ELEVEN SIX WOMEN | JENNA LEVINE
Photos courtesy of Eliza Mullins
Jenna Levine, founder of LINNÉ Botanicals, lives at the intersection of science, nature, and thoughtful daily ritual. With a background in phytochemistry, botany, and herbal medicine, her approach to skincare is rooted in the belief that nourishment—not force—creates lasting balance. What began as a personal response to her sister’s cystic acne has grown into a brand defined by integrity, small-batch formulation, and a deep respect for plant intelligence. Now based in Charleston with her family, Jenna’s days are shaped by a slower, more intentional rhythm—early mornings, time outdoors, and simple rituals that reconnect her to herself. Whether formulating in the lab or walking beneath magnolias, she brings the same philosophy to all she does: care, when done consistently and thoughtfully, has the power to transform. We had the pleasure of speaking with Jenna about her journey building LINNÉ, how self-care has evolved as a mother of two, and capturing her in her in her home city of Charleston in her favorite pieces from the ELEVEN SIX Spring collection.
Jenna wears the Amira Top styled with her own pant.
Could you share a bit about your background and training, and what ultimately led you to found LINNÉ Botanicals?
I come from a background in phytochemistry, botany, and herbal medicine, with a lifelong interest in how plants support human health. Growing up with my surgeon father and chef mother, I was exposed early on to both clinical and nutritional approaches to healing, which shaped the way I think about the body as an interconnected system.
I began making skincare as a teenager, initially for my family. Years later, when my sister developed cystic acne, I became deeply focused on formulating something that could support her skin in a more balanced, long-term way. That process, researching medicinal plants, working with suppliers, and iterating formulas, ultimately became the foundation for LINNÉ.
What started as something very personal evolved into a broader philosophy: skin responds better to nourishment than force, and thoughtfully formulated, plant-based skincare can deliver meaningful, lasting results.
The name LINNÉ evokes both scientific legacy and a reverence for the natural world. Can you explain the meaning of your LINNÉ brand name?
LINNÉ is named after Carl von Linné, an 18th-century Swedish physician and botanist who developed the modern system of plant classification. What’s often overlooked is that, in his time, botany was an essential part of medical training. Physicians were expected to understand and prescribe plant-based medicine.
That intersection of science and nature is central to our philosophy. LINNÉ represents a return to that integrated way of thinking, where rigorous scientific understanding and deep respect for the natural world coexist.
It’s a reminder that the separation between “natural” and “effective” is relatively recent, and that plants have always been foundational to human health.
LINNÉ began as something intimate and personal, and has since grown into a widely respected brand. How do you maintain that sense of closeness and intention as your audience expands?
We’ve been very intentional about maintaining control over how our products are made. Everything is still formulated in-house, in small batches, which allows us to stay closely connected to the process and maintain a high standard of quality.
Beyond that, we continue to approach the brand the way it began, treating our customers like family. Many of our decisions, whether it’s refining a formula or evolving packaging, are still guided by the same question: would this meet our own standards?
Growth hasn’t changed that mindset. If anything, it has reinforced the responsibility to remain thoughtful, transparent, and deeply committed to what we make.
Jenna wears the Bella Mini Dress in Ivory/Black Combo.
You often speak about plants as systems that defend, purify, and renew. What continues to surprise or move you about working so closely with them?
What continues to move me is the intelligence of plants, the way they adapt, protect themselves, and thrive in often challenging environments. They are constantly responding to stressors, producing compounds that defend and repair.
When we work with plants in their whole form, we are not isolating a single effect. We are working with a complex system of synergistic compounds. That complexity is something we are still only beginning to fully understand.
There is a humility in that. The more I learn, the more I recognize how much there is to uncover, and how powerful these systems can be when we work with them thoughtfully.
Your formulations are both science-backed and rooted in herbal traditions. Where do you find these two ways of knowing most meaningfully intersect?
Herbal traditions offer a long history of observational knowledge, how plants behave and how they support the body over time. Science allows us to analyze and validate those effects, to understand mechanisms and optimize formulation.
When I formulate, I draw from both. There is an intuitive, almost culinary aspect, working with whole ingredients, thinking about synergy, texture, and experience. That intuition is always supported by research and validated through testing.
The goal is not to choose between tradition and science, but to let them inform each other in a way that results in something both effective and deeply considered.
Sustainability is at the core of LINNÉ. Are there any practices, philosophies or challenges around sustainability that have meaningfully evolved for you since founding your brand?
Sustainability has always been central to how we operate, but our understanding of it has deepened over time.
Early on, the focus was primarily on ingredient sourcing, working with high-quality, responsibly harvested botanicals. That remains essential, but we have expanded our perspective to consider the full lifecycle of our products, from packaging to production to distribution.
One of the ongoing challenges is balancing scale with integrity. As demand grows, maintaining the same level of sourcing transparency and environmental responsibility requires constant attention and adjustment.
What has evolved most is a commitment to systems thinking, recognizing that every decision has an impact, and striving to make choices that support not just the health of the skin, but the health of the ecosystems and communities we rely on.
Jenna wears the Lara T-Shirt in Black with the Taylr Crochet Skirt.
As a mother of two, how has your relationship to time, ritual, and self-care evolved? What does carving out time for yourself look like these days?
Motherhood has made me much more intentional with my time. There’s less of it, but it feels more meaningful when I do carve it out.
Skincare is one of those moments for me, a simple way to reconnect, even if it is just a few minutes at the start or end of the day.
Time alone might be an early morning before the house wakes up, or a walk with my dog. I am trying to get better about leaving my phone behind and just being present, noticing the birds, the changing magnolias, the small shifts in the season.
I also have a standing Friday morning tennis date with girlfriends that I look forward to all week. It is such a good reset, especially after a busy stretch.
More than anything, motherhood has reinforced what I have always believed. Care does not have to be complicated to be effective. It just has to be consistent and intentional.
What do you hope your children come to understand about the philosophy behind LINNÉ, and in what ways, if any, do you involve them in your work?
I hope they grow up with an appreciation for quality—and an understanding that how something is made really matters.
At its core, LINNÉ is about care—care for the body, for the ingredients we use, and for the people and environments behind them. I’d love for them to carry that mindset into whatever they choose to do.
More than anything, I hope they see that you can build something thoughtfully, without compromising your values.
They’re still young, but I involve them in small ways. Elle loves playing with me when I’m blending essential oils—and she’s currently “helping” me type these answers, which is a true test of my patience.
You relocated from New York City to Charleston several years ago. How has that transition shaped your daily life, and what are some of your favorite ways to spend time there as a family?
The move to Charleston really shifted the pace of our lives. There’s more space, more time outdoors, and a deeper connection to nature—which has always been central to both my life and my work.
We spend as much time outside as possible—at the beach, out on the water, or just walking and exploring.
Some of my favorite moments are the simplest ones—unstructured time with friends, cooking together, sitting outside, laughing, letting the day unfold.
I gave up a lot in terms of culture and energy in New York, but this lifestyle has been incredibly grounding. It’s brought me closer to the source of what inspires the brand in the first place.
Jenna wears the Lea Stripe Short in Ivory + Rosso styled with. her own striped t-shirt.
Where are you currently dreaming of traveling next, purely for pleasure?
Vietnam has been on my list for a long time. I’m really drawn to the local ingredients and cuisine—the emphasis on freshness, fermentation, and balance—as well as the deep roots in natural medicine, bodywork, and spa culture.
There’s also a strong undercurrent of craftsmanship, from food to design to the built environment, that feels very aligned with how I think about making things.
I’d love to experience all of that with my family.
When you travel, what are three essentials you never go without, and why?
I always travel with my full LINNÉ ritual, but the three that feel most essential are RENEW, BALANCE, and PROTECT.
Travel tends to disrupt the skin. Changes in climate, air quality, water, and routine can quickly lead to dehydration, congestion, and sensitivity. RENEW helps keep the skin hydrated and functioning well. BALANCE keeps things clear and calm. PROTECT shields from UV, pollution, and environmental stress while reinforcing the barrier.
Together, they create a simple, steady system that keeps my skin resilient and consistent, no matter where I am.
Jenna wears the Amara Dress in Taffy Pink.
Have you recently watched, read, or listened to anything that’s stayed with you?
I recently read The Dirtbag Millionaire by David Gelles, about Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia.
What resonated most was Chouinard’s commitment to building a business around values—prioritizing quality, environmental responsibility, and long-term impact over short-term growth. There’s a humility and clarity in his approach to both product and company building that I find incredibly inspiring.
It was a powerful reminder that it’s possible to grow something meaningful without compromising your principles—and that how something is made matters just as much as what it is.
What does the ELEVEN SIX brand mean to you? Which pieces from the Spring collection especially resonate with your personal style?
ELEVEN SIX represents a thoughtful approach to craftsmanship and design—one that values natural materials, supports women artisans, and helps preserve traditional techniques that might otherwise be lost. There’s a real integrity to the work, and you can feel that in the pieces themselves.
What I love most is how wearable everything is. The pieces are comfortable and allow for movement—they don’t feel overly delicate or precious, but still look elevated, unique, and pulled together. That balance is rare.
For spring and summer, I’ve been especially drawn to the Skylar Crochet Cover-Up and Bella Mini Dress—they feel effortless but still considered. And the Lea shorts have been a favorite as well; the elastic waistband makes them incredibly easy to wear, especially as my body continues to shift postpartum.
They’re pieces that fit into real life, but still feel special—and that’s something I always appreciate.
