If we’re being honest here, purchasing new skin care products can be pretty daunting. There are just so many different formulas and brands that more or less promise the same things, and a product that seems to work wonders for one person falls flat for another. So, Tasha Rodriques decided to create her own homemade products using ingredients that never disappoint.
The 24-year-old who graduated with an Accounting degree from Trillium College in Canada created her business selling natural soaps, lip balms and body butters, and she calls her line Blissful Essence Skincare. The main ingredients in her products are coconut oil and Shea, which are known for having rich, moisturizing properties. Shea butter is obtained from the nuts grown from the African Shea tree. You may recognize it as an ingredient present in some other lotions.
Rodriques struggled with her own skin conditions and wanted a way to help herself without having to use harsh products full of chemicals that are on the market today.
“I know my skin is very sensitive,” she said. “I could use one little thing and a pimple breaks out so I have to be very careful with that.”
After realizing that the bar of soap and body butter that she made for herself was really helpful, she tested other items on her family and friends. From there, they helped her create formulas that were suitable for everyone’s needs.
“When I made my first bar and my first lip balm, I tested them out on my step-mom and my sister, and they told me what was missing, or what was needed. So I re-created it and started from scratch again,” Rodriques said.
The bars of soap are created in loafs and then cut into squares. Rodriques combines Shea and coconut oil among other ingredients and uses an electric hand-mixer to bring everything together. When she first started creating small bars as tests, she would use a small hand-held whisk. However, it could take up to half an hour to ensure that the mixture is at the right thickness and consistency.
“You don’t want it to be liquid-y because then all the minerals and everything will settle to the bottom and then the top will just be the layer of what’s left,” she explained.
After everything is well-mixed, Rodriques must cure the loaf in a cool place. According to the blog Soap Queen, curing allows any water from inside the soap to completely evaporate. The longer allow the loaf to sit, the more firm it will become, and the longer it can last in the shower. Rodriques allows her loaf to cure for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, coming back to it every couple of days to check on the texture.
Stony Brook University students got the chance to dive into Tasha’s world of all-natural, lovely-smelling bath and body products with her launch party. But she may be taking her business beyond the Long Island neighborhood.
“I think my next step is going to be just getting my products across in other areas and not just at Stony Brook, because really everybody needs skincare,” she said. “I have family and friends in Canada, so I could go up there and visit and maybe have another little launch party or other event by college campuses there. Everybody showers and everybody should moisturize so why not start with something good for you?”
Learn more about Blissful Essence Skincare on Facebook and Instagram!