Self-care...it's becoming a pretty popular topic in the media these days, but chances are, it is something you have been doing throughout your life, consciously or subconsciously. A little nap when you're tired, a weekend get-away to destress, a hot bubble bath with your favourite book; self-care means different things to different people. One of my very favourite definitions came from GoodTherapy.org:

"Self-care describes the actions that an individual might take in order to reach optimal physical and mental health... People all have different requirements for self-care, but in general, the goals of self-care are to find a state of good mental and physical health, reduce stress, meet emotional needs, maintain one's relationships, both romantic and platonic, and find a balance between one's personal and academic or professional life."

One of my favourite ways to destress is a long, hot shower before bed. If you've read my blog in the past, you know I'm passionate about eating 'clean' and using 'clean' cosmetics. I also really love to support local small businesses, especially those run by a #ladyboss! So, I was super excited when I met Thu, creator and owner of VO2 Co, a Natural handcrafted bath and body product line at a Curated Life event back in November! I bought a few sample-sized containers of her body scrubs back in the fall, and absolutely LOOOVED them! They smelled delectable and left my skin super soft and clean, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on more! Just last week, she agreed to to be interviewed for this new series, designed to cast a spotlight on local companies that promote self-care, wellness, and healthy-living through their products. You can find out all about her, hear how she launched her company and get all the details of her amazing line below!

Tell us a little about your company and why you started it?

For years, I've always thought of making natural products but never had the courage to act on it. It is ALWAYS easier said than done. The thought was always on my mind which made me realize it was now or never. It started with simple homemade face masks and DIY blogs and then I thought of everyday products that I used and researched about them. I researched, took workshops and started experimenting myself. I wanted to create an option for affordable skincare products that are actually good for you.

We absolutely love your scrubs! Where/how do you source your ingredients to ensure quality?

I source my ingredients from a variety of sources and research about the supplier beforehand to ensure they meet stringent quality standards like being ecocert certified and USDA certified organic. Some suppliers may also specialize in for instance essential oils versus dried botanical herbs or oils and butters so having specific suppliers for certain ingredients helps to maintain the quality of our products. I also try to ensure all my products are only scented with natural essential oils and colored with botanicals or natural clays to also ensure that no chemicals or synthetic ingredients are in the products as well.

A lot of (wo)man power goes into making your products! Can you tell us a little bit about the process, and how long a 'batch' might take your to make from start to finish.

Depending on the product, it can range from several hours to weeks for a product to be completed. Soaps take the longest as after the oils are melted and taken out of the mould, they need to cure (harden). I create products in small batches to ensure quality and freshness as no preservatives are used. For example, it would take 2-3 hours to melt butters and oils for scrubs - wait for it to harden then mix in sugars and other ingredients. After 24 hours, the scrubs would harden up and I would label and test the product.

How do you see your products fitting optimally into a self-care routine? How do organic, handmade scrubs etc compliment a healthy diet and training routine?

All our products are made with organic skin beneficial oils and butter, scented with therapeutic essential oils and coloured with natural clays or botanicals. They are safe enough even for the most sensitive skins. As for a routine, I would recommend using the body lotion scrubs in the winter to exfoliate dead skin cells and keep skin moisturized as our skin is extra dry in cold, harsh weathers. In addition, for women - using the lip balm before applying lipstick and our natural toner before applying makeup are good bases to ensure that any toxic ingredients in cosmetic products are not ingested in your skin. The natural toner mists are amazing to clear pores and even skintone - they are a favourite many clients who workout and need a refreshing mist that also has antiseptic and antifungal properties. Maintaining a healthy diet and training is important but incorporating and using natural and organic products also ensures that you are not adding toxic chemicals on your skin which are then absorbed into your body.

How are your products different from other similar products/companies on the market right now? What makes you and your company special?

There are a lot of "natural" beauty lines out there, but it doesn't necessarily mean that ALL the ingredients in the finished product are natural. I create all my products for my family, friends and myself - so I make sure that everything I use is good for them. Also, I create everything in small batches as no preservatives and additives are added.

What is your personal favourite product from your line and why?

My favourite product is the lip balm because that's what started VO2CO. I religiously use lip balms to the point where if I didn't have one on me, I would feel uncomfortable and constantly lick my lips. I started buying all these expensive brands and “lip healing” balms after my go-to Vaseline wasn’t working for me. I started wondering why my lips were always so dry and why I was basically depending on these balms. So, I starting reading about the ingredients in a lip balm and Vaseline. I realized that I was using a lip barrier not a lip balm. Petroleum jelly forms an invisible layer (think of plastic wrap over your lips) on the skin creating an illusion that your lips are moisturized and it does not add moisture or encourage hydration. Moisture is actually being trapped instead of letting new moisture in. I think using natural lip balms is important because every time you eat, drink or lick your lips while having these products on; you ingest some of the products ingredients every time.

Any other information you would like to share about yourself, your company, or your products?

I always hear people talk about health concerns in the food industry like counting calories, looking at organic ingredients and avoiding processed or artificial foods - shouldn't this concept be applied to cosmetics as well? After all, these products you apply on your skin are absorbed into your body. You don't have to be a chemist when it comes to knowing what's what but you can look at the label of ingredients just like you do with food. When a label lists 'perfume, fragrance oil or natural fragrance' as an ingredient be aware, basically a chemical or synthetic replication had to make that scent. Going natural doesn't have to be hard, making small changes in your daily habits and lifestyle like being aware of what ingredients are in your products is the first step to will making a difference that your skin will definitely thank you for!

Do you have any quotes, blogs, resources you draw inspiration from that you would like to share?

I love Wellness Mama Natural Beauty & DIY Tutorials and Hellow Glow Blog which both offer simple DIY recipe for natural products and easy food recipes as well.

So this is a first! Believe me, I’m just as surprised to see a ‘Beauty Post’ appearing on Small But Mighty as you are! I pride myself on being fairly low-maintenance and natural (other than my eyelash extensions — in the interest of full disclosure); when I do occasionally use make-up or hair products they are very ‘clean’: free of dyes, perfumes and parabens… For this reason, for the last several years, I have trusted my hair and skincare to a company that provides products and services that are clean, organic, and designed to be good for you. And for the most part, my experience has been positive; they did a great job when I decided to dye my hair ombre blue back in November (#YOLO), but my last experience was very unpleasant. I try to be a positive person, and when life throws me lemons, I try to take a step back and learn all that I can from my mistakes. For this reason, I’ll keep the rant portion of this post short, because I think the happy ending is much more important!

Back in early January, I was offered an audition for my very first TV commercial. It was very short notice (2 days) and because all of my headshots were from my pre-blue era, I made an urgent appointment at my go-to salon to try and get my blonde back. This was NOT a good experience! I had to see a new colourist due to the last minute nature of my appointment, which is understandable, but instead of greeting me with a handshake and a “Hi my name is….”, I got “What’s in your hair?” while she continued to work on another client’s head. In addition to this, the colourist suggested that it was going to take many (3+) hours and cost about $300 to return my hair to its pre-blue state. And, because there was a 20 minute gap before my colour service, she suggested I leave the salon and come back. She made the whole process seem super arduous, and acted pretty disinterested in helping me out in my time of need. So I did in fact leave, but I did not go back. As a small business owner, I feel that one of the most important things you can do for your clients is show them just how important they are to you! On top of that, you should be doing all that you can to ensure their experience is a positive one, and that you help them as much as you can (call me an optimist). I went to my audition with my blue pony tail, feeling self-conscious, and due to an unforeseen chopstick incident (among other things), I did not get the part

My big brother is getting married in April, and I am so unbelievably excited to be a part of his special day. However, faded blue ombre hair does not lend itself well to family portraits and wedding photos. So today, with a heavy heart I made an appointment at a new salon, expecting to spend several hundred dollars and many hours of my time in an uncomfortable environment. This did NOT happen. MY EXPERIENCE WAS AMAZING!

Today I saw a new colourist, Hanifah at the Gibson Square Fiorio Salon. On top of being unbelievably friendly and welcoming, she took time to explain exactly what she was going to do and options should the colour correction not work completely at this visit. She checked in on me every 15-20 minutes and was super efficient with her work. In fact, for $100 she restored my blonde ombre style, AND provided a masque treatment for my hair to minimize damage from the correction process. By the way, she did all of this in just over an hour! Hanifah also suggested I leave the highlights I had booked just in case for later date in order to avoid damaging my hair. She forewent income in order to put her client first! As if this wasn’t enough, when I went to pay for my colour correction, the salon gave me a coupon for $40 worth of free product because it was my first time there! UNBELIEVABLE! I left feeling so happy not only with my colour but also with the service I received, and that is the type of feeling I want my clients to have EVERY TIME I SEE THEM! My heart is full! I could not help but share this story of amazing customer service with you. I wish this was the status quo, and not something we have to highlight when we happen to encounter such a fantastic situation, but such is life!

So friends, if you live in the North end of Toronto (or even if you don't) and are looking for a new salon or colourist, check out @hanifahm_hair @fioriogibsonsquare; I'm sure your experience will be incredible! By the way, Hanifah used the Fiks Argan Oil shown in this picture on my ends and it is phenomenal!

**Neither Hanifah nor Fiorio Salons were aware I would be writing this post at the time of my appointment. I have no vested interest in this company, nor have I receive payment, product, or favours for writing this post.

Happy Long Valentine/Family Day Weekend Friends!