26 APRIL 2025 By Rachael Bouley Nearly 30 years after Queen Creek Olive Mill opened, the family behind homegrown extra virgin olive oil has opened a new brick- and-mortar shop just outside Arcadia – but this business doesn’t focus on food products; it’s all about skincare. The new storefront, located at 2701 N. 24th St., celebrated its grand opening earlier this year after starting renovations in the summer of 2023. “We could move 100 percent of our production from Queen Creek to Phoenix,” Founder Brenda Rea said. “Our production, warehouse, office, and online business are all in the same building. We wanted to move into a larger space dedicated to Olivespa and be closer to home.” This physical space makes it easier for customers to experience Olivespa firsthand while receiving personalized skincare recommendations. “Our goal is to provide all-natural, high-quality products made from simple, wholesome ingredients, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and wellness,” Rea said. The products are handcrafted in small batches and use unrefined, fair trade, cruelty-free, and raw ingredients. The brand’s vision revolves around promoting self-care through clean beauty products that nourish without harmful chemicals, using ingredients like olive oil, essential oils, and botanicals. This has become a lifelong passion for Rea, who moved from Michigan to Arizona in 1997 with her husband, Perry, and four young kids. “With Perry’s Italian background, olive oil was a staple ingredient in his family’s pantry, but it came from Italy, and we wondered why nobody was growing olive trees and making oil here,” Rea said. They found the Valley of the Sun had the perfect c l i m a t e a n d environment for making extra virgin olive oil, and their original 1,000 olive trees were planted on 100 acres. Fast forward to today, and the Queen Creek farm has over 11,000 trees with 16 different varieties. “Once we were in business, it was an easy next step to move into olive oil for skincare, something that has been done for centuries,” Rea said. “I began making all-natural olive oil-based products for family and friends in my kitchen.” Soon, they were selling a few items at the Mill. Over time, the line expanded as customers sought more all-natural skincare products, and Olivespa was born. The product lineup includes facial oils, cleansers, toners, body butter, lotions, soaps, lip balms, aromatherapy, essential oils, bath salts, and more. They even have men and baby lines, beauty tools, jewelry, and a new all-natural perfume. “We start with a high polyphenol extra virgin olive oil – that is oil from olives that are harvested early and therefore have a higher content of antioxidant and anti- inflammatory properties – and all-natural ingredients such as shea butter, oil, beeswax and others,” Rea said. “Olivespa uses the highest quality of these ingredients and uses organic when possible. We hope to inspire more people to embrace natural, healthy skincare and help them understand its important role in their general health.” Looking to the future, Rea wants to see Olivespa continue to grow, innovate, and engage with the community. olivespa.com Olivespa brings all-natural skincare to Arcadia The new Olivespa offers a wide range of curated skincare sets and self-care bundles. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRENDA REA Brenda Rea Religious Instruction • Strong Academics • Cutting Edge Technology • Service Learning Leadership Programs • PE and Interscholastic Sports • Instrumental and Vocal Music “Arts Attack” Program • School Nurse • Bus Transportation Available 3901 East Indian School Road • 602-957-7010 • www.clsphx.org CHRIST LUTHERAN SCHOOL Christian Values. Quality Education. Preschool through Grade 8

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