Sustainable Spotlight: Lake & Skye
Lake & Skye is a sustainable and ethically-conscious beauty brand that offers signature fragrance and aromatherapy blends. Founded by Courtney Somer, a certified Kundalini and prenatal yoga teacher with a background in holistic healing and wellness, Lake & Skye is inspired by contemporary women, crafted to help transform, center, and elevate. We chatted with Somer to learn about the story behind the brand, the products, and more.
Lake & Skye founder Courtney Somer.
What inspired you to launch Lake & Skye?
I had a health crisis in my 20s that led me on a path of alternative healing. For over 10 years, I studied Kundalini yoga, prenatal yoga, aromatherapy, Reiki, meditation, and nutrition. I always knew I wanted to find a way to make it into a business, and after my first daughter was born, I started to turn my hobby and creative outlet into a product line. I wanted to create products that people could take with them and use throughout their days for a moment of pause, centering, and joy.
Lake & Skye 11 11 Eau de Parfum.
Is there a signature product that you are known for and do you have a favorite product?
Our 11 11 scent is what we’re known for. It’s a beautiful, mysterious, and unisex blend of white amber and musk, and our product line has won three beauty awards, including Allure’s best of beauty for the 11 11 candle. I’m a candle lover and am currently using our new Echo Lake candle all day, every day!
Lake & Skye Echo Lake candle.
Can you share a little about the ingredients in your products? How do you source them and are you a "clean" beauty brand?
We use natural whenever possible, including a soy base in our candles and sugarcane alcohol in our Eau de Parfum. We also adhere to clean guidelines including no parabens, sulfates or phthalates. We are vegan, cruelty-free, and offer fragrances that are 100% synthetic-free including our Canyon Rose and Echo Lake scents.
Lake & Skye Jasmine Floral Water.
What steps does your brand takes towards being sustainably conscious?
We partnered with One Tree Planted as of Earth Day 2020 and plant one tree for every online order placed. It’s an amazing organization that focuses on reforestation everywhere from North America and Africa to South America, and in 2019 they planted 4 million trees. I recently got an email that our last donation planted trees in British Columbia after a fire. We also use FSC (Forest Steward Certified) packaging for all our cartons.
Lake & Skye Illumination Aromatherapy.
Any non-profits that you work with?
Besides One Tree Planted, we do more focused support of organizations like She Should Run, which helps support women running for office.
Are there any other sustainable brands or founders that have inspired you?
Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, is forever an inspiration and his book Let My People Go Surfing is one of my favorites. He’s an amazing businessman and sustainability champion that did it all his own way.
Wellness tip?
I’m a Kundalini yogi so my go-to wellness tool is breath work and yoga from this tradition. It keeps me balanced and sane even if I only have three minutes to practice. I think people need to find what works for them and stick to it to help balance everyday stresses and pressure.
Favorite ways to relax?
Podcasts, books, sitting by the fire, and getting a decent amount of sleep!
Best advice?
Know how to fail quickly and move on.
Where can people find you on social media?
@lakeandskye on Instagram.
[Images courtesy of Lake & Skye]
Lizzy Sherman is an award-winning digital content writer/editor. She has been a featured guest speaker at Cal State University Northridge, Digital LA and The National Association of Audience Marketing Professionals. When she's not writing, Lizzy enjoys yoga and playing guitar. Follow her on Instagram: @zillizy