health & beauty
Beargrass: A Skincare
Company with A Mission
STORY & PHOTOS BY MIRANDA MCDONALD
“I have really sensitive skin, and had to learn
certain ingredients to avoid in skincare products
and laundry detergents at an early age,” explains
David Conrad as we stand in his workspace in
the Portland neighborhood of Louisville. He has
a bottle of essential oil in one hand and a pipette
in the other.
Conrad is the creator of Beargrass, an all-natural
skincare brand he launched a few years ago. He
started the company with a single beard oil. Now,
the company has expanded its offerings to include
a facial and body cleanser that is charcoal-based;
a hydrating body spray that can also be used as a
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bug repellent and deodorant; and a moisturizing
serum that contains hempseed oil and goldenrod
extract that are both sourced from plants grown
in Kentucky.
This full transparency about where each
ingredient is sourced is important to the company
owner. “I want Beargrass to be a company that
people can feel good about purchasing their
skincare items from,” says Conrad.
This is why Conrad is starting to list the location
information for each ingredient he uses directly
on the Beargrass website.
Some of the plants these ingredients are
extracted from are located in Kentucky and
Indiana. He also hopes to use bottles that are
manufactured locally from recycled materials in
the near future. Conrad believes this honest and
eco-friendly approach will help Beargrass stand
apart from other skincare companies.
Beargrass is also unique in its approach to
business because it puts a major emphasis on
giving back to the local community. The company
donates 10 percent of its net earnings to various
local initiatives.
Conrad labels his company an eco-social