Leigh Lopez

Leigh López

COSMETIC CHEMIST

About Me

FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH LEGAL WORK

Researching materials, developing and testing new compounds, and writing technical reports.

Committed to the advancement of the soap and handmade cosmetic industry through research and education.

Giving insight on legal requirements & regulations needed for making and selling true soap and handmade cosmetics in the Caribbean, and Audit of the industry current practices identifying areas of weakness.

commitment, passion and integrity.

Consultant: Working as a consultant within the soapmaking industry, providing comprehensive information on all components of soap manufacturing including formulation, performance evaluation, cleansing systems, drying systems, laundry bars, improving formulations, improving your overall soap bar, and more. Leigh has acquired extensive technical and commercial know-how in the creation, development, and rehabilitation of small and mediumsized soap factories/businesses.

Raw Material Developer: Have the arduous task of discovering, refining, and testing ingredients for use in cosmetic end products of skincare, haircare, color cosmetics, hand care, and soap making.

Product Development: As a chemist, Leigh’s work has extensively focused on cosmeceuticals and plantbased actives.

Manufacturer: Have been developing soap & cosmetic formulations for over 10 years. She is constantly searching out new trends in materials and markets and presenting innovative bar and liquid soap formulations to meet her customers’ needs.

Supplier: Leigh opened Soapmakers Paradise @soapmakersParadise a brick-and-mortar store. They supply ingredients used in soap making, skincare, cosmetics, and toiletries in retail and wholesale sizes to customers throughout the Caribbean. Soapmakers Paradise provides quality products at an excellent price on the ingredients you need.

With a wealth of knowledge of soap chemistry and the mechanics of production, Leigh has the ability to manufacture a wide range of bar soaps

We are the only soap manufacturer in Trinidad & Tobago that produces products that can be claimed to be true soaps in such large quantities.

Additional skills

Training/Seminars: Soapmaking Lecturer- Leigh provides tailored training in soap making, both commercial(syndet) and handmade soaps plus cosmetic courses from her business space in Trinidad, as well as throughoutrural communities around the Caribbean. Leigh also teaches workshops on big batch soap making, branding and marketing handmade, she has vast experience in taking a soap product from concept to supermarket store shelves and understands trends that affect the handmade craft and cosmetic industry. Additionally, Leigh provides training in herbal knowledge and natural living through her project ‘Bushlife’ (facebook.com/ TheBushLife). She was a speaker at the Tea and Herbal Medicine Association meet on 24th March

provides advisory, training and quality assurance solutions for cosmetic, beauty & personal care products, ensuring safety and efficacy across the supply chain.

2018 and at various events around the Caribbean.

Supplier and Vendor Location and Selection: Leigh has extensive experience in product origination and in sourcing supplies for her company and for her clients. She also has access to manufacturers of specialist soapmaking equipment.

Soapmaking Production Plant Layout: Leigh can provide your business with the right equipment and layout for your space and production requirements. Her systems are designed to help you grow as business increases. Leigh covers everything from workshop layout, equipment design, product formulation, staff training, and marketing.

Our cosmetics training and skin care formulation courses are designed to help you stay in front of this aggressive industry that is driven by diverse consumer demands, competitive market claims, and looming regulatory oversight. Our skin care trainingprogram coursework focuses on market trends, regulatory updates,best practices in formulation, and more.’

Writer & Editor

Leigh was previously the Creative Director for Urban Belle magazine where she updated the brand, designed the magazine layout, assisted the team in creative direction, and also wrote various articles and conducted interviews. She also sat in as the interim Creative Director for Mixed Caribbean Latinas magazine, at which she established the brand and design direction for each new issue. She did a short stint at Caribbean Belle Magazine Trinidad, as their Beauty and Style editor, she was responsible for reviewing beauty and skincare products. One of her main responsibilities included sourcing and selecting the products for review, and keeping abreast of trends and advancements within the beauty and skincare industry. Leigh also arranged

the spotlight 'Beauty Secrets', for Caribbean Belle Magazine. This was an in-depth interviewtype article where celebs revealed their beauty and skincare secrets. She was responsible for contacting and arranging the necessary interviews with the celebrity. She did in-depth interviews with America's Next Top Model: All-Stars winner (Cycle 17) Lisa Marie D'Amato who originally participated in Cycle 5. Leigh also interviewed Miss Leila Lopes, an Angolan beauty queen who created history when she was crowned winner of the 2011 Miss Universe. She is the first Angolan woman, and the fourth African, to win the title. She also won Miss Angola UK 2010 and Miss Angola 2010. In Leigh’s spare time, she teaches Ayurveda and meditation and

publishes the Handmade Caribbean industry magazine and Kids Life Newspaper. Handmade Caribbean was started on the simple idea of supporting and promoting Caribbean creators that produce handmade design objects (or manufactured in small batch runs), that are authentic, contemporary and of great aesthetic beauty. Kids Life News encourages creativity and entrepreneurship. It is written for ages 7- 12 across the Caribbean.

Leigh also prepares and delivers training, guidance documents, and training modules in the development and formulation of soaps and personal care products.

My Brands

It’s no secret Leigh has owned two previous separate soap brands and had a hand in naming a slew of other projects, events, and products. Her first soap brand, ‘The Soap Kitchen’, was started in 2012 and haphazardly named as she made her first soap batch in her second kitchen in the house. Hence the name ‘The Soap Kitchen’. It carried thematic elements of a farm lifestyle down to product names, packaging, and brand aesthetics. These soaps were sold extensively throughout Puerto Rico and specialty stores throughout TrinidadHerb's & Health

Ellerslie Plaza Maraval, The Bath Store West Mall, Herbs & Health Gulf City Mall, Cajevie's Trincity Mall, Karrie's Craft- Dutyfree store Piarco

Airport to name a few! Although there are many body-care product lines on the market today, The Soap Kitchen brand was one of the first small soap companies to launch in Trinidad and Tobago. Leigh was pretty much on her own when she started this, there weren't a lot of folks doing this kind of business. She closed The Soap Kitchen in 2013 as she wanted to

focus on a commercial soap brand.

Her second soap brand, Nokaoi, a Maui phrase that means ‘The Very Best' was named for its purpose in feeling, sharing, and giving gratitude through the craft of soapmaking. Nokaoi soaps were sold at all Pennywise Cosmetic stores and TruValu supermarket throughout Trinidad. The company held various store promotions and donated hundreds of bars of soap to non-profit organizations. After four years of being on the shelves, it was decided it was time to re`strategize the brand as the economy was at an all-time low.

Since then, Leigh opened True Brands Co. and The Bush Life @TheBushLife This brand provides a range of soaps and skincare, formulated with locally sourced, highly vibrant whole plant ingredients,picked at their peak from her own farm and from trusted farmers for unmatched transparency, purity, and results. They offer packaged retail options for the two new brands and products will be available for purchase throughout Trinidad and Puerto Rico by July next year.

Formulator & manufacturer of glycerin melt and pour soap bases available Caribbean-Wide

Leigh López, through True Brands Co is the first to successfully manufacture the finest quality glycerin melt and pour soap bases in the Caribbean. Our success is based on our ability to manufacture faster, better, and cheaper. We produce over 2000 pounds of soap base each week and have the capacity to triple production easily.

The formulation was done in-house by Leigh Lopez and is made the oldfashioned way and adjusted for crafters' use. The melt and pour soap bases are made with a blend of exotic cosmetic butters, and vegetable oils. They are as natural as they can be and most are vegan.

We manufacture right here in Trinidad and Tobago, and all soap bases are available for retail and wholesale purchases

through Soapmakers

Paradise who currently stock over twenty (20) varieties.

Custom soap base

We have the ability to manufacture a custom soap base of your choosing (small batches of 500-1000 pounds depending on additive or formulation). All bases are unscented and ready for your additions such as fragrance, colors, essential oils, exfoliants, and much more!

Types of soap methods

The cold process method is the most common method. It involves mixing an alkali with fats or oils. Once mixed and formed into shape, it takes a few weeks to cure before it can be used.

The hot process method of making soap requires you to cook the soap. This method

requires a shorter cure time, however, it is more difficult to work with and mold hot process soap. The fastest and shortest way to craft soap is the melt-andpour method. You simply melt the base in the microwave (in the amount you want) add colors and scents, then pour the mixture into your preferred mold. The benefit of this process is that the chemical reaction to actually make the soap has already occurred; all the maker is doing is putting their own fingerprint on the soap, essentially. Because this type of soap isn’t technically “made from scratch,” it’s easier to create intricate shapes and designs with this method. Soap bases available in White, Clear, Goat’s Milk, Turmeric, Honey, 3 Butters, Vitamin E, and lots more varieties!

How did I get involved in soapmaking?

Growing up in my family there has always been an exchange of information, on wellness remedies and tribal medicine on maintaining youthful health and beauty by using the herbs and botanicals of the tropics. It passed from one generation to the next, much like an oral legacy, but It was on the mountains of Puerto Rico and from a yerbero in Mexico I learned to identify and harvest bush medicine, wild edibles, learnt the nourishing power of infusions, tinctures and poultices.

My family always believed the study of indigenous healing systems is an important step in understanding the role that culture plays in the nature of healing and disease. It is because of this I was introduced to soap making and salves at the age of eight (8) with my paternal grandmother, a schools’ principal, who learnt the art of

soapmaking from her mother, who learnt from her mother and so on. Those days most of the things were made at home and very few things were purchased, I suppose consumerism had not yet kicked in.

I didn’t make soaps for years after. Went on to complete a Masters of Pharmaceutical Science program with a concentration in Cosmetic Science As handmade soaps started regaining populace I decided to re-start. I didn't spend hours scouring the internet nor reading books on soap making. Instead, I practiced a lot, and because of my science background I was able to understand the science of soap making much easier, it allowed me to play around with formulations and solve any problems I ran into with minimal trial-and-error and wastage! Today I have a successful process and quality end products.

Is it an expensive hobby/business?

Soapmakers Paradise have made it relatively inexpensive to make your own soaps and cosmetics at home. We carry a full line of products and ingredients for making products that are of the highest quality at market leading prices. With this kind of business, if you want to start on a small scale, you can choose to start servicing your local community this way all you would need is contacts, packaging, networking and good marketing and customer service skills. However, if you intend starting on a large scale, then you should consider spreading beyond your local community which would mean increasing your soap producing processes, packaging suitable for the shelves etc. Soap ingredients can be expensive but if you follow a few tips you can keep your cost down.

1. If you keep the base oils to a select few, you can buy them in larger quantities and that is where you will save money.

2. Keep the soaps simple if you can. Though I love to create beautifully designed soap bars some of them are quite time consuming and the longer it takes to make a soap the higher the price it needs to be sold at in order to make a profit.

3. Stick to a few varieties. Don't have a huge selection. No matter how many varieties you make, the public will ask for something you don't have. You cannot please everyone. If you keep your selection down you can keep your inventory of ingredients low as well.

4. It’s also important to consider the tastes, preferences and demand of your local market. Some people are mainly concerned about price and will be interested in a soap that is cheap, yet effective. For other discerning consumers, the

shape, packaging, fragrance, color and size will usually determine what soaps they buy. With your creativity, you could appeal to and win a sufficiently large base of loyal customers who may like your soap for its uniqueness.

5. Over and above, the soap production industry is a profitable industry and it is open for any aspiring entrepreneur to come in and establish his or her business; you can choose to start on a small scale servicing a community or you can choose to start on a large scale with a robust distribution network.

Is soap making a viable business?

Soap is a common household product that means pretty much everyone uses this kind of detergent in some form or fashion so the demand for this hygienic necessity will always be high, over the past years, there’s a growing interest in natural and handmade varieties of soap.

Making soap is a fun hobby that can turn into a full-time business or at least a way to make a little extra money. Handmade soaps are a hit with many customers since they are an inexpensive luxury and a popular gift-giving idea.

If you appreciate the value of soap in our daily lives and how much money people spend on soap every day, you would realize there’s a huge potential in the soap business. With your new knowledge and skill, you could focus on producing ordinary and cheap bar soaps for laundry, washing and cleaning. On the other hand, you could explore different colors, scents and herbs to produce exotic and special soaps for discerning customers. Visit our training lab, our training programmes help equip you with the skills and knowledge to help make Trinidad & Tobago a more active nation.

Influenced by her maternal grandfather, a farmer and the village medicine man, and by her paternal grandmother, who lived on a 200 acreage coffee and citrus estate. Gaining a foundation in botany and herbal medicine making while also extensively researching indigenous beauty secrets and ingredients her lifestyle has allowed Leigh to bring all her passions together in a beautiful way.

Leigh have artfully integrated her educational background; love of writing; passion for sustainable living; hereditary healing secrets; and her deep connection with the natural world, to share her passion and knowledge with everyone.

INSPIRING CREATIVITY

JOIN US CONTACT US DELIVERY

Join chemist Leigh López and her team, for the best inspiration, training, and supplies. We support hobbyists and small businesses with tested,reasonably priced raw materials.

Explore a curated collection of DIY beauty projects from our team, guest experts, and our maker community. We bring to you, everything you'd want to know about making soap and other cosmetic products. From beginners to seasoned soap makers, we have everything for you!

We are your business partner, and we can't wait to see what you do with our quality handcraft supplies we source from the around the world for you.

Contact us:

Store Line: 232.3623

�� General Inquiries: WhatsApp 302.4848

�� Delivery Service: Whatsapp 294.0960

Leave us the list of items you would like to purchase, your name, number, delivery address, method of payment and we will coordinate your delivery!

For expert consultancy: Leigh 359.6366 Wahid 765.2724

Social Media: @SoapmakersParadise

Our opening hours: Monday - Saturday 10am - 5pm (Sunday’s and public holidays will be announced.

SHIPPING & DELIVERY

We offer a delivery service via ttpost at an extra cost of $50TTD to any part of Trinidad and Tobago. If interested in accessing our delivery service, kindly send a WhatsApp message to our delivery number (868) 294.0960 between the hours of 9am -6pm Monday -Saturday.

Along with

1. The list of items you are interested in receiving a quote for.

2. Your full name, mailing address, email address and telephone contact.

We shall confirm your order and send you afinal cost.

Shipping usually takes 2 days, however, during this Covid19 pandemic there may be delays, please allow a few more days. All sales are final.

ALL THAT YOU WOULD HAVE READ,

you will find it’s the fruits of many years of trial and error, love and care, perseverance and discipline. When I started, there was nothing out there in terms of easily accessible raw ingredients, supplies, or equipment for the handcrafted soap and cosmetic industry. I went on to not only supply the industry but also develop full systems where one person could literally produce thousands of soap bars per month.

I have also been working with rural communities across the globe for more than a decade implementing and leading projects under ‘Soap4Life Initiative’, a community project I founded based on my expertise in the soap making industry and knowing that crafting soap can assist with poverty and enable rural communities to become agents for change, responsible for their own development.

I love this industry and will continue to work to inspire all.

In the average week, my team and I help dozens of people from all around the world. We have seen this industry grow from two businesses to a few hundred in the Caribbean. It is never dull, so many different ideas, ways that people see things, and it is amazing sometimes, what they ask for! My personal business goal has always been to provide the crafter, microbusiness person, and industry as a whole, a pathway all the way up as far as they want to go.