Beneath the surface of Jamaica’s wellness movement is a quietly growing skincare label that’s redefining what it means to be intentional, ethical, and locally made. Ansah by Birchwright, founded by Sandra Mullings, isn’t just another name in the natural beauty space — it’s a personal ritual, born from necessity and guided by principle.
Mullings, a trained herbalist with a certificate in plant medicine from Cornell University, began formulating skincare products not as a business strategy but as an act of self-healing. Confronted with hormonal acne in her 40s and dissatisfied with the pharmaceutical solutions offered to her, she turned inward — and then, to the earth.
Her first creation? A non-lathering, oatmeal-based powder cleanser, deliberately free of soap and surfactants. It wasn’t crafted in a lab, but in her kitchen, with every decision rooted in efficacy, sensitivity, and plant wisdom. What followed was a slow, organic evolution into a full product line, including a facial oil, a distilled face mist using Jamaican lemongrass and rosemary, and a rare gem: a Moroccan Beldi gel soap reimagined for the Caribbean climate.
Now based in Jamaica, Mullings operates out of a home studio and supplies small batches to a curated selection of retailers including Locale, Callaloo Butik, and the Jamaica Pegasus Gift Shop. While production remains intimate, the ambition is far from small. Her current focus: export readiness and regulatory compliance for the European Union — a market whose ingredient standards resonate with her ethical sourcing philosophy.
What sets Ansah by Birchwright apart isn’t just clean ingredients — it’s the uncompromising approach to sustainability. Mullings handpicks every raw material, opting for minimal processing and zero shortcuts. The result is a product line that appeals to a discerning customer — one who sees skincare as both a personal indulgence and a political act.
“I don’t cut corners,” she says plainly. “If I say it’s natural, it is. If I say it’s sustainable, it better be — not just for marketing, but because it matters.”
Her refusal to dilute that mission, even in the face of limited scalability, has carved out a niche with surprising staying power. The brand recently earned second place for Best New Exhibitor at the JMEA Expo and was honored with a community impact award from Young Women and Young Men of Purpose — quiet affirmations that purpose and profit are not mutually exclusive.
Mullings admits the products are premium-priced, but her reasoning is sharp: quality sourcing costs more, and conscious consumers aren’t just buying a jar — they’re buying values.
While others race to capture mass-market appeal, Ansah by Birchwright is playing a longer game. Mullings isn’t trying to be everything for everyone. She’s building a brand for the few who care deeply. That clarity is what makes her vision durable — and potentially global.
Jamaica may be her current base, but the roots of Ansah stretch far wider — grounded in ritual, refined by purpose, and poised for international bloom.
