Launching Intoxicated!

Through blood, sweat and tears, and with so much pride and pleasure, I am announcing the launch of my company, Intoxicated Cosmetics.

Intoxicated Cosmetics is a custom formulated anti-aging skin care range that uses synthetic variations of ectothermic animal venom as well as plant-based stem cells and a handful of other biomimetic peptides and natural ingredients to essentially bridge the gap between anti-aging injectable solutions and
serums. Intoxicated is also the only venom-based skin care company in the entire world.

I started working on Intoxicated in 2014. I was incredibly stressed out and my skin was starting to show it. During that time I was living in NYC and working in Advertising, a field that I had no real passion for. I remember walking into Sephora in Union Square and telling one of the associates there that I was looking for an effective anti-aging serum, stating that I didn't care how much it cost, but I just needed it to work. When the answer I got back was "Botox", I knew there had to be another way.

I stumbled upon bee venom through my research, which contains countless antimicrobial properties, great for treating acne, and the venom even slightly mimics the effects of Botox by inhibiting muscle contractions and reproducing collagen and elastin in your skin. Being the product junkie that I have always been, I was intrigued. It got me thinking – if this is just bee venom, what other venoms are out there? Can they also be applicable to skin care?

I spent hours and days teaching myself about chemical compounds, peptides, & reading through lab analysis, seeing words that I hadn't heard since chemistry class in high school (In which I struggled to get a B-). Lost in content but eager to learn, things finally started to click. Writing things down and connecting the dots, I started to be able to talk about chemical compounds, and why certain chemicals reacted with others.

Subsequently, I moved back to Boston & took the time to go back to school to become an Aesthetician to understand skin care even further. After graduating and getting licensed, I applied for a job at a medical spa. Being there only 3 years I was promoted 3 times. I day dreamed, renamed my company over 40 times, wrote down content for things that I knew one day I would need. With the help of mentors, I created a business plan, hundreds of pages of notes and ultimately sacrificed relationships and friendships that I knew weren't in line with where I wanted to go or who I wanted to be. And then I had my “fuck it, I’m doing this” moment, and I did.

I am so thankful for all of the support from my family and friends who believed in me, even when they couldn't see what I saw. But, I am even more thankful for all of the people who didn't believe in me, because they helped push me to be the person I am today. The past 6 years has taught me a lot about myself, and I am so proud of where my hard work has gotten me.

- A message from CEO + Founder, Rachel Sommers