How It Began

In 1996 Merri Mayers founded Comfort & Joy with the aim of providing hand made organic products to deal with today’s problems using ancient recipes, ingredients and techniques. The company has become one of the few truly family run skincare ranges, now with over 50 products and was begun initially with a sense of desperation providing the inspiration. Merri’s own skin was hopelessly problematic and she decided that research, though as far from the cutting edge as age old books full of remedies can get, was required. Her skin bloomed, and from the kitchen table her little empire began.

Born and raised in Connecticut USA, Merri studied Biochemistry with the National Science Foundation (a foundation dedicated to further education of talented students) and left Brandeis University, Massachusetts with a degree in English Literature.

A career as a Grain Trader initially brought her to the UK, and Merri followed this by in 1987 by becoming a management consultant. Along the way came marriage and in 1991, her first child Izzy. The early nineties economic recession hit hard and was a turning point for Merri - kicking the rat race into touch, she followed her heart, gave up commuting the millions of hours a day from her country home and happily returned to her to her roots.
Soon after, sitting at her kitchen table and caring for her young daughter, Merri took charge of her skin and after a period of research, and considerable persuasion by friends, Comfort and Joy was born. In 1997 she met her husband, business partner, and the man who makes her house a home, Lee Thompson and her second child Asher was born the following year.

Comfort & Joy is now a going family concern with much input, assistance and inspiration from husband, their children, family & friends. Prepared, bottled & labelled from home, the word spread and their products gained a loyal fan base in every corner of the globe.
Merri and the Comfort & Joy team are 100 percent dedicated to the well being of their customers. “We look at a person and not just the symptoms” says Merri, “our philosophy is that our products are made with love.” She promises that her biodynamic products are the most gentle and natural that she can make (there are a few exceptions to this where necessary synthetics are used for our own good). Merri appreciates how hard her ingredients work for us and promises never to over process and deplete their natural goodness.