Meet Cleo Davis-Urman, co-founder of BARRIÈRE

My focus changed at the beginning of the Pandemic in 2020 when, like most people, I became obsessed with self-protection. I searched for masks and discovered that the stylish ones were ineffective, and the medical masks were unsightly.  With my partner, Alexa Adams, who had a background in technical design and healthcare supply chain, we created a Barrière to provide products that are protective and pretty. Masks were our first product, but our pandemic project evolved into a broader self-care and wellness mission when we realized that our customers wanted their beauty arsenal to include protection against everyday threats to their well-being  – our popular sunhat that blocked harmful rays, our deet-free bug spray that repelled nasty insects but left the skin feeling smooth and hydrated – and they wanted these solutions to be safe, easy-to use, and yes, stylish.

 

I had a personal reason for developing the PATCH.

A standard blood panel revealed that I had dangerously low levels of Iron and B12 even though I had been taking oral supplements with those very ingredients from a trusted vitamin brand. To raise my levels, I was treated with an Iron transfusion and went to a hospital for weekly B12 injections, a process that was painful, time-consuming, and cost-prohibitive, so I was eager to find a different solution. My doctor explained that capsulized vitamins can lose as much as 90%+ efficacy in the digestive process and suggested a transdermal vitamin patch, which bypasses the digestive tract and can be more effective for absorption. But these medical vitamin patches were uncomfortable, inconvenient (because they couldn’t get wet), and irritated my skin. I searched for a patch that was safe, effective, lightweight, non-irritating, and better looking than the bulky medical ones I had to hide under my clothes, but it didn’t exist. If I wanted my dream patch, Barrière would have to create it, so that’s exactly what we did. 

We developed effective, multipurpose formulas using a blend of powerful, plant-powered ingredients that work for everyone, not just people with specific vitamin deficiencies. Our patches can fortify the body for travel, protect against medical threats, nourish the mind and body, or improve skin from within. Whatever the wellness goal, we have a patch for that!

 

If a product is hard to wear, difficult to incorporate into my lifestyle, or unattractive, I just won’t use it. With this in mind, we designed the PATCH to be a wearable work of art that goes on as easily as a band-aid and looks like a fashion accessory. A glint of gold on the arm, a touch of lace on the wrist, a bold astrological sign on the neck…our designs look beautiful on the skin while they transdermally deliver a powerful blend of vitamins, nutrients, and adaptogens.

 What makes Barrière so unique?

I would say there are 3 brand pillars we follow that really set us and our products apart. Convenience, self-expression, science backed.

Life is complicated enough – taking care of yourself shouldn’t be. The exciting thing about our patches is that they really empower people to get the support they need whenever, wherever. One patch a day is all you need; however you can safely combine one patch from each of our different formulas at a time. Patches can be applied at any time of day, and the ingredients are delivered over an 8–12-hour period, so you don’t experience negative side effects, like nausea, that may come with oral supplements. The patches are water-resistant and extremely comfortable, lightweight, and travel-friendly, so you can really go about your routine without compromise.

 

Self-expression is an unexplored frontier in the wellness space. We curate every aspect of our appearance. Why not apply that same standard to products that enhance our health and well-being? We see great synergy between feeling good and looking good and our patches are like wearable works of art that we hope people look forward to putting on every day and that help spark conversations around health & wellness.

 

Our patches reference the German Monograph, which is a government-sponsored compendium used to evaluate the safety and efficacy of over 300 herbs and herb combinations. All our ingredients are researched for effectiveness, and we link to clinical studies on our website to keep our community educated on why we choose particular ingredients. Since the United States regulates dietary supplements differently than other parts of the world, and no vitamins or supplements of any kind require FDA approval, we opted to produce our patches in a U.K. facility that is registered with the M.H.R.A. and is ISO 9001 certified. We also use third-party testing partners to ensure what is in every patch matches our dosage.

Less than 10 percent of the vitamins in tablets or capsules are absorbed by the body. Although we know that vitamins keep us healthy and strong, it can be confusing to know which type of vitamin supplements offer the best absorption, and ensure your body is getting enough of the nutrients it needs to function properly. Many different types of supplemental vitamins are available today, and while traditional multivitamins in capsule or tablet forms are most common, when it comes to maximizing vitamin absorption, they may not always be the best choice. Designed to deliver the vitamins and nutrients you need; our patches are a modern solution for daily wellness.  Each patch delivers vitamins transdermal through the skin and directly into the bloodstream for increased absorption compared to pills. The sustained release of ingredients takes place over 8-12 hours, and each patch can offer instant benefits and results.

Each of the patch formulas has made a difference in my life. I used to be deficient in Iron, B12 but I am happy to report that I have been able to maintain healthy levels of Iron and B12 ever since I started using our Brains & Beauty patch daily. During the colder months I rely on our Daily Defense patch to keep from getting sick and our Hello Sunshine D3 patch to maintain healthy levels of vitamin D which helps with my seasonal depression. I will never get on another airplane without wearing the Travel Well patch, which keeps me calm and prevents my feet and ankles from swelling (it's formulated with Horse Chestnut Seed Extract which is the equivalent of wearing level 2 compression socks). My recent obsession is Energy Boost which increases and sustains my energy levels naturally with B12.

Believe it or not before barriere I struggled with building and maintaining a health and wellness routine. Thanks to our patches it is so easy to get all of the vitamins and supplements I need to feel my best and because I am no longer deficient in Iron, B12 and D3 I find that I have the energy and stamina required to take better care of my body and mind. I start each day with a workout and rotate between pilates, strength training and cardio. When the weather permits, I like to be in nature and enjoy taking long walks outside and during the summer I start every morning with a walk on the beach and swim in the ocean. I don’t meditate in the traditional sense but I try to spend a few minutes every day sitting in silence without any distractions or devices and  I like to read a few pages of The Daily Stoic and reflect on the day before I go to sleep.



What's the first thing you do in the morning and the last thing before going to bed?

AM: Brush my teeth

PM: Read

 

When I am surrounded by loved ones.

Progress, not perfection.

 

"You will come across obstacles in life—fair and unfair. And you will discover, time and time again, that what matters most is not what these obstacles are but how we see them, how we react to them, and whether we keep our composure.”