How Tanya juggled life with kids, work and studying natural skincare to launch her beauty brand, Indagare Beauty

Stress levels, diet, I tried everything. I’d used dermatologist-prescribed creams and antibiotics, and my frustration levels were rising. The creams would clear it up, the first week or two would be great, and then other issues would arise. I was in my 40s by this stage, so the visible signs of aging started to bother me. The creams would strip my skin so it really wasn’t looking plump or healthy, and nothing was working long term.

I’d do these massive detoxes and juice cleanses. Yet I was getting my prescription creams and one day I looked down and saw a poison warning, and I thought, ‘oh, I wonder what’s in this’. The irony really hit me that I’m checking pollution levels, eating well – and putting god knows what on my skin.

We registered the business and I was then really drawn to the School of Natural Skincare. I liked the fact that they were a couple with young kids. I really related to that as my whole career had been built around my family. Gareth being an aromatherapist appealed to me because of what I was experiencing from essential oils and plant oils. So, I wasn’t necessarily thinking that the business would go anywhere or do much, but I signed up to do the course, and I ended up developing my Signature Night Recovery oil.

When the kids were in bed I’d do the course. I got so used to putting that time in, it’s part of my life now. I’ll finish work, I’ll finish with the kids and at night time I work on Indagare. It was good to make the time for the course because if you are going to go somewhere with your business, you’re going to have to carve out time. I’m probably similar to a lot of people, I didn’t have thousands of dollars to invest, I’ve got a mortgage, I’ve got two kids, I’m just a normal everyday mom who’s really passionate about what I’m doing. So, that time has to be found somewhere.

There’s a lot of misinformation on the internet, much of it unsafe. If anyone is thinking about selling or giving products to other people to use, consider doing a course like this where you’re dealing with facts. You owe it to yourself, and you owe it to the people who are going to use your products.

One thing the course really taught me that I constantly have to bring myself back to, is: what am I trying to achieve here? Who am I formulating it for? What is it? It’s a small discipline but it’s really important – because otherwise you can go off on all sorts of tangents.

I started by thinking it’s just a formula, I wanted to make beautiful products and help people with their skin and suddenly I had to design packaging and deal with suppliers. It’s a learning curve!

Definitely do it. Anyone considering, do it. If you have an inkling that you want to start a beauty business, or if you just want to make products to give to people or even for yourself: just do it!