Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more
For Kecia Hielscher, the idea of creating a beauty brand rooted in clean ingredients and thoughtful rituals wasn't just a business opportunity. It was personal.
After spending more than 25 years in retail merchandising at major companies like Disney, Williams-Sonoma, and Nordstrom, Hielscher had built a career developing products, sourcing materials and analyzing what shoppers truly respond to.
'I missed being in the development process,' she said. 'Creating product from nothing is what I've always loved.'
And that's when she ventured into buying luxury body brand, Formulary 55.
Formulary 55
Formulary 55 is a luxury bath and body brand known for its handcrafted soaps, body oils and skincare essentials made with clean, thoughtfully sourced ingredients.
The brand focuses on elevated fragrances, premium shea butter formulas and beautifully designed packaging that turns everyday self-care into a ritual!
Two years ago, Hielscher purchased Formulary 55, a boutique bath and body brand known for its elegant aesthetic and handcrafted soaps.
There were many aspects of the brand that caught her attention, from the elevated packaging to the original scents, but it also aligned with something deeper. Hielscher is a Cancer survivor and that has led her to fight for ingredient transparency and product safety passionately.
Owner Kecia Hielscher has taken the brand to new heights with clean formulas, incredible scents, and unmatched packaging.
'I wanted a brand that had fantastic ingredients that we could stand behind," she explained. "No parabens, no phthalates, no sulfates, no dyes -- none of the bad stuff,' said Hielscher.
Honeycomb & Neroli - Petite Shea Butter Soap
The petite 2-ounce bar is enriched with moisturizing shea butter to help soften skin while delivering a creamy, long-lasting lather.
Handcrafted in small batches with coconut oil, responsibly sourced palm oil and shea butter, the formula gently cleanses without leaving skin feeling stripped
$8 Shop
Unlike many mass-produced beauty brands these days, Formulary 55's products are still made the old-fashioned way. The brand hand-pours soaps, bath tablets and creams in small batches at its production facility in Colorado.
That commitment sometimes means delaying launches or walking away from potential products if they don't meet the brand's standards. Hielscher went as far to say, 'We want to make sure what we're selling is truly backed.'
Sea Salt & Lavender - Shea Butter Soap
This soap combines fresh sea-air notes with soothing lavender for a clean, calming scent.
Made in small batches with nourishing shea butter, the bar creates a rich lather that gently cleanses while leaving skin soft and hydrated.
$12 Shop
At its core, Formulary 55 is about transforming everyday routines into small moments of self-care, a practice we could all afford more of. According to Hielscher, even something as ordinary as a bar of soap can become a daily ritual.
That perspective resonates strongly with the brand's audience -- shoppers who value high-quality ingredients, beautiful packaging and products that feel a little more special than typical drugstore staples.
Today, Formulary 55 products are sold in more than 3,000 boutiques, with a particularly strong following along the coasts (So be sure to keep your eye out on your next beach getaway).
La Nuit - Shea Butter Hand & Body Creme
A lightweight moisturizer infused with a warm blend of amber, myrrh, vanilla and Egyptian musk, softened with a hint of lavender.
Enriched with shea butter, aloe and vitamin E, the fast-absorbing formula hydrates hands while leaving behind a subtly sophisticated fragrance.
$26 Shop
The biggest piece of advice owner Kecia Hielscher gave was this, 'Take a couple minutes during your morning just to smell and breathe and take care of yourself.' Self-care starts with the little things.
Shoppers can explore the stunningly packaged brand in many of the brand's most popular fragrances - like Honeycomb & Neroli or Bourbon & Vanilla - across multiple product formats, from soaps and lotions to oils and travel-friendly hand creams.
And the good news is they are innovating more than ever before with more than 40 new products released this year alone. Including one inspired lightly by pop icon Taylor Swift's song 'Opalite.'
Opalite
Formulary 55's Opalite blends fresh juniper and coriander with warm notes of nutmeg, rose, amber and vanilla for a balanced, softly aromatic scent.
Made in small batches with nourishing shea butter, the bar creates a rich lather that cleanses while helping keep skin smooth and hydrated.
$12 Shop
Hielscher describes as a warm yet balanced fragrance blending juniper berries, coriander, musk, vanilla and amber. The name for the soap came from an unexpected moment of inspiration while riding in the car 'I was driving one day...And I just thought - that fragrance is Opalite!'
From its powerful empowerment of women to its dedication to clean formulations, Formulary 55 continues to set the industry standard for what all skincare should look and feel like.
Make sure to dive into the body care brand for yourself to see which scents speak to your soul, and take it from us, you won't regret swapping your products over.