An Interview with Clarisse Lim-Lasquite, Founder of Raw Essentials
Friday, July 10, 2020
It
was three years ago when I became interested in making DIY cosmetic products
and started documenting my creations on this blog. One of my first few DIY
projects is making tinted lip balms. At that time, I was searching for mica
colorants for my tinted lip balm project. It was really difficult to find a
local supplier of mica that doesn’t sell in bulk quantities (and I only need a
tiny amount for my project). When I was about to give up on my search, a
miracle happened. I finally found my holy grail of cosmetic raw material
supplier – RAW ESSENTIALS ^_^
RAW ESSENTIALS is a one-stop shop that sells raw materials and packaging for making soap,
candle and cosmetic products. What I like the most about this shop is that they
also cater to DIY hobbyists like me by offering raw materials in retail
quantity at an affordable price. This is perfect for any beginner cosmetic
formulators who would want to try out some raw materials in small quantity.
Also, most of their cosmetic raw materials are naturally derived and
biodegradable so they’re ideal if you’re making organic cosmetic products.
I’m
so honored to have the opportunity to interview Clarisse - the woman behind RAW ESSENTIALS.
1. Tell us about RAW ESSENTIALS and its mission
as a company?
There
are so many beautiful, natural and organic materials out there that can be
difficult to get. We want to make them available to all fellow hobbyists and
small business owners at an affordable price without sacrificing quality.
2.
What inspired you to start RAW ESSENTIALS?
I
am an absolute fan of DIY crafts and arts. As a child, I used to experiment
using powder, baby oil and water to make my own ‘nail polish’! Five years ago,
I opened a Nail Salon and Spa called Purple
Strawberries. I wanted an all-natural foot scrub and couldn’t find one in
the market - so I made one. Finding the ingredients I wanted was very difficult
and expensive. I ended up having bought too much of my orange peel powder.
Without much thought, I posted it for sale in one of the Facebook groups. Voila!
Many people reached out. Even after I sold everything, some people still
reached out asking if I had any more. That’s how I knew that this business
could be worth pursuing!
3.
What are the biggest challenges you have experienced in starting your business?
Finding
capital and gaining audience. Big companies, where we can usually find
materials and ingredients we need, require a MINIMUM ORDER QUANTITY. They are
also mostly IMPORTED. I had to borrow money from my parents. The first package I
bought for sale was worth Php 19000. Back then, I was mortified that I had THAT
much debt!
It
was also hard to find people who will be interested in what I have to sell. I
joined many Facebook groups and commented on as many posts as I can. It’s like
going into a room full of people and tapping their shoulders to ask if they’d
like to buy my products! Now that I have a decent number of followers, I would
really like to use my platform to connect like-minded people, making it easier
for everyone to find what they need.
4.
How do you research for new raw materials to be added to your product catalog?
I
learn about new ingredients through books, blogs, mentors, and social media.
There are many incredibly talented and creative people online! I am currently
enrolled in Formula Botanica’s Advanced
Cosmetic Science and have been learning so much. We should definitely take
advantage of the availability of online courses!
One
of the challenges is finding a trustworthy supplier and meeting certain
standards before I’m able to include new products in our collection. I also
don’t want to sell something when I’m not absolutely certain how to use them.
This is why I only have a limited selection of raw materials available at the
moment! You can expect that it will be a slow expansion.
5.
What types of raw material do you sell in your shop?
At
the moment, we have colorants, blush/eye/foundation base, beeswax, candelilla
wax, base oils, and menthol crystals. They can be used for soap-making,
candle-making, and cosmetic formulation.
6.
What are your bestseller items?
Our
kits are very popular! We currently have a Melt and Pour Starter Set, Basic
Candle-Making Kit, and Basic Soap-Making Kit.
7.
Where can we buy your products?
8.
Where can they follow you on social media?
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rawessentialsph/
YouTube Raw Essentials Projects: https://bit.ly/2VU36JI
9.
What are your future plans for RAW ESSENTIALS?
A) We
would like to, eventually, have a physical store. I understand, more than
anyone, the need to see, touch and smell things!
B) To
offer more organic and biodegradable ingredients and packaging. We’d also like
to find an alternative for bubble wrap in our packaging. If you know what we
can use and if we can get it locally, please contact us!
C) To
offer finished products. I still love making soap, candles, and cosmetics! I
just don’t have time to make them now. But with a more stable team, I’m aiming
to work on that project.
So,
if you’re looking for raw materials and packaging to use on your next DIY soap,
candle or cosmetic crafts, do check out RAW ESSENTIALS J
P.S.
To always get the latest blog updates, don’t forget to follow me on Facebook.
Disclosure: This post contains
affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and
purchase the products, I’ll receive some commission.
0 comments