John came up with the idea for Oil Slick while surfing regularly in the Santa Barbara area. He noticed two recurring problems: first, he would often get covered in oil while in the water, and second, the go-to solution was to keep a tub of gasoline in the car for cleanup. This led him to think—what if there was a more natural way to remove tar that didn’t involve harsh chemicals or makeshift kitchen remedies?

In 2015, he created his first finished product, His dad came up with the name, his friend Billy designed label, and after all that, ordered the initial batch of inventory using prize money from winning an entrepreneurship contest at his local community college, the New Venture Challenge.

John focused on building relationships within the local community and introducing Oil Slick as a natural alternative. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and his favorite part of the business is being able to be part of the community through it.

As Oil Slick struggled during the pandemic. It prompted John to explore new opportunities. He decided to pivot and focus on developing a new product, Sting-Less Adhesive Remover, aimed at helping people gently and painlessly remove medical-grade bandages without irritating the skin. This shift allowed him to bring a fresh, innovative solution to the market during a challenging time.

Today, the company has been restructured with a strong emphasis on a customer-first approach. Behind the scenes, a team of skilled chemists continuously improves product quality and develops new innovative solutions. Our warehouse ensures all orders are shipped the next day, and our collaboration with top-tier manufacturers has significantly enhanced the quality of every product. This evolution led to our rebranding as Harmon Innovations, representing our broader mission to provide more natural, healthier skin care alternatives in industries where such options are often limited.