Bigfork skincare company offers Montana's 'good stuff'

The Good Stuff Botanicals focuses on all things simple, and this includes the grassroots operation behind its renowned skincare products.

“We make everything ourselves,” said MJ Johnson, who runs the business alongside his wife, Maranda and their two young children. “We converted a whole half of our house into a production facility.”

As basic as this set-up may seem, their homemade concoctions have gained a major following and national acclaim. Products like their gypsy cream—made of hemp seed oil, aloe vera, shea butter and Montana hot springs mineral water—are shipped nationwide. Natural Grocers recently started stocking the cream in its Montana stores, with the hopes of potentially expanding into its 156 locations across the country.

“It doesn’t mean that much yet,” Johnson said. “But in a few years, we may be looking for a new facility.”

Some of the most influential platforms in beauty, health and entertainment have also lauded the Bigfork business’ special creations. After being featured in magazines such as Vogue, Allure and Rachel Ray Every Day, The Good Stuff Botanicals will soon be included in Rolling Stone’s Holiday Must Haves list.

“It’s very validating for what we’re doing” said Johnson, whose cosmetic background is as modest as the operation he runs with his family. His experience lies primarily in sales, while Maranda previously worked in marketing. The company “started in a blender in our kitchen” six years ago, Johnson said.

The pair developed their approach to skincare and wellness “by standing on the shoulders of giants,” doing extensive research and going through a lot of trial and error. “

It’s all born out of our lifestyle” and a desire to use natural resources to treat conditions” like his own psoriasis, he explained.

“Our company comes from a different point of view … a holistic skincare routine,” Johnson said. As evidence of their commitment to this “natural” lifestyle, the Johnson family collects many of their ingredients — like hot spring mineral water and arnica flowers — by hand from the mountains around the Flathead Valley.

As their business and its reputation grow, the Johnsons continue to mix these local ingredients with unique substances sourced from all over the world, such as Dead Sea salt, to develop new face and body products. They recently debuted an aftershave that utilizes witch hazel instead of alcohol to avoid the stinging feel of traditional aftershaves, as well as a line of pumpkin-based products for the fall season.

“We hope to eventually have one for every season, even though Montana only has two seasons,” Johnson said with a laugh. Now that their youngest child has entered kindergarten, Johnson said they have a little more time to get creative and come up with new inventions.

With these expanded offerings, they also hope to broaden their reach, particularly when it comes to the products they donate to the community and across the country. Their creams are currently used in the neonatal intensive care unit at Kalispell Regional Medical Center and nursing homes around the valley.

Johnson said they donate to these organizations and plan to increase their contributions because, “We just want to help people in a different way.”

The Good Stuff Botanicals’ products can be found at stores around the valley including Sykes, Sage & Cedar and Rosauers, and online at www.thegoodstuffbotanicals.com.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at bserbin@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.