Today we’d like to introduce you to JaNohn McCartney.
Hi JaNohn, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
At the tender age of three, one of my children suffered from eczema on a good portion of her body. Traditional lotions and strategies just didn’t work. Out of frustration, I began researching the cause of eczema. Inflammation was the culprit and so I spent more hours than I can recall trying to understand how the body handles inflammation and what causes it to begin with. Continued research, trial and error, I realized there were a few things bothering her precious skin. Food, detergent and fragrances were the culprits. After consuming dairy or too much sugar, her skin and behavior would change. We occasionally were on the receiving end of an exorcist-type stomach reaction – I digress. The skin was the most irritated. So I sought to soothe it as quickly as possible.
My original concoction of melted shea butter and various oils worked! I could not believe how simple it all was. I then changed the diet, focusing on anti-inflammatory foods and last I changed the type of detergent we used. As I retell the story, it all sounds so simple. It was a complex web of trial and error that leads us over 20 years later to Healed Body.
During an exceptionally challenging time in my life, I found solace in making little mason jars of balm and sharing it with the people in my building. It was my way of making friends. Let me tell you, I had a lot of friends fast. Some would pay me. Others would remark the fragrance helped with renewed interest in the romance department. That was one of the funniest stories. The making of the balm and the stories bolstered my soul and that is one of the reasons why the tagline is Balm for the Soul.
Healed Body is an aspirational goal, it’s evolutionary. It’s the smallest of actions that we take move us closer to nirvana. The small action of caring for the skin, our largest and most exposed organ lead me to create, Healed Body.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Everyone and no one will tell you that business is easy, fast, and fun and exhilarating. It is all those things and more. It can be depressing, overwhelming, frustrating and downright confusing. I wouldn’t trade it for all that is within me. There are a lot of choices to be made when starting and scaling a business, from how to incorporate, to how to protect your intellectual property to making sure you take time to laugh and love. It’s hard and not for everyone.
I am in the business of self-care. I know how to to do it, but I am not always the best at actually making space to do it. Mental health and maintaining a healthy attitude of prioritization is very important. I am also learning that everything is not for me and I am not for everyone. There is a sliver of the world that wants what Healed Body has to offer and that is perfectly okay.
Prioritization and I are friends. Me and comparison broke up last week. I stare my competition in the face every morning when I brush my teeth, wave a kiss and tell her to square up. It’s time to go make folks less ashy.
Maintaining this fun and focused attitude keeps my head level and my spirit at ease.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Healed Body started with a simple product, body balm. That’s different than what you often see at pop-up shops or farmer’s markets. You may often see body butter -there is a difference. Body butter is similar to the consistency of a heavy moisturizer. Body balm is thicker and requires the heat of your body to become pliable. Both body balm and butter have similar base ingredients. The difference is the process and concentration of those products. Nature offers so much in such a simple package. I emulate nature by giving our healing bodies [clients] power-packed simplicity.
I am anti, anti-aging. That is not a part of our offering and it is not what we will be known for. Hydration, protection and healing is good for all skin, not just those on deemed mature. Our products work on 3 – 93 years old bodies. The focus is on the challenge the body is having and reaction of the skin. Skin will never be called troubled or challenged. We have remind ourselves that our skin is THE largest, exposed organ on our body and it’s often trying to send us a message.
There are many, wonderful natural skincare companies on the market. I enjoy speaking with fellow owners and collaborating on new formulas. We are an inclusive, collaborative company. What often sets us apart is the simplicity of our design ethos (branding), product, process and community.
I take great pride in our little black jars going out in the world like little soldiers fighting dry skin one jar at a time.
How do you think about happiness?
Trees are my happy place and topic. I am amazed at what they have seen, and what they do to protect us and the majestic nature of their limbs. I have been known to wrap my arms around a tree, sometimes I even ask for consent. Trees talk to me. Yes! I am that lady. My love of trees is so great that friends travel and send me pictures of trees that I have to see.
It’s quite possible that is how I came to be the creator of a natural self-care company. I think I literally just made that correlation- wow! I honor the nutrients and how we can use them to heal.
Trees bring me joy!
Pricing:
- Body Balm = $30 8 oz jar
- Body Balm = $10 2 oz jar
Contact Info:
- Website: www.healedbody.co
- Instagram: @healed_body_co
