Three years ago, Jennifer’s four daughters, now preteen through young adult, got caught up in the face mask craze. She was alarmed to discover the masks were laden with chemicals and preservatives for a long shelf life. This accepted norm suddenly became unacceptable. Common sense took hold: If you can store your beauty items in a cabinet for years, there’s a good chance it doesn’t belong on your body. This revelation fueled her quest to find 100% chemical and preservative-free products. Those products didn’t exist, and the journey to create the SHIMMER CHEF skin, scalp, and hair care line began in earnest.

Jennifer then returned to what she learned as a teen: true skin health comes from nature, prepared in the kitchen, not in a laboratory. To gain expertise in the health-supportive aspects of food, she became certified in Food Therapeutics, and trained intensively for 6 months as a Health Supportive Culinary Arts Chef, earning her diploma and completing a 100 hour internship at the organic, wellness-focused, fresh meal delivery service Provenance Meals. It was during her rigorous studies at culinary school where whole, plant based, living foods were prized as the key to wellness, Jennifer learned about the effects our diet has on our mental and physical well-being. Once again, the value of Ayurvedic principles was highlighted. The use of medicinal skin plasters for healing, and the importance of nurturing our internal and external microbiome struck a chord. The link between promoting a healthy microbiome through the use of superpower ingredients, potent plant sources, essential oils, and natural butters was reinforced by the growing field of scientific research: As our body’s largest organ and our first defense against environmental stressors, fortifying our skin and scalp are crucial.