Before Sarah Lore was naming products unicorn magic and abracadabra, she was selling $400 face cream behind the Neiman Marcus counter. The packaging was impressive. The ingredient lists were less so.
“Many times, ingredients from Mother Nature perform so much better than ingredients that have taken years to be produced and tested in a lab,” she says.
Early on in her 20-year career as an aesthetician, a client in her 50s walked in with some of the best skin Sarah had ever seen. No Botox, no luxury creams, just rosehip seed oil. Sarah has used it every day since. It’s in much of her line, including her favorite, the rosehip + calendula facial glow oil, which steeps with calendula flowers for three months before bottling.
She founded Apothecary Co. in 2015 amid her own health struggles, searching for skincare she could trust. “I don’t think it’s fair to have to choose between skincare that works or skincare that we can feel good about putting on our bodies,” she explains.
The whimsical names are a nod to OPI nail polish. As a kid, Sarah dreamed of naming the brand’s colors. “If you get to come up with an original name out of thin air, why not make it something fun and magical,” she says. One of her first creations, abracadabra sleep elixir, later won Editor’s Choice from Real Simple, a magazine she grew up reading.
Everything is still handmade in Loveland, often within weeks of an order. Sarah answers customer emails herself. When the shea butter in her goddess beauty balm stopped feeling right, she reformulated it.
“Colorado is so dry with really intense sun, cold winters, and basically zero humidity, so I’m always thinking about protecting the skin barrier,” she notes. Her fix is something she’ll “never stop shouting from the rooftops”: facial oil. Most moisturizers are about 90 percent water, which evaporates within seconds. Pressing oil onto damp skin or layering it over serum locks in hydration for hours.
Her own nighttime routine is gua sha, face oil, a swipe of goddess beauty balm, and lately, a forehead patch that holds skin flat overnight to soften expression lines. “That might be controversial,” she jokes. At 44 with a kindergartner, she’s exploring every way to age naturally. “Skincare doesn’t have to be a 10-step routine to make a difference,” she adds. “Consistency is what makes the difference.”
Next up for Sarah are teas, tinctures, and maybe homeopathy training. Whatever it is, she makes time for herself. “Especially when you feel like you don’t have the time to do something for yourself,” she emphasizes, “that’s when you need it the most.”
A Little Me Time
From dreamy nights to glowing skin and soothing soaks, these feel-good finds make self-care a little more magical.
Abracadabra Sleep Elixir $29 — A blend of lavender, vetiver, and cedarwood essential oils adds a soothing touch to your bedtime routine.
Rosehip + Calendula Facial Glow Oil $39 — Good skin takes time: Calendula flowers steep in this botanical blend for three months before it’s bottled, making every drop worth the wait.
Mermaid Magic Sparkling Salt Soak $10 – $29 — Turn bath time into a shimmering escape with pink salts and a splash of citrusy bergamot and lime.
Lavender + Mint Botanical Facial Steam $16 — Make a little room for a spa moment at home with a fragrant blend of lavender, spearmint, chamomile, and rose petals.
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