When my 18 month old baby started to
get red patches on her elbows and behind her knees I really believed that that
was as far as it would go. But little by little it got worse and worse
until by the time Lula was 18 months, she was covered in it from head to
foot. Her skin was raw and inflamed most of the time and she scratched
herself until she bled every night. She cried and screamed when we
applied creams to her skin that the doctor prescribed and nothing seemed to
help. I lost so much sleep from her itching in the night that there were
times when life seemed utterly unbearable. She could not lead a normal
life like other children as all sorts of environments would flare up her
skin. Each time we saw a different doctor or specialist I pinned my hopes
on them having the answer. Most conventional approaches involve the use
of pretty strong steroids and the more we used them the more worried I became
about their long term affect on Lula. I became quite sure that Lula was
sensitive to the chemicals and preservatives used in most of these creams and I
was desperate to find an effective product that did not contain these
ingredients. Over time we experimented with many approaches, from dietary
changes to Chinese herbs but nothing made a significant difference to the
condition of her skin. My partner and I were sleep deprived, exhausted and
desperate. When great Ormond Street wanted to admit her for two weeks of
intensive steroid treatment I felt like I was going to have a breakdown.Knowing
how desperate I was, a friend gave me a book about herbs and I soon realized
that it was possible to make an ointment in my own kitchen. I could
select the herbs I felt would alleviate her symptoms and be safe in the
knowledge that I knew exactly what was going in to it. I used Hemp Oil as
a base which I knew was an excellent source of essential fatty acids, which
eczema sufferers often lack. It took lots of changes and experimentation but I
finally hit upon a combination which had an amazing effect. Even before
the final recipe was finished we noticed that she did not scream and flinch as
we applied the ointment like she had done with all the other products we had
tried. The final recipe produced startling results. Her skin was
less angry and red, the broken skin began to heal and the itching was
dramatically reduced. The difference it made to how she slept was
incredible and we continued to make endless pots for her over the months.
She was like a different child and our lives were transformed.
When
did you realise that you had created a product that worked and how did others
find out about it?
I started to make batches for friends
and family and I realized that it wasn't a fluke! Other people found
great relief too. Demand grew and eventually I decided that I really
ought to make a go of selling it. I teamed up with a partner and started
a business. We now receive hundreds of testimonies from eczema sufferers
who have benefited greatly from its efficacy, and especially from parents who
are hugely relieved to have found a remedy which is safe and steroid free for
their babies and children.
What
are the main ingredients in Pure Potions and how natural is is?
All the ingredients in all our products
are so pure you could eat them. We do not add any ingredient whatsoever which
has the potential to cause harm. We will not use chemical preservatives, SlS,parabens, petrochemicals or perfumes.The main ingredient in most of our
products is hemp oil which is extremely rich in essential fatty acids.Most
mainstream skin products are made up of dozens of manufactured chemical
ingredients which are considered suspect or even dangerous. As the risks
become more published, so the market for natural skin care products
grows. Many companies claim to be producing natural products but
“natural” means many things to many people; the word certainly has significance
to consumers and since the consumer believes that they exist, it is up to
responsible companies to address this need in an honest way. Some companies
have included one or two natural ingredients in their formulations alongside
the potentially harmful ingredients mentioned earlier. Some have included
natural ingredients alongside ingredients that are naturally derived , some
used ingredients of plant origin but have been processed until they barely
resemble the original plant ingredient. Others, like ourselves, have made
an absolute commitment to formulating high quality 100% natural products; our
ingredients are as close to their natural state as possible and we will not use
any ingredient with the potential to cause harm
How
often can you use Purepotions products and can you use the Skin Salvation along side
the Bath Oil?
You can apply the salve liberally to
any part of the body as often as required. This product is safe for daily use
and has no restrictions to the number of applications. It is for external use
only. It is particularly useful at night as it can be applied thickly at this
time. At night it is best to wear old pyjamas after applying. The
ointment can be used in conjunction with any other creams or emollients that
you may have been prescribed. However to properly monitor the results it is
advisable to try the product on its own, maybe on one concentrated part of the
body.For maximum benefits the bath oil can be used alongside the salve every
time you take a bath or a shower
You
were recently on Dragons Den. What was that like?
What may take 30 seconds to watch on the TV could have taken a working
afternoon to create in the studio. In total we were stood in the Den for two
hours of relentless interrogation. Two hours under intensely bright lights. Two
hours batting forth queries. Two hours discussing financial minutiae. Two hours
standing in heels. It was a nightmare. But it was totally worth it. Previously,
we rehearsed our pitch over and over. We delivered it on several occasions to
our staff. We performed it to other business people and welcomed difficult
questions and feedback. We pitched our finances to accountants and offered our
books for intense scrutiny. We studied the marketplace. We checked and
re-checked our valuation of the business. We wanted to understand where the
weaknesses might be in our argument so we might counter any opposition
effectively. In short, we were incredibly well prepared for the interview. We
honed our approach until everyone agreed we had done a thorough job.We did all
the right things. Or so we thought, but we got a proper roasting. The Dragon’s
focused on a single stone we had left unturned and went at it repeatedly. They
started off all nice and friendly but ended up tearing strips off us.Running a
business is a learning curve. Our advice to entrepreneurs is never being
ashamed of the mistakes you make, because those who don’t make mistakes don’t
make anything. If you have put a lot of hard work into your project, don’t let
anyone take that away from you.Would we do it again? Hell yeah! We are
dedicated business owners and we never pass up the opportunity to plug our
product. It’s not about our damaged egos. It’s all about helping people
overcome severe skin conditions.We were savaged by the fire breathing Dragon’s.
But we would walk through Dragon fire to reach our customers. They are the ones
who are important, not us. We’d do it again tomorrow. But next time we would
trade our Zara suits for asbestos."
What
are your plans for the future of Pure Potions?
Purepotions' products are already well
positioned in retail outlets throughout the UK but we would like to raise the
company profile further, be available in multiples and pharmacies and reach as
many sufferers as we can. We would like to be more easily available on the NHS
and to replicate the success we have had in the UK by expanding into markets
further afield.
Do
you have any tips for the application of Skin Salvation?
Keep persevering, don’t expect
overnight cures and expect that the skin will take a little time to restore.
Keep using it every day and be patient.
Natalie Balmond | Founder of Purepotions' Skincare
PurePotions' is available at Lovelula.com
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