BEHIND THE SCENES…

BULLET POINTS: Forty-something expat, licensed esthetician (California, USA circa 2004), artist, apothecary, writer, and decorator. Also…sky-watching, tree-hugging, skin-pampering, self-caring, furniture rehabilitating, food snob(ish) domestic goddess in training, plant medicine & real food consuming, magic believing, inspiration chasing, rule-bending, fun following, vibe trusting, feminine feminist, witch of the woods.

PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE: I’ve had many dreams and aspirations, worked in many fields, and lived what feels like many lives in my 47 years…I was born in California in the seventies, a beach-going, book-devouring, roller-skating child of the eighties, and a teen - then a teen Mom - of the nineties. I grew up in the land of day spas and wellness clinics. The southern part of my home state is also the land of Hollywood, the beach, the desert, and the mountains, all within a day’s drive of one another. And, it’s a cultural melting pot of art, food, music, strip malls, mall malls, and ever-changing pop culture vibes. When I was a young girl growing up in this environment I was always dreaming of what I might become one day: artist, writer, fashion designer, costume designer, set designer, actress, and makeup artist with my own range of cosmetics?

I’ve been a pizza slinger in the food court at the mall, a gift wrapper at the Hello Kitty store, and a clerk at a busy goth rock shop. I’ve tended bars in some charming yet chic world-cuisine cafes & restaurants. I’ve blended smoothies and Pina Coladas for pool lounging guests at a destination resort. I’ve worked the desk in wellness centers, day spas, salons, and leisure centers in both the US and the UK. I’ve done customer service in luxurious auto dealerships. I’ve done a couple of stints in housekeeping for a boutique hotel and I helped customers find the perfect crystals, incense, and oracle cards in a crystal shop. I’ve also had my own bath & beauty shop here in Scotland.

On the education side, I made it nearly all the way through cosmetology school to the realm of hairdressing. I’d had aspirations of becoming a color specialist in a Bourjois salon. For various reasons, I ended up leaving school, but I decided to head back later for my esthetician license. I’ve got this whole skincare backstory, here’s the bite-sized version…

After earning my license - where at that time, we learned next to nothing about caring for your skin naturally - it took me a few years of trial and error before I was able to repair my own congested skin. Besides being a stressed-out single Mom - stress 100% contributes to a problematic complexion - I’d also had some skin incidents while in the hairdressing chapter of my education. Another story for another time.

Later, between my postions in the automotive field, I found myselff in the checkout line of an upscale health food store for a brief spell. The job was not my cup of tea, but it’s where I discovered the magic of natural ingredients - both in skincare and in one’s diet. These discoveries led me to the much-needed solutions for my skin, and to the creation of my range.

This makes me think of all the different ingredients and materials I’m regularly blending and mixing in my life and work…skincare potions, ingredients in cooking, baking, beverages, and in the more creative, visual parts of living, paints and various materials. As a former bartender, I’m grateful for how well-trained I became in the art of making good old-fashioned cocktails. I adore making a tasty, delightful beverage, particularly when my trusty shaker and tons of ice are involved. In my humble opinion, creating something retro and lovely to pair with your seasonal dining vibes is a facet of life that should be preserved. In moderation of course.

This brings me to the topic of meals. I can’t not mention that while tending bar in some of those fabulous establishments, I experienced some amazing and inspiring world cuisine. These days I often find myself trying to recreate dishes (and drinks) inspired by menus from those memorable places in days gone by.

Finally, let’s talk about art. Growing up in the Los Angeles area, with my Mother and Grandmother both being artists, I was naturally drawn to art and writing. While I was in high school, I was lucky enough to wrangle several scholarships to attend some classes at ArtCenter College of Design (Pasadena). I adored art, but life had other plans in store for me though, as my beloved daughter entered my world with a halo and a scream in my late teens.

When I became a Mom, my focus on art and writing were moved to the proverbial back burner. Pursuing these interests may have been shelved, but they weren’t forgotten. Here I find myself, all these years later, more creatively inspired than I’ve ever been in my life, really, ever. That feels good.

The way I see it, all these different interests and experiences, and life itself has been like a melting pot, simmering away, melding together these experiences like ingredients, creating a deliciously inspiring time. The last chapter of having a shop and trying various incarnations within it, closing it after moving further into the countryside, then leaning further into living quietly, creatively, naturally, and following whatever makes me sparkle…these steps have been the keys to moving forward.

On that note let me see if I can capture and distill here, what I’m doing in skincare, and in living a balanced, creative, quiet-but-colorful lifestyle. It all feels connected. Because it really is.

SKINCARE VIBES: Inspiration for everything, I make boils down to a few simple things…

• Solutions - what does my skin need to feel its best? Can others benefit from what I’ve created to address these needs?

• Discovering new natural ingredients, their positive benefits in skincare, and how can they be incorporated into the range?

• And last but not least - aging. The desire to keep my face looking like my own face, naturally. As the years go by, I find myself increasingly determined to age as gracefully as possible, while protecting, preserving, even improving my skin. I love helping others do the same.

METHOD: Everything is made with only the highest quality natural and organic ingredients. Each ingredient is chosen for its healing properties and benefits to the skin.

NEVER USED: Genetically modified ingredients (GMO’s), Parabens, Formaldehyde, Sulphates, Carmine, Lake Dyes, Coal Tar, Petroleum, Mineral Oils, or Palm Oil.

100% VEGETARIAN, MOSTLY VEGAN: Nearly everything I make is Vegan. However, because of their highly beneficial qualities, I use organic raw bee pollen in mask powder recipes and natural cosmetic grade beeswax in my balms.

PRESERVATION: If there are any blends susceptible to going off - think anything made with water or flower waters - you’ll find naturally derived preservatives have been included so that survival longer than a week outside the fridge is possible.