Be Mindful of What You Put on Your Skin

I wanted to share an interview I recently held with Patrick Pickens, co-owner of an innovative skincare company called HiQCosmetics.   The full article is published in MyForsyth magazine.

In 2015, Patrick Pickens decided to start a company that focuses on only the healthiest and most effective ingredients in skincare products.  Their all-natural formulas are created to deliver results while maintaining environmental consciousness in literally everything they do.  I was so impressed with their commitment to quality and environmental sustainability that I wanted to sit with him to learn more.

Why did you start HiQCosmetics? 

Working at the CDC, I would routinely read articles about ingredients found in common health and beauty products that were causing harm to the environment and/or human health.  Many of these ingredients are carcinogenic!  So I teamed up with my business partner, Dr. Holly Carpenter, who received her Ph.D. from Emory University in Chemistry, to launch HiQ Cosmetics (HiQCosmetics.com). Together, we hand-selected every ingredient found in our formulas to deliver luxury performance and results.  Just the best ingredients nature has to offer.  Holly and I believe nature is the best chemist. 

What products do you offer? 

Currently, we offer our cult-favorite, HiQ CoQ10 Anti-Aging Facial Serum.  The serum is ideal for men and women and is optimized to balance all skin types.  This month, we launched our HiQ Eye Serum, and we are launching our HiQ Moisturizer shortly thereafter.  We have been working on additional products that are going to change the skincare industry forever!  Our products are available at HiQCosmetics.com and Costco.com as well as local boutiques.

Why is it important to be mindful of what we put on our skin?

Many people are careful with what they eat and drink, yet your skin is the body’s largest organ and the skin absorbs chemicals that are applied to its surface.  

A lot of consumers are price-conscious.  What would you say to consumers that say they’d rather buy something off the shelf at their local store?  Are your products worth the premium price?

Great question. I completely understand price-conscious consumers because I am one myself!  There are so many skincare products out there.  However, what a lot of people may not be aware of is that not all ingredients are of the same quality.  Some ingredient supplies do not have high standards of quality control.  Often times, companies will use lower quality, cheaper ingredients to reduce their costs, or they will sprinkle in key, active ingredients just to show them on an ingredient list.  

At HiQ Cosmetics, we are proudly different. Our formulas are 100% formulated by us.  Every single ingredient is hand-selected for a specific function and effect.  In addition, we source all of ingredients from the highest quality ingredient suppliers that all maintain the highest standard for quality control.  Our key ingredients are placed into our formulas at high concentrations.  Our HiQ Facial Serum is the most concentrated CoQ10 anti-aging facial serum on the market.

So, are our products worth premium price? 100% yes.  I can promise you that your skin will feel the difference. You will have results you can see and feel. 

How do you balance doing right for the environment and adding quality ingredients with the price of your products?

At HiQ Cosmetics, we do not let manufacturing costs dictate quality or environmental impact.  We formulate, brand, and package all our products with the best of the best.  We do not believe the quality of a product should ever be sacrificed.  Quality and safety are the backbone of everything we do.  In addition, we strive to be as environmentally conscious in every single aspect of our company.  We promise to offer high quality skincare products without ever compromising the environment.  We are dedicated to providing products that promote healthier and younger looking skin while minimizing our carbon footprint.

Do you have any testimonials or success stories you can share?

We have happy customers all over the US.  We have a couple in their 90's that call us every other week to let us know that our product is the first product that has made their skin feel firmer and moisturized.  We have customers that have replaced their Retin-A prescription with our HiQ Facial Serum.  We have countless customers that have sent us messages stating their dermatologist cannot stop complimenting their skin.

Your products are non-GMO, PEG free, vegan, certified organic, and more!  Why is this important to you? 

Our products are formulated to be FREE of:  GMOs, PEG, Parabens, BPA, phthalates, gluten, animal testing, synthetic dyes, synthetic fragrance, sulfates, formaldehyde, and petrochemicals. 

Why is it important?  We believe this should be important to everyone!  Why is it okay for companies to be using products that are widely known to be harmful to humans and the environment?  HiQ Cosmetics wants to be the new standard for health and beauty products. There is no excuse for using ingredients that are harmful.  We want customers to be confident with products they are applying to their skin.

Your commitment to the environment also extends to your product packaging, right?

That’s right.  Our glass bottle and pump top are both manufactured in Europe with the highest level of quality control.  The recyclable European glass bottle is BPA and phthalate free.  Only the pump top is made of plastic.  All of our packaging and shipping boxes are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified to support sustainable forestry practices. 

As a business owner, I believe it is my duty to do everything I can to help preserve this beautiful planet we live on.  As you know, Hannah, our earth is truly extraordinary, and the steps toward a “greener”, more sustainable future starts with each of us.  In addition to our packaging being sustainable, we also manufacture our products in a solar powered facility. 

What are your long-term goals for the company?

We plan to continue to grow throughout the US and abroad.  Most importantly, we’ll want to continue to be a strong voice in the beauty industry that advocates for healthy, natural, and transparent ingredients. 

Thank you, and all the best to you and HiQCosmetics!  May your company be a model for other companies trying to help our environment.

Thank you very much.

HiQCosmetics.com