Our Small Batch Skincare Process, Explained

Our small batch skincare process starts with a simple constraint: keep every batch small enough that we can personally check what's in each jar before it ships.

What our small batch skincare process actually looks like

A typical week starts with sourcing check-ins, confirming the shea butter, jojoba oil, and coconut oil on hand are enough for that week's planned batches, then moves into whipping, pouring, and labeling across one or two dedicated production days. Nothing sits half-finished between steps; each batch gets whipped, poured, and labeled in one continuous session so the texture stays consistent from the first jar to the last. It's a rhythm built around batches, not a continuous assembly line, which is part of why production days look different from a typical manufacturing schedule. Whoever's running that day's batch is also the one checking it at every stage, from raw ingredients through the final label, rather than handing pieces of the process off to different people.

How we decide when to run a batch

Batches get scheduled around what's actually selling and what's running low, not a fixed calendar. A scent that's moving faster gets scheduled sooner; one with more on hand can wait a bit longer. That flexibility is easier to manage than it would be at a much larger scale, where production schedules tend to get locked in further ahead regardless of real-time demand.

Why the batch size stays where it is

We produce enough jars to keep up with regular orders without needing to pre-make and store finished product for months at a time. Keeping batches close to that size also means a batch is never sitting whipped and unpoured long enough for texture to start settling before it reaches a jar.

What "checked, not sampled" actually means

Automated filling lines typically sample-test a percentage of output and assume the rest matches. Because we're hand-pouring, every single jar passes through someone's hands on its way to being sealed and labeled, not just a batch sample. That's slower, but it's also the reason a texture or fill issue gets caught before a jar ships rather than after a customer opens one.

What this means for restocks

The tradeoff for staying this hands-on is that restocks take longer than they would with automated production, and a sold-out scent might mean a short wait rather than an instant reorder. We've chosen that tradeoff deliberately rather than scaling into equipment that would speed things up at the cost of the hands-on check every jar currently gets. We'd rather be upfront about that tradeoff than quietly switch to a faster process that changes what a jar actually is. You can read more about why we've stayed small on our About page.

Why can restocks sometimes take longer than expected?

Because every jar is whipped, poured, and hand-checked in small batches rather than run through automated equipment, a sold-out scent may mean a short wait for the next batch rather than an instant reorder. It's a deliberate tradeoff for keeping production hands-on.