About us
WESTERN HERBALISM, BUDDHIST MEDICINE MAKING TECHNIQUES AND CUTTING EDGE BOTANICAL SCIENCE MEET IN THE BOTTLE CREATING A TRANSFORMATIVE SKIN EXPERIENCE
ENCOUNTER THE LOST ART OF AUTHENTIC HERBAL COMPOUNDING.
Products made with intention from plant to bottle to provide the skin with exactly what it needs.
Imagine a daily regime, crafted with an Herbalist’s knowledge, made by an experienced and dedicated team and imbued with the essence of nature.
Our formulas soak in the vital energy of the Rocky Mountains. We begin with extracting freshly harvested, wild botanicals* with certified organic herbs and proceed through the entire manufacturing process of blending, mixing, bottling and shipping in Leaf People’s remote Colorado lab°.
Our products feature Herbalist and ancestral protocols which include plant-ally pairing, botanical energetics and preserving vital nutrients, resulting in elevated skin care with stunning results.
low temperature extractions, minimal mechanized processes
free from fillers, synthetics, fragrances and water free options
recyclable, reusable and FSC certified compostable packaging
ultra-protective violet glass bottles
Colorado Proud and Made in the USA
GET YOUR ROCKY MOUNTAIN GLOW®
Living in the Rockies, Julie experiences life akin to residing in a pristine botanical pharmacy with a vast array of native herbals available. This is a significant differentiating factor for her products. Because conditions at altitude are harsh, plants typically grow smaller with more concentrated properties making them ideal ingredients. Additionally, many wild varieties will not proliferate in a farmed environment so gathering is the only option. When looking towards the future and sustainability as an Herbalist, she supports new developments that fall outside of ethical wild-harvesting to protect our wild lands. Forest farming, an approach for cultivating these powerful plants is increasing in popularity and offers opportunities to support wild crops in a controlled, native setting.
Known for her unique approach, Julie’s products transition to modern times by infusing the formulas with cutting edge, radiance boosting ingredients. She is constantly on the search for new, plant-based additions to enhance the results. Currently she integrates a variety of stem cells from high alpine lingonberry, Swiss apple and French carrot, plant sourced hyaluronic acid, various peptide blends specifically designed for the face, lips and eye area and is playing around with an exciting vegan marine algae peptide (stay tuned). One of her latest integrations brings a beautiful, grounding earth element to the line with the introduction of amber gemstone. This ever-present curiosity, rooted in botanical tradition, creates a truly unique blending process that showcases the exceptional qualities of the plants. When combined with over 20 years of formulating experience, the results are products that allow the skin to reach its optimal state.
For summer soltsice 2025 she is launching a collaborative project with renowned jewelry designer, Katherine Rosean LeGrand, to bring the harmonic energy of gemstones, essential oils and whole plant extracts together in GEM · FLOWER. A gorgeous product line harnessing the exquisite fusion of these supercharged ingredients, formulated under the light of powerful planetary transits.
Experience an unparalleled blending process and transcendent skin care
There are effective and powerful systems, as well as nuances in herbal blending, that one can only learn by studying in an herbal college and directly with a Master Herbalist. This specific knowledge differs from what is available on Google and self-teaching methods.
YOUR SKINCARE EXPERT
Herbalist, Julie Williams, raised in a rural, sea side community in Alaska, eventually settled in the Colorado Rockies. Her path to Leaf People, established in 2004, has been a beautiful journey of weaving native, restorative herbs with botanical science. Beginning in the early 1990’s with a deep immersion in Western Herbalism, she has dedicated decades to studying with indigenous Herbal Masters in diverse traditions across the globe.
Julie has been a practitioner of Buddhism, Buddhist medicine-making practices and other therapeutic modalities for close to 3 decades and her journey in herbal energetics continues to evolve. This holistic approach infuses her products with an essence of harmony and balance, reflecting the profound connection between us and the natural world.
AWAKEN BEAUTIFUL SKIN
Meet the Team
Julie Williams
Chief Leaf
Julie’s journey in herbal medicine began in her childhood in rural Alaska, where she was taught how to use plants for wilderness survival. This deep fascination continued through Julie’s adult life and extensive travels abroad, where she embarked on a three-year educational journey that spanned 17 countries on 5 continents. After returning to the US in 2001, Julie began her formal botanical studies, attending herbal medical school and practicing under Master Herbalists Lillian McCracken and Lynn Albers, as well as making annual trips to Bolivia to study with Indigenous Master Herbalists in the Amazon and Andes. During this same period, Julie met her Buddhist teacher, Lama Tsultrim Allione, and developed a dedicated Buddhist practice. She continues to integrate Buddhist medicine-making practices, as well as the cross-cultural herbal traditions she’s learned from, into the manufacturing of Leaf People Skin Care. She lives in Aspen, where she runs Leaf People.
Lindsey
Lab Leaf
Raised in northern Minnesota, Lindsey is an avid lover of lakes and blueberry picking. Having earned her degree in Geology, she appreciates our earth’s vast and the resiliency of its flora and fauna. She has spent many summers on wilderness canoe trips in the remote Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Wilderness (BWCAW) and feels confident she can survive any winter or mosquito swarm nature might throw at her. When she’s not bottling serum in the lab, Lindsey can likely be found on a trail with her best friends, Obie the red Labrador and Maple the border collie.
Tara
Aloha Leaf
Born and raised on the Big Island of Hawai’i surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty and immersed in a culturally diverse community, Tara was raised with an emphasis on treating others with kindness and Aloha, extending this same care to the natural environment. At Leaf People, working as lead photographer and videographer, Tara brings to life fun and creative video and photography content for social media , our YouTube channel and website. When not on the computer editing or behind the camera, you can find her on the beach, hiking and spending time outdoors.
Melanie
Leaf Wrangler
Growing up fishing, hiking and camping in Wyoming and Colorado, Melanie cultivated a love for the outdoors at an early age. After studying Horsemanship and Business at Central Wyoming College, she pursued a career in various positions within the corporate world, including a 10-year stint at REI. Melanie is excited to bring her unique skillset to Leaf People and to pursue her passion for clean and organic living. She manages our certification process, company outreach and social media. Melanie lives in Grand Junction with her high school sweetheart, where they enjoy backpacking, biking and foraging in the garden for fresh raspberries and gooseberries.
Cleo
Wordy Leaf
A native of the Roaring Fork Valley, Cleo is a freelance writer and editor with an interest in social justice and old-world traditions. She studied Comparative Literature and Creative Writing at NYU, working on farms in and around the city as a way to maintain a connection to nature. Through her time spent farming and traveling, she learned the importance of what we put in and on our bodies, as well as the cultural traditions they stem from. Cleo works on Leaf People’s editorial content and blog and regularly eats Julie’s vegetarian leftovers.
Miko
Leaf Lover
The official Leaf People mascot, Miko takes her jobs as chief box recycler and outdoor-break manager very seriously. A tummy-rub connoisseur and aspiring Instagram model, she manages the team’s morale and emotional well-being. She can be found scouting out arnica in the summer and snowbathing in winter.
