Lily Organics is an all-natural, Colorado-farmed line of skincare producing some of the finest USDA-certified organic beauty products in the world. Founder and savvy businesswoman as much as she is farm hand and master formulator, Lily Morgan grew up on the farm. She began formulating her own skin remedies as young as 13 as she started to battle acne. As the farm ramps up production to meet demand from across the nation, EndlessBeauty.com was lucky enough to snag Lily in a rare spare moment for an exclusive interview.
EndlessBeauty.com: What exactly do you grow on your farm? Everything in your products?
Lily: It varies greatly what we grow on our farm, due to availability of USDA certified organic seeds and seedlings. To be USDA certified organic, you cannot grow anything that is not USDA certified organic. This year we grew, tomatoes, feverfew, comfrey, pepermint, nettles, marshmallow, yarrow, zuchini, pumpkins, calendula, jalapenos, green chiles, sages, cucumbers, and more.
EndlessBeauty.com: What's life like on the farm? Can you run down a day in the life?
Lily: I cannot run down a typical day on the farm or in the company, because there are none. Everyday is different. In the spring and summer, I have to spend a lot of time with the plants. I spend a few days a month in Whole Foods and Vitamin Cottage stores, servicing our stores. Right now, we have a lot going on with company organization. I spend a ton of time answering emails, supporting our staff, improving our website, improving our internal systems, and right now I am spending a lot of time getting all of our products USDA certified organic.
EndlessBeauty.com: How many hours a day do you work on the farm vs. in the lab?
Lily: Like any small business owner, I go where I am needed that day. Usually, I work more on the farm doing actual farm labor than in the lab. I have really great people in the lab that have worked with me for years so they know what they are doing. We had some unexpected insect problems this summer so that took a lot of my time.
EndlessBeauty.com: How big is your team?
Lily: We have two people in handcrafting, a farm hand, a sales rep, and two part-time marketing and clerical people. We are still a very small company.
EndlessBeauty.com: Let's talk sales, are they primarily local?
Lily: We sell less than $300,000 a year. 70% of our sales come from Colorado and New Mexico and about 70% of those sales come from Whole Foods and Vitamin Cottages.
EndlessBeauty.com: You mentioned a few stores, what retail stores stock Lily Organics?
Lily: We sell to all Whole Foods Markets and Vitamin Cottages in Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming. Well sell to some smaller natural markets around the country.
EndlessBeauty.com: What's the shelf-life of your products, since they are so pure? Any special care instructions?
Lily: Since we make our products up fresh, and they dont sit around in warehouses, etc. they have a 1 year life. In extreme heat it extends their life to keep cool.
EndlessBeauty.com: Who tests your products? Are you always the guinea pig?
Lily: Of course, I am always the number one guinea pig!! Friends and other employees, Whole Foods and Vitamin Cottage staff are also always a big help.
EndlessBeauty.com: We know acne got you into skincare, but what made you stay?
Lily: Like every other woman in the world, I want my skin to look good. I think that is my greatest motivator, pure vanity! I am a 7th generation farmer, since before the American Revolution, so I have a deep love for the land and Mother Nature. I love my customers at the stores, it is just my life now.
EndlessBeauty.com: What is your daily beauty routine?
Lily: Right now there are many days I do not leave the farm, so I use the balancing toner and Seven rejuvenating oils day and night and the Seaweed cleanser and mask in the shower. In addition, I use the kissable lips and mist all day long. I switch off and on with products, except these I always use!
EndlessBeauty.com: What five products can you not live without?
Lily: That would be it the Mist, kissable lips, balancing toner, seaweed cleanser, and mask!
EndlessBeauty.com: What's your favorite Lily Organics product?
Lily: It is hard to say just one, but I have used the balancing facial toner twice a day no matter where I am in the world for over 25 years, consistently! That would have to be it!
EndlessBeauty.com: Beauty and skincare are a way of life for you ... should they be/are they for everyone?
Lily: If love is a verb, then so is self love. What a better way to express it to yourself than the rituals of skin care? The act of applying a lotion or giving yourself the gift of doing a mask.
EndlessBeauty.com: What's your definition of beauty?
Lily: Beauty is who you are and what you do. It is expressed inwardly and outwardly, it was important to the ancient Chinese, Egyptians, and it is important to us today.
