It started with the laundry detergent, then the shampoo, and then the dish soap at work used on the commercial dishwashers. My chin became painfully dry. The crevices inside my elbows were red and crusty. My chest broke out constantly. My hair was falling out in clumps, filling the drain, and I developed itchy dry patches in my most intimate areas.

I started reading labels. I walked the store aisles carefully in search of clean products. One bad bottle could set me back months.

Growing up in restaurants taught me a lot. When my sister and I closed the restaurant, my main career as a chef came to an end. It was around that time, I realized how important it was to understand not only what I put into my body, but what I put on my skin. This curiosity led me to explore the oils, materials, and ingredients behind most commercially available soaps, shampoos, salves, and creams.

As I learned to read INCI ingredient lists, it became harder to place blind trust in branding and marketing. I encountered widespread greenwashing and products positioned as “natural” that still relied heavily on synthetic fragrances and complex derivatives. For me, this raised important questions about transparency, informed choice, and long-term exposure—especially when it comes to the skin, our largest organ.

I turned to libraries and e-books, testing small batches the way I once developed recipes in professional kitchens. I worked with well-sourced fats, simple formulations, and thoughtfully chosen botanicals. Ratios mattered. Process mattered. Just as important was minimizing waste and understanding where ingredients came from and how they were produced.

Today, I have a clear understanding of my own skin and a carefully developed foundation of products for people who want to make more informed choices about their personal care. I enjoy supporting others in simplifying their routines and moving away from unnecessary additives, without relying on fear-based or pharmaceutical-driven narratives.

This work is rooted in respect—for the body, for the environment, and for honest formulation. I take comfort in knowing this small business is built with intention and restraint, leaving a lighter footprint on the land and water that sustain us, whether I’m rinsing off at the end of a long day or swimming in the river…