10 Things with Keep It Simple Soapery
One year ago we had the pleasure of meeting Nicole and Louis at a community event in Fairfield. At that time they were just starting to get the word out about their business. Since then they launched a pop-up location in Captains Cove (Black Rock), and now have opened a storefront in downtown Fairfield! What a pleasure it was to check back in with this Nicole and her husband Louis and celebrate all their growth and success! We are so lucky to have such hard-working and caring people providing our community with beautifully unique products, crafted with so much love and consideration for our well-being.
Nicole and Louis Georgakis, Owners of Keep It Simple Soapery
IAFM: What inspired Keep It Simple Soapery to be created?
KISS: After years of visits to the dermatologist for skin conditions later determined to be brought on by store brand soap and skincare that was irritating to my skin due to the harsh detergents, cheaply refined ingredients and artificial fragrance, I decided to research and create my own all natural, plant-based, small batch soap so that I could personally source only the highest quality organic, non-gmo, unrefined vegan butters and oils, each providing their own natural skin benefits for various skin conditions. I also discovered many others were suffering in silence from the same painful skin conditions I had experienced, so after over five years of research and testing, I established my own business Keep It Simple Skincare in 2019 so that I could offer all natural products to everyone that could benefit from using them as much as we do!
IAFM: What do you love most about being a soap maker?
KISS: Being able to be inventive and creative. I am constantly researching new ingredients with natural benefits, as well as new coloring techniques, applying my research to new products.
A beautiful work table sits within their shop to invite customers into a new experience.
Tell us about Nicole and Lou. Outside of Keep It Simple Soapery, what are you passionate about?
KISS: We are advocates for dog rescue & adoption, often donating Dog Shampoo Bars to rescues nationwide that have dogs with skin conditions.
IAFM: Have you always been entrepreneurs?
KISS: We were employed in the corporate world for over 20 years, with backgrounds in finance, marketing and television. We always wanted to be our own bosses, and luckily my love for making all natural skincare transitioned into a full time small business.
IAFM: What drives you?
KISS: Building a respected brand that others can depend on and benefit from, as well as educating customers on the importance of using all natural products and packaging, and how it affects the environment around us.
IAFM: Where do you source your ingredients?
KISS: I created this business so that I could personally source only the highest quality organic, non-gmo, unrefined vegan butters and oils from small, family-run businesses that have the same high standards that we do.
IAFM: What values and standards do you hold dear when crafting your products?
KISS: We grew up in Fairfield spending a great deal of time on the LI Sound and have witnessed the increase of pollution in the water over the years. I wanted to make products that wouldn’t contribute to this problem, so I use ingredients and packaging that are safe for the environment, as it is often forgotten that the skincare products we apply to our skin not only are absorbed by our skin but also go down the drain and into our water sources around us, and the packaging and cheap plastic products go into landfills.
IAFM: I remember you started with body soaps, but how has that evolved? Walk us through your offerings.
KISS: We wanted to be a full service bath shop, so we offer real sustainable sea sponges sourced from a generational, family-run business with sponge beds in the Gulf of Mexico and Greece, KISS My Bath infused bath soaks, bath bombs, a make-your-own dry clay face masks that can be mixed at home, Turkish beach towels, reef-safe sunblock and local artisan-made cedar soap dishes, tie-dye bath & beach towels and beautiful soy-based candles embedded with crystals and flowers. We also offer a line of all natural kitchen soap blocks and all natural fish brushes, as well as our Dog Shampoo bar line that helps to ease canine skin conditions like itching, seasonal allergies and helps to repel bugs naturally, unlike the store brands that contain artificial ingredients and detergents that can make a dogs skin condition much worse. We also offer gift baskets (pickup and local delivery!) and host parties for all ages so that others can learn how to create their own natural skin products, candles, bath terrariums and much more!
IAFM: If you were to pick one product in your lineup that really stands out, what would it be?
KISS: My GypSea Sponge Bar is our signature soap bar, with all natural sea sponge embedded inside the soap bar for a lather rich soap and sponge in one!
Nicole’s pick for standout product: the Gypse Sponge Bar!
Body Bar Display
IAFM: You recently opened a shop in town! Yay!! Tell our readers where to find you.
KISS: We are located at 43 Unquowa Rd in downtown Fairfield (next door to vegan eatery Catch a Healthy Habit, which is perfect for us as our soaps are also vegan!)
IAFM: What do you do for fun? Are there any restaurants that you enjoy? Bars, events...
KISS: We are huge fans of the Foo Fighters, spending decades traveling to their shows. Our love for live music has given us the opportunity to visit many parts of the country, which have led to some incredible experiences. We also both grew up in families that love to cook and bake (I’ve been making homemade pasta and gravy for decades) and believe our love creating in the kitchen has surely inspired my soap process. As for restaurants, we like to mix it up and support local, the newest being Post Oak BBQ Co in Fairfield - absolutely delicious!
Shop Hours: Tues-Sat from 11 AM 5 PM and by Appointment Sunday and Monday.
Shop 24/7 at kisbotanicals.com
FB @kismyskin
IG @kisskincare