
Founded as a celebration of the synergy of East and West by Preema Sarkar, Solterra sets out to raise awareness of the reality that our resources here on earth are finite. Through thoughtful brand development that has been intentionally curated every step of the way, Sarkar's end game is to do more than just sell lip balms -- she wants to encourage us to treat our planet, bodies, skin, and our well-being with greater respect and care.
"My goal is to make sustainable living convenient by harnessing technology to manage household inventory, including skincare to household goods. We have already established the basics of refillable and dissolvable packaging to promote conscious consumption," the founder explains.

From its primary and secondary packaging to the ingredients and mailers utilized, Solterra has made sure to practice what it preaches as a brand. Key initiatives include cornstarch-constructed mailers that break down in 180 days, dissolvable outer package that fully disappears in water, a refillable cartridge for the balms, and a bamboo and aluminum tube.
"As a small, woman-of-color-owned business, we face industry challenges that favor larger entities. Despite this, we are dedicated to innovating for a healthier you and a healthier planet," Sarkar shares.

Solterra's portfolio currently features (3) Lip Blooms:
Rising Chai Spice
Orange Vanilla Dream
Cozy Hot Cocoa (a limited-edition seasonal offering)
These balms, or should we say Blooms, are formulated based on thousands of years of traditional knowledge and feature only (4) ingredients... but don't be fooled. Each of those ingredients is packed with essentials nutrients to provide all the benefits.
Ingredients:
Ghee
Beeswax
Vitamin E
Certified Organic Natural Flavor

The founder's philosophy for her brand is based on her background in biotech and highly regulated spaces. This has made her cautious about what is actually beneficial to us when it comes to ingredient selection and the outcomes they provide.
"Observations in the industry show a trend of prioritizing new ingredients with immediate results but little long-term data. Our approach focuses on reliable, natural ingredients with centuries of proven benefits," she says.
There's plenty of symbolism to decipher within Solterra as well. Sarkar's brand reflects her Indian heritage and practice of wellness traditions and remedies including tumeric, meditation, yoga, and ashwagandha.
"[By] combining my background in science with Indian wellness practices, I began creating my own skincare products. I wanted to share the synergy between Eastern wellness practices and my Western medicine background," Sakur adds.

The founder's background in pharmaceuticals and biotech has been a more clinical, matter-of-fact space and since entering the beauty industry she has found joy with the additional creative freedom.
"It enables me to combine my passion for beauty with my science background, making me feel fulfilled. There's a saying, 'Medicine, law, business, engineering—these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love—these are what we stay alive for.' This resonates with me deeply and is a significant reason why I love the beauty industry—it makes me feel alive!" Sakur shares.
The beauty business has enabled the Solterra founder to branch out and meet like-minded people who share a similiar purpose, which is a desire to make the world a better place.
"My goal is to move forward in a fun, bright, and vibrant way, reflecting the beauty of life and nature," she says.

Her journey as a founder as not been without challenges, however. Sakur says that gaining leverage is one of the most difficult aspects of being a small business owner, "especially when attempting to introduce radical changes to the industry. It often feels like you aren't taken seriously until you have significant financial backing."
Solterra's dissolvable packaging and sustainably made inks deserve recognition with the beauty industry. While navigating formulations such as MOQs has proved difficult, she remains optimistic.
"Persistence and perseverance led to success," Sakur concludes.

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