Meet Magara Botanica, My New Herbal Skincare Line

I've kept something under wraps, at least to the digital world, and I'm ready to share.

Last year, I launched an herbal skincare line called Magara Botanica! Let me tell you all about it.

How I Ended Up Starting ANOTHER Business

At this point in my life, I am a serial entrepreneur. I started my content marketing firm 20 years ago this June, and I also launched my expat coaching business two years ago.

So, naturally, the only thing to do was birth yet another business!

This one came about when I dove deep into herbalism. I began to make salves and oils for my own use...but there's only so much salve a girl needs! And as I told friends and family what I was making, they wanted to try my products.

So, I began getting serious.

Why Magara Botanica?

Long before I moved to Italy, I was drawn to the mystical side of the country. I read books like Italian Folk Magic: Rue's Kitchen Witchery by Mary-Grace Fahrun and Italian Magic: Secret Lives of Women: Secret Lives of Women by Karen Crisis, and I yearned to experience this world that straddles the sacred and magical.

And here I am!

Magara is Calabrian dialect for witch. Specifically, a woman who was a healer, who gathered herbs and turned them into medicine. So, basically...ME!

I loved the idea of connecting with Calabrian tradition in the name of my product line. It also tells people a little about me and how I think outside the box.

The Product Line

I launched the business with my calendula salve, which I call Pozione per le Pelle (Skin Potion). It became a hit, and I wanted to follow up with something wonderful.

My mom and I (hi Mom!) are always on the lookout for the best muscle cream, so I thought, why not make one?

It took several tries. I wanted one that both heated the muscles and had that refreshing minty feel. How I landed on the right recipe is a sweet story.

Last year, I'd become close with Fra's aunt Concetta, who passed away in October. When she was sick, I visited her and gave her some of my trial muscle cream. Every woman in town must have visited her, and she told everyone about my products.

One day, our neighbor, Betta, leaned over her balcony.

"Ehi, Su. Can you make me some of that cream for muscles you made for your zia? I'll take two!"

In reality, I hadn't yet landed on the perfect formula, but I wasn't going to let a sale slip through my hands! So I headed to my laboratorio and didn't emerge 'til I had mastered it.

I also make a fantastic (if I do say so) lip balm, both neutral and one with a little color.

I plan to experiment with a hand cream recipe this year!

Running a Business, Calabrian Style

After running other businesses, I've become a bit disenchanted with the whole process of the American approach. That is: build a website. Create blog content for the rest of your business's life. Promote it on social. Hope it sells.

I opted to do this one differently.

I have no web presence. This is the first mention of Magara Botanica online, other than a couple of random Instagram posts.

I sell through word of mouth. Turns out, living in a tiny town that is super supportive has been wonderful for business! One woman tries my products and tells her friends. My nail stylist stocks my inventory and doesn't even take a cut. Clients call and ask about other products I sell.

This summer, I plan to sell at a few festivals as an experiment. I'll decide how deep I want to dive into attending events, or if I prefer to casually sell products, the way I am now.

Either way, I'm doing something that brings me so much joy. I love telling people how they can use my products, and I love it even more when they tell me that my products have healed skin issues they've had for years.

More than anything, I love how this business further roots me into this marvelous place.