Bethany of Maven Made Shares Her Skincare Ritual!
Bethany is a longtime friend and fellow business owner in my city of Richmond, Va, who I have a lot of admiration for. She is one of those people who genuinely really cares about people and about making good products, and she is killing it at both! I’ve worked with her before and she is such a joy as well as a kind person, I always have such fun talking with her! I often see her products at all my favorite hip little shops around Richmond, which always makes me happy.
I asked her what makes her heart sing, what her favorite moment of the day is, and this is what she said:
Morning time in my backyard, with my dog Grant, a conversation with my partner, listening to the birds singing with a warm cup of coffee (we lean towards Blanchard's). This is a favorite moment because I feel it sets a tone for the day, and I'm also connecting to nature as soon as I wake up. The older I get, the more I realize my connection to this earth is so important to my mental health, overall well being and also helps to inspire new products and projects.
Here’s what Bethany has to say about her skincare ritual!
Skincare has become a multifaceted movement and industry since the time I fell in love with skincare, makeup and body care products back in the early 2000’s. This was also the time in my life when my struggle with cystic acne started to take form. Almost a decade later, around 2013, I was still battling skin issues and exhausted by my dermatologist, the media and billion-dollar skincare companies pushing their agenda to “fix” my acne and oily skin. Nothing ever worked. I took matters into my own hands, and started researching and formulating my own solution. This took shape of an oil-based face serum, which ended up changing my skin and became the catalyst for me to launch my own business, Maven Made in 2014.
Being in the plant-based skincare business, many people ask what I use on my skin, what I don’t use, what my skincare rituals look like and if I really use my own products (yes! I absolutely do). So here I am, sharing what is working for me at the moment. Before I start, I’m a firm believer in what “works” for someone might not work for everyone, all of our skin is so different and I’m never one to claim I have the quick fix.
CLEANSE
I have oily and acne prone skin (especially around my menstrual cycle), so I prefer to cleanse my face if I have makeup on or if my skin feels heavy with a cleansing face wash. For 3 years I’ve been using Himalaya Botanique Neem and Turmeric Face Wash ($9, 150ml) and this might be a forever product, in fact my wife who has sensitive and acne prone skin loves it, too. In the morning or on days when I don’t wear makeup, I try to avoid disturbing my skin’s balanced microbiome so I simply rinse my face with warm water, pat dry and spray on lots of our gentle Rosewater Wondermist.
HYDRATE & TONE
After cleansing, I immediately spray my face and neck with the Rosewater Wondermist ($26, 4oz) which is formulated with floral water, neroli, lavender and a bit of full moon-charged water for a little bit of Moon magic. Not only does it hydrate and balance pH, but it also allows your moisturizer to penetrate deeper, maximizing on all those benefits! The Wondermist is incredibly multidimensional as it can be used to set makeup, soothe sunburns, mixed with clay as a spot treatment, hydrate and even boost your mood (through aromatherapy).
MOISTURIZE
The Facial Serum that helped transform my skin in 2013 is the same formula sold today and has become a bestselling product, with a true cult following here in Richmond. I use this product every single day and am still seeing benefits and finding other ways to use it. This oil-based serum is made with nutrient-rich oils, including jojoba which is very similar to your own skin, and oils like chamomile, geranium and carrot seed. After misting the Wondermist on my skin, I drop 5-8 drops into my hands and lightly massage in an upwards motion on my skin and neck (don’t forget your neck!). If you have dry or wise (mature) skin, the Anti-Aging Facial Serum is more aligned with this skin type.
RITUAL
Using a gentle exfoliant responsibly (once a week, in light circular motions) can help remove dead skin cells, brighten, even complexion and rid excess dirt. Exfoliating too much can leave skin microbiome unbalanced, vulnerable and irritated, especially if synthetic ingredients are present. I turn to our antioxidant-powered Matcha Sugar Scrub ($28, 9oz) for a face and body exfoliation. Since it’s made with organic cane sugar, which is a natural humectant, it draws moisture into your skin so it hydrates and keeps moisture intact. Matcha not only adds a pop of color and a delicious aroma, but it also is anti-inflammatory (reducing redness, acne and rosacea), detoxifies skin and is full of antioxidants to help fight and prevent free radical damage.
You can also make your own face scrub for little cost. I learned this trick while staying in a hotel, all I had was my bottle of Facial Serum and the components of the in-room coffee bar. I mixed two packets of sugar with about 10 drops of serum, blended them together in my palms and lightly massaged the concoction into my skin. It worked beautifully and I’ve even added this tip on the serum product pages.
After attending a Gua Sha workshop this year, I’ve taken to this soothing eastern Asian skincare ritual that leaves me feeling mentally and physically rejuvenated, and yes, I’ve noticed benefits! Facial Gua Sha a light “scraping” technique using a jade tool on the neck and face to help remove stagnation (lymph and blood), boost circulation, remove puffiness, relax jaw stiffness, reduce acne, tighten, soften lines and more. Incorporating a hydrating and moisturizing product to this ritual is important as it gives more glide to the jade tool (I recommend tools from Lanshin) and allows the product ingredients to sink into your skin deeper than normal application. I’ve found a new appreciation for our Wondermist (hydrating) and Facial Serum (moisturizing) as these make perfect pairings for this ritual. I’m also working on a new hydrating product with Gua Sha in mind! Trying to write how to do each exercise would be lengthy, so feel free to watch our Gua Sha tutorial video online here: Part 1 and Part 2.
Last year, I purchased a copy of Renegade Beauty by Nadine Artemis (founder of the popular skincare line, Living Libations) and have learned so much about nourishing my skin with elements the earth provides to us. One thing that resonated was the power of morning sun, the nutrition and energy it provides to the entire body. Once spring sets in, I spend 10 minutes in the sun (less clothes the better!) each morning to build melanin (preventing sunburn), produce and store Vitamin D and boost body system functions. It is a wonderful ritual to connect to nature and quiet my busy mind.
Speaking of quieting a busy mind, caring for your skin holds so much potential to go deeper. Whether it’s one quick minute washing your face before bed and incorporating a visual meditation of washing away stress (or anything that comes to mind) or an elaborate weekly routine that helps you embrace some solitude and allow some introspection, that’s what skin care can be. Capitalism and the media often tells us we need spa packages, bath bombs and to spend hundreds of dollars to achieve optimal self care, but to simplify and create your own rituals with products or practices that speak to you, that is true care for yourself, your skin, your body and soul.
I thought the details of Bethany’s ritual were so interesting and I loved hearing the Maven herself speak on what she does personally! My favorite tip was spending 10 minutes a day soaking the sunshine into skin. That’s something I do too and I notice a huge difference in my mood and energy levels. Give it a try, it’s free! A lot of the links for products are included in this post, so feel free to give them a whirl - the facial serum truly is heavenly.
More about Maven Made:
Maven Made is a handcrafted line of plant-based skincare and wellness goods with a social focus on changing the wellness narrative to be more inclusive and accessible for all. From nourishing oils to Full Moon-charged rosewater or antioxidant packed matcha, each botanical ingredient is organic, certified vegan, gmo-free and crafted with mindful energy.
site: www.MavenMadeRVA.com