You know the old branding story, “I couldn’t find what I needed so I made it myself?” Well, Wildpier is that on steroids.
Mallory Leblanc, the 32-year-old Wildpier founder, battled with extremely sensitive skin her whole life (she even suffered from eczema and psoriasis as a baby), and she was sick of it. “I could never use any of the cute, scented products that my friends were using,” she says. “And I had to be very careful about what type of laundry detergents, deodorants and lotions I used.”
Wildpier’s reusable, biodegradable, plant-based, water-activated exfoliating glove.
When the pandemic began last March, Mallory pirouetted from her job in corporate finance to entrepreneurship, researching a safe and effective way to keep her highly sensitive skin clean, soft and smooth. “I discovered an ancient weaving technique and incorporated it into Wildpier’s Exfoliating Glove,” she says. “As you glide the glove up and down your skin, you will see the build-up of dead skin cells, dirt and other impurities being removed. Most people experience this skin peeling when they use our gloves, which can be a little shocking, but also very satisfying.”
The skin peeling effect of Wildpier.
I fell into the small category of those who don’t peel – and I have to say, I was kind of disappointed. However, even without the visual proof of peeling, my skin was smoother than it’s ever been; this glove really, really works.
Its list of benefits is long and impressive and so is the actual fabrication of the glove. Mallory says, “The unique weave of fibres allows for it to tightly grip the skin when it’s activated by water. Knowing that I couldn’t use any chemicals on my skin, I wanted to design a natural exfoliator that I can stand behind. Our gloves are to be used with just water; no other soaps or chemicals are needed to achieve deep exfoliation.”
The glove has been joined by a Konjac face sponge; it also needs only water to work, though it can be used with face cleanser as well. I use it with just water and, again, the results are remarkable – super soft skin, no redness, no irritation. I also like how simple and green it is. “I think we all need to be conscious of the carbon footprint we’re leaving behind. Our gloves are made using a plant-based fabric that will biodegrade over time, while our Konjac face sponges are 100% compostable. I’m excited to be working on new products and packaging that will also be more sustainable as well.”
The Konjac face sponge.
Environmental awareness comes naturally to Mallory who grew up close to the Atlantic and near one of the community’s main ocean piers, which inspired the brand’s name. “I came up with Wildpier because I wanted to remind others to always stay wild and free, like how I feel when I’m at home walking our beaches.”
In almost no time, social media and word of mouth have made this East Coast innovation an international best-seller. On top of sky-rocketing sales, Wildpier has been featured in Glamour UK and inundated with wholesale order requests. “I get emotional sometimes when I stop and think about how different my life was six months ago,” says Mallory. “Putting your skin’s trust in a product is not an easy choice. The messages we receive on a daily basis about how our gloves have allowed others to be more confident in their skin has been truly life changing. This trust isn’t something that I, or my team, ever take for granted.”
