Mary Kearns is a lady after my own heart. Not only does she produce her herbal bath and body products, Herban Lifestyle™, by hand in small batches, she also makes sure to always use natural and organic ingredients and pure-essential oils to ensure that her products are totally free of artificial preservatives, synthetics, artificial fragrances, artificial colors, petroleum-based ingredients, parabens, SLS, GMO’s or anything else that is harmful to your health and the Earth.
Mary also uses earth-friendly packaging (all of her products come packaged in recyclable containers and her labels are printed with vegetable ink on 100% recycled paper), and she donates 5% of her gross sales to charities, which include Sierra Club, Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest), Herb Research Foundation and Martha’s Table. There are even more details about the actions Mary has taken to make her business as sustainable as possible on her website.
I chatted with her recently to find out how she got into making these delicious-smelling products that are both good for your body and the planet.
How did you get started creating bath and body products? I’ve always been an artist — in Elementary school, I was chosen to be in the gift art program, and I have a BA in Fine Arts — the creative process has always been a big part of my life. I started creating herbal bath and body products about 10 years ago. I had sent away for a kit that included raw ingredients and recipes, and it was so much fun that I began creating my own formulas, and researching the properties of various ingredients.
What inspires your work? Suggestions from customers and friends, products that I want, but can’t find. And, for a while, when I was on a naturopath-directed diet that eliminated wheat, sugar and dairy, my inspiration for new products was forbidden desserts (Mint Chocolate Chip Lip Balm, Sugar Cookie Scrub, Tangerine Dreamsicle Lip Balm and Bath Salts). Also, when I come across a scent that I like, or an herb that I find fascinating, I find a way to integrate it into a new product.
What do you do when you’re not making things? When I’m not creating bath products, I work as a consultant with a firm that contracts with the National Institutes of Health. I oversee the review of cancer prevention programs to be posted on one of the NIH websites. It keeps me up-to-date with the latest in cancer prevention knowledge (part of the impetus behind my creating truly natural body products) and is a really good use of my academic training in health psychology. And, while I’ve studied herbs and aromatherapy informally for the past 10 years, I have been undertaking formal herbalism studies for the past year.
What advice you would give to aspiring crafty entrepreneurs? I find it is helpful to constantly expose yourself to sources of inspiration — art museums, books, nature, travel, new cuisines, new cultures. I would also tell aspiring designers that they should feel good about what they’re doing. Crafting makes the world a better place! It’s fun, it’s creative, it’s local, and it’s real.
Who are your favorite designers? Through my involvement in the crafting world and Etsy, I come across new favorites every day, so it’s really hard to say! I feel that if I list some, I will inevitably remember several more that I wanted to mention! I know that sounds like a cop-out, but it’s true! I am a member of the Etsy Twitter, Etsy Organic, and Capitol Region Etsy Street Teams, as well as the DC Craft Mafia, and I have bought all sorts of wonderful jewelry, knit items and home decorating objects from fellow members.
What are your fashion and beauty must-haves? I always have a few designer fashion staples (like black pumps, sexy boots, a nice pair of jeans, a feminine fitted jacket), that I pair up with trendier items that can be from anywhere. When I was a teenager, a beauty expert said that daily moisturizing with sun protection was an absolute must. I have been doing that ever since. I use Epicuren’s facial moisturizer and an organic mineral base for natural sun protection. I also use [insert shameless self-promotion] my own brand of lip balm and body balm every night to moisturize my lips, hands and forehead.
Where can people find your work?
http://herbanlifestyle.com
http://herbanlifestyle.etsy.com
Anything else you’d like to add? Thanks so much for spreading the word about indie designers and the handmade movement!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }