Meet Portia Owens: Owner, Founder – Common Providence

We had the good fortune of connecting with Portia Owens and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Portia, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
It began as a hobby. I honestly didn’t have the intention of starting a business, I just wanted to find skincare that was non-toxic, natural and effective. Over time, I found it really difficult to find skincare or personal care products that, 1) actually worked in our dry Colorado climate and, 2) had clean, identifiable ingredients (basically I just wanted to be able to pick up a product and recognize every ingredient on the list). Out of frustration and lack of options, I began my own research into creating products from natural ingredients like plant oils and plant and mineral powders. Growing up, my parents owned an herbal supplement business- so I’ve always known the intrinsic power of plants and plant-based products. For years I tested different combinations of plant and mineral-based ingredients and eventually created a handful of products that addressed every concern or issue I was having with other products. After product creation, it was just a natural evolution into creating Common Providence. There’s no doubt in my mind that others are suffering and frustrated with their skincare products or routine, just as I was frustrated with mine. I want to increase access to non-toxic and organic personal care products that actually work (and work well!). Skincare shouldn’t be so complicated and Common Providence is a manifestation of my desire to truly help people simplify their skincare journey, naturally!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Common Providence is a small-batch skin (+hair) care brand that handcrafts plant and mineral-based products. We believe in the primal foundations of personal care and the power of simplicity in individual beauty and health. We carefully select the few natural and organic ingredients that will truly deliver a powerful, tangible result. Our products are mindfully crafted with minimalism and efficacy as our guiding principles. What sets us apart as a brand is our foundation in minimalism. There are plenty of skincare brands in the market that are plant-based, natural and organic – but our company goes beyond those standards. For us, minimalism is all about simplicity, using less and opting for eco-friendly solutions. Minimalism transcends every single decision we make as a company, from our product packaging to the functionality of our products. Our collection is packaged using recyclable, reusable and biodegradable packaging and shipping materials. As a company, we work to decrease packaging waste by choosing materials that are predominately plastic-free, that can be reused or repurposed, and have minimal product packaging. We also believe in the simplification of self-care through multi-use products. As a consumer culture, we’re largely dependent on single-use products because that’s what we’ve been told we need. But we’re ready for a paradigm shift. Single-use products are wasteful, expensive and honestly – unwarranted. If we can maximize the use of a single product, we can decrease our waste footprint, save money, and simplify our routine. At the end of the day, we’re proud to be transparent, mindful, and simply uncomplicated.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m a Colorado native, so we’d be outdoors enjoying everything Colorado has to offer! I love the Salida / Buena Vista area, especially during the summertime. An ideal trip would include rafting, climbing a 14’er, fishing, and soaking in the hot springs with some ciders / drinks… textbook Colorado!
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I dedicate my shoutout to my parents, who taught me relentless perseverance, grit and respect. My parents built their own business from ground up; they came from nothing but had the drive and determination to create and operate a successful nutraceutical business. In the process of running their business, they established and maintained an unwavering foundation of respect for their employees. I will never forget the way my parents valued every person involved in their business and how they remained humble throughout their entire professional career. I want to thank my parents for their dedication, drive and humility.

Website: commonprovidence.com
Instagram: @common_providence
Facebook: @commonprovidence

Image Credits
Amanda Ramer Photography Dry Creek Photography