Meet Vellum Street

Founded in 2015 by chef and sustainability advocate Melissa Lynn Torre, Vellum Street was born from a simple question: if we carefully consider what we put in our bodies, why shouldn't we be just as mindful about what we put on our skin?

After spending decades navigating an autoimmune disease and finding limited relief through traditional approaches, Melissa began researching skincare ingredients with the same curiosity she brought to food and nutrition. What she discovered was surprising. Many commercial skincare products contained ingredients she wouldn't choose to consume, despite the skin's ability to absorb much of what is applied to it.

Drawing on her background as a chef and her passion for reducing food waste, Melissa began exploring ingredients that could nourish the skin while supporting a more sustainable food system. This journey led her to tallow-based skincare and the founding of Vellum Street, a company dedicated to thoughtfully crafted products made from high-quality, food-grade ingredients sourced as locally and responsibly as possible.

Today, Vellum Street creates soaps, balms, lotions, and other skincare essentials using ingredients that serve a purpose. Many are sourced from local farms and food producers, helping give new life to materials that might otherwise go unused. Melissa's approach combines ancestral wisdom, scientific research, and a deep respect for the people, animals, and ecosystems that make responsible food production possible.

For Melissa, skincare is about more than healthy skin, it's about honoring resources, minimizing waste, and creating products with integrity from start to finish. Every Vellum Street product reflects her belief that quality ingredients, thoughtful sourcing, and careful craftsmanship can work together to support both personal wellness and environmental sustainability.