Kiwi entrepreneur creates NZ's first 100% solid beauty bars

Christchurch woman Brianne West is marrying science with nature to formulate New Zealand’s first 100 percent solid beauty bars. Her products have already caught the attention of international celebrities including actress Gwyneth Paltrow and American fashion model Brooklyn Decker.

The 27-year-old founded Sorbet Cosmetics in 2012 as a second-year biology student at University of Canterbury. With the help of two staff members she now makes more than 100 of her innovative face and body bars a day, all of which contain natural, sustainable ingredients. 

Sorbet’s product list includes solid shampoos, conditioners, cleansers and scrubs, moisturisers, serums and household cleaning bars that all last several months. One of the newest additions is a self-tanning bar, which Brianne believes to be the first solid self-tanner in the world.

Brianne’s science background means she is uniquely placed to formulate new products and ingredient combinations that have a point of difference in the fast-growing natural beauty industry. She is graduating from the University of Canterbury with a Bachelor of Science in July this year. 



In just two years the company has gone from small beginnings to now considering ambitious international growth plans, with the goal of expanding into European markets by 2017. Germany, Scandinavia, Spain and the United Kingdom are hot on the natural or “green” beauty trend and Brianne will be meeting industry contacts in each destination during an initial scouting trip in July this year.

Why solid? As the bars contain no water, they are free from preservatives, formaldehyde, sodium laureth sulphate and other undesirable ingredients – meeting the growing consumer demand for natural products with fewer additives.

A solid product also means less wasteful packaging, with most of Sorbet’s bars sold in water-soluble paper – a new concept for the beauty industry and one that Brianne has pioneered and understands to be a world first. As a result, the company has stopped more than 32,000 bottles and plastic containers being made and sent to landfill.

Sorbet is founded on very strong environmental principles. Brianne purchased ethical ingredients direct from producers wherever possible – for example organic coconut oil directly from plantation growers in the Pacific Islands and she is in talks with organic cocoa growers in Ghana.

The ultimate aim is for Sorbet to become a multinational company with philanthropic roots by establishing a foundation that supports environmental welfare. Brianne also hopes to build relationships in developing nations, provide jobs and business opportunities for locals.

Brianne is a savvy entrepreneur who has big plans for Sorbet in the near future. The company has already been recognised as a finalist in the University of Canterbury’s 2014 Entre Awards and the Sustainable 60 against much larger and more established organisations.

For more information visit, http://www.sorbetcosmetics.comhttp://www.sorbetcosmetics.com/