Opal's Handmade: All-Natural All-Local Skin Care

Opal's Handmade: All-Natural All-Local Skin Care

Opal’s Handmade sells natural, bath and body products made locally. Owner Nadine Bartlett says, “I love when my customers return and tell me how much they love our products. There is nothing better than knowing that my customers are seeing the result of my hard work.” She holds a diploma in organic skincare formulation from Formula Botanica and intends to receive an advanced diploma in organic cosmetic science in January 2021. Previously an ordained minister and magistrate with a catering business, she taught herself how to make soap.

Expanding from 2018’s Opal’s Handmade Soapery, Bartlett felt that many of the commercial products had too many additives and fillers, and wanted to expand her brand into body creams, hair, skin and home products. She changed the name to Opal’s Handmade this year. Her products include soap bars, liquid soap, body creams, hair and face serums, natural deodorant and other skincare products, and fulfills custom formulations upon request.

Everything is cruelty-, phthalate-, formaldehyde- and paraben-free. “That was one of my motivations for starting this business. We always endeavor to use ingredients that we believe are healthy and safe. I have spent countless hours ensuring that what I am making for my family and my customers is nothing but the best. I work with suppliers who are able to provide traceability and have the necessary certification for the raw materials we use. This is crucial for all my formulations. I also source ingredients from suppliers with good social responsibility values.

“By using less harmful ingredients, we can help to reduce our carbon footprint. We try as much as possible at Opal’s Handmade to use packaging that will help reduce our contribution to the land fill by using paper and glass mainly to package our products,” advises Bartlett. “We source cruelty-free ingredients and it’s wonderful, because we know that we are doing our part to help save the animals.”

All products are available at their online store and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays at the Ocala Downtown Market, at 310 Southeast 3rd Street. Best-sellers include a Revive Frankincense and Myrrh Face Bar; a men’s Bay & Amber bar; Black Castor Hair Serum; clay face masks; and a colorful mosaic handmade soap tray.

Bartlett just introduced her Revitalizing Face Serum, a lightweight oil with great absorbability and full of wonderful ingredients. She says, “We have just launched our wax melts and wax warmers, and by November our new line of luxury candles will be ready in time for the holidays.”

Opal’s Handmade is located in Ocala. For more information, call 347-276-4662. Order online at OpalsHandmade.com.