From Skeptic to Skincare Maker: How Botanica Regale Was Born
If you told me years ago that I’d be running a skincare business, hand-mixing balms in my kitchen, and even rendering my own tallow, I should have laughed—but honestly, you’d probably be right. I’ve always loved mixing things together.
If you knew me when I was younger, you’d remember my bathroom tub lined with “potions” or watching me mash up rose petals and water in my driveway during the summer, convinced I was making my own lip gloss. I’ve dreamed of creating soaps, lotions, and perfumes my whole life. I just didn’t know back then that I’d actually do it.
The First Drop of Healing
About 8–10 years ago, when essential oils were just starting to gain traction in my area, I jumped in without hesitation. Doterra was the thing, and the moment I heard about it, I practically screamed, "Sign me up!"
I went to a Doterra party with a friend, listened to people talk about these little bottles of plant magic, and left with a miniature dropper bottle of essential oil—frankincense, lavender, and helichrysum. It was for my oldest son, Anthony, whose eczema had gotten so bad that the skin on his fingertips was peeling off. Doctors gave me steroid creams, but they burned his raw skin and made him cry in pain. I didn’t know what else to do, so I gave the oils a shot.
A month later, his fingers were completely healed. No pain, no scarring—just soft, healthy skin. That was it. From then on, I used essential oils for everything. I’d mix them into unscented lotion, dilute them with carrier oils, and slowly swap out the synthetic junk in our home.
Discovering Tallow—By Accident
For years, essential oils were my go-to, but I hadn’t yet discovered the missing piece—tallow. That came later, after I completely fried my own skin.
One day, I made the mistake of using an acne gel as a moisturizer (I know, I know). My skin reacted instantly—tight, red, irritated beyond belief. I had no idea how to fix it. That’s when my aesthetician told me to try tallow. I was skeptical, but at this point, I had nothing left to lose.
I ditched every toxic product in my bathroom—moisturizers, deodorant, makeup, all of it—and switched to purely natural alternatives. And for the past two years, I’ve used only tallow as my moisturizer. My skin has never been happier.
Back to My Roots—This Time with Tallow
Fast forward to now. My 10-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son have started getting little breakouts (and, like all preteens, they can’t stop picking at their faces). I immediately went back to my trusted blend of frankincense, lavender, and helichrysum to help heal their skin. But this time, instead of a carrier oil, I mixed it into tallow.
The results? Magic.
Within days, their skin looked calmer, smoother, and healthier. And that’s when it hit me—if this blend worked so well for my son’s fingertips all those years ago and now for my own kids’ faces, why wasn’t I making it for others?
It only took me a week to decide. I started making small batches, testing, refining, and eventually rendering my own tallow to have full control over quality. Botanica Regale was born.
My Mission
I don’t want to just make skincare—I want to create the most natural, healing, moisturizing, and luxurious products possible. I want people to experience what real, time-tested ingredients can do. No fillers, no harsh chemicals—just simple, nourishing, skin-loving botanicals that have stood the test of time.
And the best part? It all started with one tiny bottle of oil and a leap of faith.