From Academia to Astrology: Deb’s Skin Care Story
Aicila: [00:00:00] Hey there. Welcome back to Business as Unusual. In today's episode, we're diving into the world of skincare with Deb from her eclipse. She and I chatted about her journey from higher education to launching a natural organic skincare line alongside her son, while also tying in a fascinating astrological twist.
Whether you're curious about using herbs on your skin or just want a fun, listen, you're in the right place. Let's get into it
Aicila: hello Deb. Welcome to Business is Unusual. Welcome. Glad to have you here.
Deb: Thank you. Very happy to be here.
Aicila: I know we, for folks that are listening, we've, we had to be very committed to this, so it's exciting that we're getting a chance to have this conversation. So, Deb is a founder, or co-founder, I should say, of Herbal Eclipse, which is a business that produces skincare products. organic, all natural organic skincare products that align with Zodiac signs.
I know you're curious about this, but you're gonna have to wait. Deb's path to this was very [00:01:00] interesting. She started out in higher education and this was something she did at home for her family, and as more. And of course her kids were like, whatever, mom. 'cause that's what our kids do. And then over time, as different reports have come out about the benefits of things that are a little bit more natural and have fewer toxic chemicals.
I know, I know we're thinking toxic chemicals. Of course there's benefits not to having that. However, it's taken a little while for the, the business world and communities to catch up. Her son suggested that they start selling those products and Herbal Eclipse was born. We're gonna talk a little bit about organic skincare products and astrology and running, maybe running a business with your kid or I so I appreciate you being here. Talk about all of these different things.
Deb: Thank you. This is one. These are some of my favorite topics to talk about,
Aicila: mm-hmm. Well, and it, it's interesting. I, I feel like. end up in that space sometimes of, before we were chatting, [00:02:00] you talked about, it's a little woo and, and it's tricky, right? Because there's a place where you don't, you don't wanna be spouting off stuff and, and feel crazy. And also there are things that, that we're learning. I sometimes I feel like it's, we forget that. What was sort of accepted practice maybe 50 years ago. We've learned a lot of things about why it is and isn't good and that's, that's like, and part of how you learn it is you question what's there and you develop new understandings and new information. So what, what seems maybe woo today might just be the way things are in 50 years.
We don't know. And so being, being dismissive isn't really helpful to anybody. That's one of my personal. Like perspectives that I'm guessing with the nodding that you agree with that. And one of the things that you talked about wishing more people knew was that even most of the [00:03:00] really expensive skincare products featured in high-end magazines and stores, I include ingredients that are bad for your skin, which I thought was kind of interesting and I'd love, do you have any more details on that, that you can like, or, or things you can point to?
Deb: Mm-hmm.
Aicila: That that would be helpful for people to kind of start to understand and make that connection.
Deb: I think there's, there's so much evidence out there that it's pretty easily accessible if you Google right? I think it, I think it's there on the internet. What astounds me is how, even though we know that so many of these ingredients are not good for our skin. Companies continue to use them and people continue to buy them.
And even just, for example, just perfume, those perfumes, those expensive perfumes you're paying a hundred or more dollars for, they're so bad for your, for, for your health, your skin. It's all a chemical synthetic scent. [00:04:00] And you know, sometimes they'll have some essential oils in there. Yes. But overall, and you're putting that on your skin, and our skin is the largest organ in our body.
So what you put on your skin gets absorbed, it gets into your body. And I remember reading an article once how in Europe there is like a list of maybe 75 ingredients that are you're, that are not allowed to be. Put in skincare products over there, but here they're okay. Right. I, you know, and maybe to some extent that's changing or maybe there's even more now.
So Yeah. I think it's pretty well known that some of these things, like especially the synthetic fragrances, that's, you know, number one also preservatives. That's ano, that's a big one. And that's a really important one because you really can't sell skincare products without some sort of preservative. So we had to work pretty hard on our formulations to find ways to find organic approved Echo cert approved [00:05:00] preservatives.
And they're a little fussy, so you have to, you know, work on them. And I think the bottom line as far as the commercial products go, that you'll find in the big stores is they have a price point they need to get to, right. And they just can't afford. To use the products that we use. So yes, our products end up being more expensive because of our ingredients.
I mean, just the essential oils. 'cause we use organic EV wherever we can. It makes it more expensive, but we don't have the overhead of that, you know, trying to get into those big stores and pulling out, taking out ads and magazines and that sort of thing. So we try to balance it that way because we are a small you know, family owned business.
We make our products in small batches, ship them right away. They're not stored in some warehouse for five years, that sort of thing. I think I rambled on and on. Did I answer your question?
Aicila: You did. I have a que. So in terms of the preservative piece, 'cause that is something I've noticed in, I work with several companies that have, more [00:06:00] organic or, or if they use food preserves or whatever and there is that, that expiration date kinda looms heavy. How, how do you guys handle that?
Deb: Well first of all, skincare products are meant to be used, right? So, soap, our, our hand and body wash, hopefully you're using it every day. The moisturizer and the lotion, these are things you use every day. So the expiration date really should not be an issue if you're using skincare. But our products certainly aren't products that you wanna get as a gift and then save them for some special day, five years down the line.
That just doesn't work that way. And it's not even, I mean, we do have the preservatives to help keep them, you know, clean and shelf happy for, you know, for probably about a year. At the same time, you know, herbal ingredients, they're stronger. When they're fresher, right? Five years down the line, you're not getting the same benefits from those wonderful herbal ingredients that you would if you're using them when you got them.
Aicila: Right. [00:07:00] Well, and so that's the, on the customer side, and then on on your side, it sounds like you make, when you say you make small batches so that, that you prevent, try to kind of maybe keep it to the, try to produce to the level of expected purchase, which I think people usually do, but it sounds to me like you might kind of like a restaurant might need to be even more precise in that.
Deb: Yes. Yes. We have to be careful not to make more than we need. And then we, you know, then we expect to sell, be for that reason. Yeah.
Aicila: Well, and it's interesting, I don't know, did you hear about the lint chocolate lawsuit
Deb: Um.
Aicila: years ago?
Deb: Was that, was that because there might be peanuts that were on, not mentioned or something? I don't remember. There's been a lot recently. I've heard also about a skincare line that had to recall an expensive skincare line, had to recall products, but I'm not sure. What's the lin one?
Aicila: So, do you know the little chocolate, those like chocolate lint
Deb: Mm-hmm.
Aicila: or lint chocolate? It's, you know, it's billed as kind of a premium chocolate and they had a lawsuit in [00:08:00] 2023 because they, you know. marketed themselves as expertly crafted with finest ingredients, safe as well as delightful. And they had unsafe le high unsafely, high levels of lead and cadmium
Deb: Oh.
Aicila: And and they tried to to say that, well, you know, saying it's premium chocolate doesn't mean anything. And the judge was sort of like, yeah, but we sort of expect no toxic. Chemicals in our premium, anything like that's not, and I thought that was an interesting argument they were making with it doesn't really mean anything. at the same time that they, they lost because of that. I mean, I, it kind of made me bummed out because I was like, I like Lynch ho, did I like the lead? I don't know.
Deb: All right, so now I'm gonna bum you out even more because unfortunately that's not a lint chocolate problem. That's a chocolate industry problem. I, I remember reading some reports not that long ago probably around the same time [00:09:00] as this lawsuit that I think most of the chocolate tested on the market had.
Unhealthy levels of, or, you know, unacceptable levels of lead in cadmium. And it, so it wasn't, it wasn't lint, it was the, it's the supply. And I, and also that included organic chocolate, by the way. Now I'm a huge chocolate fan. It's probably my favorite food group. Right. But I stopped eating most chocolate around that time because when I Googled.
What brand didn't have high levels of lead and cadmium? I couldn't find one.
Aicila: Mm-hmm.
Deb: until I find one that says we're tested. So unfortunately it's not a lint problem, it's a chocolate problem. And that has to do with with the chocolate growing industry we're processing. Unfortunately, but yeah, but that's the kind of thing we're talking about and that's why I say we use organic products ingredients.
You know, I would say probably about [00:10:00] at least 95%, I mean, some of ours are a hundred percent organic, but uh, you know, there's some products you can't get organic. Um, but you get wild wildcrafted, so you know that that's hopefully okay. But the point I am making is that if you're not using only organic ingredients.
You're getting all the pesticides in your skincare products, so you're slathering on some, you know, pesticide along with your anti-wrinkle cream, you know, and that, but people don't wanna pay the extra money for, for organic ingredients. So at some point we have to consider, okay, what are we willing to pay the higher price for?
And I'm saying, if it's going on the largest organ of your body every day. You really need to get the highest quality ingredients. If it's something you're just gonna have once, a couple, few times a year, no biggie, right?
Aicila: Yeah. No, that isn't, that's an imp I think that's a useful [00:11:00] perspective. do you have any stories about I know that you shared some stories about the, or your son did, about things that you would make for your kids, but what was your aha moment where you realized, was it something you, you, when you were making these things for your family, was it because. You liked making things and it felt good, or did you have an experience or something that you, that, that kind of prompted you? 'cause it is a little bit of effort to, to do this
Deb: Yeah.
Aicila: for your family.
Deb: Well, I, I'd have to say that it probably began with an interest in alternative health because I happen to have health issues that conventional medicine can't help. All they can do is throw medicines at the symptoms. And so I was forced out of, for there's no choice to seek. Something that would help.
And I've tried almost every alternative therapy under the sun. And, and then until eventually I found things that worked for all of my issues, which made me, you know, encourage me to believe that [00:12:00] if you, if you work hard enough at it, you will find something that will help. But I'm also thrilled. It's like, oh my God, this is.
Free, painless, you know? Alright. Not free if it's, especially if it's herbal ingredients, but it's painless. No side effects and it's amazing. So then I just, that's what really got me into herbalism in the first place. So I started a deep dive studying everything I could and. So yes, I got into it for health reasons.
And then the, the same, all the courses that I was taking as I was learning about herbalism, they kept coming up with, you know, they offering these recipes for different fun products, right? And I'm thinking, oh, that would be fun to make. So I started making them and. And then, you know, my son had a, had an issue, a skin issue on his scalp that came coming back.
So he said, Hey, can you make me a, a serum for my hair? So I did, and, and again, I'm just experimenting. We're just throwing stuff together [00:13:00] and amazingly enough it made that scalp issue disappear. And he is had this for years. He'd have to get these really strong prescription products right to, to get rid of it.
And now. Our, our little natural, all natural health hair serum made it disappear. So that's when I really got excited about, it's like, alright, well I'm certainly not about to come out into the alternative health market. No, this is the skincare line for, you know, beauty for self-care. But if I'm putting in these wonderful herbs that are not only good for the skin, but have some health benefits.
All the better, right? So, these are not marketed or intended to help any health issues. And to be perfectly honest, if you really have serious skin issues, you do have to go to a dermatologist and, you know, we for treat, you know, for, for a therapeutic dose, you might have more of one ingredient than another.
And that's not our goal here. But these amazing ingredients that [00:14:00] we use are very healthy for the skin. They're, they're nourishing, they're protective, and they can prevent health skin issues just for just, you know, just by virtue of the fact that you're not slathering on all those chemicals on your skin, you're, you're healing the skin and especially on, on the face when you, the skin barrier is what protects.
It's the first line of, of defense for your immune system, right, is the skin barrier. So if your skin is healthy. You're boosting your immunity just by virtue of that. But all these chemicals and things that we're putting on our skin and even in our, in our soap and our moisturizers and are, are damaging that skin barrier, letting things in.
So just by not adding the, the nasty stuff, you're preserving your skin barrier, which is boosting your, the protective function, the barrier function. And then in addition, we're adding all these great herbs that support not just herbs, oils, butters, right, not [00:15:00] butters,
Aicila: Mm-hmm.
Deb: That support the skin barrier function.
So it does help preventive and, and part of that prevention, what it prevents is also even aging those chemicals and, you know, and a damaged skin barrier for that, that accelerates wrinkles and aging in the skin. So in that sense. It's also, it also helps your skin stay looking younger.
Aicila: So you're not suggesting the blood of a unicorn, you're suggesting the herbs and moisturizing That's
Deb: and not putting those synthetic fragrances and preservatives and God knows what, and drying like emulsifiers. Every cream on the market practically has to have an emulsifier to get the oil in the water component ingredients to mix well. Most of those emulsifiers are chemical that actually dry your skin, so you're putting on that really expensive moisturizer and it's drying out your, there's a big ingredient there that's drying out your skin.
Ours are formulated without those harsh emulsifiers, only natural [00:16:00] emulsifiers there, or ingredients that perform the function of an emulsifier. That's a tremendous difference.
Aicila: Mm-hmm. It's, I mean, that makes sense. you have any any tips you, for people like, it's, let's say, I'm just, I'm new to this topic and I'm, there's, I think two, two different things we could do, maybe talking about. Like, let's, they want to, they want, they wanna make a shift, like maybe they usually get stuff at, at a big box store, but they're not sure where to start, right?
Like, they don't, they don't wanna spend $150 on, on stuff they've never tried. So how, what, what should they look for? How should they kind of dip their toe in to get a sense of what, what might be a good step for them?
Deb: It's a great question. I think for starters, I would recommend that people go to the herbal Eclipse experience, which they can get to from our website, herbal eclipse.care the herbal eclipse. [00:17:00] Experience is really an educational and experiential I don't know, virtual place space where so I have, we have videos there that explain about, you know, some of the good herbs that we put in our products.
We're adding more as we go on but it talks about what's the connection between herbs and health. What's the connection between astrology and herbs? What's the connection between astrology and health? What is astrology for people who don't know? And and I think that's a good place to get some questions answered.
But as far as trying goes you know, there's nothing like trying. We do have a sample pack that we're will be available on our website in about a week that people can order with these small trial sizes. I mean, real trial sizes but the truth is. The best way is to just try one product and, you know, start with one product.
For many women it might, they might wanna start with a moisturizer, right? Because the everyone's interested in keeping the skin on [00:18:00] their face as healthy and youthful looking as possible. But if you're someone like me who after every single shower puts on body lotion, then. Think about the quantities of product you're putting on your skin every day.
So that might be a great place to start just because it covers so much of your body and so much gets absorbed. And then at the same time, soap, you, you know, you wash your hands how many times a day, and then you can also use it in the shower. So I just like, I would just pick a product and try it and, and see how it works for you.
As far as the astrological signs go, you can you know, people can get into that as much or as little as they want. For those who aren't interested in astrology, just pick a sign. That sounds cool, right? Because they're all, they're all gonna have benefits and all you humans have each of the signs represented in them.
And EI and I even just. You know, seeing which scents [00:19:00] appeal to you. 'cause we have a special essential oil blend that we put in for each astrological sign, as well as adjusting some of the herbs infused oils for the each sign. But you know, you might just really be attracted to the Aquarius scent, right?
And that's a good enough reason. You know, something in there is speaking to you. 'cause those fragrances, those ingredients in the Aquarius product is speaking to you on an energetic level. And so, you know, there, it doesn't even have to be conscious, just pick anything. Or if you do like astrology, you only know your sun side.
Try something with your sun sign or mix 'em up. Get your soap with your sun sign. Get the lotion with your moon sign, and. I randomly guess at another one. You know it. At the end of the day, I feel like you're gonna end up with the one that you should end up with for whatever reason, right.
Aicila: Thanks. So [00:20:00] will you talk a little bit about working in, in partnership with your son? I think that's. think that's something that is kind of unusual. I don't think it's as unusual as we think it is. I don't think it gets talked about very often 'cause there's a lot of dynamics to that. And I'm curious if you have any tips or challenges or successes that, that feel like they might be interesting or helpful to other people to understand.
Deb: I think, you know, it's a great question and I think at the end of the day it's gonna be different for every, in every instance just because it depends on the personalities involved. Right.
Aicila: Mm.
Deb: I think my son and I have. The type of rapport that makes it easy to work together. So to be honest, it's been fun, right?
We've, it's, it's been a lot of fun and it gives us something to do together. And, you know, with adult children, that's, you don't always get that. But also I think the fact that we each have our own specialty area of, you know, I'm the formulator, I'm the herbalist, I'm the astrologer. He's more, you know, [00:21:00] doing the business.
Uh, side of things as well as in production. I mean, he's right there with me as we create the products together. But so having the, our different areas of expertise, I think also is important so that we don't feel like we're crowding each other right.
Aicila: Mm-hmm.
Deb: micromanaging each other.
Aicila: I think that's great for friends who work together and partners as well. That being really clear on those areas of authority can honestly, in any business, be ex extremely beneficial to success and delete like lower friction. What advice would you give your 18-year-old self.
Deb: I have no regrets. I'm not saying everything's perfect by any means, but even from the experiences that aren't so amazing, we learn and grow. So, uh, eight 10, trying to think, where was I at 18? I was having a lot of fun at 18. I would [00:22:00] just say keep on being true to who you are. I'm an aquarium son, so I'm always a square peg in a round hole, so I'm kind of used to that and. Just trust yourself and just be, be you.
Aicila: Nice. What does success look like for you with this business?
Deb: Success. Success would be steady, consistent income that allows us to fill orders with joy rather than stress. Right. And then be able to expand outward. I mentioned the herbal eclipse experience. We, you know, I want, we wanna put ideas for self-care in there. So there's a guided meditation there now for and other self-care rituals and. I would love to be able to do more experiential things with customers or people who are interested. That would be success. So basically to have a steady, [00:23:00] stable income so that we can work with that with joy rather than stress and be in feeling like we're providing a service um. Both to our clients and something that's good for the planet, right?
Aicila: Mm-hmm. I'm for that. Is there anything you're doing? It sounds like you're expanding the, the herbal eclipse experience. Are there anything, other things that you're adding on or expanding that you're excited about or that you wanna share with people? This comes out April 28th, so
Deb: Okay, well we just launched, so we're still in our, you know, our initial launch phase. So we, we launched with our core products, which is the Bath and Body Wash, the Lip Balm, two moisturizers, one for mature skin, one for younger skin, and our Alchemy lotion, which is a lighter lotion. Our alchemy butter, which is a much richer cream, [00:24:00] uh, is coming out soon.
And we do have other products that we are gonna come out with down the line but I would just, you know, try these basics, the everyday basics that we have, and it's a great gift idea for mom. Mother's Day is coming up, graduation is coming up. These are great gift ideas, uh, because sometimes someone may not splurge to spend on something special for themselves, but they'll really appreciate having these organic, natural
Herbal products gifted to them.
Aicila: Mm-hmm. No, it's really true. I always love that. It's a, it's a, it's nice to be thought of in that way, and I think you mentioned it before, but if people wanna learn more, get in touch, look at your products, what's the, what's the best way for them to do that?
Deb: The best ways. The website herbal eclipse.care on there people can join our email list and get information. For example, every month I host a new moon meditation in the herbal Eclipse experience where we just. Get together. The New [00:25:00] Moon is a magical time for setting intentions for things that you wanna manifest.
And each one has the unique properties of that new moon. So I, I teach a little bit about the meaning of that new moon. What good in intent, what intentions are, would be aligned with that. And then there's a. Very brief guided meditation, and then we just meditate silently for a few minutes. So they, people can get to that from the herbal Eclipse experience.
Also, our email is up there, support@herbaleclipse.care. We're always happy to hear from customers. And we will be posting to social media soon.
Aicila: I wanna say I am sorry and posting to social media now. Well, and I, I will put a plugin for the meditation. I am not a. I've always been dubious about like online meditations. And a, a friend of mine, uh, uh, was telling me she was going to it, and I, I had a meeting so I couldn't attend, and she raved about it.
She couldn't stop talking about how [00:26:00] impactful it was and, and just how somehow, even though it was online, it felt very present. And I, and I say somehow just because to me, that online experience can feel a little disconnecting. And, and from what she said, it, it had me. Wanna go, I put it on my calendar to, to try and get to one of the next ones because it was just really, she seemed to be so affected by how powerful it was.
It was a
Deb: That's wonderful to hear.
Aicila: in case they didn't tell you that directly. 'cause people don't always, and just to pass it on to folks that are listening. So even if you don't live anywhere near where Deb is, which we're not gonna tell you anyway, you can find her on the internet and go through meditation.
So.
Deb: Exactly, although for anyone who's interested, we are located in Boston
Aicila: Okay, well there you go. I just, you know, and,
Deb: and the next New Moon,
Is on the 27th,
Aicila: Perfect. So.
Deb: so 27th at eight o'clock. And again, the signup can be found. In the Go brunch experience. There's a calendar with a click, a link to register.
Aicila: And that's [00:27:00] eight o'clock Eastern time.
Deb: Eight o'clock Eastern time. Yes. On
Aicila: All right,
Deb: the 20. Yeah.
Aicila: Well, thank you so much for chatting about what you're up to and filling people in. I really appreciate it.
Deb: I had a lot of fun. Thanks so much for having me.
Aicila: Yay. See you guys next week.
Aicila: . Thanks for tuning into my chat with Deb, co-founder of Herbal Eclipse. I hope you enjoy Deb's insights on the importance of avoiding harmful ingredients in skincare products and embracing natural al alternatives for healthier skin.
To learn more about this family run business, check out their website, herb eclipse.care, and don't miss a chance to join their new Moon meditations for holistic experience. This could be a great gift for Mother's Day. If you're looking for something I.
Aicila: Next week, tune in to discover how clinging to certainty or outdated tools could be the hidden obstacles to your success. As we dive into letting go of safety nets on the next episode of business as unusual.
Aicila: Thank you for tuning into business. As unusual, remember, in this ever evolving world of [00:28:00] modern business, it's not about fitting in. It's about standing out. See you next time. Stay curious, stay innovative, and always keep it unusual.
