Meet Riana Jones of Planted Soaps

Today we’d like to introduce you to Riana Jones.

Hi Riana, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Planted was created in response to the angst I felt when searching for clean personal care products. I started making my own body bars to reduce exposure to product-related chemicals – while preserving quality. As my passion for soapmaking blossomed, I sought to not only create products that kept women like myself in mind but were accessible to all.

I take pride in locally handcrafting each and every body bar, formulating products with all skin types and colors in mind, and considering the environmental impacts from development to packaging.

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?
No, not at all. In addition to running Planted, I work as in Community Impact for one of the largest financial institutions. Running a small business, while also pursuing my corporate goals, isn’t easy—there are long nights and a constant balancing act behind the scenes. But I started this journey because I wanted to provide an option for those looking to reduce beauty-related chemicals without sacrificing quality. Seeing my small, but mighty customer base embrace these products has made every challenge worth it.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Studies show that women of color have higher levels of beauty product-related environmental chemicals in their bodies, increasing adverse impacts on fertility and pregnancy, neurodevelopment, and cancer.

Planted was created to help reduce exposure to beauty product-related chemicals, while still providing an experience that felt premium. Our mission is to “create plant-based bath and body products that soothe your body and soul” because the angst people feel when shopping for products is real. We want to make the choice easy for you but physically and mentally.

Why Planted?
*Handmade with organic, plant-based ingredients
*Our products are cruelty-free and free of sulfate, parabens, and other toxins
*We care about our environmental impact from development to packaging

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
You don’t need much to make a major impact! I started this business in hopes of becoming a large-scale natural beauty brand, but I continue to be reminded that I can make an impact even in my current stage.

Since inception, I’ve partnered with Eco Soap Bank, a nonprofit that employs women in Africa and Asia to turn soap scraps into new bars and distribute them to people who need them.

Our customers prioritize appearance as much as they do quality, but even the most seasoned soapmakers have those days where the bars just aren’t that pretty. So I ship those bars to Eco Soap Bank so they can get them to families who really need them.

Last year, I supported 350 people through my financial and in-kind giving to Eco Soap Bank.

Pricing:

• $10/full-size bar
• $5/mini bar

Contact Info:

• Website: https://plantedsoaps.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plantedsoaps
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@plantedsoaps