welcome to
the village
Imagine a store where your shopping routine aligns with not only your commitment to a greener planet, but also your desire for an aesthetically gorgeous home. Welcome to The Village Refillery, your locally-owned refill shop in the heart of Corrales that makes sustainable living luxurious, without sacrificing convenience or affordability.
refill,
not landfill
We believe our children & future generations deserve the biggest inheritance possible - a healthy Earth. The carbon footprint of industrialized nations and our plastic pollution has done (and continues to do) massive ecological damage. But we humans are billions strong, and we believe that small steps by many can lead to monumental change.
Meet the Team
Lauren Wenderoth
Founder + Formulator
-
Lauren (she/her) is a mother, Earth-lover and proud New Mexican. Post-covid and the loss of her father, she was ready for a change - one that would afford more time spent in nature with her children and the ability to nurture her passion for creating. She gradually left behind her career as a dietitian working in mental health to pursue a new way of utilizing her degrees in molecular biology, psychology, and nutrition.
In 2023, she embarked on an entrepreneurial adventure, opening Corrales’s first brick and mortar refill shop while simultaneously developing her own line of earth-derived skincare products.
What began as a simple goal of reducing plastic in her local environment turned into a massive source of fulfillment for Lauren - one in which she gets to collaborate with fellow sustainably-minded artisans, growers, small business owners, and community members.
When not cooking soap or formulating new recipes, you’ll find her tending to her chickens, paddleboarding the Rio Grande, or riding bikes along Corrales acequias with her family.
Yulissa Arce-Mendez
Community Activist + Grower
-
Yulissa (She/Her/Ella) is a seasoned professional in the social justice non-profit & philanthropic sectors. Her experience in this sector spans over 10 years and includes fundraising, donor organizing, expertise in participatory grantmaking, and movement building. Her approach to this work is rooted in trust based philanthropy & solidarity support for those at the frontlines.
At the Village Refillery, she assists with daily store operations and also spearheads community events that help residents engage meaningfully with climate justice advocacy as well as with one another other.
She is a Boricua currently residing in unseated Pueblo territory also known as Corrales, New Mexico. She is a mother, aspiring micro farmer, and emerging entrepreneur. In her time off, you can find her giggling with her son, dancing, and creating content for her current project, the Slow Mami Collective.
-
Draft
Roxanna Gonzales
Resident Photographer + Media Assistant
Kristi Bemis-Standoli
Quality Control Specialist
-
Kristi was born and raised in Albuquerque, NM. She holds a BS in Biology and an MS in Molecular Biology from NMSU. She spent over a decade working in research at the University of Maryland and University of South Carolina, where she played a critical role advancing research on HIV and colon cancer.
During this time, she was also a member of several small professional dance companies, performing around the region and in public school outreach programs. Her favorite was a three piece program called “Trash Suite” where the costumes and props for the various pieces featured recycled paper, metal, glass, and plastic. In 2007, she moved back to ABQ with her family and now lives in Corrales, NM.
Jasper McKellar
Production Manager & Systems Specialist
-
Jasper (she/they) brings more than 7 years of retail expertise to The Village Refillery. She specializes in logistics management and B2B sales.
Beyond professional experience, Jasper is an herbalism enthusiast and is actively growing her knowledge of the medicinal and therapeutic use of native plants.
Jasper not only manages both retail and wholesale operations for VR, but also plays a vital role in production, making soaps, lotions & more in the VR workshop.
—
From the Earth,
for the body
—
Sustainable skincare
--
Sustainable skincare --
Ground your senses and connect to the elements with our refillable line of nourishing skincare. Hand-crafted in Corrales, NM in small batches from ethically sourced, natural ingredients. Always tested on us, never on animals.
Pure Essential Oils
We use only GCMS-verified essential oils purchased farm-direct. Never synthetic or artificial fragrance.
Organic Oils & Plant Butters
From olive, argan, and jojoba, to kokum, shea, and cocoa, our primary ingredients are always organic, unrefined, and sourced fair-trade.
Local Botanicals
Herbal infusions made seasonally with native botanicals grown on our own Corrales homestead or from neighboring farms.
Earth-Derived Clays
Natural pigments for desert-toned neutrals. No synthetic dyes or unethically-mined micas.
New Mexico Honey & Beeswax
The only animal product we use, sourced locally from apiarists who are dedicated to sustainable beekeeping.
Sustainable Packaging
From compostable labels, post-consumer waste gift boxes, & refillable glass or aluminum, we’re serious about zero-waste packaging. Boxes shipped out of town are always packed plastic & styrofoam-free.