A local woman is turning her love for plants and beauty into a booming business.

Her natural, plant-based skincare brand, Meadow and Bark, is making waves in Long Beach and beyond.

“We create plant-powered skin care and sun care designed to not only nourish your skin but protect you and make you feel and look amazing,” said Meadow and Bark business owner Marisa Russell.

Russell left the corporate world and focused on skincare.

“I never thought I would be doing this," Russell added.

After years of her family struggling with sunburns, sensitive skin and exposure to harsh chemicals, Russell did her research. She took online chemistry classes and turned to plants.

The experiments started at the kitchen table, and now she does it all in her "glam lab," located at her Long Beach storefront.

“It took me over 200 times before we settled on our first formula, so it was not good enough, and then finally, I sent that version to a lab to test the SPF,” said Russell.

Russell and her husband grow many of the plants they use in their ingredients. They also source from all over the world, and strive to support global communities.

Recently, Meadow and Bark has been getting national attention.

“We just made Oprah’s Best 2025 list, which is really great for a brand coming from Long Beach. I think our community is super proud of it, and we’re excited to just keep going,” said Russell.

The products can be found at her store, local spas or online.

It is located at 901 W. Beech St in Long Beach. Click here for the website and here for Instagram.