Meet Bella Botanicals
Do you have a story behind your company name?
Yes. I wanted a name with true meaning, not only for my customers but for myself. I wanted my name to inspire me, and that was a bit of a challenge. One night my husband Tim and I were going back and forth with name ideas and all of a sudden he blurted out "Bella Botanicals!?" When the words came out of his mouth I was like "perfect!"
Bella = Beautiful and Botanicals = Nature .... And our slogan is (Naturally Beautiful Skincare)!! We think nature is beautiful, we think skin is beautiful, we think women are beautiful, and we wanted a name that supported that. I was thrilled when I saw Bella Botanicals wasn’t trademarked and I hopped on the paper trail to snag it. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to nab it on social media and for our URL, so we went with mybellabotanicals for those.
We love that! Tell us more about how you got started?
I got started by attending a local workshop on soap making. I made batches upon batches of soap, both solid and liquid. After that I started making body butter and lip balms. When I realized I wanted to get serious about formulating I enrolled into Formula Botanica and got my certification for Organic Skincare Formulating. From there I really worked hard to figure out what formulas I wanted to offer to the general public. I really wanted to grow organically and let my customers drive the brand. After one year in the business I was able to cut back to part time as an xray technician and began to throw the majority of my time into bringing Bella to life. Although I'm still laying the groundwork for where I want my brand to go, I'm excited to say that I have a thriving business.
What inspires you to create, why did you turn to body care products?
Knowing that through this business I give women confidence to be their authentic selves. One of our main pillars is assisting women with finding their confidence in the nude (aka without makeup). There are far too many things that demoralize females into thinking their beauty is defined by how much they can canvas over their true selves, and we’re here to say “F” that. I want makeup for women to be the exception, not the rule. I also thrive on educating women about their skin. There are so many wonderful products to choose from, however identifying what works best for your skin can be challenging. I work with many women to cultivate a skincare routine that works best for them so that they’re able to see the results they want.
What’s a typical day like for you in the studio?
A typical day starts on the computer checking emails and scheduling posts. Then I'll pack orders and run them to the post office. After all that is completed for the day I'll restock items that are low, and order inventory. I usually get so wrapped up in my work that I often forget about lunch until 1 or 2. It can be difficult to not get lost in work when it’s something you’re so passionate about.
Do you have a favorite part of your maker process?
I absolutely love learning about new botanical skincare ingredients and experimenting with them. There are so many lovely plants out there that can do absolute wonders for the skin, and I want to experience every single one.
What about a favorite item that you have created?
My all time favorite product is my Organic Under-Eye Roller with CBD. This product has made a world of difference for me personally. I used to NEVER leave the house without concealer on. I had dark circles and wrinkles around my eyes that really made me feel self conscious. This product has not only lightened the darkness under my eyes, but it's greatly helped to diminish the fine lines and wrinkles around my eye area, as well as reduce puffiness. (thank you CBD) I call it #betterthanbotox!! The beauty of this product is that it's 100% natural and organic. It's an oil based formula so there's no preservatives needed, and it's super gentle so that ANY skin type can use it.
That sounds amazing! What will you be bringing to Jackalope?
I'll be bringing my three step skincare routine, the eye roller, cbd salve, and natures kiss lip balm.
Now that events are picking back up again, is there a part that you missed most?
I absolutely thrive on in person human interaction. I love getting one on one time with customers to talk about their skin. Skin is personal, and having that one on one to really delve into a woman's insecurities is incredibly important. I also love the people I meet. Some of the vendors I've met at shows have become close friends. It really is a lovely community of people that are hard working and inspiring.
What do you love most about Minnesota? I love it’s natural beauty. It's such an incredible landscape that offers so much for nature lovers.. I love the local breweries, the shops, and the culture. People in MN are always so friendly.
Anything special you’d like to share?
As a child and young adult, I struggled to find my beauty. I put my time and energy into things and people that were ultimately destructive, all because I couldn't figure out how to love myself. My journey to self love is ultimately what led me to start this brand. Truly loving myself gave me the power to come into my own truth, and I want this same thing for all women. I want to inspire women and girls of all ages to love themselves for who they are instead of what society tries telling them to be. To connect with their true nature, whatever that may look like. I want women to stop viewing self care as "selfish" but as a necessity for harnessing true happiness and peace. Women are asked to do so much in this world, and we've constructed this ideal that in order to be loved we need to be perfect. It's just not realistic nor is it healthy. Bella is my platform to touch women with this message. We’re more than just a company selling beauty products, we’re on a mission to change the way the world sees beauty.
Another thing worth mentioning is that we formulate some of our products with CBD. CBD is known to be anti-inflammatory, analgesic (skin numbing), and a potent antioxidant. We utilize it in our leave-on products so that the body can get the full effect of this potent botanical ingredient.
We love your mission and why you create- so inspiring! We can’t wait to see you in person this October 2nd & 3rd when Jackalope makes our debut in the Twin Cities!
Where to see more of Bella Botanicals:
Website | www.mybellabotanicals.com
Instagram | @mybellabotanicals