When do you slide the razor and the cream to the back of the cabinet and just allow nature to do what she intends to do with your cheeks and chin?

Your choice may stir up some friction at first (ladies occasionally take umbrage with the sharp bristles that mark a beard’s beginnings interrupting a kiss), but rest assured that the best is yet to come.

Once your beard is full and proud, you will be in fine company. The Holy City Beard & Moustache Society has been hard at work promoting the perks of becoming bearded.

They found a bigger venue for the annual Southeastern Beard & Moustache Championship (last year, folks had to be turned away it was so crowded) and even earned a proclamation from the mayor. Yes, indeed, May 26th is officially “Beard & Moustache Appreciation Day” in Charleston.

You might think that would do, but no, not quite. The Holy City Beard & Moustache Society has achieved the dream of being accepted into the World Beard & Moustache Association. So think on this while twirling your ‘stache: that makes Charleston a possible location for a future world championship beard event. Holy Mutton Chops!

So make your way to the Farm on Memorial Day weekend and gaze at some furry new friends. There will be more categories than ever in the competition, music from Dante’s Camaro, and, best of all, the event will benefit Lowcountry Women with Wings, a program that, in partnership with the Center for Women, provides education and support to women diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

That’s beard with heart. Grow ‘em proud, men.

3rd Annual Southeastern Beard & Moustache Championship
Saturday, May 26, 6 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Music Farm, 32 Ann St.

Story and photos by: Jason A. Zwiker

If they’d just gone to the Calhoun Street side, where the red-tented food huts convene, they would’ve seen a fresh new face right on the corner.

Literally fresh.

It’s not their fault. A juice bar isn’t a new concept—major cities everywhere have their share and The Sprout was Charleston’s first. But why—dear God, why?!—hasn’t there been one downtown all these years?

Introducing Wendy and Mike Ezelle, your saviors with high-power blenders and juicers. The Juice Joint just opened with the first Market of the year. It uses all the buzzwords to get healthies excited: “local,” “nutrients,” and “stronger than coffee.”

The Market was an obvious place to start, with its affordability and ideal demographic. Week one proved them right. The husband-and-wife team sold out of practically everything, which is exciting and terrifying when there’s a line. Still having pears and apples and being creative-types, they knocked on the door of their neighbor, local strawberry farmers, and said, “If you trust us, we’ll make you something awesome.” And since this is a happy story, they did. Now they’re sourcing their strawberries from Maple Ridge Farms.

“Charleston has been the first place I’ve lived that’s been so locally focused. That’s been huge,” says Wendy. Moving here in 2008, she has always had two jobs: the one that pays the bills and the one that doesn’t. The latter has always been her true love, aside from Mike, who made her passion his passion. “Charleston has a need for it, and we want to fill it.” Together they’re unstoppable and full of delicious, liquefied freshness and ideas. It’s safe to assume their children will have some kind of superpowers.

“Anyone can source smoothie mix, add milk and ice, blend, and go. You get super high and crash. We really want to do the made-to-order, fresh aspect of it. We only add super foods to make it more nutritious, and to help you feel good longer.”

(Also good for hangovers, FYI).

So say you’re strolling through the Market. There are a lot of people and the sun is beating on you so hard you feel like it hates you. You’re seeing mirages. You need sustenance. There’s the Beach Bum, a Pina Coladaesque smoothie that makes you feel tropical but not guilty. The Spring Chicken is a caper of veggie and fruit juices and will have you running a marathon before noon. Then there’s The Reviver, the Joint’s souped-up take on the classic carrot-apple-celery-ginger combo—the dirty martini of the juice world. All will leave feeling re-energized and sustained.

Like crack. The healthy kind.

The Juice Joint made a drink named after us! Go see how we taste!
“The CHARLIE” – 4 strawberries (local is better) + juice of one pear + juice of one apple + trust

TheJuiceJoint.com
Connect with The Juice Joint on Facebook
Follow The Juice Joint on Twitter

Story by: Jessica Kenny
Photos by: Jason Layne

The kind you look back on as a wrinkly old man and think Damn, that was cool.

In just a short time, the duo will take off into the sunrise on a pair of neon pink and green bikes. Embarking on a four month, cross-country adventure in the name of charity – and a really, really great story.

“I’ve had a cozy life, I want an adventure,” muses Ben. “Everyone needs to have at least one before they get tied down in life.”

The cyclists will bike 6,000 miles in total. Up the East Coast to New York City before setting out across the United States and hopefully ending their journey in Mexico. Just two guys, two bikes, the bare necessities and, of course, an iPhone charger.

The trip, dubbed Brunswick to Baja, will be documented online through photography – Ben is a phenom photographer –  as well as regular blog and Twitter updates. Plus if you’re feeling particularly voyeuristic on your lunch break, an online spot tracker will show you exactly where the bikers are in their journey up to the minute.

While the pair knows a few friendly faces along the route, Ben is practically giddy over the potential for the unexpected.

“I can’t wait to wake up in a thunderstorm. Maybe I’ll get my bike stolen. Bring it on.”

The adventure will help raise money for Sidewalk Chalk, a local non-profit organization that helps under-resourced schools and children foster education through creativity. The charity is an organization both cyclists are passionate about, and are excited to support with their adventure.

“It’s just a personal experience I really want to have,” says Ben.

And to that we say, ride on.

Friday, April 13 : Art on Wheels charity auction benefiting both the bike adventure and Sidewalk Chalk with 20+ artists at the City Gallery 6 -10pm, $10
Follow the adventure online at BrunswickToBaja.com
And on Twitter @brunswicktobaja

Story by: Caroline Millard
Photos by: Andrew Stephen Cebulka

Okay, wait. Hold onto the in-case-an-ambulance-hits-you-in-which-case-ask-them-for-a-ride-because-that’s-a-lot-of-blood coverage. But everything else can go.

Here is your most affordable, accessible, integrative insurance policy: Oné Respé.

You don’t need much convincing to get a massage, but you schedule them erratically, like when you realize you have an extra 100 bucks or that gift card is expiring. Six to twelve months later, cue the clichéd one-arm-across-shoulder-rub, head to the side, and obligatory wince (“Ugh, I need a massaaaage”), and you’re back on the table.

Those days of living are over, and days of consistent, inexpensive, and life-changing health care are beginning, thanks to the local wellness center, which is doing something no one else is doing: offering treatments for as low as $40.

You don’t need to channel your college econ class to see how a sliding scale is counterintuitive to a successful business. But Oné Respé isn’t just surviving; it’s thriving, seeing more than 1,000 clients in the last year. “I really get to treat people,” says Abigail McClam, owner and licensed massage therapist. “That was part of the intention, to change the perspective from luxury-based to something that’s affordable, attainable, and works.”

And it is working. In just two years, Oné Respé has gone from Abigail’s live-work massage space to healing mecca with more than eleven health practitioners specializing in massage, acupuncture, chiropractic care, Reiki, yoga, and—soon—medicinal herbology. They provide so many alternative—or, as Abigail prefers, “integrative”—therapies because something as complex as pain (or whatever is ailing you) needs more than one approach to be effective. “To get the full healing power of what we’re doing,” she says, “you need to experience it in all different forms.”

Abigail can tell you from experience, too. Up until she was 16, she suffered several surgeries after a MRSA infection that resulted in severe chronic pain. Western medicine—from injections to pain medication—wasn’t helping. But she didn’t know any other options. Her Social Work degree allowed her to travel to the Dominican Republic, where she volunteered with an organization, Oné Respé (“honor” and “respect”), that worked with Haitian-Dominican relations. There, Abigail first witnessed acupuncture as successful treatment for stomach problems, AIDS, and even cancer. After graduation, she went to a COMPTA-accredited school in Asheville and received regular acupuncture and massage. Consistent treatment led to better sleep, an increased “body sense,” and a retreat from ten years of pain meds to none at all.

“I wouldn’t be here without Western medicine,” she says. “But the two together are so much more powerful and that’s the direction it’s going.”

So she’s taking Charleston there. In two years, Oné Respé has seen huge increases in both younger clients and success stories. From community education to collaboration (i.e. supporting other local practitioners—you know, like, competitors—by receiving their treatments and even sharing clients), Abigail wants to form a cooperative of alternative wellness providers that’ll make Charleston the best community out there. No doubt about it: there’s a Wellness Movement afoot.

“Charleston’s perspective is changing,” she says. “It still has a long way to go, and we can get more done by working together.”

So, make sure to tell your boss you’ll be taking longer lunch breaks for massages and acupuncture every week.

Doctor’s orders.

OneRespeCharleston.com
79 Spring Street, 843-724-9807

Story and photos by: Jessica Kenny

Thanks to Rush Dixon, you are now that host.

Dixon is exactly the kind of guy you’d want to design your one-handed bottle opener: He’s a talented architect, loves Pringles for their structural genius, and drinks beer.

“The world doesn’t need another bottle opener,” says Dixon, the inventor of Kebo. “There’s no other product out there that has so many iterations of it. So, it was a little insane.”

Insane and worth it.

Dixon moved to Charleston from D.C. in 1992 with his wife, Judy, also an architect. A slow market forced them to move back in 1993, but their love of Charleston’s buildings kept them determined to return within a year. Ever since, they’ve called Charleston home.

In 2001, after September 11th, Dixon and his wife found themselves at dinner at Hominy Grill. “There was a certain vibe in the air, so to be optimistic and hopeful, we made a list of the ten things we wanted to accomplish in ten years.” Within his list was to have another child, start a design company, and for Rush to design a product that he loved.

Flash to summer 2010. Their second child had come, Rush3 Studios was born despite a bad economy, and Dixon realized he only had about another year until his other deadline. “I knew I wanted to make something architectural and fun in design,” he said. At his grandmother’s house, he grabbed a beer and came across an antique bottle opener from the 1930s. He quickly became obsessed with its simplicity yet attraction and functionality, and knew what to do.

Dixon did a lot of research between that summer and his launch last Thanksgiving to get the sleek and fashionable finished Kebo he has today. He had many prototypes and learned the hard way about working with stainless steel. In other words, he drank a lot of beer.

Kebo—a new derivative of “Bottle Key”—is a shiny, architectural-looking, familiar-yet-distinctive design with a thumbhole trigger for easy one-handed pull-down use and a magnetic fulcrum for catching the cap and wow-ing users. “The uniqueness of it and the way it operates is the appeal,” says Dixon. Plus, it opens beer.

The Cary Grant-esque face behind Kebo is Dixon’s dad’s high school picture and perfectly fits the retro-inspired invention. “And it makes the story that much better,” adds Dixon.

Rush3 Studios has some other irons in the fire—like one high-expense endeavor inspired by his 9-year-old son that involves plastic. But right now, Kebo is driving all of Dixon’s focus, including taking him to Chicago’s International Home & Gifts Tradeshow in March. He still has one hand full of his consulting work; the other, is on Kebo.

Because you only need one.

Beer not included.

Get your Kebo online, $24.95
Get your Kebo locally at Bottles, The Coastal Cupboard or Charleston Cooks! 

Story by: Jessica Kenny

This holiday season, you may want to consider doing more with Lowcountry Orphan Relief (LOR).

Forget about worrying what to ask Santa for. Many children are dealing with the terror of being removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect. These children rarely have time to pack a bag, much less grab a favorite toy, before they’re taken from a dangerous situation and sent to a shelter or foster home. That’s where LOR steps in.

LOR works directly with other non-profits, schools, foster parents, and government agencies to find out what these children need and to intervene at a critical juncture in their lives. To give them hope. To give them the basic comforts.

The inspiration behind this org is its tireless executive director, Lynn Young. She gives a voice to those who can’t speak for themselves. For more than a decade, Lynn served as a Guardian Ad Litem, speaking in the court system for the rights of children who were abused, neglected or abandoned.

The idea for LOR took shape in ‘02 when Lynn saw the tremendous needs of children in the area. The government system took weeks to process children and during that time they had to make do with whatever they had when they left their homes. “They’ve got to have something of their own. Something to call their own,” she says.

LOR provides needy children with an outfit everyday for two weeks, shoes for school and for dress, underwear and socks for one week, a bookbag full of school supplies, a little gym bag with toiletries (that even the smallest children can carry), books (to help get their minds of their problems), and a stuffed animal – so they have a friend to hold onto. LOR follows these children through the system, giving them positive support, a stable, safe harbor and fun outings throughout the year.

When the kids go to school, no one can tell by the way they dress what their background or circumstances are. LOR believes all children deserve to be nurtured, loved and protected.

Eleven years ago, Lynn’s all-volunteer group clothed 200 children in their first year. In 2011, LOR served its 10,000th child and distributed a little over $1 million dollars worth of clothing, toiletries and in-kind gifts from its duplex on the former Charleston Navy Base.

The nonprofit is sorely in need of a distribution center and hopes to raise enough money to break ground on a new 4000SF distribution center behind its clothing closet. 93% of LOR’s budget goes directly to children, which includes building 5 libraries in shelters around the region, and putting a “just in case closet” in 22 Title 1 schools in Charleston County.

“If a child is in need, we are going to help,” Lynn says. “With the economy we have looked on how to expand our mission. Many families can feed their children but can’t clothe them.”

How can you help?

“Everybody feels the spirit right now, so we’re getting a lot of donations. And we’re blessed,” says Lynn. “We don’t take toys or games. We’re here to give children the basic necessities of life as they travel from home to home and shelter to shelter.

We desperately need more volunteers. Church groups, youth groups, co-workers, families and friends, everyone is welcome and needed to volunteer.

Bring your children with you. Let them see what you do. There’s nothing more precious than your children seeing you give back. Make a holiday financial contribution in memory of someone or as a gift in a loved one’s name.

The highest level of living is giving. It doesn’t matter how much you have or give, it makes you a better person. It’s what we’re here on earth for.”

Lynn Young, Charleston’s real-life guardian angel.

LowcountryOrphanRelief.org
Donations: Make checks payable to Lowcountry Orphan Relief and mail to PO Box 70185 North Charleston, SC 29415 or donate online.

Story by: Claire Gibbons
Photos by: Ben Walters

1. Happy Socks
Remember the tube socks you got from Nana? These are not them. Happy Socks are one of our must-give man gifts this year for two reasons: 1) Their unexpected bright colors and fun patters actually make you happy; and 2) They’re at our new very favorite men’s shop, Indigo & Cotton. Owner Brett Carron (obscure celeb doppelganger = Matthew Goode) says they’re perfect worn casually or to accent a more formal outfit. Let’s see Nana’s tube socks do that.
Available at Indigo & Cotton. $10

2. CHARLIE CLUB membership
Shameless self promotion? Sure. Also one of the best gifts you can give someone? You bet. Imagine opening up a shiny gold card that entitles you to a year of monthly “Perks” and “Parties,” CHARLIE style. Think 50% off at top local restaurants. Free, cool, local products. Private concerts and exclusive wine and craft beer tastings. Some of the neatest, most interesting people you’ve met in Charleston. Time to spring for that special someone or put this one on your own wish list.
Available at readcharlie.com/club. $300 (annual membership)

3. Market Light
What do you get if you cross a Chinese produce basket and a local Charleston bookstore? Just about the greatest gift around. Heirloom Book Company is importing antique Chinese produce market baskets and handcrafting them into unique, stunning light fixtures. Beyond the fixture itself, the really cool part is the shadows the light casts on the ceiling, which create an entirely different layer of texture. This year, go China or go home.
Available at Heirloom Book Company. $325

4. Christina Goodman Hand Painted Necklace
The problem with that beautiful painting hanging proudly in your home? Lugging it around to restaurants with you isn’t easy, or socially acceptable. That’s why we love Christina Goodman’s fine Renaissance framed paintings that hang delicately from your neck. They’re timeless and great for any woman age 6 – 90ish. Never before has 14th century romance wrapped up so nicely.
Available at The Martin Gallery. $200-400

5. Govino Go Anywhere Wine Glasses and Flutes
These wine glasses and flutes are stemless, shatterless, reusable, recyclable, have the look of crystal, and feature a little thumb grip that gives you the kind of security you never knew you wanted from your wine glass. They’re around every corner in Napa and just came to our fair city. The best gift for any wino who tends to spill after a few glasses, which, let’s face it, is all of us. You’ve come a long way from the solo cup.
Available at Hampden Clothing. $12 (set of 4)

6. PGA Champions Club Tickets
Whoever said the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach was wrong. It’s through PGA tickets. This year, the mac daddy golf championship is coming to Charleston and there’s only one way to do it – V.I.P. seats overlooking the par-3 17th hole in a double-decker, open-air venue, fully catered with an open bar. Christmas come in August.
Available online or by calling 1-800-PGA-GOLF.
$700 (1-day pass) / $2,700 (4-day pass)

7. 128-Ounce Growler
Beer. It’s where the heart is. Charleston Beer Exchange. It’s where the heart of every beer-loving man and woman across America is. It’s the #1 ranked craft beer store in the country, it’s our local biz-lebrity of 2011, and it’s just introduced the brand new jumbo 128-ounce growler. Put a bow on top and call it a day.
Available at the Charleston Beer Exchange. $17-35

8. Kilian Eau de Parfum
Looks like the Hennessy family is bringing us more than just Cognac these days. For the woman who loves everything chic, there is the Kilian Collection – ten unique fragrances carried in only 20 stores nationwide. Extra wow factors? One perfume contains absinthe; one perfume is actually a solid. Because everyone can use a little “elegance and absolute, uncompromising luxury” in their life.
Available at Cos Bar. $225 (standard) / $135 (travel) / $95 (solid compact)

9. Single Nest Hammock
Lugging around a beach chair is so a thing of the past. These super light, easy-to-use, colorful, portable hammocks turn outdoor spaces into your personal lounge area. Marion Square and other local parks are now sporting tree hooks, but you don’t even need them with the slap strap accessory, making you look like Macguyver since 2012. Check out the Double Nest Hammock for the “awww” couple.
Available at Half-Moon Outfitters. $55 (Single Nest Hammock) / $20 (Slap Strap)

10. Leather Dopp Kit
There comes a time in every guy’s life when he needs to get rid of his toothpaste-covered, dingy toiletry travel bag (if he even has one) and upgrade to a man’s dopp kit. The kind a Pierce Brosnan-played character would pull out just before his sexy woman walked by in her silk robe. Look no further. Bond girl and silver Audi not included.
Available at Billy Reid. $195

Story by: Caroline Nuttall
Photos by: Karson Photography

They are full of heart. They carry extreme significance. They can change the whole world, or at least the world around you.

Those three magical words…”Small Business Saturday.”

Otherwise known as November 26th, a day forevermore dedicated to supporting small businesses. Why on earth should big box chains have all the Black Friday weekend fun (and cash)? So pick your favorite Charleston business(es) and join the other 2 million+ Facebook users pledging to shop small next Saturday. Our economy will thank you.

To get you started, here are a few of your favorite local businesses. May we all give thanks and shop small…

“The Charleston Beer Exchange may be my favorite small business in America.”
- Kevin Curler

“Verde!!!!”
- Rachel Griffin Stapleton

“Ye Ole Fashioned Ice Cream! Great food and better service!”
- Alex Cole

“HELLO my name is BBQ!”
- Kristen Thompson Gastaldo

“Vegetable bin. Buy local. Be local. And be healthy!”
- Nathan Needle

“The Charleston Beer Exchange”
- Kevin Smith

“Westbrook Brewery!”
- Lizzie Boyle

“‎Age of Aquariums!!! Best fish store in town!”
- Jennifer Owen Allen

“Goat Sheep Cow.”
- Marisa Hedlund

“Charleston RIDE. It is my happy place.”
- Kirsten Moran

“Taco Spot!”
- Hayley Jenkins

“Love Ted’s!”
- Ivie Parker

“Charleston Bay Gourmet- They catered my daughter’s wedding reception in September, it was a true Lowcountry feast.”
- Kathie Jennings Basten

“Charleston Beer Exchange AND Lime Blue…a little shop on Queen Street.”
- Antonia M. Krenza

“Diggity Doughnuts! ♥”
- Melissa Rae Sipin

“Zia Taqueria!”
- Grace LeSueur

“Charleston Tea company by far. World player.”
- Kevin Haskins

“That’s easy: #1 rated craft beer store Charleston Beer Exchange”
- Chrys Rynearson

“RSVP Shoppe on Broad and Yes U May Cookies in Mt. Pleasant”
-Erica DeGroff

“Verde!”
- Erin Hopkins

“The Vegetable Bin. Beer Exchange. Goat. Sheep. Cow. Hampden Clothing. Bull Street Gourmet. Too many to choose!”
- Erin Perkins

“Savage Ultimate!”
- Erica Jackson Curran

“Seeking Indigo”
- Renee J. Greene

“Yes U May cookies, Utopia Charleston”
- Colleen Keegan Deihl

“Robert Lange Studios”
- Ben Walters

“Love Crushed Fine Wine!! I also love Charleston Tax Masters, East Cooper Auto Pros, Charleston Wine Tastings with Sandy Irving, Daniel Island Animal Hospital, WildFlowers!!!”
- Pam Mogle King

“Sun Dog Cat Moon!”
- Pam Constantine Cherry

“The soon-to-be ‘scout & molly’s’ on king street!”
- Wendy Wichtrich Perry

“Burger babies!”
- Robyne Marie

And we want to give personal thanks to all of the great local businesses that support CHARLIE! To Tristan, Charleston Grill, Barre Evolution, Berlins for Women, Blu, Chamber Music Charleston, Circa 1886, Croghan’s Jewel Box, Daniel Ravenel Real Estate, Elizabeth Stuart Design, Eurasia, Facelogic, Glass Onion, Grace Salon, Heirloom Book Company, Peninsula Grill, Hank’s, Lee Distributors, Island Coffee, Martin Gallery, Palmetto Distributing, Pure Barre, The Spa at Charleston Place, The Shops at Charleston Place, Trunk Show, Ted’s Butcherblock, and advertisers past and future: y’all are awesome. We heart you.

SmallBusinessSaturday.com

Story by: Caroline Nuttall, and you
Photos by: Andrew Cebulka, Chrys Rynearson, and provided

If you’re familiar with Spinning, you’ve probably heard that it will kick your you-know-what. Literally, it does wonders for your glutes, quads and hamstrings. If you’ve ever tried a class, you know what to expect — an hour of heart strengthening cardio activity, heavy uphill climbs, and sweaty breathless sprints, all timed to a mashup of killer music.

What you may not know is that Spinning is also a way of life.

“Training becomes a catalyst for transformation of the body and mind,” says Luciana of Charleston RIDE — the newest Spinning studio in town devoted to those of us who like to “gear up, get on and go.” (Soon to be found on the 3rd floor above Sermet’s on 74 Wentworth St.)

Meet Luciana Marcial-Vincion, our local Spinning secret weapon. She is responsible for single-handedly shaping the Spinning International Master Instructor Team and is attracting instructors from around the globe to train at Charleston RIDE before their doors have even opened (oops, secret’s out). She’s joined by Rebecca Young, whose classes transport you into other-worldly dimensions of focus and drive, thanks to her nurturing energy and inspiring playlists. Along with a select group of Mad Dogg Athletics Spinning certified instructors, from moms to photographers to triathletes, this team has become a family and their message is clear: “Get healthier and happier while doing something you love.” ‘Nuff said.

Their goal: to blend science with spirit, strength and stamina in an effort to deepen the mind/body connection. “We want to embody a vision that encompasses much more than just physical training,” says Luciana, who promises to offer something for everyone. No matter what you’ve been told, when it comes to Spinning, you can leave your age and fitness level at the door. “Anyone can do it, it’s just pedaling.”

“Everything worthwhile has fear associated with it,” says Luciana, who guarantees that the instructors at Charleston RIDE have just the right amount of passion and heart to help you crest that last hill. So don’t be scerrred.

Joining Charleston RIDE is as simple as logging onto your computer or downloading an app onto your iPhone — reserve your bike and pay online, no contract necessary.

“We inspire each other,” says Rebecca, “and when you feel that energy in the room, it’s electric.” So what are you waiting for? Queen said it best: “Get on your bikes and RIDE!”

Coming soon to: 74 Wentworth Street, 3rd Fl
CharlestonRIDE.com
Charleston RIDE on Facebook
Email Charleston RIDE

Story by: Lara Camozzo
Photos by: Johanna Cooper

You see, they’ve quietly changed the world of natural cosmetics from their laboratory and spa on Johns Island since before “natural” and “organic” were so in vogue.

This isn’t entirely a story about natural cosmetics, though. It also happens to be one of those love stories worthy of the big screen.

Peggy Lieber grew up in a remote part of Ecuador, where natural remedies were often the best option.

“My family went into the forest to get all the ingredients to combat a cold or a flu or fever,” she explains over a cup of herbal tea in the ornate foyer of the Royal Lab’s on-site spa. “We healed ourselves and used nature as our pharmacy.”

At 13, Peggy’s family moved to Connecticut. In their town, Paul’s family owned a health food store. One day, their hands brushed over two pounds of organic soy beans. As is only fitting for such instances, the two were soul mates.

This was the early 80s, when aerosol hairspray was king and nothing was natural about your mauve lipstick. At the age of 25, and newly married, the couple began research and development of a natural cosmetics line. For their time, they might have well announced intents to stroll around the Sun.

“Our parents thought we were crazy because we were doing something nobody cared about at the time,” says Peggy. “Making regular products was just the status quo.”

But the couple was curious about the natural world around them: how some plants were able to stay green for so long, how different natural extracts interacted, and how nature – rather than harsh chemicals – could be used to preserve youth.

After a successful skin clinic and spa in Connecticut, the couple fell for the charms of the South after a visit to Charleston. Realizing their dream could work anywhere, they moved to Kiawah.

Royal Labs is tucked away in Johns Island. If you didn’t know it was there, you’d never know it was there. But drive down the lush, manicured driveway to the 125,000 square foot laboratory where they create USDA certified organic products…and you feel like you’ve suddenly found the best secret in Charleston.

As the largest in the United States, Royal Labs formulates products for more than 500 companies worldwide, most of which name brands you know and use every day. If it’s a natural or organic product in your cosmetics case, Royal Labs probably made it on Johns Island.

In addition to their roster of clients, Royal Labs has three in-house brands, all of which either derived from all natural or organic ingredients.

But as a couple who revolutionized the cosmetics industry – without many of us even realizing it – Paul and Peggy are remarkably humble.

After all, it’s what you would expect from a couple who brushed hands, and lived happily ever after, over soy beans.

RoyalLabs.com
2671 Fort Trenholm Rd., Johns Island
(843) 559-7541

Story by: Caroline Millard
Photos by: Ben Walters