1. What inspired you to start your business?
Melvory started because of my two daughters. Both girls had extremely sensitive skin with red, angry rashes that would flare-up every few weeks. Unfortunately, they did not respond well to conventional medical treatment and it was heartbreaking to see their skin crack and to find blood on their blankets and sheets from scratching.
So after 1.5 years of trying every store-bought moisturiser and prescription cream, I decided to go back to the basics of using raw, natural ingredients and made a beautiful organic butter for my daughters. The ingredients were very carefully sourced (because every mum only wants the best for her baby) and I spent many hours testing until I got the consistency right. We started applying the butter on them and within 2 months, their skin cleared up! Amazingly, they never had another flare-up since.
I made a few tubs of butters and gifted them to my friends to use on their babies, who then raved about them on Facebook posts that went viral. So we quickly invested in some equipment and set up a lab in our home. We now hand-make approximately 20,000 tubs and bottles of products each year.
2. As a woman who is a role model to so many who do you look up to and why?
I love learning and getting to know about Adele Basheer, founder of Intrinsic. She is a fellow South Australian, a mother and a successful entrepreneur who had similar humble beginnings as us.
Back in 1996, Adele and her husband had $30 worth of recycled cardboard which they handmade into greeting cards. With those little cards of inspiration, they approached local News Agencies to stock them. Within days, all their cards were sold and they reinvested the money into their small business and made more cards.
Through hardwork and determination, Intrinsic is now a multi-million ethical company (that still uses recycled paper for their stationery) with stockists worldwide.
Adele remains the most down-to-earth person I ever known. I bumped into her in the ladies at a conference and she gave me the warmest hug, looked me in the eyes and she said, "Darling, what you are doing is amazing and you'll do so much more wonderful things".
3. How are you celebrating international women’s day this year?
I celebrated International Women’s Day by going camping with my girlfriends. Kids were happy playing with each other, our husbands bonded over BBQ and we ladies just had so much fun telling jokes and laughing until our bellies hurt. Oh, and I treated all of them to my secret gold hydrogel masks. Some perks of being my friends, I guess =P
4. What is your personal skincare routine that you use being a busy mum?
In the morning, the moment my kids wake up at sunrise, I say to them, “Let’s play hide-and-seek!”
Yaaaayyy!!
So while they go hide (and I count to 100), I do the following:
1. Wash my face with Cucumber Milk Cleanser
2. Spray Rose Silk Toner
3. Apply Blueberry Serum
4. Goji Berry Eye Cream
5. Apply Tinted BB Cream with SPF 30
And then I say, “Ready or not, here I come!!”
At night, I use my Peachy Rose Oil Cleanser + Green Tea Cleanser to double cleanse, and I also gently exfoliate using the Charoal Konjac Sponge.
On my freshly cleansed face, I use Rose Silk Toner, Blueberry Serum, Ginseng Gold Serum and round of with Aloe Vera Face Cream for overnight wrinkle repair.
Our products are designed for very busy women and these routines will only require 2-3 minutes to complete.
5. What message do you want to give all women today?
Spend at least 10-15 minutes a day to love yourself. It could be a mask session, or enjoying a glass of wine, or reading your favourite book. We give so much of ourselves to others that it is really easy for our love tank to run dry. Do something nice for yourself to fill your tank up before the day ends.
6. Do you have a favourite quote that you want to share with women?
Begin your day with an “I get to” mentality instead of an “I have to” thought process.
Start saying things like:
I get to go to work
I get to make lunchboxes
I get to drive my kids to school
I get to have a busy day
Whatever it may be.
We often dress our opportunities as stress, when they are in fact blessings.
If you ever have a question or feedback for us, simply email us at info@melvory.com
Happy International Women's Day everyone! xx
