as the founder of thomas grove skin, jennifer brings the same thoughtfulness to skincare that she does to raising her twin girls: intentional, uncomplicated and rooted in care. we spent the morning with jennifer as she shared her perspective on motherhood, self-care and the everyday routines that make this season meaningful.
tell us a bit about yourself. where are you based, your beautiful family and inspiring career.
i’m based in southern california where i live with my husband and our twin daughters, madeline mary and hunter ruby. i’m the founder of thomas grove skin, a skincare brand inspired by the natural world, quality ingredients, and simplicity. motherhood and entrepreneurship go hand in hand for me, both have taught me the value of slowing down and being present.
what inspired you to create thomas grove skin and how did your own experience as a mother shape the way you approached building the brand?
i grew up in carmel along the california coast, surrounded by nature, and that early connection to the natural elements shaped how i think about beauty. i wanted to create products that felt beautiful, yet were clean and organic and rooted in quality rather than excess. building the brand alongside raising my children has been a constant reminder that the most meaningful things are often the simplest, and that caring for ourselves allows us to show up more fully for the people we love.
running a brand while raising twins is no small feat. how has motherhood influenced your perspective on work balance and the kind of company you hope to build?
raising twins has taught me that life is full of surprises and balance isn’t about doing everything all at once. it’s about being fully present where you are. i deeply value the flexibility of owning my own business, which allows me to be present for my children while continuing to build something meaningful. everything we create is clean/organic, which is incredibly important to me. i’m intentional about nourishing my body through both the food i eat and the products we create, and that philosophy is woven into everything we make. it’s my hope that this commitment resonates with future generations and reflects the deeper “why” behind the brand.
skincare is often rooted in ritual and care. are there any daily practices or small routines that feel especially grounding for you amid the busyness of family life?
i’m a taurus (ha!) so staying grounded through rituals and routines is very much in my nature. i try to wake up before my daughters to have a little time to myself, and starting my day with warm water and lemon is a simple ritual that centers me.
baths are also a big part of my routine. i’m a potions person and love adding nourishing elements to my baths. we recently launched a body oil which i’ve been working on for a long time, and i can’t step out of the bath or shower without using it. it’s deeply hydrating without feeling greasy. it has a beautiful light scent, and is incredibly warming.
you’ve been a longtime minnow fan. what pieces or collections have been favorites over the years?
i’ve loved minnow since the very beginning, i always loved popping into the balboa island showroom. i admittedly was collecting pieces before i was even pregnant. it’s hard to pick a favorite, but the collaboration with brock collection was really special. it was so fun to see two friends collaborate on such a beautiful collection. we buy a lot of the minnow clothing too, all of the clothes are staples for us, my girls always travel in the knits.
do you have a favorite memory of your family wearing minnow together?
a few years ago, we spent christmas on harbor island, and the girls were in minnow most of the trip. those cute moments are etched in my mind. they’re very close with their cousins, and my sister-in-law casey and i have always enjoyed picking out matching sets for them all.
we’re heading to tahoe in february, and i’m already looking forward to pulling a few pieces from the ski capsule! minnow always has a way of naturally becoming part of our trips.
in the spirit of valentine’s day…
what does love look like in your household right now with young children?
love in our household right now is found in consistency. it’s in showing up each day, keeping routines steady, and creating a sense of safety and ease for our children. with young kids, love feels practical and lived-in, patient, reassuring, and lots of giggles.
are there any simple traditions you’ve created as a family around valentine’s day or moments of togetherness?
valentine’s day has always felt meaningful to me because my mom always made the day feel special when i was growing up, usually with a simple breakfast that included something red. that tradition stuck with me.
i’ve always viewed valentine’s day as a time to celebrate love beyond just romance — focusing on close friendships, my mom, and now my daughters. keeping it simple feels important. we’ll do a small valentine’s breakfast together, and i like to surprise the girls with something cozy like pajamas or socks. it’s less about the holiday itself and more about creating small moments of joy.
if you could bottle one feeling you hope your children carry with them from these early years what would it be?
if i could bottle one feeling for my children, it would be a sense of ease. the freedom to simply be children without feeling rushed or stressed. i hope these early years feel safe and full of warmth, so they carry with them how deeply they are loved and supported as they grow.
what’s one small everyday moment that makes you pause and feel grateful for this season of life?
making breakfast for my girls always makes me pause and feel grateful. there’s usually a little spill, a few very specific requests, and lots of giggles as the morning unfolds. it’s such a simple routine, but starting the day together in that way feels grounding and reminds me how special, and fleeting this season of life really is.