Journeys

Journeys BUSINESS JOURNEYS: JOURNEYS: All the ideas for our products have come from the skin issues experienced by those close to us

When Malika Aswani entered her forties, she resumed studying when her daughter Prerna went to university. Now they own their own skincare company… ‘M Y interest in holistic health started when my son, who is a special needs young person, with multiple health issues, had to take a lot of medication and antibiotics with so many side effects. It was incredibly painful to see him suffer like that and be so helpless about it. And so I decided I needed to do something about it,’ Malika explained. ‘I studied naturopathic nutrition, so that I could heal my son through nutrition and alternative medicine. I was able to tackle a lot of his health issues through natural remedies and soon my family and friends were coming to me with their skin and health issues. That sparked my interest in crafting my own blends for skin and hair care.’

Prerna added, ‘Although I work full-time in the notfor-profit sector, I’ve found that working with Mum has unlocked skills and potential within me that I didn’t know I even had. We are able to support and encourage each other whenever we face a challenge. My motivation comes from the desire to bring my mother’s talent and creativity in her handmade blends to a wider audience.’

Prerna Aswani Malika & Malika agreed, ‘Prerna really pushes me out of my comfort zone to try new things to expand the business, like putting myself out there on social media through videos and reels on Instagram, or selling in person at Greenwich Market instead of just online. Prerna is always in a rush, she’s 100 miles an hour, whereas I’m more about creating new blends and continual innovation, so we’ve learned to adjust to each other’s working styles.’ Prerna agreed, ‘It’s a learning curve, but I genuinely think our differences make us stronger together.’ ‘All the ideas for our products have come from the skin issues experienced by those close to us. Prerna never had time for a multi-step skincare routine, so that led to our Glow Me Moisturiser, while our Beauty Balm was originally formulated for a friend with dry skin and eczema. Everything is pure, organic and natural.’ Prerna has some ambitious goals for the business, saying, ‘I want to build a luxury brand that stays authentic to its roots of utilising the highest quality natural and organic ingredients even as we scale and be a business that is centred on social impact. We’re determined to be mindful of how and who we employ, once we get to that stage, providing an opportunity to people from otherwise marginalised and underrepresented backgrounds. I think that will truly merge my two passions together- building my mum’s business and having a positive social impact in the world. ‘The goal for me is for our skincare range to one day be on the shelves of Selfridges and other mainstream luxury and health and beauty retailers, and to be an affordable luxury skincare brand that is firmly grounded in our values of being rooted in the earth, in sustainable sourcing and natural wellness.” Malika concluded, ‘I’d say I’m proof that it’s never too late to follow your dream, find your passion or start a business. I got so much encouragement from my family.’ i Find out more about Mother Earth Beauty at www.

motherearthsbeauty.co.uk/