Q & A with CLOVE + HALLOW FOUNDER SARAH BIGGERS
Sarah Biggers is the brains and beauty behind the incredible brand, CLOVE + HALLOW. I must admit, I am a little bit in awe of Sarah. Being a Makeup Artist for over 10 years, I haven't found a lip product quite like CLOVE + HALLOW. To say it exceeds my (high) expectations of how a lip product should perform and feel is an understatement.
If you guys haven't tried this line yet, you are seriously missing out. Not only are the products of the highest quality - the shades, formulations and textures are NEXT LEVEL. We are IN LOVE with these products. Since welcoming them into our Clean Beauty Market family, they have literally been flying off the shelves and we are super proud to be the first Aussie stockist of this incredible line.
We chatted to Sarah about her personal and professional clean beauty journey and what's next for CLOVE + HALLOW!
When did you decide clean beauty mattered to you and why?
I was in the beauty industry as a freelance makeup artist when I got so sick with a mystery illness that I had to quit working altogether for up to six months. Confused by my symptoms and unable to properly diagnose me, traditional doctors pushed me towards a holistic approach, despite my skepticism. Following my naturopath’s orders, I healed so quickly that it became obvious just how toxic my lifestyle was and I was determined to overhaul everything – including my beauty regimen.
What inspired you to create your own clean makeup line?
Unfortunately, when I searched for clean alternatives to my favorite products, I was underwhelmed. Clean cosmetic lines were characterized by limited shades, sheer pigments, and a luxury price-point; I needed more options! Ultimately, I am developing a line that I love and is capable of replacing my conventional favorites from my professional kit, in terms of shade range, texture, and cost.
When creating new CLOVE + HALLOW products, what is important to you in regards to the features of a product?
Ingredient safety and simplicity is our top priority. We use as many natural and un-processed ingredients as possible while staying under our 15 ingredient limit, and when we do use a synthetic chemical to achieve some aspect of performance – which is always clearly labeled on our packaging – we source it very carefully to ensure quality and safety. Next, my top priority is achieving great pigmentation and a large shade range that will suit most skin-tones. We have bright red lipsticks that offer full coverage in one swipe, opaque raspberry glosses, and a broad range of complexion shades to ensure that I can make a CLOVE + HALLOW product recommendation for just about anybody! Last, I focus on keeping the price down. There are SO many great companies in this industry that are all doing things slightly different from each other, and price-point is one of our major differentiators. I really believe in our mission and that all women deserve to have access to better beauty products, so I work with suppliers and manufacturers to get the best pricing possible and pass those savings along to my customers.
The CLOVE + HALLOW lip products have the best colours and pigments and seem to suit a wide variety of skin tones. Is it quite an in-depth process to develop your colours?
The shade matching process is always a bit tedious but also my favorite aspect of R&D. For complexion, I like to start with the “outer edges” – i.e. shades for really fair skin and really dark skin – and work my way to the middle to ensure there is an even spread of shades. For lip and eye products, I tend to release shades in multiples of three – like six or nine shades – to ensure I have at least one option for light, medium, and dark complexions.
What are the biggest misconceptions when it comes to clean beauty products?
I think the biggest misconception is that they simply don’t work. Flipping that notion on its head has always been one of my biggest motivators. Sure, a 100% natural makeup item might not perform exactly like your conventional favorites, but it can get pretty close. With CLOVE + HALLOW, we focus on ingredient safety and performance, so we’re able to nail it right on the head.
What do you get up to when you’re not CLOVE + HALLOW-ING?
When I’m not working (which feels like a rarity!), I like to fine-tine my guitar and piano skills, play intramural volleyball, take my yellow lab Bailey on a long walk to our local park, or – and this is my absolute favorite – do absolutely nothing while lounging around in sweatpants and no makeup.