It’s cold, dry and this January weather is making my skin suffer. It’s a perfect time to stock up on handmade soap, lotions, lip balm, etc.
Over the next weeks, I am going to profile several handmade bath and body studio owners from Artfire. And by the way, handmade bath and body items make wonderful Valentine’s gifts for your significant other.
Yasmina, from Mea Culpa Body and Bath is featured today.
ArtFire shop name: Mea Culpa Body and Bath : Natural way of life
Name: Yasmina
Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Where else can we find you and your work?
My Etsy:MeaCulpaBodyandBath.etsy.com
My Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30829177@N04/
My Twitter:http://twitter.com/MeaCulpaBB
My Blog:http://mea-culpa-aromatherapycreations.blogspot.com/
What inspired you to begin creating bath and body products?
Well, that was a slow process for sure. First I started reading on eastern philosophy, energies, meditation, different levels of existence. Then, someone introduced Reiki to me. I wanted to help my kids, family and friends when they didn’t feel well. I was starting to get annoyed by the over the counter cough medicines, because they didn’t really seem to work! Then my Reiki teacher suggested I use Eucalyptus Oil for my kids’ stuffy noses – diffuse the oil in the house, put a few drops in their baths and make a spray to layer a mist over their bedding before they go to sleep. That worked like a charm! I could not believe that everything that my grandma did, all the traditional folk oils and salves actually worked. It was like just waking up. Then I started mimicking her recipes from what I have remembered and they did their job perfectly. That’s when I decided that I can do something for the general public too. My friends were not interested in what I had to offer them, so I decided to start selling online and allow people that care for this kind of products to use them.
Where did you start and how did you learn to make the products you are creating today?
I started experimenting with instructional recipes from the books that I bought. It didnt always go smoothly as I wanted though 
When I was certain that what I make is really helpful and good for everyone to use – I opened up a shop. I started with aromatherapy, but when I noticed that I didnt get that much attention, I added lotions with fragrance oils just for the pleasure of scent
What are your favorite scents?
Ohhhhh…..this is tough 
I cant decide, I really can’t. I love the Dragons Blood scent, love anything citrusy, adore the Ylang Ylang and Rose and Jasmine and Sandalwood….ok, I gotta stop before I write down every single scent I have….lol
What are your favorite products to make?
The biggest joy is making the body butters, creams and lotion, experimenting with what I have and seeing the satisfaction on peoples faces when they try it. Its a wonderful and rewarding feeling.
What one product should EVERYONE have on hand during the cold, dry winter months?
Anything with Shea Butter and Mowrah Butter. From products with essential oils – anything that has Myrrh or Carrot Seed in and maybe Rose Floral Water. They are all awesome for dry and thirsty skin.
What inspires you?
Ahhh….the beauty of our planet, nature, our herbs that we underestimate so much!
What was your biggest handmade oops?
Oh, it had to be my shaving cream! I was just so happy when I saw it fluffy and thick and smelling good. I tried shaving with it and everything went so smooth. So, I leave it on the side for a few days and when the next shaving day came – my nice thick and fluffy shaving cream has turned into a watery mush! I wanted to just cry!
Why are handmade bath and body products better?
We do not use any chemicals, nothing that is not derived from nature. Thats the biggest difference. We care how our products will affect our customers and we want the best for them – the things that I would use I want everyone else to get the same!
What advice would you give to someone just starting out selling bath and body online?
I can just say – be careful! This is not only about you anymore. Test your products, when you are done making something – dont put it up for sale right away, wait to see how that product is going to be a week from now, two weeks from now etc….making body and bath products is a continuous learning, it never stops.
How do you spend time when you are NOT creating?
I have a 3-year-old and a 6-year-old to take care of too, homework, preparing food for them, making sure they don’t kill each other when arguing Its become tough though, but if you want to keep on doing what you love, you can manage it all. I just feel bad that I can’t pay that much attention to my dogs anymore, poor things are moving around the house looking at me like they want to say – “Hey, here I am!”
Do you have a newsletter for potential customers to join? Where can they sign up?
Yes, I do have a newsletter and the sign up box can be found at my blog:
http://mea-culpa-aromatherapycreations.blogspot.com/
Thanks Yasmina! Stay tuned over the next weeks as I will be profiling more artisan handmade bath and body sellers from ArtFire, including giveaways from the studio owners.
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Thank you so much
Its so awesome to be on your amazing blog!!!
if i didn’t live outside of the country, i’d definitely try some of the handmade soaps.. the shipping sounds like a killer cos of the weight. i have runny nose now, might as well try to buy some eucalyptus oil..
И да прибудет с нами сила.