Hello Everyone,
I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well. I am excited to share with you the second installment of Meet the Maker.
I met Dominque through Instagram. (She sent me a sample package of all the goodies!) I immediately felt connected to her and her line because you could feel the amount of love and dedication that went into each product. The products in the studio are made from herbalists, whom I trust and admire both professionally and personally. I find they have such a deep understanding for how the plants work harmoniously for you, while also keeping the earth in mind. I am a huge fan of the Tulsi Lavender Body Oil, the Pink Sea Salt Tulsi Body Scrub and the Violet Rose Body Butter. The perfect trio for giving your body the love and attention it deserves.
She has just come out with a collaboration Gua Sha tool with Cecily Braden, which will be available on the site soon. Her answers to The Quick Six are below!
Love and Chamomile,
Shannon
The Quick Six with Dominique of Apoterra
1. What drew you to herbalism?
My passion for herbalism started with curiosity about my food, an interest in my health and a passion for sustainability and eco-friendly living. In my early 20’s, I began a journey of exploring where the food I was eating was coming from. I started asking simple questions like what does a banana tree look like? I didn't know and wanted to explore how and where the produce I was buying was grown. How my choices affected our environment? I began changing my personal habits, shopping more locally and at farmer's markets. I choose organic and began making a conscious effort to reduce packaging waste and the amount of processed foods in my diet. I became really fascinated with plants and farming. This led me to herbalism and then aromatherapy. I loved how herbalism education gave me the power to harness the power of plants, and to use that towards good. Questioning my food quality and sustainability also led me down the path of questioning what was in my skin care products and realizing how unhealthy and unsustainable my products were. This all culminated into me studying herbalism, aromatherapy and skin health - and ultimately formulating natural skin care products.
2. How long have you been formulating skincare products?
I have been studying and using plants to improve skin health and formulate natural skincare products since 2008.
3. What are some of your favorite plants?
That is such a hard question to answer! To me herbalism is the people's medicine and for this reason the most common plants (often seen as a bit boring) are my favorites because of their availability but also their sustainability. I'm a big fan of some of the simplest herbs such as chamomile, calendula, holy basil and thyme! They are common herbs and appear meek, but hold a lot of power when it comes to healing and nurturing the body and skin. (While also being gentle enough to use regularly without any danger.) Plus they can all be grown in your backyard and aren't in any danger of being over harvested, which to me is a big plus. All four can be used in many forms: fresh, dried, powdered, in infusions/tinctures and even used to make hydrosols and essential oils. They can be used for many ailments from skin issues to digestive issues to cold symptoms. In a sense they are a little bit like Apoterra. Understated, versatile, simple, effective and sustainable.
4. What was the first product you made and why?
The first product I made was cold process soap. A friend gave me a melt and pour soap kit which I used. It intrigued me and got me thinking about how you would make real soap. What is the chemistry behind soap making? I got a book, ordered some ingredients and made a bar of french green clay soap. It wasn't anything special but I was hooked immediately! It was thrilling to turn oils and sodium hydroxide into a solid bar of soap. To be able to customize the bar's skin and aromatic properties using plant oils, dried plant powders, essential oils, and clays excited me. Soap making combined all of my passions: herbalism, aromatherapy, skin care, wellness and problem solving. At the time, I worked on film sets in NYC. I started bringing my soap experiments to work and giving them to co-workers to try. A few years later I opened up my first shop selling soaps on Etsy (Caru Skincare Co.).
5. What do you find most fulfilling about making natural skincare?
I love it when customers share their success stories! Just yesterday someone mentioned to me how she had recently gotten surgery and her skin reacted badly (resulting in flare ups). She told me our products were the only thing that helped calm her skin. I started Apoterra because of my passion for herbalism but also for wellness and for helping others but running a business doesn't let me focus on those things all of the time. When customers share how much they love the products I formulated and how they are making their lives easier or better, it makes all the headaches and stresses of running a business worth it!
6. What is your favorite thing in this world outside of plants?
My kids! I have a 4 year old and a 7 month old. Watching them grow, learn, explore and slowly understand the world around them - and being a part of that process as a guide and teacher is such an honor. They also make me laugh and smile everyday, and bring me so much joy!