We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Laura Coblentz. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Laura below.

Hi Laura, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

When I was working as the VP of Marketing and Ecommerce at Pharmaca, an innovative retailer in natural health and beauty, I started to notice something. Friends—mostly women in their 50s and 60s—kept coming to me with the same question: What skincare products should I actually be using?

These were smart, curious women who cared about wellness, yet they were completely overwhelmed by the noise of the beauty industry—the endless claims, the conflicting advice, the obsession with “anti-aging.” They just wanted their skin to feel healthy and comfortable, not to chase some impossible ideal.

When Pharmaca was sold, it hit me that maybe this was my moment to create something that actually made sense—to bring honesty and simplicity back to skincare. I wanted to build a brand that didn’t talk down to women or try to “fix” them. Something that respected both skin and intelligence.

That’s how Caraline Skincare was born. It started with the idea that healthy skin doesn’t need to be complicated—and that confidence comes from feeling comfortable in your own skin, not chasing a younger version of it.

It felt like a worthwhile endeavor because I wasn’t just filling a market gap—I was answering a need I saw (and felt) firsthand. I knew if I could make products that were simple, effective, and rooted in integrity, there were countless women out there who would breathe a sigh of relief and think, Finally, this makes sense.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’ve spent most of my career in the natural and organic products world—helping build brands that people trust, from Horizon Organic to Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy. Over the years, I saw how wellness trends evolved, but one thing that always struck me was how confusing skincare had become—especially for women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s.

When I founded Caraline Skincare, I wanted to change that. The beauty industry thrives on fear and perfectionism, convincing people they need endless products and routines to look “younger.” Caraline was created as a counterpoint—a simple, three-step ritual made with organic, cruelty-free, plant-based ingredients that support healthy skin at any age. Every product—Gentle Glow Cleansing Oil, Daily Hydrate Face Mist, and Daily Nourish Face Oil—is formulated with intention, without marketing fluff or unnecessary ingredients.

What sets Caraline apart is its honesty and restraint. We don’t promise miracles, and we don’t use anti-aging language. We focus on what’s real: nourishment, comfort, and skin that feels good in Colorado’s dry, high-altitude climate (and everywhere else).

I’m most proud of creating a brand that women can trust—one that respects their intelligence and experience. Caraline is more than skincare; it’s a quiet rebellion against the noise of the beauty industry. It’s about making skincare make sense again.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I started Caraline Skincare, it was just me—no investors, no team, no roadmap. After Pharmaca was sold, I suddenly found myself with the freedom (and the challenge) to build something of my own. I believed deeply in the idea—simple, honest skincare for women who were tired of all the noise—but believing in it and bringing it to life were two very different things.

Starting a business on your own means wearing every hat: formulator, marketer, copywriter, operations manager, accountant. It’s humbling and exhilarating at the same time. What keeps me going is knowing exactly why I’m doing it—to create a brand built on integrity, not hype—and reminding myself that every task, even the small ones, contributes to that larger purpose.

Resilience, for me, isn’t about never getting tired; it’s about pacing yourself, staying curious, and being willing to learn what you don’t know. I’ve had to get comfortable admitting where I need help and finding creative ways to fill the gaps. AI tools have been a huge part of that—they’ve saved time, helped me brainstorm, and kept me moving forward when the to-do list felt endless.

Being bootstrapped forces you to be both strategic and scrappy. You learn to trust your instincts, make smart tradeoffs, and celebrate every small win along the way. It’s not easy—but it’s deeply rewarding to build something real, one thoughtful decision at a time.

Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.

My background is in CPG marketing, and I’d managed private-label development for a natural products retailer, so I was already very familiar with the world of co-manufacturing—how it works, what questions to ask, and how important the right partner is. When I decided to launch Caraline Skincare, I knew that finding a manufacturer wasn’t just about who could make the formulas; it was about who shared my values for clean, transparent, cruelty-free production.

Because I was bootstrapping the business, I was especially mindful of minimum order quantities (MOQs) and how quickly inventory can eat up a startup budget. I talked to so many co-manufacturers and product developers, asking detailed questions about batch sizes, sourcing standards, and quality control. Eventually, I connected with a cosmetic chemist through LinkedIn—proof that sometimes your best resources are the networks you’ve built over the years.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned about manufacturing is that relationships matter as much as technical capability. You need partners who understand your priorities, respect small-batch production, and are willing to grow with you. Transparency, communication, and shared values are everything.

For anyone starting out, I’d say: use every resource you have—your connections, your curiosity, and your persistence. It’s not always a straight path, but the right partners make all the difference.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.caralineskin.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caralineskincare/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caralineskin/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauracoblentz/