- The Mountain Eagle

Former Models Getting Back to Their Roots With Natural Products

By Liz Page

STAMFORD – You might ask what two New York City models are doing in Stamford, NY, away from the lights and glamour. They are actually getting back to their roots, to see the stars out at night and live in a place that makes your heart happy. It is the impetus that brought this pair of friends to "step out on a limb", so to speak, along with a third friend, Astrid De Prossino-Lois, and open a brick and mortar business.

They worked into the wee hours of the morning to have their new store ready to open, a week before Black Friday.

Maison Baby le Bébé is something you should definitely check out. Located in the former Reynard Insurance office at 94 Main St., it is an experience they are willing to share. They are: Remy Holwick and Tara Nordbrock, both former models, who developed a friendship five years ago, while they were both living and working in NYC.

The first product Holwick made from all local ingredients is the reason Nordbrock moved here five years ago. Other brands do not compare to the products being made here in Stamford, Nordbrock said.

An international skin care model, her face was used to promote other skin care products over the years, but most contained hidden ingredients, some of them harmful. Not so, with Baby, you can read all the ingredients on the label and recognize them. There is nothing harmful or funky added. What is on the label is what's inside, but the incredible part is, you have to try them to become an instant believer.

Holwick gave some of the silking balm to Nordbrock to try and Nordbrock shared it with her modeling friends. Nordbrock said as soon as they tried it, they all wanted more of it. Holwick made extra and began selling some on Instagram. She gave it a name and designed the logo, a Dalmation dog. It comes from an inside joke. Holwick has a Dalmatian dog named Baby, who was raised in a French-speaking household. Baby in French is le Bébé. They kept it as part of the brand, because Baby was part of the transition Holwick was making back to her roots. Baby's companion sister is another Dalmation named LouLou.

Holwick has perfected the formulas. She grew up in Hawaii, far from where the tourists visit, in the rural parts of the Island. It took her an hour to ride the bus to school. She grew up using natural products, making her own everything, just like her mother, from things grown naturally or in the family garden. She is using that knowledge to create her skin care products.

She found Stamford through friends who own a home in Bovina and she has been coming to the area for 10 years. She moved here with her son, during the pandemic. She finds the people here very accepting and her son had no trouble making friends, unlike some other areas where they have lived.

Nordblock agrees. "Everyone here embraces everyone for what they are. I moved here to be with Remy. This product is a big reason I moved up here."

Nordbrock also has rural roots and is from a small town in Nebraska. She too was looking to get away from the maddening crowds and was headed back to her home state until she tried Remy's balm. She gets very animated in talking about the products and how before she got out of modeling that she was selling things she didn't wholeheartedly believe in. "My whole thing was to give back and to protect the earth."

Both women believe in using things that are safe for the waterways and for the top of the ground. They are ditching the beauty regimens that require cabinets full of products, to use what is natural. "People are now becoming much more aware of the things they are getting off the grocery store shelves."

Most skin care regimens are used to repair something and the more you use them, the more other problems evolve, said Holwick. With the natural products, there is nothing to fix and no contaminants.

"We encourage people to come in and try it out.” There are samples and they will open anything for you to try out. “We believe you will find something specific to you that you are going to enjoy using," said Holwick. The shop is filled with organic beauty. Everything is natural.

But that's not all. There are bulk spices and teas. Anything you don't want to drive to Albany to get, said Norbrock. There are shampoos, jewelry, bath and shower products, wound care, cold and flu care, sleep remedies, inspirational items, greeting cards, jewelry, hand bags and other items. They sell other brands as well to provide choice.

There is music playing for testing and free hot cider for the season. They have themed gift baskets all ready to grab and go, or you can slow down, take a moment and try some of the products or browse a bit.

Now is the perfect time to take a look and be a bit surprised by what you find with two former beauty models who can rattle off natural, organically grown ingredients and their benefits, faster than you can blink. They also know all about those beauty routines, because they were involved with them for many years, so they are able to provide some helpful tips.

If you would like to view their products, you will find them at www.babylebebe.com.

Another part of returning to their roots is being a part of the community. Holwick said it has been incredible to watch people have a vision for a community and she wants to be a part of what was already here. "I didn't want to bring the city here and I wanted to figure out how I could contribute to the community. I didn't grow up here, but I love the culture here,” she said. Nordbrock recently signed up as a volunteer with the Stamford Fire Department.

Baby le Be´be´is open Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m.

Friends Tara Nordbrock (left) and Remy Holwick recently opened Baby le Be´be´at 94 Main St. in Stamford. Both former models are promoting skin care products from locally grown, natural ingredients.

There is a variety of items to try at Baby le Bébé in addition to other products, such as bulk spices and teas, well care, jewelry, greeting cards and more at the new store at 94 Main St. in Stamford.