What B.C. Brand Is Making An Epic Impact On Beauty? (Win!)

Epic Blend is a local clean, cruelty-free beauty brand from Kelowna, B.C., that’s making waves on social media thanks to their bright and feel-good packaging. Epic Blend started out in 2007 when founders Curtis and Tracy identified a market gap for natural, petroleum-free lip balm. Despite being novices in the personal care space, they set out to develop a natural and cruelty-free product with more interesting and fun flavours. With Curtis managing the brand and production side, and Tracy handling sales and admin, interest in the product began snowballing, and Epic Blend was immediately picked up by retail stores, eventually expanding across Canada, into the US, and ultimately internationally. We chatted with the two founders to find out more! —Vita Daily

Epic Blend was created with a vision of making high-quality, all-natural personal care products. What inspired you to start this journey, and how has the brand evolved since its inception?

Epic Blend started in 2007 out of a simple curiosity—we wanted to create a natural lip balm that was more fun and enjoyable to use than what was available. With no industry experience, I focused on branding and product design, while Tracy, with her background in sales and bookkeeping, managed the business side. What began as an experiment quickly grew into a brand known for its inclusive, high-quality products. Over the years, we’ve expanded our offerings to include bath and body products, always staying true to our mission of helping people feel good with products that are both effective and fun.

Sustainability is a key aspect of your brand. Can you share some of the innovative approaches Epic Blend has taken to ensure your products are eco-friendly and ethically produced?

We want to create products that consumers feel good about using, which is why our products are all 100% vegetarian, free from parabens or SLS, and are never tested on animals. As brands grow, it’s tempting to compromise on these core principles, but we remain steadfast in our commitment—because these values are the very foundation of what Epic Blend is.

Your product range includes everything from lip balms to body care and more. How do you decide which new products to develop and bring to market?

We like to take a consumer-first approach and think of what products we would like to use in our day-to-day, which helps guide us in our product development process. We also look at trends in the skin care and beauty space which was the case when we developed our Matcha Facial Mask. We were able to identify a consumption trend and add a skincare twist to it, which evidently has worked, seeing as the Matcha Facial Mask is one of our best-selling products!

The personal care market is highly competitive. What do you believe sets Epic Blend apart from other brands, and how do you maintain your unique brand identity?

What sets Epic Blend apart is our commitment to creating high-quality, natural products that are inclusive, fun, and accessible. We focus on making products that feel good and perform well, without the exclusivity often associated with luxury brands. Our ingredients are carefully selected to be effective and safe, and we pride ourselves on our playful, down-to-earth approach to branding. Bright colours and fun design elements are integral to our brand identity because they evoke positive emotions and enhance the self-care experience.

Customer feedback is crucial in the beauty and wellness industry. How do you incorporate customer insights into your product development process, and can you share an example of a product that was influenced by your customers?

We prioritise both customer feedback and demographic when developing new products, making sure we are creating products that address different concerns like sensitive, irritated, or dry skin. An example of this is the Matcha Facial Mask – we love talking about this one! We understand how living in the city exposes our skin to pollutants, so we developed this product with urbanites in mind to detoxify, soothe, and restore the complexion.

As a husband-and-wife team, how do you balance the demands of running a successful business with your personal life? What advice would you give to other couples considering going into business together?

Balancing business and personal life as a husband-and-wife team requires clear communication and setting boundaries. We make sure to carve out time for ourselves outside of work and respect each other’s strengths within the business. Our advice to other couples is to define roles clearly, maintain open communication, and remember to support each other both professionally and personally. It’s important to prioritize your relationship and not let the business take over every aspect of your life.

Personal care is clearly a passion for both of you. Could each of you share your daily personal care routines and any Epic Blend products that are your go-to essentials?

I can speak to both Tracy and I when I say we both always have a More Moisture Lip Balm within reach! Our flavours of choice change depending on the day. The Surf Shack Scented Wax Melt is our go-to when we’re looking to take a vacation from the couch – just the smell is enough to transport you on a tropical vacation and leave all your worries behind.

Looking ahead, what are your future goals for Epic Blend? Are there any exciting new projects or expansions on the horizon that you can share with us?

As business owners, growth is always at the forefront of our plans, but we are fortunate enough that Epic Blend is more of a passion project for us both, which allows us to keep the fun of it all a priority. In terms of expansions, we are always looking for new and fun product ideas and look to our consumers to provide feedback on what they love to help guide us, but we can’t share too much just yet!

Win! 1 of 3 Epic Blend Prize Packs!

Congrats Lorraine B. of Mission, BC, Julie F. of Montreal, QC, and Sarah R. of Dundas, ON, who will each receive a a special Epic Blend Prize Pack:

• Package 1:
  • Matcha Facial Mask Kit: Anti-pollution facial mask for all skin types, complete with a ceramic bowl and an application brush.
  • Pineapple Mint Vegan Balm: Pineapple and mint seem like a bit of an odd combination at first. Then you put them together and magic happens.
  • Package valued at $47.47.
• Package 2:
  • Refresh Salt Soak: When you’re in need of a refresh just throw a little Refresh Salt Soak in a hot bath, slip in and reminisce about little you on summer holidays.
  • Candy Cloud Bubble Bath: Turn every bath into an indulgent luxury at-home spa experience.
  • Grape More Moisture Lip Balm: THIS BALM SMELLS GREAT…It’s like a grape juice slushy, minus the purple lips and brain-freeze. 
  • Package valued at $46.47.
• Package 3:
  • Coconut Lemon Hand + Body Lotion: Feeling blah?  Need some zing?  Our Coconut Lemon Body Lotion may be just what you need.  
  • Lavender Orange Body Oil: Relaxing scent? Check. Moisturizing? Check. Good for massage? Check. 
  • Cherry More Moisture Lip Balm: It’s a classic. Smells great, works great, and is made with 7 moisturizers for super tasty every day lip hydration. 
  • Package valued at $49.47.

Please note: if you are the winner, you will receive a DM (direct message) in Instagram directly from @vitadailymedia. Please be wary of fake accounts, which often use similar handles with an extra or missing letter, number or symbol. We will never ask for a payment or for your credit card number, and we will never ask you to click through a link. If you are unsure whether you have been contacted, via Instagram, by us or a fake account, email us before responding.