Have you ever wanted to make your own organic and natural skin and body care products? Well today is your lucky day because skin care guru Joan Morais has dropped by TrustYourStyle to chat and share a bit of her inspiring wisdom. Hope you read on because Joan is also generously giving away one of her yummy products to a lucky TrustYourStyle reader.



If you're steeped in the natural product world, then no doubt you've crossed paths with Joan Morais, but in case you haven't heard, Joan teaches classes that will help you make your own healthy, all-natural lotions, creams, body butters, and a list of bath and body products way too long to list. You can click here to check out her upcoming classes.





mj: How did you first get involved with the world of natural products?

joan: As far back as I can remember I have loved anything to do with nature. When I was in kindergarten walking to school I stopped to smell the flowers and count their petals. The love of nature followed into my adult life and I took an in depth herbal course with herbalist Kami McBride and it changed my life. One of her workshops was on herbal body care. We made herbal creams, herbal facials and colored our hair with henna. This awakened a passion in me that I had no idea was there. I began reading and researching everything I could on synthetic and natural ingredients in body care products. I formulated products with organic and natural ingredients and I noticed an improvement in my skin. I also liked how I felt when I applied these products.




mj: What have you done career-wise that you are most excited about and do you have any advice for women out there with their own small businesses?

joan: I am most excited about how I have been true to myself, trusted my intuition and moved through my fears. I have had a lot of jobs over the years and when I wasn’t content in a job anymore I would quit. I thought I would never find something I was passionate about and stick with it. That is until I discovered how much I love formulating and teaching others how to make natural body care products. It fuels me and I love everything about it.

In my business I learned things I didn’t even know I was capable of doing; my own website, e-newsletter, teaching classes, the chemistry of lotion making and making e-books. I stretched and challenged myself big time. Every time I felt fear, I pushed myself through it and didn’t give up. The first classes I taught I was so nervous and I thought of not doing them. Every fear I faced helped to prepare me for the next opportunity.

My advice for women that own a small business is to listen to your heart, your intuition, your truth and do what feels good to you. Do what you love. There is only one thing each of us does best and only that individual knows what it is. You won’t see the whole picture but you have a sense of what feels right in that moment. Like a jigsaw puzzle with lots of pieces, it takes putting each piece together before you see the whole picture. Each small step of action moves you forward to living your passion and completing the whole picture.

Don’t sell yourself out because others don’t see or understand what you are meant to do. Don’t ask others for permission to do it. Keep putting action towards what you love and eventually it will come back to you. It gets easier and easier the more you do it. Know you are valuable regardless of what you do. I came from having no clue of what my passion was to teaching people from all around the world. I feel good sharing my passion with others.



mj: What's your favorite product?

joan: I enjoy all of my products; it is hard to choose one. Right now it would be the body butter. Being in peri-menopause sometimes I get restless legs at night. To calm my legs, I massage them with my lavender and mandarin body butter. They immediately stop bothering me and I fall asleep. Body butters are so simple to make. When made with moisturizing and nutrient butters like shea, cocoa and cupuacu they are a superior product for the skin.


mj: It's hard sometimes for people to give up all their favorite products at once, even after they learn how harmful some of them are. Do you have any tips for how people can start integrating all-natural products into their lives?

joan: First off, listen to yourself and do what is right for you. It is overwhelming to change out all of your products. The first product I would suggest to replace would be body lotion. Body lotion is applied in great amounts all over the body. The skin absorbs ingredients we put on it. A body lotion made with natural ingredients rejuvenates and feeds the skin. Don’t beat yourself up or make yourself feel guilty because you are using products that are not considered natural. If they bring joy to you use them. When your body is ready for a new product, it will happen easily.

My skin has considerable sun damage. I am from the generation of sun worshippers and used to sunbathe 8 hours a day. I didn’t take care of my skin. It was a slow process integrating all-natural products. I gradually added natural products and my skin improved a lot.



mj: Do you have any plans to expand your line or any new classes coming up you'd like to tell us about?

joan: Currently I teach a basic course on Making Natural Skin & Body Care Products. Recently I added a level 2 course for intermediate product making and a course on Natural Hair Care Products. I am filming my classes to make them available to those who are unable to travel to the courses. I am also working on my own line of fine skin care products. It is all about bringing back the art and beauty of natural body care.


Thanks so much Joan for stopping by! If you'd like a chance to win 8 ounces of Joan Morais' fabulous Nourishing Body Lotion made with organic ingredients, a natural preservative system and no synthetic preservative or ingredients, then please leave a great reason below.

P.S. If you're like me, with a schedule that makes it difficult to attend in person, Joan also sells fabulous and informative How To manuals for making natural products. I've bought some of her books and can vouch that they are really wonderful! Click here
to check out Joan's books. If you're interested in making or just using natural products, then you'll want to read Joan's blog.