how it all began

hi! i would like to tell you personally the story on how our little brand started :)

My passion for skin care stems back when i was just 10 years old when I started having acne for the first time. It began on my forehead and slowly went down to my cheeks. They weren't just tiny inflammations. I had big red pimples. My face was very oily as well and needless to say, I started feeling conscious on how I look. 

I started to use a toner owned by my mom which worked at first, but later on, my pimples came back and the toner no longer helped me.

I asked my parents for help on what I can do. They bought me products that I could use. Some made my pimples worse and some did not even help at all. Gladly, there were a few that did work and made my pimples smaller. Unfortunately, they did not completely go away and they kept coming back.

It was a long journery - 8 years to be exact. I lived with acne for 8 years.

Within those 8 years, I dealt with bullies making me feel less everyday. I was called names such as "pangit", "tigidig", "yung madaming pimples" etc. My self esteem was very low during my teenage years. In some days, I did not even want to look at myself in the mirror. 

Some time when I was 18, a friend recommended a high end and international skin care brand. It was pricey. It costs 4 digits for a full set. My desperation made me save up for it and when I finally got to use, it did work! I finally saw myself acne-free and it felt good. However, I was not able to maintain it because of the price point. Eventually, I was no longer able to repurchase. When I stopped, sadly, my acne came back.

That very experience was when I started wishing for an effective yet affordable skin care brand. My thoughts were - why do the effective ones have to be pricey? This is something a lot of people need. How I wish there was something that works like this but is actually affordable.

I started searching via google and that is when I discovered about Facial Oils. I was in doubt at first, because I had oily skin to begin with! But according to studies, natural oils contain fatty acids including Linoleic Acid that works to balance the skin's oiliness. I purchased 1 bottle of Grapeseed Oil and immediately noticed how my face became less oily a few days later. After consistent use, my acne was healing again!

During this time, I had no plans to start a business. I was actually afraid of the concept of business. It was a scary thought to invest my savings into something that may or may not work. My dreams and plans for myself were to actually become a Flight Attendant. I wanted to travel the world and explore different places.

This is one of the reasons why I also wanted to clear my acne. One of the requirements of being a Flight Attendant is to have clear skin.

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In 2015, my mom fell ill. She had Stage IV Breast Cancer. It was a long and painful experience for me and my family. I will not narrate the details of our turmoil, but later on she passed away in December 2015. 

During this time, I was already a graduating college student. I was set to graduate in April 2016. I was devasted that my mom didn't get to see me finish my studies. What's more worrying for me is that I still have 3 sisters who were studying (I was the eldest). I wanted to help my dad as much as I could with the responsibilities that were left behind. And so, in January 2016, I decided to do something that I was afraid to do - start a small business.

The original plan was for me to run an online shop until I graduate. After I get a job, I will close the business and focus on work so I can help my dad. 

The first idea that came into mind is to have a skin care brand. An affordable yet effective skin care. It was something that I've always wanted to be available somewhere, and I was fueled with so much passion.

In January 2016, I released our first 6 soaps with the brand name Mary Elizabeth R. Mary was taken from my first name, Elizabeth was taken from my late mother's name, and R was taken from my dad whose nickname was RR.

In February 2016, I launched our very own Grapeseed Oil - the product that helped me.

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Mary Elizabeth R started from scratch. Everything was learned via experience and failed attempts. By God's grace, I was able to get around 5 orders per week and it made me really happy.

Finally, after graduating college, I set to follow my dreams of flying. I applied to airlines. Sadly, I was rejected. I felt lost and confused. Pano na?

I continued my business little by little while looking for other jobs. I kept submitting my resumes until by October 2016, I was accepted at an office job. I was happy and excited! But later on I realized - I'm gonna have to give up Mary Elizabeth R. During this time, Mary Elizabeth R was already making progress. 

I knew that if i do an office work, I will no longer have the time to cater to my business. I talked to my sisters and friends to seek for advice. Closing my shop was not as easy as it seemed. It felt like a heartache - the thought of ending something I started from scratch.

With tips from my inner circle and a whole lot of prayers, I've decided to back out from the job offer and continue working on my brand. 

As the years went by, Mary Elizabeth R started to grow more and more. We released additional products and catered to hundreds of clients.

I do believe that somewhere out there, my mom is my guardian angel who is guiding me througout the process.

It's true when they say that God's plans always prevails :)