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Chelsea McCarthy

On & On is a free-flowing wellness brand with water-centric sensibilities. The brainchild of Chelsea McCarthy, ON & ON started as a spa on the magical island of Kauai and has morphed into a full-fledged wellness brand with a signature line of Frankincense hand and body washes. Steeped in the rituals of self-care, ON & ON takes a holistic approach to how we nurture our bodies from the inside out. Their sole interest is to create a new era of skin and body health that validates how we feel rather than only focusing on appearance.

Chelsea McCarthy - The Particulars
Chelsea McCarthy - The Particulars

THINGS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT RIGHT NOW, WE’RE IN AN UNPRECEDENTED TIME…WHERE ARE YOU GETTING INSPIRATION FROM THESE DAYS?
Nature is a real source of inspiration, especially on my best days. On days where I am blue, conversations with my friends keep me inspired. My tribe inspires me constantly, the perspectives, interests and lifestyles of my friends are wildly different. The flow and cadence of how and what we share is a real thrill.
YOU’RE A WATER-CENTRIC BRAND WITH ROOTS IN KAUAI, HAWAII BUT ARE NOW BASED RIGHT NEXT-DOOR HERE IN MALIBU, CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT HOW THE WATER AND OCEAN INFLUENCES YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS?

When contemplating my relationship to water, I am in awe. In the moments where I am with the ocean and that giant horizon line, water teaches me how it is infinite and contained, all at once. The buoyancy of the ocean, the sense of weightlessness, I crave that. I need the heaviness of fresh water too. What a dream to be like a river, flowing, with little effort from a source usually unseen. In direct relationship with gravity but also slightly defiant and responsible for moving mountains.

Chelsea McCarthy - The Particulars

WE KNOW THAT YOUR WONDERFUL (WE ARE OBSESSED WITH IT) FRANKINCENSE ON & ON  HAND AND BODY WASH HIT THE SHELVES RIGHT WHEN HAND WASHING BECAME A VITAL FOCUS OF CONVERSATION, CAN YOU TELL US THE GENESIS OF THAT SPECIFIC PRODUCT AND HOW IT’S IMPORTANCE HAS EVOLVED DURING THIS TIME?
Frankincense is rooted in ancient history, performative, quiet & spiritual. When burned in resin form, the smoke spells out all these secret messages from within. After being with Frankincense, a subtle transformation happens, a cleansing of sorts, expelling unwanted energy. I am learning and re-learning that the most radical acts are so simple.
When we were in the discovery phase of what we wanted to create as our first product, performance was a large part of that discussion. We reasoned that most people bathe often and we wanted to share our reverence for Frankincense in these daily acts. We are here, creating another voice for Frankincense in contemporary history, to be a steward for Frankincense is an honor we take seriously. Get in the shower, experience Frankincense, touch it, wash with it, smell it and change the world.

Chelsea McCarthy - The Particulars

THE SPA IN HANALEI IS A REAL DREAM…PLUS YOU OFFER TREATMENTS THAT ARE A LITTLE OUTSIDE OF THE BOX (I.E. SKIN BRUSHING, RADIO FREQUENCY, CRYO-SAUNA, INFRARED SAUNA) HOW DO YOU GET LOCALS AND VISITORS ALIKE TO EMBRACE THE ALTERNATIVE(S)?
Word of mouth is a huge part of our business. When our Hanalei space was open, we actively sought out community members and leaders to invite into our space. Once the relationships were fostered and trust was established, these allies felt the joy, sense of presence and vitality our treatment offerings provided. It is critical to build lasting relationships with our community, to invite everyone in, to create a space that feels cozy, elevated AND accessible. Since we are curious, we invite our clients to remain open to experimenting what feels new to them. Our treatments were selected to be experienced in combination or on their own which also invited people to add skin brushing to their Endermologie treatment last minute or hop into the infrared sauna before their facial. The journey of vitality has many lanes with no fixed destination, we encourage everyone to embark wherever they are.
THE COLLECTION OF PRODUCTS THAT YOU OFFER ARE SO WELL THOUGHT OUT AND SPECIFIC TO YOUR PHILOSOPHY, HOW DO YOU SOURCE AND TEST ALL OF THE THINGS YOU SELL? MOREOVER, HOW DO YOU MAKE ALL OF THE CHOICES NOT FEEL INTIMIDATING TO THE BUYER, WHAT’S THE TRICK?

Many of the botanical products we carry, In Fiore, Julisis, and May Lindstrom were discovered by my business partner, Melissa. She is an avid researcher, open to experimenting and invested in supporting modern alchemists. We partner with formulators & artisans who believe in sharing and acknowledging all that is the mighty plant kingdom. I pay attention, read, observe and stay open to my urge to discover and share. Hunting & gathering is a natural instinct and something I truly enjoy.
When selling products to our peers and clients, we each share what we are specifically drawn to. We honor personal experience as a tool of authenticity. We agree to share the knowledge we retain, without making up claims, it is okay to not know everything. Speaking from experience helps to navigate how and what to share, and with whom.

Chelsea McCarthy - The Particulars

THE SPA IN HANALEI IS A REAL DREAM…PLUS YOU OFFER TREATMENTS THAT ARE A LITTLE OUTSIDE OF THE BOX (I.E. SKIN BRUSHING, RADIO FREQUENCY, CRYO-SAUNA, INFRARED SAUNA) HOW DO YOU GET LOCALS AND VISITORS ALIKE TO EMBRACE THE ALTERNATIVE(S)?
Word of mouth is a huge part of our business. When our Hanalei space was open, we actively sought out community members and leaders to invite into our space. Once the relationships were fostered and trust was established, these allies felt the joy, sense of presence and vitality our treatment offerings provided. It is critical to build lasting relationships with our community, to invite everyone in, to create a space that feels cozy, elevated AND accessible. Since we are curious, we invite our clients to remain open to experimenting what feels new to them. Our treatments were selected to be experienced in combination or on their own which also invited people to add skin brushing to their Endermologie treatment last minute or hop into the infrared sauna before their facial. The journey of vitality has many lanes with no fixed destination, we encourage everyone to embark wherever they are.
THE COLLECTION OF PRODUCTS THAT YOU OFFER ARE SO WELL THOUGHT OUT AND SPECIFIC TO YOUR PHILOSOPHY, HOW DO YOU SOURCE AND TEST ALL OF THE THINGS YOU SELL? MOREOVER, HOW DO YOU MAKE ALL OF THE CHOICES NOT FEEL INTIMIDATING TO THE BUYER, WHAT’S THE TRICK?

Many of the botanical products we carry, In Fiore, Julisis, and May Lindstrom were discovered by my business partner, Melissa. She is an avid researcher, open to experimenting and invested in supporting modern alchemists. We partner with formulators & artisans who believe in sharing and acknowledging all that is the mighty plant kingdom. I pay attention, read, observe and stay open to my urge to discover and share. Hunting & gathering is a natural instinct and something I truly enjoy.
When selling products to our peers and clients, we each share what we are specifically drawn to. We honor personal experience as a tool of authenticity. We agree to share the knowledge we retain, without making up claims, it is okay to not know everything. Speaking from experience helps to navigate how and what to share, and with whom.

Chelsea McCarthy - The Particulars
Chelsea McCarthy - The Particulars

WITH SUMMER ON THE HORIZON, WHAT’S NEXT FOR ON & ON?
Finding our voice and what we want to share as a company is taking shape. I feel empowered to continue the conversation of vitality and accessibility. Creating and engaging is a theme for the summer. ON & ON has a gorgeous new website, where we share ideas, inspirations and products, for the first time! Here we are adding to our library of articles, artists and ideas that feel potent and exciting to explore.
Sharing our Frankincense wash with the world is the beginning, I can’t wait to meet the unexpected.