With beauty industry buzzwords like “organic,” “all-natural” and “paraben-free” appearing all over today’s health and beauty marketplace, how do you know who to trust? It doesn’t take long before you find yourself standing in the cosmetic aisle with five different products in hand, all claiming to be the best all-natural product out there. Thankfully for us Atlanta ladies, Poncey-Highland’s Fig & Flower is a trusted go-to source for eco-beauty products that truly are natural and good for the skin. Founded by Sara Lamond in 2014, Fig & Flower is Atlanta’s first all-natural beauty store. Now a blossoming boutique with a growing online presence, Fig & Flower stocks some of the natural beauty industry’s most sought-after products by well-trusted brands.
Filled wall-to-wall with beautifully packaged products, Fig & Flower is like a beauty lover’s candy store. Makeup by 100 Percent Pure and RMS Beauty line the center of the shop, while the outer walls contain everything from skin care regimens to men’s beard oil and kids’ sunscreen. Sara, who wanted to create more than just a beauty shop, says, “We specialize in all-natural, nontoxic beauty and personal care products, but I wanted to create a one-stop shop, so in addition to makeup and skin care, we also have home cleaning supplies, gifts, mom and baby, and men’s. You name it! We even have bamboo toothbrushes and all-natural toothpaste.”
Ironically, Sara doesn’t have the health and beauty background that one might expect, which is part of what makes her so appealing as the face behind Fig & Flower. With a professional background in law, Sara took interest in health and wellness after joining a Crossfit gym. But after pursuing her law career, she determined that law wasn’t as fulfilling as she had hoped it would be. “Either I was bored to tears or beyond stressed,” she says. “The legal world is so contentious. It’s all about winners and losers. When I started law school, I thought I’d find that sort of challenge invigorating. But then I underwent some personal transitions, including meeting my husband, which led me to re-evaluate the kind of life I wanted to lead.” After making the decision to leave the world of law, friend and then-business partner Blair Wagoner expressed an idea to open an all-natural beauty store in Atlanta.
As business partners, Blair then helped Sara learn the ins and outs of beauty labels and ingredients, as well as what to avoid. Sara jokes, “Between Blair and my law school training to research, research and then research some more, I’ve learned more than anyone could ever want to know about natural products. I feel like I’m in a unique position to help others understand natural living though because I don’t come from that background. I’m just an average person who took an interest in it and did the research. So now I get to help people without coming off too technical or judgy.” Even though Blair has since moved on to pursue a career in diabetes prevention on the West Coast, Sara assures that Blair still comes to visit the shop when she’s in town.
Sara is the reason Fig & Flower is so special. Her bubbly personality and honest advice make her the quintessential employee for her shop. Her love for the products she offers is evident, from the words she speaks about them to the excitement she has for helping each customer find exactly what they’re looking for. Her passion is crystal clear. She says, “I get to help people feel good about themselves. Whether they find a routine that decreases their acne to a point they never thought possible, or they purchase an all-natural diaper balm for their newborn, or even if they just find a lipstick that makes them feel totally boss when they wear it, people generally leave Fig & Flower feeling good about themselves and their choices. Sometimes I get a thank you email from a satisfied customer, and the fact that someone would have such a positive experience that they felt compelled to write and thank me is just more than I ever could have hoped for when we started.”
Not only does Fig & Flower specialize in green beauty, but they also have recently launched services ranging from makeup bag cleanouts, where Sara walks you through exactly what products you should keep or discard, to wedding makeup application. “Our staff, comprised fully of makeup artists, is knowledgeable and enjoys helping customers embrace their own natural beauty. If you’re the kind of woman who embraces natural beauty year-round, then why not on one of the most special days of your life?” Plus, Fig & Flower is always in search of the best new products to add to the shelves. “Without naming names, before the end of the year, I hope to add two new brands: one skin care and one makeup. As with all of our makeup lines, we will be the only store in Atlanta to carry it. We’re pretty excited about it!” She adds, “And you can generally leave Fig & Flower spending less than you ever would at a department store. Natural beauty is more accessible than ever and totally worth the switch!”
Sara describes Fig & Flower as “your cool big sister,” which could not be more accurate. “She might know a little more than you about some things, but takes so much pride in sharing the knowledge and watching you grow!” That’s exactly the feeling that I get each and every time I explore Fig & Flower. And since I don’t have a big sister of my own to tell me all about the best in natural beauty, I’m content letting Fig & Flower fill that role.
Fig and Flower is located at 636 N. Highland Ave. in Atlanta. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Learn more at shopfigandflower.com.
