Behind the Brand: Mama Sol with Founder Arielle Moody
"What truly sets us apart is that we are not just checking one box. We are meeting every major consumer need within mineral sun care."
I’ve worked with a lot of beauty and wellness companies, brand founders, marketing teams, and social teams, and while I find aspects of it all fascinating, I’m always the most interested in how the brand came to be.
I recently had the opportunity to learn about how the brand Mama Sol started. Check out my interview with founder Arielle Moody below.
Q: What was the inspiration behind creating Mama Sol?
A: When I was 5 months pregnant, I started researching ingredients to avoid when pregnant and nursing. The list was so long, and sunscreen was the most toxic. I started buying dozens of mineral sunscreens without chemical filters and felt they were all missing the mark. They all made me feel greasy, left a white cast, or made me smell like coconuts (no thank you). Being that I have nearly 20 years of beauty industry experience, I decided to hire a chemist and create one on my own, one that I looked forward to using every day.
Q: Why did you choose for your products to be 100% mineral sunscreen?
A: A few reasons–mineral sunscreen sits on top of the skin like a physical shield and blocks UV rays immediately. Chemical sunscreen, on the other hand, needs to be absorbed into the skin before it works. Certain chemical filters, such as oxybenzone, have raised concerns over the years. Studies have detected it in breast milk, and it has been associated with skin allergies and environmental impact, including coral reef damage. That didn’t align with the kind of brand we wanted to build. I also learned something important from a world-renowned dermatologist, Dr. Kilgour. He explained that avobenzone, which is commonly used for UVA protection, is not inherently photostable, meaning it can degrade when exposed to sunlight unless stabilized. Zinc oxide, on the other hand, is inherently photostable and is also the only single active ingredient in the U.S. that provides broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays in one filter. He emphasized that zinc oxide is the most reliable defense against UVA rays available in the U.S. For us, choosing 100% mineral, specifically zinc oxide, was about safety, stability, and providing strong, broad-spectrum protection we could truly stand behind.
Q: What sets you apart from similar brands on the market?
A: What truly sets us apart is that we are not just checking one box. We are meeting every major consumer need within mineral sun care. We are a 100% mineral portfolio. Every product uses non-nano zinc oxide. Many brands may offer one or two mineral SKUs, but their full line is not entirely mineral. We are also completely silicone-free, which is extremely rare in this category, especially in prestige mineral sunscreens. Silicones are widely used because they help suspend zinc oxide and create very stable, elegant formulas. They make formulation easier. But they are not biodegradable, and many consumers prefer to avoid them due to concerns about pore congestion or that heavy, occlusive feel. When we were developing Mama Sol, finding truly mineral sunscreens without silicones was nearly impossible. So we built what we could not find. In addition, we formulate with essential oils rather than synthetic fragrance blends, prioritize sustainable packaging, maintain a non-GMO philosophy, and offer a full pregnancy and nursing-safe portfolio. When you map those attributes side by side, most brands check one or two boxes. We check all of them. And beyond formulation standards, there is the experience. We incorporate a subtle touch of lavender essential oil to create a moment of pause and wellness. Sunscreen should not feel clinical or stressful. It should feel like a ritual. That sensory detail encourages a deep breath and turns daily protection into something grounding. It is not just that we are minerals. We have elevated mineral suncare to meet performance, safety, sustainability, and emotional experience all at once.
Q: You have a strong presence on social media. Have you found that mothers with young children or people who want more control over what they’re putting on their bodies gravitate towards your products?
A: Yes, absolutely. Mothers with young children naturally gravitate toward Mama Sol because when you become a mom, you start reading every label. You think differently about ingredients. You think about long-term exposure. You think about what is truly safe, not just for you, but for your family. But it’s not just moms. We see a strong response from anyone who wants more transparency and control over what they’re putting on their bodies. Consumers today are far more educated. They want to understand why a formula is built the way it is. They care about mineral versus chemical. They care about sustainability. They care about ingredient integrity. At the same time, we do not take ourselves too seriously. We make it fun. We post self-deprecating, relatable content about motherhood and entrepreneurship. We share inspirational messages and expose our community to manifestation practices and mindset work that have shaped my own journey as a founder. We also host an expert series where we bring world-renowned wellness experts to the forefront to educate our community on topics that go far beyond sunscreen. Mama Sol is not just a product line. It is a wellness-minded community built around protection, intention, and growth. So yes, mothers absolutely connect with us. But ultimately, it is anyone who values mineral protection, conscious living, and being part of something that feels both elevated and real.
Q: Do you believe that your experience at Smashbox, Dr. Perricone, Bite Beauty, and Skinn Cosmetics has helped you with creating Mama Sol?
A: Yes, absolutely. Each brand taught me valuable lessons. Some were things I wanted to emulate, and some showed me what I would do differently if I ever built my own company. Smashbox taught me about performance and branding. Dr. Perricone reinforced the importance of science and credibility. Bite Beauty had the biggest personal impact on me because that was where I really began to define what “clean” meant to me. It shaped how I think about ingredients, transparency, and consumer trust. Most recently, I was the VP of Sales for a formulation and packaging company. That experience was transformational. It taught me everything I know about packaging, sourcing, stability, and sustainability. I saw firsthand how products are built from the inside out and what compromises brands sometimes make. That knowledge allowed me to be extremely intentional with Mama Sol, from our silicone-free formulas to our sustainable packaging decisions. All of those experiences gave me the foundation to build a brand that prioritizes safety, efficacy, sustainability, and integrity while still delivering a beautiful, elevated experience.
Q: What advice would you give someone who wants to create their own products but isn’t sure where to begin?
A: Start with the problem, not the product. So many people begin with “I want to launch a beauty brand,” but that’s not specific enough. Ask yourself what you cannot find on the market. What frustrates you as a consumer? What feels misaligned? The strongest brands are born from solving something very specific. Second, educate yourself before you spend money. Either hire someone to guide you or you yourself must learn about formulation basics, packaging components, margins, MOQs, stability testing, and regulatory requirements. You do not have to be a chemist, but you do need to understand the language. My time working in formulation and packaging taught me that knowledge saves you from very expensive mistakes. Third, validate before you scale. Start small. Test. Get real feedback. Make sure people will actually repurchase before you pour money into inventory. And finally, understand that this is not a quick win. It takes a lot of passion and resilience. There will be delays, reformulations, supply chain surprises, and moments of serious doubt. If you are building something meaningful, you have to stay committed long after the excitement wears off. Build intentionally. Know your numbers. Protect your margins. And make sure your “why” is strong enough to carry you through the hard seasons.
