For Sarah Braun, skincare is about more than what you put on your skin. It's about understanding what goes into the products you use, how they're made, and the values behind the brand.
Based in Cleveland, Ohio,Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve began in 2001 when Sarah's mother started making soap as a hobby. A registered nurse, biologist, and science teacher, her mother eventually decided to explore the business side of her passion, taking a sabbatical from teaching to see where it could lead.
What started as a hobby grew into a family business built around natural ingredients, thoughtful formulations, and a commitment to doing things with purpose. Today, that same philosophy extends beyond the products themselves and into every detail of the brand's packaging.
Sarah grew up watching her mother's hobby turn into something much bigger. Initially, she was hesitant to replace her drugstore face wash with something made in a kitchen. But after seeing the products work and learning more about the ingredients behind them, her perspective began to change.
Now a mother herself, Sarah is even more intentional about what she puts into and onto her family's skin.
“I so deeply believe in what we do, how we make our products, what's in them, and how we package them,” Sarah explains. “I am proud of who we are and what we stand for.”
That belief is at the heart of Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve. The company creates natural and organic skincare products designed to address different skin needs, with a product range that includes bar soaps, shampoos, dry shampoos, body powders, deodorants, and more.
For the team, every ingredient and every process has a purpose.
The natural skincare industry has grown significantly, bringing more attention to health, wellness, and sustainability. But with that growth comes a challenge: standing out in a crowded market where it can be difficult for consumers to distinguish between brands and their claims.
For Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve, authenticity has always mattered.
“There is so much noise around it, so many companies and people claiming to be doing good while trying to jump on the trend of health, wellness, and caring for ourselves and our planet,” Sarah says.
The company's approach is different. Rather than following trends, Chagrin Valley focuses on creating products with carefully considered ingredients and processes.
From the way each product is developed to the ingredients selected for its formulas, the goal is to create skincare that reflects the company's values.
That commitment to being intentional is also reflected in the brand's packaging.
Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve recently introduced a new packaging direction that brings its natural ingredients and botanical inspiration to the forefront.
The design features hand-drawn-style elements inspired by the herbs and botanicals used throughout the company's products. Ingredients such as calendula, chamomile, rosemary, and lavender appear on the packaging, giving customers a glimpse into what makes the brand special.
These illustrations aren't simply decorative. They reflect an important part of the company's process, which includes infusing base oils with botanicals to create the foundation for many of its products.
By bringing those ingredients into the visual identity, the packaging helps communicate the care and intention behind the formulas.
The result is a design that feels natural, personal, and true to the brand.
For Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve, choosing packaging means considering both how a product looks and how it fits into the company's broader values.
Paper tube packaging offered an opportunity to emphasize sustainability while maintaining a beautiful, cohesive design.
The team wanted packaging that felt thoughtful and functional without relying on unnecessary materials or excess plastic.
“We think it feels ‘us,’” Sarah says. “Our packaging reflects the same care and intention we put into what's inside.”
That balance is especially important for a brand built around natural ingredients and mindful product development. The packaging needs to protect the product while communicating the same simplicity and purpose customers have come to expect from the company.
For Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve, the best design isn't necessarily the most complicated. It's the one that feels right for the brand.
When choosing a packaging partner, sustainability wasn't the only consideration for Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve. Transparency and customer service were important parts of the experience, too.
The team appreciated Paper Tube Co.'s emphasis on sustainable packaging, along with the ability to maintain the look and feel of its brand.
That combination allowed Chagrin Valley to explore packaging that supports its values without compromising on design.
By keeping the packaging simple, beautiful, and functional, the company continues to carry its philosophy through every part of the customer experience.
Although Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve has been growing for more than two decades, the team has big goals for the future.
“We want everyone to know our name, and [to] be a common household brand,” Sarah shares.
The company is also looking forward to introducing its brand-new gift boxes and beautifully packaged products for the holiday season. The new offerings will give customers another way to share their favorite products with the people they love.
For a brand built around thoughtful ingredients and everyday care, gift-ready packaging is a natural extension of what it already does.
And for Sarah, the future isn't limited to skincare. If she weren't working in the industry, she would hope to pursue something creative that also makes a positive impact.
That same desire to create something meaningful continues to shape the company's approach today.
Since its beginnings in 2001, Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve has stayed focused on creating products with purpose. From its use of herbs and botanicals to its approach to packaging, the company aims to make intentional choices at every step.
Its paper tube packaging reflects that philosophy: simple, beautiful, functional, and aligned with the values behind the products themselves.
For Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve, sustainability and design don't have to compete. When packaging is thoughtfully considered, it can protect a product, communicate a brand's story, and create a more meaningful experience for customers.
And as the company prepares for its next chapter, that commitment to natural ingredients, purposeful design, and everyday care remains at the heart of everything it does.
What is a "global PRO," and why are brands so cautious? Explore how organizations like the Circular Action Alliance are shaping cross-border EPR laws and how to adapt your packaging.
Which States Are Next for EPR Packaging Laws? (New York, New Jersey & More) breaks down active legislative momentum, state needs assessments, key timelines, and compliance steps.
