I first started Bona Dea Naturals in March 2016. I had struggled with vaginal infections my entire life and traditional pharmaceuticals often made little difference. I really wanted to find something that actually worked to lessen my issues without having to take regular medications. I had heard that some essential oils had antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, so I began reading university and medical studies on essential oils, to determine if there was really science to back up these claims. From this initial research, I began experimenting with different recipes, using the essential oils that seemed to perform best in studies. I had to also do general research about formulation. You see, my career background has nothing to do with health or formulation! I've worked in education and nonprofits my entire life so I had never done medical research or explored making my own natural health and beauty product. Beyond just Googling and researching how to make natural topical formulations, I actually reached out to a local artisan who had a natural cosmetics shop and worked with her to finalize my formulation. Even after all that research, I still had questions and she helped explain things like why you want to avoid water-based ingredients in your natural formulation (or, what you would need to include in your formulation if you chose water-based ingredients to avoid the introduction of bacterial growth). After months of trial and error, I finalized my recipe and had an oil-blend that actually outperformed any OTC product I had ever used. For me, the biggest difference was having an expert I could turn to and ask questions of. There are lots of people who have been creating natural health and beauty products for decades that would likely be willing to consult with or mentor anyone who is just starting out. There are classes available, both in-person and online, and these would be great resources as well for gaining a good foundation for beginners.
Yes, I've made my own topical blends a few times, particularly for skincare. One of my favorite creations was a soothing face oil blend using jojoba oil, lavender essential oil, and rosehip oil. I had noticed my skin feeling a bit dry and irritated from seasonal changes, so I researched natural oils with calming properties. The lavender helped with inflammation, while the rosehip oil added moisture and helped with skin regeneration. My advice for aspiring DIY skincare enthusiasts would be to always research the properties of each ingredient, and start small with a patch test. I learned this the hard way when I mixed too many active ingredients at once and ended up with irritation. Another tip is to keep your formulations simple, especially when starting out. Focus on a few key ingredients that are known to benefit your skin type, and always store your blends in a cool, dark place to preserve their potency.