Forever Young: Willa Skincare

A mother and daughter team joins forces to create a new line of natural skincare products for young girls

One of the greatest things a mom can do for her kids is help them feel better about themselves. That was the mission Christy Prunier—a former Hollywood producer who worked on big time films with Oliver Stone and Darren Aronofsky—took on when she saw her eleven-year-old daughter Willa struggling with her skin care regimen. Prunier, who is also mom to a 10-year-old son and a six-year-old daughter, didn’t want Willa to repeat her own skin history of bouts with acne and then skin cancer later on in life.  “My skin care story was Bain de Soleil and a cookie sheet on a roof, trying to catch as many rays as possible and thinking some would dry out the pimples,” says Prunier. “I also thought the tanner I was, the more beautiful I was. I’m trying to use the knowledge I have to make it a different story for her.” So Prunier teamed up with her daughter to create Willa, a skin care line that would speak the language of a tweenaged girl and also keep their skin young and beautiful for as long as possible.

“Many girls think they’re invincible and that they’re going to look young forever,” says Prunier. “But the truth is that up to 80% of lasting sun damage happens by the time we turn 18.”  Prunier developed the line of Willa products to be fun as well as protective and healthy. All of the products are free from nasties like parabens, phthalates and sulfates.  “But just to have a product and say that it’s natural is not going to be enough of a motivator for girls to use it on their own,” says Prunier. “You can put a healthy dinner in front of them, but if it doesn’t taste good, it’s not going to become a habit.” Her answer was to make the packaging chic and whimsical, and the products themselves fun to use, addictively scented and young at heart. Here’s a look at three of our favorites from Willa:

Willa Face Friendly Clear Face Moisturizer

“We wanted a moisturizer that didn’t make the skin shiny and wasn’t goopy. So we made this clear hydrator with aloe, green tea, and eucalyptus. It’s really amazing because it keeps this proper balance of hydration in the skin,” says Prunier.

Willa Face the Day SPF 30 Tinted Face Protection

Made with a skin-matching tint and no chemicals, this genius sunblock is an essential for every girl—and women. It’s also made with silicone to give it the perfect amount of slip. “Girls are putting this on without having to be reminded!” says Prunier.

Willa Smile Shimmer Lip Gloss

A subtle pop of color with a pretty shimmer, this lip-gloss is made with vitamin E to keep her lips hydrated all day long. It comes with a handy clip for girls to attach it to their backpacks or jeans.

To see all of Willa’s amazing skin-saving products, go to www.willaskincare.com