Who We Are

Bloom 5.5 began as a mother's quest to soothe her son's lifelong dry, eczema-prone skin after conventional remedies fell short. Founder Maria Morales, 53, is a retired federal program manager, a mother of two, and for nearly 30 years the lead advocate for her son, Tommy, who lives with autism.

Caring for him taught her to look at the whole person. Working alongside his medical, behavioral health and nutrition providers, she built a family lifestyle around clean eating, regular movement, community connection and natural care. Along the way, she learned how much sensory needs shape everyday life: a strong scent, a sticky texture or a stinging ingredient can turn a simple routine into a daily struggle.

Maria turned to nature, testing every batch on Tommy's skin until she found prickly pear seed oil — whipped into silky, fast-absorbing formulas that calm sensitive skin. Seven years of handcrafting gentle, fragrance-free skincare for him grew into Bloom 5.5. Maria believes clean, healthy products should never be a luxury, so every formula is made to be honest, effective and affordably priced for the families who need them most. Handcrafted in Edgewater, Maryland, every jar still carries that same promise: gentle skincare and meaningful work, starting with her son.

"The skin is the largest organ on the body — what you put on it should be as clean as what you put in it."

— Maria Morales, Founder

The Meaning Behind Our Name

Why 5.5?

Healthy skin is naturally slightly acidic, sitting around pH 4.5–5.5. That thin, acidic layer — the acid mantle — helps hold in moisture and keeps the skin barrier calm and balanced. Bloom 5.5 is named for that number: our water-based formulas are made to land at or near pH 5.5, so they support your skin's natural balance instead of disrupting it. Our oil serums, body butter and lip balm contain no water, so they have no pH of their own; they are free of harsh, alkaline ingredients and leave the acid mantle undisturbed.