Two Sisters - One award winning natural skincare company
A sit down chat with the founders of the beautiful skincare brand, Neve Wellness
I was so incredibly excited to feature Neve Wellness in the Whist Summer Wellness subscription box. As my own background is in skincare, (I was the founder and owner of a skincare and holistic clinic for over 20 years), sharing beautiful skincare products that I discover is still very much my thing!
Discovering the Tri-Elixir from Neve Wellness was like discovering a new Holy Grail product for me, (and I already told you about my love of it in May's blog post...I love it that much). It is just one of those hard working, multi-functional products that I tend to reach for. Packed full of natural goodies for our skin, I wanted to hear more about the people behind the brand that have created it.
Lets have a chat with the two lovely sisters behind this passion driven brand.
Hi Sarah and Laura. Can you share the story behind how your skincare brand was born? What inspired you to start this journey together?
Sarah: Well firstly, as sisters we were always ‘together’ in the best sense! We’ve always been close and we have quite different personalities and skills that have always complemented each other.
Personally, I really struggled with acne and skin problems from a young age. I had eczema as a child then started to get acne around the time I hit puberty, and honestly it just never ended. I got to my early 30s and was feeling absolutely disillusioned with everything I put on my skin. It started to feel like everything I applied made my skin worse. I started researching ingredients and going back to basics with simple, good quality natural ingredients and I loved the results that I was seeing. Eventually I started a cosmetic formulation course and it all progressed from there. Laura was my number 1 tester and we loved coming up with ideas together!
Laura: Meanwhile, after spending years trying to conceive, I turned to natural remedies and holistic health approaches where I not only found support for my physical health, but also my mental health. Creating new rituals and feeling I was able to gain an element of control was important to me during this time. Understanding the impact of what we put onto, and into our bodies, on our endocrine system was real a lightbulb moment for me.
So while Sarah was busy formulating skincare and completing her qualification I was starting to retrain in a number of holistic therapies and became chief product tester. We knew we could bring these skills together to create a ‘whole self’ brand and that’s how Neve was born. Neve actually stands for ‘naturally empowering vitality & equilibrium’ which is a nod to how we wanted the brand to represent a whole self approach and empower people to feel good about their skin and wellbeing.
Oh ladies you are talking my language. I think so many more of us are becoming more interested in a holistic approach these days. I know that you also share another of my passions - connecting to nature. How did that connection help shape your direction of your brand?
Sarah: I think the idea of connecting to nature was just always naturally at the centre of the brand. My studies in cosmetic formulation were based around natural and organic ingredients and I studied herbalism along side them too.
I personally feel such joy and calm when I’m in nature but also when I’m immersed in these beautiful natural ingredients. We really wanted that feeling to come through for the customer.
The world of herbalism really amplified the nature connection for us too, herbalism is very empowering and offers simple, safe and accessible ways to care for our health and skin that I loved and found very inspiring, and I hope others do too. It was central to us making our own bespoke extracts and infusions that are so important to our products.
Oh there is so much magic in nature isn't there? I could not agree more. I know that it is important to you helping people reconnect with nature. Why do you feel that’s so important right now?
Sarah: I think it’s something we are really losing touch with as we spend more time indoors and at our screens. You only have to spend a short time in nature to see the positive impact that it’s having on your mental health. I think we forget that we are part of this huge cycle of life and nature, that the plants around us can heal us and bring us comfort. We love to help people reignite that connection. Of course, the reality is that modern life is busy, but we hope that our products can bring a little of that connection and magic to your fingertips each day, and help you to prioritise it.
You are so right. Amongst the trees, walking barefoot on the grass, tending plants, all bring so much healing.
So, I cannot wait to hear all the tea on your products. Tell us about your first completed one, which was it?
Laura: The Tri-Elixir, which is a multi-purpose product that can be enjoyed as an oil cleanser, a facial oil, and as a body oil. Creating products from natural plant oils and extracts meant that the formulations were always kept simple but effective, which also means that they are versatile. We wanted people to feel empowered to use our products in the ways that they needed in that moment and time, and creating the Tri-Elixir with its multi-use magic helped us to do that.
Ahhh my favourite! I love the Tri-Elixir. It is such a work horse. I know an ethos within Neve wellness is all about caring for the skin and the "whole self". So how does “whole-self nurturing” look to you?
Sarah: Whole self nurturing to us, is about looking beyond just topical application. It’s about using plants on the inside too, nourishing your body with delicious herbal teas, and nutrient rich food, about moving your body and feeling strong and vital. It’s about making a little space to care for your mind and spirit, to reflect on what’s working and what isn’t, and making time for the things that make you happy and fill you up.
I love that. The old saying "you cannot pour from an empty cup" is so true isn't it. As a brand that harnesses nature in your products, I know that you have respect for Nature and the Environment as a whole. So how important is sustainability to you within your brand?
Sarah: It’s very important and actually one of the biggest challenges and blockers for me when starting up the business. There’s a lot of conflicting and ambiguous answers out there about sustainability. It truly is a minefield. What we do at NEVE is assess every ingredient individually and on its own merits. For example, our products are not 100% organic because we also use fantastic up cycled ingredients and many of them aren’t available as organic. We also love to use British when possible, but of course local alone doesn’t make something more sustainable, this is why we approach each ingredient on an individual basis.
Packaging wise we kept things simple with glass. I do hope that as we grow we’ll be able to make some exciting changes to our packaging to make it even more sustainable, and even offer refills. As we grow, we’ll be in a strengthened position to build better relationships with suppliers and I think this will be a big catalyst for helping us to become even more sustainable in the future, so watch this space.
I think sustainability is an ever changing landscape too as we learn more, but it sounds like you are doing great things to help Neve tread with a gentle step. Huge well done to you x
So, I know the Whist readers want to hear all the goss....What does a typical day look like for you as founders and skincare makers?
Laura: Our days are probably quite different really! I’m currently working on getting the therapies and treatments side of the business up and running and have recently completed my reflexology training. I also have a 2 year old, and a 6 month old ,so lots of juggle at my end!
Sarah: I’m responsible for the product development and formulation, and manage most of the marketing too. My children are older than Laura’s so that frees up my school hours to work. We are at quite different stages in our lives so we try to balance that as best we can and work to each other’s strengths and time restrictions!
Oh Laura I hope you are enjoying your therapist training. It's so rewarding isn't it? It sounds like you both very much have your hands full and still managed to win an award with Neve. So, if someone were new to your brand, is there a particular product from your brand that you feel everyone should try first?
Laura: I’d have to say the Tri-Elixir! It won ‘Best Multi-Purpose Beauty Product’ this year at the Beauty Shortlist Awards and it’s so versatile that everyone will find a way to really enjoy it. It’s very nourishing on the skin.
If you just can’t decide which product to go for we also do a Ritual Set which contains a mini version of each of our 4 products and is perfect for finding your favourite before you invest.
I am sure the award win goes without saying, but what else has been some of your proudest moments so far in your small business journey?
Sarah: Funnily enough, I found the champagne cork that we popped on the night we launched back in 2023, just the other day, and I was thinking just how far we’ve come since then!
Laura: Receiving 3 Beauty Shortlist Awards this year was really a big turning point. Not only did it give us some exciting promotion but I think it was the moment we thought ‘oh wow, maybe we are doing this right after all!”
Sarah: It was a huge moment to break down a little of the old imposter syndrome that’s for sure. It felt like a really special moment and we took the time to celebrate that as a family too, which was lovely.
Laura: I think we also feel a deep sense of pride each time we launch a new product. There’s so much work goes on behind the scenes to release a new product and the lead up to launch can be quite intense. The moment we start receiving amazing reviews makes it all worth while.
Ahh ladies you will have me tearing up. This makes me emotional for you, and you have every right to be so proud. I read on your website that you also have some exciting plans for Neve Wellness. Can you tell us more about your vision for immersive events, holistic therapies, and community connection? It all sounds amazing
Laura: We have so much in store in this area of the business that it’s hard to know how to fit it all in! On the treatment side of things, we’ll be looking to open our first treatment rooms in the coming months offering facials, reflexology, massage & reiki. We’ll be offering a range of treatments that support the body on the inside and out. Our facials will use our own products and be ritualistic experiences leaving clients with a calmed mind and glowing skin.
Our Reflexology offering will allow us to develop treatment plans specific to each individual, with a focus on women’s health and supporting the endocrine & digestive systems. Our reiki and massage treatments will be focused on rest, relaxation and recuperation, allowing the body to undertake the natural healing it needs, but which we often don’t allow time for.
Our community is about sharing information and expertise, we don’t want accessibility to be a barrier and we love the concept of providing people with skills they can apply at home on a daily basis. We firmly believe you should never leave a treatment room or an event without some new knowledge or aftercare. Our events evolve with the changing seasons and allow us to bring together like- minded people to connect with nature, share wisdom and learn new skills about skincare, herbalism and holistic health.
We love to include foraging and a hands-on making session so people leave with something to take home or at the very least the confidence to go it alone and be creative on their own
I am literally your ideal customer haha. All of that is right up my street. So, after you finish caring for others, what daily rituals help you stay grounded and connected as busy female founders? How do you use them in your business life?
Laura: A daily walk is really important to me come rain or shine, I like to feel the weather on so will even head out in the heavy rain. If I ever don’t manage a good walk, I’ll opt for a little wonder round the garden with my shoes off.
Sarah: I’m big on journalling so I’m going to say a daily gratitude list. It’s amazing the little everyday things in life that you can take for granted but are really something special to be celebrated. I would also say one of the most important things for me has been learning to listen to my intuition. Learning to listen closely to my gut has really helped me to make decisions and create boundaries since we started the business. I’ve had to make space for this each day and learn to listen to what my body is telling me. To learn the difference between a ‘no I don’t want to this because I don’t have time for it right now’ and a ‘no I’m not going to do this because its new and scary’. It has really helped me to be honest with my self and grow. For me, this is true self care and everything starts from this point. I’m still making mistakes, but I’m getting better as it with practice.
I love the passion that you have for holistic wellbeing. So with that in mind, what do you hope women will take away from their experience with your brand?
Laura: A reignited connection to nature, understanding the power of selfcare rituals & whole self-nourishment. We want women to feel empowered to look after and nourish themselves no matter how much time they have, it could be a 5-minute facial massage, a quick grounding herbal tea recipe or a new seasonal skincare routine.
Sarah: I would say an acceptance and love for their skin and bodies as they age too. We’ve been exposed to so much negativity around these topics for so long, that it’s definitely time for a change. Our skincare isn’t about perfection or turning back the clock but enjoying health, comfortable skin and the process to get there.
Oh encouraging ladies to not think perfetcion is the only answer, that is perfect. So lastly, what’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone looking to take better care of themselves inside and out? Any tips?
Laura: The first thing is to make space for it. You don’t need an hour set aside a day, just a couple of minutes of meditation, saying some kind and empowering affirmations while you apply your skincare, or writing a little gratitude list while you eat breakfast. If your life is busy, these are lovely ways to add self care into your existing routine and they can be hugely effective over time.
Thank you so much for talking with me today Laura and Sarah. I think I could have chatted to you for hours! I am so excited to see what you achieve with Neve in the next 12 months.
All of the beautiful Neve Wellness products can be found just here.