Posted by Corinne Barranco
on December 11, 2025
People see the finished product. They see the elegant bottle, the clean ingredients, the effortless 2.5oz shot. But what they don’t see is what it takes to bring a truly clean wellness brand to life.
Today, I want to take you behind the scenes - the real story of the last few years, the challenges, the setbacks, and the victories that led to YES.
It Started With a Need - and a Calling
During a 21-day fast in the height of the pandemic, I started researching supplements to protect myself and my patients. What I found shocked me:
- low-quality ingredients
- non-absorbing forms
- sugar-filled “wellness” drinks
- preservatives and additives disguised as “natural flavor”
- clever marketing masking poor formulation
As a nurse, I knew people deserved better. As a woman of faith, I felt called to create it.
Year One - Research. Research. Research.
Before I ever approached a lab, I spent over a year:
- studying absorption pathways
- comparing vitamin forms
- researching bioavailability
- analyzing dosage thresholds
- learning manufacturing compliance
- studying ingredient sourcing ethics
This wasn’t a hobby. It was a mission. And when the formula was ready… the real battle began.
Year Two - 77 Labs and 77 No’s
Here’s a truth most wellness founders won’t tell you:
Clean formulation is the hardest thing you can do in supplements.
Labs told me:
- “That’s impossible.”
- “We don’t have equipment for that.”
- “You need preservatives.”
- “The ingredients are too expensive.”
- “Can we remove these?”
- “No one makes liquid vitamins that clean.”
I refused to compromise.
It costs time.
It costs money.
But it never cost the vision.
Finally, lab #78 said yes.
The moment I held that first bottle in my hands - I cried.
Year Three - The Taste Trial
Raw minerals taste… not great. Creating a delicious, clean product without sugar, preservatives, gums, or junk? Nearly impossible.
It took two years, dozens of rounds, and even a cross-country trip to California - but YES finally found its perfect, refreshing profile.
Manufacturing Reality - The Part No One Talks About
When your serving size is small, MOQs become massive.
Small batches? Not an option.
Startup-friendly manufacturers? Rare.
Cost? High.
But integrity? Always worth it.
After searching again, I found a manufacturing partner able to support our size, our formula, and our mission without shortcuts.
And now - the first batch is coming!
Why I’m Sharing This
Because wellness deserves honesty.
And brands deserve to be built with integrity.
YES is not the easy way.
But it’s the right way.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
The best is ahead!
Corinne
