Islanatural

If you read part one of how islanatural began, you’ll know I reached a point where I had to make a decision: walk away from what I had built and start again.

So, I chose to walk away.

And somehow, that decision became the beginning of islanatural.

New name.
New identity.
New products.
New packaging.
New website.

This time, I wanted to build something completely on my own.

And that’s where I realised I wasn’t just starting a small business.

I was learning how to run an entire one.

There were markets, product launches, losing my only stable source of income, customers asking for things I didn’t even make yet, almost leaving Thailand, finding a new home, launching the online store, shipping internationally…

And somehow, after all of it, here we are.

Still handmade in Phuket.
Still small-batch.
Still made by me.
Still learning.
Still growing.

I don’t know exactly what the next chapter looks like.

But if the last ten years have taught me anything, it’s that the best parts of my life were rarely the parts I planned.

So I think I’ll just keep going and see where it takes me 🤍

This is the story of how islanatural came to be 💫

I never set out to build a natural wellness brand.

I came to Thailand to teach for one year.

That year became ten.
Thailand became home.
Life changed.
Plans fell apart.
I started again.
And then I started again.

Somewhere along the way, a health scare led me down a rabbit hole of natural ingredients and what we actually put on our bodies. I started making things for myself, then for friends, then for customers.

What started as a tiny side project became a business.

Not because I had a big plan.
Not because I had investors, a team, or a business degree.

And definitely not because everything went smoothly.

There were multiple jobs, financial pressure, COVID, a relationship ending, losing the business I had already built, starting over from scratch, and a whole lot of figuring-it-out-as-I-went.

But there were also markets, new products, incredible customers, people asking, “can you make this?”, our first website, and so many little moments where I realised… wait, this is actually becoming something.

And then I lost the business I’d built.
I had spent years building it.

And eventually, I had a choice:

Keep fighting for what I’d already built…

or walk away and build something completely new.

I chose to walk away…

Part 2 of the islanatural story coming next week 🤍

I wasn’t actually planning on writing this.

Recently, someone who has bought my soap a few times decided to make some pretty nasty comments about me to someone else.

I was told what had been said and, honestly? It hurt.

This person doesn’t know me, my story, or what it has taken to build islanatural from the ground up.

And when the person she was talking to actually stood up for me, the response was:

“Well, her soap is expensive.”

And that got me thinking.

Because how often do small business owners hear this?

We stand at markets and someone picks up something we have literally made by hand and says, “that’s expensive.”

And I get it. Everyone has a budget. Not everyone can afford every product. You absolutely do not have to buy from us.

But there is a difference between saying “that’s outside my budget” and deciding something is overpriced when you have no idea what goes into making it.

That bar of soap isn’t just soap.

It’s raw materials, packaging, labels, equipment, electricity, water, storage, accounting, company fees, taxes, staff, shipping and all the other costs that come with running a small business.

And then there’s the part you don’t see:

The time. The labour. The risk. The years of building.

islanatural is not a giant company manufacturing thousands of bars in a factory.

It’s a small, handmade business.

And fun fact?

islanatural has never actually paid me a salary.

I work other jobs to pay my own bills while continuing to build this business.

So no, I’m not getting rich because I charge 190 baht for a bar of soap.

I keep showing up because I believe in what I’m building.

And I know so many small business owners who hear the same thing.

So to everyone who chooses to fit islanatural into their budget - thank you.

Every order, repeat customer and recommendation means more than you probably realise.

islanatural would have closed a long time ago without you.

Thank you for keeping this little dream alive. We love you 🤍

Hair care you can trust 🤍

Our shampoos & conditioners are 100% natural and vegan, made without the usual stuff you don’t want in your hair care:

No sulphates.
No parabens.
No silicones.
No phthalates.
No artificial fragrances.

No unnecessary extras. Just what belongs in the bottle.

Available in adult & kids formulas, plus travel sizes for your next adventure 🌴

An island appreciation post 🌴🥥

Life has been a little different lately.

I’m going through some health stuff that has forced me to slow down and, honestly, notice life a little differently.

The early morning walks with Toby.
A swim when my body feels up to it.
Tea instead of coffee.
The ocean.
The light coming through the trees.
Sitting somewhere quietly with nowhere I need to be.

Things I might normally rush straight past.

I’ve lived in Thailand for 10 years, and all 10 of those years have been in Phuket. And lately, I’ve found myself especially grateful to call this place home.

There’s something pretty special about living somewhere that gives you space to slow down, breathe, and simply be.

I don’t know what comes next yet.

But for now, I’m taking it day by day, appreciating the little things, and letting this season be what it needs to be 🤍

A little island life lately 🌊🌴

He was found alone in a hole in the jungle in Thailand 🐾

Toby was only about one month old when someone found him - with no mum, no littermates and no idea how he had ended up there.

The hole was so deep that the fire brigade had to lower someone down to rescue him.

And somehow, this tiny Thai rescue puppy ended up coming home with me 🤍

Fast forward nearly 5 years and he has gone from a scared little puppy to the most affectionate, kiss-giving, jump-up-for-a-hug kind of dog.

He has also been the inspiration behind one of our products.

Toby has always had rough paws, and because he’s a nervous boy who loves to lick them, I wanted to make something simple to give them a little extra TLC.

So I made our Paw Balm.

Coconut oil, olive oil, shea butter, beeswax and lavender essential oil. Nothing complicated. Just simple ingredients for a dog I love very much 🐕

And yes… he still gets away with jumping up for hugs.

I mean, look at him. How am I supposed to say no? 🥹

If you love rescue dogs, especially the little ones who somehow find their way into our lives, tell me about yours below 🐾🤍

Your skin doesn’t need a complicated routine. Sometimes, it just needs the right oils ✨

Meet our Glow Face Serum - a 100% vegan, plant-based facial oil made with a carefully chosen blend of jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, frankincense, lavender, copaiba and lemon essential oils.

It’s completely natural, nourishing and lightweight, leaving skin feeling soft, smooth and beautifully conditioned with a natural-looking glow.

And yes… it’s so natural, it’s edible 🌱

No synthetic fragrance. No unnecessary fillers. No animal ingredients. Just plant-based goodness, handmade in small batches in Phuket.

For those looking for skincare that is exactly what it says it is, this one’s for you.

🌿 100% vegan & cruelty free 
🇹🇭 Handmade in Phuket
✈️ International shipping

Your skin deserves to know exactly what you’re putting on it 🤍

You don’t need another protein shake. You need minerals.

If you train hard, magnesium is one worth paying attention to.

Magnesium is involved in 300+ enzyme systems in the body, including energy production, nerve function and normal muscle contraction. And when you’re putting your body through intense training day after day, recovery becomes a pretty important part of the equation.

That’s why we made Recovery Magnesium Bath Salts: a blend of Epsom salt, pink Himalayan salt, and essential oils to remineralise your body 🛁

No bath? No problem.
Fill a bowl with warm water, add your salts and soak your feet after training🦶🏼