Today we’d like to introduce you to Wacera Kamawe.
Hi Wacera, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started handcrafting skincare out of necessity for myself. Having struggled with dry skin and lots of skin allergies and sensitivities from childhood, it was always a struggle to find products in the store that worked to adequately moisturize my skin without causing any negative effects. I found through lots of DIY projects that my skin did the best when I used products that are handcrafted using only all-natural, non-toxic and fragrance free ingredients. Over the years, my love for natural wellness made me spend any free time I had experimenting and creating products that worked for me and those around me. After sharing this gift with my family and friends, they often encouraged me to consider selling the products, but my plan was never to go into business. I just enjoyed curating products & the fact that they were naturally healing and producing positive results for me and others, as a healthcare professional was all the satisfaction I needed.
I finally attempted to sell them for the first time in 2019 to my coworkers, family and friends, and the great response shifted everything for me. I had been working as a Respiratory Therapist for 13 years, and all of a sudden my products had opened a new and unexpected avenue for my life. I started making products and selling them at local markets, online and also at my job. This all happened very organically, but I believe it was always my path, and everything I had done before that just better prepared me for this journey.
Two years into business I decided to quit my job to fully dedicate my time and energy to my business and I am I have remained self employed since then.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
This journey has been far from smooth. It’s definitely been an uphill journey with lots of growth and daily challenges but with lots of satisfaction all the same. I knew nothing about having a business, and so I am definitely learning all of it as I go. There have been many moments where self-doubt and frustration creep in, and I’ve had to keep myself motivated by learning from those I look up to. Most times, I’ve found out that everything I have struggled with isn’t unique, but how I choose to overcome my hurdles is what can be different. I definitely do lots of research on whatever it is I may be struggling with and I am fully dedicated to learning and improving on a daily basis. My faith in God has definitely grown big time coz this journey is extremely hard and if your faith isn’t properly anchored it’s very easy to give up.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We specialize in dry and sensitive skin, and we are most known for our luxurious, all-natural whipped aromatherapy body butter. I am most proud of how much we have improved our body butter formula over the years as well as our entire product line. We have received real feedback from thousands of people at our weekly pop-up shops and used this feedback to keep improving our products even as we work on formulating more products. After God, my healthcare background is the strong foundation on which my brand stands, coupled with my upbringing on a farm in Nairobi, Kenya relying heavily of nature’s ingredients for sustenance and healing. These years of knowledge help me create products that not only smell good but products that are holistically nourishing and healing, and whose properties do not otherwise compromise our customer’s health and wellbeing.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I love all kinds of music and that definitely uplifts my mood while working. I also enjoy crime and wellness podcasts. I enjoy meditation sounds, sound baths, rain sounds, when I’m trying to relax or unwind.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kastonebeauty.etsy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kastonebeauty
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kastonebeauty
- Other: https://linktr.ee/kastonebeauty
Image Credits
Isadora Pennington (@portraitsbyisadora)
