As a busy mom, I love that all-natural, just out of the shower fresh feeling which is why I turn to Ari Rose Body Care. Ari Rose Body Care is a Chicago-based body care company founded in 2016 by fellow mompreneur Jessica Winns. Her dissatisfaction with the harsh chemicals found in many commercially produced body care products spurred her desire to create something better. Ari Rose now has a dedicated following of people who flock to these all-natural products regularly.

I for one am a fan! Even living in Mexico, I place my Ari Rose order and caravan it across the border. It’s just that good! I had the pleasure of interviewing Ari Rose founder, Jessica Winns and picking her brain to learn more about her vision, her products and her company’s next steps. Oh, and be sure to read until the end, there’s a special gift just for you!

Gabriella: I love Ari Rose products. Clean, natural and consistent quality! What was the motivation behind beginning your company Ari Rose?

Jessica: For so long I was researching and learning all about the foods I consumed. I was super conscious about what I was putting INSIDE my body and yet completely ignorant about what I was putting ON my body. Our skin is the body’s largest organ, and what goes on it can impact our health. Reading label after label, I realized how many chemicals I was putting on my body. It pissed me off, honestly!

There just had to be something better. I actually thought it would be cool to make my own, using food-based ingredients. I figured, “Hey, if it has great health benefits when I eat it, I’m sure it can be beneficial for my skin!” The research agreed. So, I started making products that were not just natural, but incorporated what I like to call “skin food,” such as coconut milk, raw honey, oatmeal, cinnamon, and more.

When I posted my new hobby on Facebook, people began asking if I was selling the product. I sold it to a few people not realizing how well it would end up working on their skin. It was truly an “accidental” company. However, the more I tried to run away from it, the more people kept asking, “When are you going to make more?” Eventually, I stepped up to the plate and answered the call.

Ari and Rose are the middle names of my two daughters. They were my inspiration for making product in the first place, it was only fitting for me to name the company after them. 

Gabriella: What are the major differences between your Ari Rose soaps and creams and commercial ones? Why do ingredients matter?

That’s a loaded question because there are SO many differences between Ari Rose products and commercial brands. One thing that many don’t know is that commercial “soaps” are not really soap! Sounds crazy, but if you actually read the label, they may say “beauty bar,” or “moisturizing bar,” or “body wash,” but not the actual word “soap.” Recently I saw a well-known “soap” brand for sensitive skin that said “soap free bar.” I was like, “Wait, say what!?” The formulations are not actual soap, rather a chemical combination that typically creates something more along the lines of detergent. So, yea, you’re basically washing your body with detergent. It’s nuts, but true!

Ari Rose soaps are in fact soap, made the old fashioned way with (vegetable) fats and (food-grade) lye. The lye saponifies the fats, creating a reaction that produces glycerine and hardens the fats into what we call soap. Most commercial brands extract the glycerine that’s produced from this process and sell it to the cosmetic industry. What’s left is the detergent I mentioned before. Ari Rose soaps are the real deal, and you can feel the difference immediately! 

Our creams are natural too! Your average lotion is 80% water. That means: 1. you’re not really getting much that is actually going to effectively moisturize your skin, 2. preservatives and emulsifiers have to be used in order to keep the water and oils blended, and ward off bacterial growth, 3. most of the time lotions and creams are also made with a plethora of harmful, harsh, laboratory made chemicals that do not actually feed the skin, but can instead dry it out, cause irritation or other issues. 

Ari Rose creams are made solely of the butters and oils listed in the ingredients. No water added. You need less to hydrate the skin, and it lasts longer than conventional lotions. Plus, you’re actually replenishing and hydrating the skin with oils and butters that are known to repair the skin, providing a healthy, vibrant glow. 

Gabriella: I love my Midnight Tide bar soap. It’s got a great scent, lathers so well, and is hydrating! What are some of your favorite/signature products?

Thank you! Midnight Tide is formulated with pure essential oils which produces its signature scent. I use only essential oils in my product. Yes, essential oils are more expensive than fragrance oils but unlike fragrances, essential oils have a plethora of benefits not only for the skin but for aromatherapy as well.

I truly love all my products. I know I’m biased but I use them all! Soaps and creams are used daily, and I enjoy that it’s such a simple routine because they are both full-body. I use my skin scrubs to exfoliate and the Black Butter mask 1-2 times a week. If I had to pick one favorite it would be “My Little Secret.” Not because it’s better than any of the other products, but because it’s unlike any product on the market, so I’m very proud and excited about it. 

Gabriella: Speaking of, please do tell me all about your latest innovation, “My Little Secret.” What are the benefits and why does every woman need it in their life.

Yes! I love talking about “My Little Secret.” Mainly because it’s a product designed specifically for an area that most women do not talk about. The Vagina! I understand it’s a taboo subject, heck, I’ve even had to get over saying the word “Vagina” out loud, in conversation. However, the more I discuss it, the more I realize that the conversations need to be had. 

Essentially, “My Little Secret” is a topical cream made specifically for the woman’s genital area. It can be used as a feminine care deodorant, during intimate moments with our partners of just because! As women, we want to feel good for ourselves, which is what most of my customers love about this formulation. “My Little Secret” provides that extra level of self-care that women deserve to experience!

The best part about the product is that unlike other feminine care products on the market, MLS is made with a blend of essential oils that will not harm the woman’s natural pH. It is gentle, plant-based, and provides a superior fresh feeling throughout the day. One customer said it best when she told me, “I apply My Little Secret after I shower in the morning. I take the kids to school, go to work, get off work, go to the gym, after that I go pick up the kids, go to the grocery store, go home and make dinner, and when I go to use the bathroom at the end of the day, the only thing I smell is MLS.” She made me promise I would not be selling out of the product any time soon!

Gabriella: What is new on the horizon for Ari Rose?

As a new start-up, Ari Rose is plugging along. The product was recently brought into a store in Chicago called Chicago Health Foods. There are a few more retailers interested in carrying Ari Rose. The products were recently featured on ABC’s Windy City Live. I’m currently a one-woman operation and full-time mommy of two, so I’m looking to hire a few interns this summer and get into local festivals, markets, and more.

Look out for Ari Rose and if you see us, come by and say hi! If you own a shop or store and are interested in carrying Ari Rose products, please do not hesitate to contact AriRoseBodyCare@gmail.com to learn more about wholesale options. 

I am so grateful to Jessica for taking the time to answer these questions. If you’re dying to try the one-of-a-kind formulation, My Little Secret, my personal fave, Midnight Tide bar soap, or any of the other amazing Ari Rose Body Care products, visit their website today. And as a follower of this blog, enter promo code SLAY at check-out for a 10% off first time purchase! *Discount cannot be applied with any other discount, offer or on sale items. Expires: June 30, 2017.*

For more information visit the Ari Rose Body Care website: www.AriRoseBodyCare.com. You can also connect with Ari Rose on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

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