By The Green Parent
21st August 2020
I qualified as an Holistic Aromatherapist back in 1991! I knew then that I wanted to create a range of simple, natural beauty products that bought aromatherapy into people’s homes and enabled them to have a natural skincare routine. I came up with a brand name and started formulating vegan skincare products with plant based ingredients and healing essential oils. But one thing led to another, and being only 20 at the time, my life path took me on a different route and my plans to launch a natural skincare business never actually happened!
It took me until two years ago to fully realise my dream and 360 Botanics (360botanics.co.uk) was finally launched. It felt like the right time for me, I had a huge book of natural skincare recipes and organic formulations that I had been perfecting over the years and the whole process was super enjoyable - hard work mind you, but when you are doing something you love, you are totally spurred on, no matter what!
The first skincare product that was launched was our Super Serum, which won the Green Parent ‘Best Buy’ Award in 2019, it has since become one of our best sellers! I was really pleased to win this award early on in the development of the company, the success of this product and our range as whole, has proven that there is a place in the market for best value natural skincare products, that have an eco-luxe look and feel, products that are not only made using high quality natural ingredients, but that also look good on your bathroom shelf!
SELF-CARE SECRETS
Walking for me is a pure pleasure, and during lockdown it was my saviour to be honest. It’s a time for self-reflection and thought; just being out there in nature, in the woods, up on the Sussex Downs or by the sea really makes you feel good, and grounded of course! I am at my happiest in nature, nature is really healing so that for me is my form of self-care. I also want to explore journalling, I think this is another area you can do to enhance your self-care, to pause for a few seconds a day and to really be in the moment. When I am doing my skincare routine I try to go slowly to enjoy the textures and the scents of the products I am applying and to really appreciate the power of what the Ingredients are doing for me.
BUSINESS PLANS FOR THE NEXT YEAR
There are an awful lot of companies out there these days producing natural skincare products, so what I hope for in the future is to continue the growth of the 360 Botanics brand, sticking to my principles of ‘less is more‘ with the natural ingredients I use and continuing to expand my skincare range so that there are products for everyone , all skin types and everything you may need to make your home & lifestyle a more natural one!
3 THINGS TO TRY AT HOME
SWITCH TO A VEGAN DIET I would say the most liberating thing for both myself and my family was the choice to switch to a totally Vegan diet. Being plant-based means that you know you are doing your best to lead a more sustainable life, by not harming the planet or fuelling the meat & dairy industries.
SHOP CONSCIOUSLY I try not to buy things just for the sake of it, I ask myself “Do I 100% need it”?
CHOOSE SECONDHAND Buy second hand as much as you can, most things can be re-used or re-purposed again! I am a huge fan of crafting and making when I have the time!
