Sidelined allergy sufferer puts lotion notion in motion

BY ALLISON KAPLAN Pioneer Press

Developing an allergy to most lotions and creams might not seem like a major crisis in
the scheme of things, but when you're a "high-maintenance product girl" like Kristin Miller
of St. Paul, it's a big problem.

Suddenly unable to tolerate any product with fragrance or color, Miller went searching
for new bath and body staples, which only furthered her depression.
"Everything felt very medicinal and sterile or very, very earthy."

So she went home and started concocting what she wanted to buy: "Beautiful products
that really are appropriate for sensitive skin." That means no added color or fragrance
and, in place, a lot of natural ingredients like clementine, macadamia oil and such plant
oils as pink grapefruit and lavender.

The result is a new bath and body collection called Zack & Zoe, in honor of Miller's dogs.
It is sold at Quince (850 Grand Ave., St. Paul), the hot New York boutique Trunk, and, in
a major coup for a brand new line, Anthropologie just picked up Zack & Zoe's Extremely
Thick Grapefruit Hand Cream for all 83 of its stores nationwide, including at 50th and
France in Minneapolis and the Shoppes at Arbor Lakes in Maple Grove.

You're likely to bump into Miller at Anthropologie any day of the week — she's the one
dusting and re-arranging six little lotion tubes on the shelf. "It's the coolest thing that's
ever happened to me," says Miller, who just six months ago was toiling away at a
financial consulting firm.

She has no background in product formulation — unless high school chemistry counts.
Miller taught herself by reading, researching ingredients, talking to formulators and
dermatologists and, ultimately, experimenting in her kitchen.

The initial collection is small and focused: body cream, hand cream, body scrub and body
wash available in five flavors. Packaging is very basic, but the products feel rich (a tad
greasy in the case of the hand cream). The scents are fresh but not overpowering. Prices
range from $12 to $25, and products are available online at www.zack-and-zoe.com.

"I wake up every morning and laugh," Miller says. "I make lotion for my job."

Allison Kaplan can be reached at akaplan@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5116. For
more on shopping from Allison Kaplan, visit the Savvy Shopper page at
www.twincities.com/living.)