Beauty Boss: Katie Wells, Co-Founder and CEO of Wellnesse

Katie Wells.

Our latest Beauty Boss is Katie Wells, Founder of Wellnesse—a line of natural personal care products that are packed with beneficial ingredients and human-safe, planet-safe, and work better than conventional alternatives. All of the products were developed in her kitchen and are cruelty-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, and GMO-free. As a wife and mom of six with a background in research, journalism, and nutrition, Wells turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems.

In addition to her product line, Wells runs a popular blog, Wellness Mama, which is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research, and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. She is also the author of the bestselling books, The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

We chatted with Wells, who shared the inspiration behind the brand, favorite products and wellness tips, future plans, and more.

When was Wellnesse founded? What does the name mean?

Wellnesse launched in January 2020 with a catalog of 5 all-natural products: Whitening Toothpaste, Cleansing Shampoo, Smoothing Shampoo, Nourishing Conditioner, and Enriching Conditioner. To me, the name Wellnesse means the essence of being well and the holistic nature of health. It’s the feeling of contentment and inner health that comes with finding balance in physical and mental wellness.

What inspired the creation of the brand?

As a mother of six, I was always on the hunt for commercially available green and clean products that actually performed as promised. I’ve spent more than a decade perfecting these formulas in my kitchen to create products that are human-safe, planet-safe, and work better than conventional alternatives. The recipes I started sharing on my blog wellnessmama.com are what would eventually become Wellnesse.

Do you have a hero product?

Our hero product is the Whitening Toothpaste. The Wellnesse Whitening Toothpaste in Fresh Mint uses calcium carbonate, peppermint, stevia leaf, and green tea leaf extract. Along with all Wellnesse products, this toothpaste comes in environmentally-friendly compostable sugar cane packaging that is both recyclable and commercially compostable.

What are your favorite products from the brand?

I’m really proud of all of our products, but I especially love the toothpaste because it supports the oral microbiome and whitens teeth naturally without any of the problematic ingredients in other oral care products.

Where are your products sold?

On our website.

Future plans for the brand?

Wellnesse plans to introduce other personal care products as a result of customer demand.

Wellnesse’s Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer ($10) fights germs with ethanol alcohol and hydrates with soothing eucalyptus and glycerin.

What inspires you?

I’m most inspired by real life heroes…the moms I know who juggle work and home life, parents who navigate life with a special needs child, and my own children who teach me daily.

Secret to success?

In today’s world, I believe that success is directly related to the ability to learn quickly and be adaptable. Business, like many aspects of life, is constantly changing, so the ability to adapt quickly and learn new skills as they are needed is an advantage. This is also how I structure homeschooling with my kids…to prioritize skills needed for this: creativity, critical thinking, risk tolerance, and adaptability.

Beauty secrets?

Simple is better! All of our products are built on this idea…using natural ingredients that support the body without taking anything away. Beyond our products, I use a little castor oil on my lashes at night to keep them long and oil pull with sesame oil a few times a week for healthy teeth and gums.

Wellness tips?

A few of my top (no cost) wellness tips: spend 30 minutes outside as soon as possible after waking up to optimize hormone levels and support healthy circadian rhythm, lay on the ground with feet up against a wall for 15 minutes before bed to optimize blood flow and improve sleep, and don’t eat anytime it’s dark outside.

Best advice?

To not worry about things beyond my control. As Viktor Frankl said, “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” I’ve found that I’m happier the less I worry about things I can’t control, including other people's opinions of me and events I can’t change.

How do you like to relax?

I’m most relaxed at the beach or going for a walk while listening to an audiobook or podcast.

For more information, visit wellnesse.com and follow on Instagram: @mywellnesse

[Images courtesy of Wellnesse]

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk