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FEATURE
MAMA
&
BIRD
Carmen de Souza has a background of 17 years in the professional hair and beauty industry, in Marketing & PR. Carmen had a PR consultancy for a decade called Fox & Boy Communications, which serviced brands and professionals in our fabulous industry.
In the first Melbourne Covid lockdown, when the industry was mandated to close, Carmen lost all her clients in a matter of 72 hours. Ten years of hard work and dedication, gone just like that… says Carmen. Our office was shut, I let our staff go and we were officially closed. Like so many in our industry experienced, it was heartbreaking. A week later I found out we were expecting our third child, and because I was that bit older in this pregnancy, I began searching for suitable skincare. This is when I noticed the lack of truly beautiful skincare products specific to pregnancy. Whilst there is certainly a handful of brands offering something nice, mothers mostly have supermarket and chemist brands to select from, and I personally felt they deserved more. All too frequently we mothers put ourselves last, our busy schedules prioritising our little people and families over our personal needs. I wanted to create a brand that aligned with the beautiful beauty brands a women would normally spoil herself with, in every day non-pregnant life. A gorgeous aesthetic, coupled with all natural, effective ingredients that supported the skin as it changed throughout pregnancy and postpartum. Thankfully, as I had spent a career in the professional hair and beauty industry, I could draw on my industry contacts to help bring my vision to life. It was a two-year product development journey, that finally came to fruition mid-February, when Mama & Bird was born… a range of premium mother centred products to support women throughout pregnancy and postpartum. Offering a small daily dose of self-love to their busy lives. Mama & Bird® Skincare is an Australian made and owned skincare brand, harnessing the power of botanical ingredients to create luxurious skincare solutions that bridge the gap between a woman’s existing skincare routine and her evolving pre and postnatal needs. Choosing a pregnancy skincare routine is often a minefield of conflicting information. The list of endless do’s and don’ts can be confusing and overwhelming for expectant mothers. 14
Beauty Biz Year 15 Issue 3
