Amid the lush landscape of the Queens Botanical Garden, which was blanketed by a setting sun on July 20, new baby skin and haircare brand Vivvi & Bloom, a Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health brand, celebrated its debut with its initial product launch party.

 

“Vivvi” stems from the words “vivid” and “vibrant,” which occur after a seedling blooms into a flower. 

 

“The whole purpose of this brand is essentially helping babies as they’re growing up,” explained Denise Bion, senior scientist at the Johnson & Johnson Baby Research and Development Group, who was instrumental in making the products. 

 

Bion helped formulate the products with input from more than 200 parents, a part of a community called “The Village” who gave their input about what they wanted and didn't want in the product and to meet babies’ and toddlers’ evolving needs. R&D performed more than 20 scientific studies and product tests, she said.

 

“We have this amazing community with us tonight. This brand is essentially grounded in that very idea of community in the center,” she said. “It’s been amazing to see Vivvi & Bloom grow from the ground-up. “Based on this feedback, we extrapolated key points that parents had said they seek most in their baby care products. The first one is simple. We have those naturally-derived gentle formulas where every ingredient has a specific purpose. It’s also proven. We ran all those clinical studies to showcase the safety and effectiveness of the products.”

The products—pediatrician and dermatologist-tested—are all formulated without sulfates, parabens, phthalates, gluten, dyes, phenoxyethanol, silicones and essential oils with a 96% natural origin formula with responsibly-sourced shea butter. 

 

The 2-in-1 Wash & Shampoo Cleansing Gel is a tear-free formula clinically-tested on sensitive skin. Gently cleansing without drying, the product leaves baby’s skin feeling healthy and moisturized while leaving behind a soft scent with notes of floral and coconut. The gel emits a stronger scent in the bottle, but a lighter fragrance when lathering. The 2-in-1 hair and body wash was created as a streamlined product to make bath time a pleasurable, but brief and easy bonding experience between parent and child. 

 

The hypoallergenic and pH-balanced 2-in-1 Face and Body Whip Lotion goes on ultra-smooth, while leaving baby’s developing skin hydrated for 48 hours with the goal of preventing dryness. 

 

The 2-in-1 Scalp and Body Massage Oil formulated with sunflower oil gently can be gently massaged onto baby’s skin post-bath onto damp skin. While bathing, the product can be gently worked into the scalp before shampoo to treat dry flakes. 

All Vivvi & Bloom products are Environmental Working Group (EWG) certified. EWG’s healthy living science analyst Emily Spilman was also in attendance at the garden party launch. 

 

Matching the brand’s purposeful ingredients are its packaging, which is made using post-consumer recycled plastic. 

 

Vivvi & Bloom has also partnered with the nonprofit organization Newborns in Need. The 30-year-old volunteer-run organization provides for the needs of sick and impoverished babies and their families and to provide resources for those in an economic crisis. The group assembles Newborns Immediate Needs Kits, which contain basic items for a baby’s comfort and health and are distributed to young mothers, foster families, hospitals or social service agencies. Onesies were collected at the launch party for its Sleepers in September initiative. The warm onesies, in lieu of heavy blankets, can help prevent the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) which is caused from overheating. Newborns in Need President and Executive Director Connie Edwards was also in attendance. 

 

“What makes Newborns in Need so special is it was chosen by our village,” said Bion during her opening remarks. “It’s these insights and continued partnership with the village that helped cocreate this entire brand.”

 

Cameca Johnson, a mother of two and Queens resident, was part of the diverse village of parents who offered input into the products’ making. 

 

“Normally, when you to go the store and you’re looking on the shelves for things for your baby, you’re used to seeing a product from an idea that someone had or a company brought up and you might use it, you might like it,” explained Johnson. “But what’s different about this brand is that it started from the other way around—from the feedback, our experiences, our concerns, from the things we didn’t want, to things we wanted. Now that’s what they’ve put in the bottle and put the formula together. It’s been great so far using it for myself and my daughter.”

 

Vivvi & Bloom launched earlier this month and is currently available on Amazon, Walmart, buybuy Baby, HEB, Meijer, Rite Aid, Wegmans and its official website (VivviandBloom.com) for the retail price of $9.98 each.