This article is part of a series profiling original product ventures by Creators.
Sommer Ray considers herself an entrepreneur first. With 24.6 million followers on Instagram, she’s built a brand based on her passion for music and fitness. Now, as co-founder and chief innovation officer of the ingestibles company Imaraïs Beauty (pronounced “em-a-raise”) Sommer’s entrepreneurial hustle is paying off. The brand is available in-stores around the world including recent launches in 700+ The Vitamin Shoppe locations in the U.S., 150 doors for Boots in the U.K. and stores like GMG and Supercare in Dubai.
Creator and entrepreneur Sommer Ray's Imarais Beauty ingestibles can be found in stores around the ... [+]
Partnered with co-founder and CEO Aaron Hefter, a longtime formulator and founder in the nutrition space, Imaraïs Beauty has invested heavily in ensuring all products are clean and clinically-tested. They’ve even worked with Peta to certify the items as vegan and cruelty-free.
“I’m a big believer that what you put into your body reflects on the outside,” says Ray. The product retails for $24.99 USD for a package of 30 ingestibles. There are now seven total SKUs available with “Glow” for skin hydration serving as the brand’s hero product and top seller.
Sommer gets most excited about product development. Ingestibles are still a newer category with varying regulations and processes in the United States but in Canada, where the product is manufactured, there are more stringent rules in place.
“It’s one thing to say your product can do something, it’s another to back that with clinical approval,” says Hefter, who’s based in Toronto. Imaraïs can now confidently say “Glow” is clinically-proven to improve skin hydration up to 18%.
In April 2024, Imarais Beauty added three new SKUs as part of its launch in The Vitamin Shoppe ... [+]
Unlike most creator original product ventures, Imaraïs’ primary objective is retail distribution. However, the product is available online and discoverable through Sommer’s social accounts. The company also plans to focus more marketing efforts on Amazon
Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer Sommer Ray started in fitness and music but now runs Imarais ... [+]
“Instagram will always be my bread and butter, and I think it’s definitely huge for creating brand trust,” expounds Ray. “I will always always always love Snapchat, I can connect with my fans so personally and I share every aspect of my life on there, which really gives an unfiltered, organic look into who I am.”
As part of April’s debut in The Vitamin Shoppe, Imaraïs unveiled three new products: Youth, Balance and Sutra. Sutra is Imaraïs’ first sexual wellness product for women. Sommer says buyers seem to be curious and she’s waiting to get feedback after the first month or so.
Sommer and the brand plan to do a global retail tour throughout the remainder of the year. “I’m really excited about being able to educate people about targeting beauty from within and empowering people on their wellness journeys.”
