Mineral beauty
Drug Store News: Tell us about Precious Mineralz and how the Out Of Mountains brand was created.
Deborah Dixon: The marriage between my husband Spenst Hansen, PhD, and I is not only a marriage in private life, it also is a marriage of our education, expertise and business experience. He is a PhD Geologist, Mining Engineer and has been successful in the mining industry. I earned a PhD in the Life Science area, and have worked at startups, small companies and a Fortune 500 company that develop and commercialize medical devices and diagnostics, food safety test kits and consumer products in the automotive and beauty industries.
Precious Mineralz is in the Historic Tintic Mining District in Mammoth, Utah. It is privately owned and woman-majority-owned by him and I. We also own and operate Northstar Clay Mines, an open pit mine, where we selectively collect and process Halloysite for use in skincare products. Because Halloysite is mined, we chose Out Of Mountains as our trademarked brand. It also pays homage to the rich history of the mining industry in Utah. We say that Out Of Mountains is the indie brand that geology built!
DSN: Can you tell us more about Halloysite and why it is so unique? What characteristics does it possess that make skincare products so effective?
DD: Halloysite is nanotubular kaolin clay. Kaolin is used in many cosmetic and skincare products. Structurally, it forms sheets. Due to certain geological conditions, the sheets roll up and form nanotubes. Halloysite is only mined in a handful of places in the world. Due to the nanotube size, they easily penetrate the skin and release key ingredients in a time-release fashion. This has been scientifically proven. Halloysite is considered Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS) by the FDA and is on the EPA’s Inert Ingredient List. Besides serving as a carrier for key ingredients, including peptides and hyaluronic acid, Halloysite has a MOHS Hardness Scale of 2-2.5. It is mildly abrasive and helps polish skin in exfoliating products.
Additionally, it helps with “spreadibility.” It is a fascinating raw material, and we know how to apply it. At Precious Mineralz we say that our products help achieve beauty from the inside out!
DSN: Please share the philosophy behind the products and their formulation.
DD: Rather than introducing many products, we believe in a minimal approach. We offer products that work alone and complement each other. The face products include Rejuvenating Facial Cream Cleanser, Renewing Face Cream, Under Eye Correction Cream and Protective Lip Balm. The body products include Restorative Hand and Body Cream, Soothing Cuticle Balm, and Rich Body Polish. In addition, we offer Eyelash Booster and Eyebrow Booster. All products are:
- Clean – products are paraben-free, talc-free, phthalate-free, have no artificial dyes or fragrances
- Sustainable – We formulate with many sustainable ingredients that are natural and upcycled.
- Recyclable Containers – all containers are recyclable
- Vegan – we use no animal-derived ingredients
- Cruelty-free – no testing is conducted on animals
DSN: What are the company plans beyond the current products?
DD: We will be launching a men’s line this year for skincare and grooming.
DSN: What is Precious Mineralz as a company passionate about? And you personally?
DD: Precious Mineralz is Purpose Driven. Our purpose is to Help Fight Hunger and Homelessness for People and Animals. Our two charitable organizations are Utah Food Bank and Best Friends Animal Society. They receive monetary and in-kind donations from our efforts at the company. We also support the Look Good Feel Better program through our membership at Professional Beauty Association. The program helps women fighting breast cancer.
I am a recreational musher and have had numerous huskies on my team that are rescues. I believe they deserve a second chance, and they show their gratitude for this new chapter. I advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves.
