Gisela Monteiro, a Mozambican natural cosmetics and artisanal perfume brand builder

August 11, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Gisela Leonor Monteiro, founder, Sublime Produtos Cosmeticos Naturais (Mozambique)

Gisela Leonor Monteiro is the founder of Sublime Produtos Cosmeticos Naturais in Mozambique, a business dedicated to the production of 100% natural cosmetics and artisanal perfumes. Having completed a hotel and tourism course as a student, she embarked on her entrepreneurship journey when she was 26 years old after taking cooking courses, cooking for events, and providing meals to companies close to her area of residence. She worked in several businesses, including catering, event promotion, culinary training, and clothing sales, always with the dream of becoming a businesswoman. Her entrepreneurial journey kickstarted after participating in business management and financial education courses, undertaking transformational training at IDEIALAB, the FEMTECH training program, FÓRMULA MILIONÁRIA and OFFICINA DE NEGÓCIOS with coach Arcelio Tivane.

Kgomotso Twagirayezu, a natural cosmetics manufacturer in Botswana passionate about indigenous botanicals

June 16, 2024 Melanie Hawken

Kgomotso Twagirayezu, founder, Shedol Group (Botswana)

Kgomotso Twagirayezu is the founder of Shedol Group, a natural cosmetics manufacturing company founded in 2015 and which commenced its operations in 2018. She has an extensive background not only in the cosmetics industry but also as a businesswoman with broad experience in varied industries. The company is passionate about the use of sustainable indigenous botanicals from across the African continent while paying special attention to Kgomotso’s homeland, Botswana, by continually incorporating and researching the natural plants that are beneficial not only for ingestion but also for healthy skin. She not only caters for individual personal care but also serves the hospitality industry by manufacturing sustainable and eco-friendly hotel amenities. The business has created jobs for 10 people.

Mauricia Cox, a South African holistic wellness and beauty brandbuilder

December 30, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Mauricia Cox, founder, Wellchemco (South Africa)

Mauricia Cox is an entrepreneur and water/wastewater treatment engineer in South Africa who has witnessed at first-hand the impact of pollutants on water sources. Her company, Wellchemco, revolutionizes the beauty industry with a focus on mindful beauty and holistic wellness. Through an ethically produced range of products, Mauricia aims to inspire a cultural shift toward a more conscious approach to personal care, blending technical expertise with sustainability. Passionate about environmental stewardship, she believes entrepreneurship can drive positive change. Wellchemco reflects Mauricia's commitment to contributing positively to people and the planet, challenging beauty norms with consciousness, compassion, and intention.

Lioness Launch / Leading Botswana premium skincare brand, Organic Naturals Skincare, announces a new sustainable product collaboration

October 22, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Didintle Moreki, founder, Organic Naturals Skincare (Botswana)

Organic Naturals Skincare, a leading manufacturer of premium skincare products in Botswana, founded by entrepreneur Didintle Moreki, is thrilled to announce its collaboration with Faithful to Nature, the South African pioneer in offering conscious consumers a wide range of ethically sourced and sustainable products. This exciting partnership showcases a shared commitment to quality, ethics, and sustainability in the world of skincare.

Lioness Launch / Botswana skincare brand, Organic Naturals Skincare, launches its Skincare Diaries event dedicated to holistic wellness and self-discovery

August 12, 2023 Melanie Hawken

At Organic Naturals Skincare in Botswana, founder and passionate natural skincare advocate, Didintle Moreki, believes that true beauty comes from within, and self-care is an essential part of nurturing our well-being. Her business and brand is announcing this month the launch of Skincare Diaries, an empowering event dedicated to holistic wellness and self-discovery. The event will be held on 27 August 2023 in Gaborone, Botswana and will encourage attendees to delve deeper into the world of self-care, well-being, and natural beauty.

Tanatswa Dindimanga, a Zimbabwean entrepreneur building a natural skincare brand

June 18, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Tanatswa Dindimanga, founder, Organically You Skincare (Zimbabwe)

Tanatswa Dindimanga is the founder of Organically You Skincare, a natural skincare brand in Zimbabwe that creates products that are good for every skin type. The business was created in response to her own journey to find natural, organic solutions to various skin conditions she experienced, and now she helps other customers do the same with her brand.

Vivian Savia, a natural skincare brand builder in Nigeria

May 7, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Vivian Savia, founder and CEO, Nature's Bar (Nigeria)

Vivian Savia is the founder and CEO of a natural skincare brand, Nature's Bar in Nigeria, which has been in operation since 2017. It currently creates job opportunities within her environment while partnering with local suppliers of raw materials and supplies. She is a chartered accountant with an MA in International Business Management from Middlesex University, London, and B.Sc. in Accounting from Imo State University. As a chartered accountant by profession, her basic skills and experience were in accounting, grants management, retail marketing, financial management, donor reporting, procurement, and communication within the banking and non-profit sector.

Lioness Launch / Organic Naturals Skincare in Botswana launches its new ‘one-stop’ toning serum for balanced skin tone

October 30, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Organic Naturals Skincare, the Botswana-based business and brand founded by entrepreneur Didintle Leatile Moreki, is launching its new Niacinamide Brightening Botanical Serum in October 2022. The scientific potency of the Niacinamide Brightening Botanical Serum is proven to brighten and clear the skin by reducing hyperpigmentation; reduce fine lines by improving skin roughness, colour and elasticity by strengthening the skin barrier; reduce severe acne by fighting acne-causing bacteria and reducing sebum production; and hydrate the skin.

Violet Amoabeng, a passion-driven natural skincare innovator in Ghana

February 13, 2022 Melanie Hawken

Skin Gourmet, a raw handmade skincare brand inspired by the West African bush

Violet A. Amoabeng is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Skin Gourmet Limited, a Ghanaian innovation that creates Raw handmade skincare sourced from the Wilds of Ghana and so pure you can eat it. Violet created Skin Gourmet on 9th October 2014 when she realized there was need for unadulterated high quality body and skincare that was safe for human consumption. In other words, the rawest, purest and wildest skin care sourced from the heart of the West African bush – Raw edible skincare!

Clara Njeri, a Kenyan entrepreneur creating a natural bath and beauty product manufacturing business

April 25, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Clara Njeri, founder, Naturalglam (Kenya)

Entrepreneur Clara Njeri is the Director at Naturalglam, a business which she started at the age of 21 as a result of trying to clear her own acne. The business started more like a hobby, but three years later, the company has grown to having one major physical shop in Nairobi and a network of distributors. Her Instagram Sensation business is slowly growing to be a powerhouse.

Lioness Launch / New South African children’s skincare brand, Raising Uhuru, looks to nature for inspiration

April 18, 2021 Melanie Hawken

South African children’s skincare brand, Raising Uhuru, came into existence when a young and curious first-time mom, Minky Mokapela, was faced with the challenge of her baby’s terrible eczema. The baby’s skin would get so dry that it would develop scabs that would lift and flake off creating a considerable level of discomfort for her, and the only effective products contained steroids. Thanks to her curiosity, Minky began to research natural ways to treat her daughter’s skin after finding out that long term use of steroids had adverse effects. She knew that mother nature definitely had an answer. Using natural oils and butters such as Cocoa butter, Shea butter and Jojoba oil, she created the Raising Uhuru children’s skincare range that is beneficial for all skin types and complexions.

Renchia Droganis, an entrepreneur turning passion into purpose in South Africa

March 14, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Africology, an ethical beauty brand harnessing nature’s healing power without harming the planet.

Built on the principles of kindness, generosity of spirit and gratitude, Renchia Droganis’ career journey has always been deeply personal – steeped in sincerity, healing and hope. And as a family business that’s been mindfully nurtured and grown alongside her four children, Africology beautifully mirrors this path. Ever since she can remember, Renchia has always known that she’s been called to heal, and one of the most moving chapters in her journey saw her helping victims of South Africa’s turbulent past overcome their deep-seated pain and suffering through therapy and self-empowerment.

Didintle Leatile Moreki, an organic skincare manufacturer celebrating nature’s ingredients in Botswana

February 21, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Organic Natural Skincare-Collage.png — Didintle Leatile Moreki, founder of Organic Natural Skincare (Botswana)

Many people battle acne in their youth and throughout their lives and it can be challenging to find a solution that is both effective and natural. This was a challenge that entrepreneur Didintle Leatile Moreki, founder of Organic Natural Skincare in Botswana, successfully took up in starting her business.

Pitsi Ledwaba, a South African entrepreneur building a natural, organic beauty brand

January 10, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Pitsi Ledwaba, founder of Bonolo Naturals (South Africa)

Pitsi Ledwaba is from Polokwane in the Limpopo Province of South Africa and the founder of Bonolo Naturals, a growing natural, organic beauty brand. For the past 12 years she has been in the retail industry managing both local and international brands. It is where she fell in love with beauty, fashion and everything that makes people look and feel good.

Lioness Launch / Ostibel Africa releases its new range of Helichrysum skincare products

November 1, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Lebitso Ramphore, founder of Ostibel Africa

Ostibel Africa is a Holistic Beauty and Wellness brand founded by Lebitso Ramphore. Proudly made in Africa from indigenous, wildly-crafted, natural, and organic ingredients, the Ostibel Africa range of products are for dry, sensitive, combination, and allergy-prone skin types. If you’re sensitive to perfumed products or love natural skincare, you’ve come to the right beauty and wellness home.

Zuwaira Ikharo Shuaib, an entrepreneur building a leading natural baby skincare brand in Nigeria

August 22, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Zuwaira Ikharo Shuaib, founder of Amal Botanicals Baby Care (Nigeria)

When you are a mother to triplets, you have first hand knowledge of just what babies need when it comes to natural skincare, and that is certainly the case with Zuwaira Ikharo Shuaib, founder of Amal Botanicals Baby Care. She has a big vision to be a leading natural baby skincare brand in Africa.

Stacey Jane Smith, a South African wellness brand using local wild-crafted botanicals

July 26, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Stacey Jane Smith, founder of African Secret (South Africa)

Many consumers are now looking for more holistic ways to meet their wellness needs. In South Africa, entrepreneur Stacey Jane Smith, founder of African Secret, has created a pathway to wellbeing naturally. She is harnessing the power of natural wild-crafted botanicals and transforming them into beautiful, healing products and a brand that resonates with those who love its ethos.

Neo Mkwebane Chatyoka, an entrepreneur introducing the world to natural and organic skincare from Africa

July 17, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Neo Mkwebane Chatyoka, founder of Uhuru Botanicals (United Kingdom / South Africa)

More and more consumers are becoming conscious of the products they put onto their skins, and are demanding more natural and organic products that are kinder to both skin and the environment. Uhuru Botanicals, founded by entrepreneur Neo Chatyoka, is a brand that celebrates Africa’s natural raw ingredients and turns them into skincare products that are both ethical and sustainable.

Carmen Miral, a Mozambican entrepreneur on a mission to celebrate and care for natural hair

June 22, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Carmen Miral, founder of Black Khakhela (Mozambique) — **Carmen Miral**, founder of Black Khakhela (Mozambique)

If passion drives profit as the saying goes, then Carmen Miral, founder of Mozambican natural hair and beauty brand, Black Khakhela, is destined for business success, as she has passion in vast quantities.

Annabel Biggar-David, a South African eco-warrior creating a unique holistic retail lifestyle experience

April 1, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Annabel Biggar-David, founder of Organico (South Africa) — **Annabel Biggar-David**, founder of Organico (South Africa)

There is a growing interest on the part of consumers to find products that have been created with a gentler footprint on the planet. So it’s exciting to hear of a great holistic lifestyle store in South Africa, Organico, created by passionate social entrepreneur Annabel Biggar-David. This is a business that has environmental sustainability at its heart.

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