Who is Michelle?

I'm Michelle Howard and I am the creator of Blended Naturals, a line of natural skin care products for women of color.

There's a ton of stuff I could share about me but I'd either bore you to tears or run out of bandwidth (space on the website). So I'll focus on sharing a little about what makes me tick and the vision I have for Blended Naturals.

Things I Love

I love pretty things and smelling nice. What lady doesn't?

I love essential oils. They are great for so many things from smelling nice to getting rid of pain.

I love to sing but can't.

I love dogs but am allergic.

I love to write short pieces of informative info. that help me connect with my readers.

I love my life and the people I spend it with (Husband, 3 Children and Catherine - oh she's my cat who thinks she's human)

Last, but certainly not least, I love Jesus for saving me from a life of sin.

 

What Irks me

Because I like to smell nice, it really irks the heck out of me that most of the beauty products on the market are filled with such junk.  Sure, there are some quality brands but they are few and far between. Most of the natural product lines are unheard of (like Blended Naturals).

Now, don't get me wrong.  I realize that micro-organisms can grow in products if you don't use some sort of preservative.  But there are some preservatives that are just down right evil! (ex: Methylparabens, Butylparabens)  Depending on how long a product will be stored, there are natural preservatives that can be used.

It bothers me that people will not think twice of buying a product by a well known company (no names but one sounds like Other Girl) without considering the ingredient list.  Then, they come a cross a brand made by a small business owner or entrepreneur and because they have never heard of them before, they won't give them a second thought.  Heck, they won't even give them a first thought.  But that's not you because if you have read this far, you're at least considering that I could offer you something pretty cool.

 

Other Random Stuff

• I have a little boy with special needs and being his mom is the best thing in the world.
• I reside in Westchester County, just outside of New York City
• I write a blog for special needs moms like me to share experiences and tips on balancing life.  It's located here: Special Mom Space
• I run another online store that sells stress and alternative pain relief products at http://www.antistressandpain.com

My Vision for Blended Naturals

So, I used to think I'd appear on Oprah one day, sharing how and why I began my business.  I've since given up that dream.  Besides, Oprah ruined it for me when she decided to cancel her show.

But realistically, my vision for Blended Naturals is really not that complicated.  I want to share my passion for nature based products with as many women like me as I can.  Yes, my Caucasian sisters can also benefit from using the products.  However, I find that I can be most real and best understood by my ethnic sisters.

The Blended Naturals line is handcrafted with women of color in mind.  I know that we like to be divas but most of us don't want the snotty attitude that divas tend to have.  Really, we just want to be fly girls right?

So, I plan to take Blended Naturals as far as the Lord will allow me.  In my mind, the line is perfect for spas across America.  For now, I have begun by introducing the products to women at local events, on social networks and right here on this site.

But the products are not all I have to offer. I also aim to educate my sisters on how to properly care for their skin while sharing some icky chemicals to avoid.  

Women of color tend to age gracefully by nature. That's good.  Looking young longer is always good.  However, many nasty chemicals in skin care products will accelerate the aging process and that's just not acceptable.

So, I am starting where I am...writing blog posts, articles and sharing what I know and am learning.

To stay informed and help you look your most radiant, I put together the Radiant Skin Newsletter.  You'll receive tips, helpful hints, product offers and more.  Sign up for it here and you'll receive a Basically Beautiful Tips guide to get you started.