmetics-maker French Girl manufactures its beauty and skincare products in-house at the 20-employee companys new production studio located just south of Seattles Georgetown/South Park neighborhoods. French Girl ensures that its raw ingredients are vegan, environmentally friendly, 100% organic, or wildcrafted when possible.
The companys founder, Kristeen Griffin-Grimes, who has a background in botany and chemistry, founded the company in 2010 after operating a small-group tour company for seven years in the south of France, called Cuvee. The company produces some three dozen products, ranging from lip tints to body oils to bath salts, hair oil and nail products. Prices range from $20 to $55, with products sold online and through some 50 third-party retail outlets nationwide as well as in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and recenlty via select European retailers.
Pigments made from natural micas and iron oxides are combined to create the brands Veronique Le Lip Tint.
Specially-curated essential oil blends for French Girls Le Lip Tints are arranged on a shelf.
Heated oil, butter, wax and pigment base are poured into the Le Lip Tint molds.
Excess balm from the cooled Le Lip Tint base is scraped from the molds.
Some of French Girls best-selling products are displayed.