Meet Danielle Gartner | Owner, Baker Street Skin Care

We had the good fortune of connecting with Danielle Gartner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Danielle, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
About 8 years ago I discovered that I had a chemical sensitivity.

I started randomly breaking out in rashes on my forehead and scalp. It was painful and totally embarrassing. I had no idea what was going on until I noticed a pattern. My skin would start to get bad on a Monday and get AWFUL by Friday; I realized I was doing this to myself every morning that I got ready for work and left the house.

I wanted to get to the bottom of it, so I went home and pulled out all of the products I had used that week and I set them on the counter and turned them around. I started reading all of the ingredients and googling each one individually. What I found was pretty horrifying. Each one of my products contained toxic chemicals, and A LOT of them. There were endocrine disrupters, migraine triggers, skin sensitizers, and even carcinogens. They were in everything; my toothpaste, my shampoo, my concealer, my lotions, you name it!

I honestly couldn’t believe that these chemicals existed let alone were so widely used! It was also a rude awakening to realize that I was exposing myself and my daughter to these toxic chemicals every single day. I knew I couldn’t keep operating under the status quo, So I tried finding “natural” alternatives to my normal products, and what I found was that none of them worked like I wanted, or smelled how I hoped. It was all pretty disappointing. I knew there had to be a better way.

After this. I began researching the different chemicals used in the cosmetic industry and their safe alternatives. Pretty soon I was making my own products to enjoy at home, and my skin looked so much better. So I set out to develop a skin-care line that would be safe enough for my own skin, but not make me feel like I was missing out on my favorite little luxuries. And that is how Baker Street Skin Care was born!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Baker Street is my passion project and my baby, but I also split my time with my “day” job!

My background is in Research Regulation and Human Subject protection. I started my career at the University of Arizona over a decade ago working for the Institutional Review Board (IRB). The IRB is responsible for ensuring that research carried out at the University is done so ethically and in compliance with State and Federal regulations.

It’s funny because regulatory compliance really was not a path I would have chosen for myself if you had shown me a list of options! But I really became so fascinated by the laws and regulations that exist to keep humans safe in research. It all so beautifully intersected with my own beliefs about public health and justice – so almost immediately I was hooked.

The last 13 years I have had the privilege of overseeing various research labs, I’ve worked with the FDA, I’ve become a published author, I’ve written millions of dollars worth of research grants, and I’ve traveled the world learning about groundbreaking research being conducted to help make this world a safer and better place to live in. I’ve had an amazing career, but that doesn’t mean that there haven’t been speed bumps along the way.

The scientific process can be long and cumbersome, and sometimes you pour your heart into a research project for years only to find that funding has dried up or your outcomes weren’t what you were expecting. But the beauty of research is that we learn even in failure. Some of the greatest lessons I’ve learned were born out of “failed” outcomes. You really have to be resilient when working in this field and to keep moving forward even when the path isn’t 100% clear. I think this has served me well with starting Baker Street,

My background in Research Regulation and my passion for safer products naturally intersect in the realm of Chemical Regulation, and I hope to have a lasting positive impact in this space one day!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Tucson is honestly one of the most beautiful and eclectic cities. We are surrounded by so much natural beauty every single day that it can be easy to forget we basically live in a post card! Here are a few of my favorite things to check out in Tucson:

– Sabino Canyon is a MUST see stop. It showcases the Sonoran Desert’s unique landscape, steep rock clicks, and breathtaking waterfalls. There is a guided tram that takes you deep into the canyon and you can get off at any of the stops to hike, picnic, or just sight see. (My favorite is Stop #6, with running water and picnic benches).
-My family loves to drive around Redington Pass on the East side of town. The views are spectacular and you are guaranteed to come across some of the wildlife that inhabits the region. We regularly see Coyotes and Quail. It’s a great way to get out of your head for a day and stare at some trees!
-After your long day of sightseeing there are SO many amazing restaurants at your disposal its no wonder Tucson has been named a Gastronomy City. Some of my favorites include
EAST SIDE: Renee’s Tucson (thoughtfully curated menu with local produce and meat and some of the best pasta/pizza in the city), Zio Pepe (love their southwest twist on traditional Italian dishes), Divine Bovine (some of the freshest and juiciest burgers you’ll ever get, get the gravy with your fries!)
CENTRAL: Tito & Pep (eat here once and you’ll understand why it just named top 50 restaurants by the NY Times), Ermanos (don’t let “Bar” fool you, this is a top notch kitchen, We’ve never had a bad dish here!).

-One of my favorite things to do when visitors come to town is to take them to the University of Arizona. It’s such a beautiful campus and there are tons of walking paths, and places to sit and people watch. Then you can walk to University Blvd and enjoy a slice and a pint at Frog and Firkin or No Anchovies.
-Keep walking from University (or hop on the street car) until you hit 4th Avenue. With eclectic and one of a kind shops, locally made gifts, locally owned restaurants and bars, and so much more. It’s such a perfect cross section of all things Tucson!
-We regularly have staycations at the JW Marriott at Starr Pass and at the Westin La Paloma. Starr Pass has a lazy river and La Paloma has a swim up bar and slide. Both have spectacular views of Tucson, you will NOT be disappointed.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to thank my husband, Matt, for being my #1 supporter and best friend. And to my daughter, Layla, who is always willing to jump in and help me with markets and testing products. I wouldn’t be here without either of you!

Website: www.bakerstreetskincare.com

Instagram: @bakerstreetskincare

Image Credits
Product photos taken by Victoria Ramirez-Hamilton