Whether you have a four-step or ten-step skincare routine, choosing the right products can be a difficult task, especially when the market offers a plethora of them. Almost all of us prefer to go all-natural when it comes to picking the products, and well, they shouldn’t dig a hole in our pockets. “My interest in home remedies and natural beauty products stems from my upbringing,” says Madhushree Manjunath, an entrepreneur, and a certified natural skincare formulator.
The founder of ‘Earthen Myrra’ believes in curating handmade, chemical-free products and contributing to an eco-friendly environment. Be it the soaps, bath salts, or scrubs, every product is completely plant-based and even the added coloring is derived from plant-based colorants. Armed with a lot of information through online research, courses, certifications, and appreciation from all her customers, Madhushree aims to set up a chain of Spa with her products.
In this candid interview with Storiyaan, Madhushree describes the art of making natural soaps and scrubs, her initial fails and how it subsequently led to the birth of her success story. Read further to know more!
MADHUSHREE MANJUNATH- NATURE BENEATH
Interview
Questions and answers
When the two roles of being an aesthetician and an entrepreneur are pitted against each other, which one wins?
These are two different aspects of business that cannot be pitted against each other. The reality is, only when your product is good and effective is when you can think about business. Being an Entrepreneur is a journey with a lot of learning, unlearning, and embracing the unknown. Only when you know how to market your product, especially when there are so many options and alternatives available, is when you can be an entrepreneur. According to me, to be successful in the business, being an aesthetician and an entrepreneur goes hand in hand.
What was the moment that you considered to be your big break and made you think - “Wow! I have made this!”?
I used to make the products and gift them to family and friends. I was very particular about the quality of ingredients I used, especially because it was for my own people. I used to receive a lot of appreciation for the products initially. The demand for the products started rising and I could no longer give them as gifts. My friends were ready to buy these products from me. I started receiving feedback from unknown people who had received my products as gifts about the effectiveness and quality of my products. That’s when I began to feel really good about the products I make.
What is the biggest failure you've ever had in business, and what did you learn from it?
As I said, being an entrepreneur is a journey and there is a lot of learning. It depends on how one views it. Before starting Earthen Myrra, I had started another venture with a few friends but it was not meant for me. The biggest learning I had was- Documenting the deed. I just jumped in with being positive and not being practical, and that was a wake-up call for me. I learned that we have to have everything documented well and it has to be simple enough to make sure everyone understands it.
There's obviously no handbook to running a successful business, but if there were, what would the No. 1 rule be for you?
Commitment and Accountability towards your work. It has to be these two!
In a long list of culprits, what are the top three things we should look out for when purchasing skin-care products?
The culprit is a harsh word but it actually depends on every individual and their approach. I would suggest going for environmentally friendly products. That way, you can probably avoid some of the chemicals which are harsh on your skin.
What are some of the best-sellers of Earthen Myra that our readers must definitely check out?
My best-selling products have been soaps and scrubs. You can check them out on
What are some of the products that those with sensitive and acne-prone skin can try out and what are some of the ingredients that they must incorporate in their skin-care regime?
Earthen Myrra’s Black Beauty and White Melody has worked wonders on Acne-Prone Skin. A suitable moisturizer or face oil for hydrating the skin is important. As much as we look for skincare products, it’s important to learn the trigger point for acne- it can be hormones, allergies, lifestyle changes, or just using multiple cosmetic products. Keeping yourself hydrated, consuming the right food, and keeping the skincare routine simple makes a lot of difference. What goes inside your body determines the health of your skin.