About the Birth of Kravin' Woman Inc.

Rediscovering Myself: A Millennial Mom’s Journey

I’m a millennial mom, a woman of Caribbean heritage, introvert and a neurodiverse individual (recently reconciled with this part of myself) who has navigated the complexities of emotional neglect and the loss of self-importance. Like many, I found myself forgetting who I was at my core, especially during the pandemic. But through life-changing realizations and a journey of rediscovery, I began to reconnect with myself, my passions, my creativity, and my love for nature and holistic wellness.

I hadn’t planned to include this, but if I’m going to ask you all to be open with me, I should be open with you. So, here it goes...

Being Vulnerable: Embracing My Neurodiversity and Caribbean Roots

I have a background in healthcare, clinical medicine specifically, but that’s not who I identify as anymore. I loved medicine, but systemic red tape made this love story end, almost tragically. Grappling with the loss of my professional identity, along with some of my personal identity, I began searching for myself again. It was through my little community of women that I am inspired by, I am making it through. I’ll share more about this later, and since this is my introduction to the blog about the brand, I want to first explain how I came to create these products to help women like me, who have lost themselves in one way or another.

Here is the rest of what I originally wrote :)

The Healing Power of My Grandparents’ Garden

My story is deeply rooted in my upbringing. Growing up, my grandparents’ yard was a botanical oasis of natural remedies and an abundance of greenery. I recall four giant aloe vera plants situated in their front yard, hibiscus bushes hanging over their fence into the neighbours’ yard, and the neighbours’ avocado tree hanging over my grandparents’, as well as rosemary plants, cherry, lime, and sugar plum trees, and so much more. My sisters, cousins, and I spent countless hours climbing the plum tree, while my grandmother taught us the healing power of nature. Absolutely hated it, because it was always hella hot, but we grew to love it.

Nature’s Remedies: Lessons from My Childhood

I recall, after spending hours at the beach with my sisters and cousins, our mothers would rub our skin down with aloe vera because, as you may know, it was great for soothing sunburnt skin, due to some its many properties. Aloe vera, sage and others treated our wounds and soothed our skin; hibiscus and aloe nourished our hair and skin; and lime with honey or hibiscus tea comforted us when seasonal sickness came around. Whether it was just in our heads or not, we felt better and often saw the benefits of these herbal remedies. Looking back, we certainly took these for granted, but these early experiences shaped my deep connection to natural remedies and self-care.

Hair Loss, Healing, and the First Steps Toward Self-Care

During my time in university, unable to spend a second away from my studies (insert sarcasm here), I lost much of my front hairline due to protective hairstyles. To overcome the embarrassment of traumatic hair loss, I went back to what I knew and created my first product: a hair growth balm, from a video I found on YouTube. This was the beginning of a journey to reclaim not just my hair, but my sense of self. I turned to it again during postpartum, using aloe vera and other herbs in a serum to help speed up healing after suffering a perineal tear during birth. But after I became a mom, like many, my sense of self again took the back seat to my self-care, for a long, long time. I once again forgot about me.

Motherhood and the Pandemic: Forgetting Myself Again

During the pandemic, I realized how much of myself I had lost. I started with small steps, as I had a very demanding toddler. I took soothing and relaxing baths with herbs and started taking better care of my skin and body, slowly remembering the woman I had forgotten. I'm talking about my self-care habits that went out the window a long time before becoming a mom. I wanted to feel desired and be seen in a world that often felt empty and unkind, even at home.

Realizing I Wasn’t Alone: Shared Struggles Among Women

As I reconnected with myself, I noticed that many women around me; friends, siblings, and others, shared similar struggles with feminine care and self-esteem. “The millennial mom and her issues”... Maybe that should be the title of this blog, haha. It was not until my close friend, who has helped me significantly with K.W. Inc., informed me of recurrent issues with pH imbalance, and all that came with that, which she had been experiencing for a very long time, that I decided to take action.

Turning Pain into Purpose: Creating Solutions for Women Like Me

The science nerd in me dove into research articles, blogs, vlogs, and dermatology and cosmetic chemists podcasts, determined to create a product that was effective and safe. I carefully selected every ingredient, ensuring they were things I would comfortably use on myself and my friend. My anxiety would not let me rest until I was able to find ingredients that would help her with this chronic issue. Thanks to my neurodivergent brain (insert sarcasm here), I found the ingredients needed, formulated, packaged, and shipped to her. It worked, and she said, “You have to sell this! Can you make more?”

Building a Brand Rooted in Inclusivity and Wellness

After three years of dedicated research and formulation, and a gazillion failures, I finally created my line of products. My inspiration came from my friend (now business partner), the incredible women I’ve met during my trips to the grocery store or around my community, as well as the requests from friends who desired more luxurious-feeling ingredients. I wanted to ensure these products were accessible to everyone and free from harmful chemicals, something I wouldn’t want myself, my sisters, mom, niece, friends, or neighbours to put on our skin. My goal was to create products that catered to many: affordable options for friends on a budget (like me!), luxurious choices for those who appreciate and are willing to invest in premium ingredients and products for women with sensitive skin (like we don't have enough issues), like my sister and friend. I believe self-care should be inclusive, offering something special for everyone.

Embracing Every Version of Ourselves - Together

My siblings, friends, and I are in our 30s and 40s, moms to animals or humans, juggling life while working hard (at home or outside the home) to care for ourselves and our loved ones. The years, with their stresses, childbirth, and parenting, have left their mark, as they do for everyone. Some of us feel content in our bodies, and some are still finding their way there...and that’s okay. For me, I’ve learned to embrace where I am, all 220 pounds of me, but I also welcome the extra support of natural ingredients to help me feel like the best version of myself. It’s not about changing who I am, but nurturing how I feel, inside and out. My little one is watching, and I wanted to be a good example for them and that meant that I had to make a change.

This is how Kravin’ Woman Inc. was born. 

There is an extended version (OMG!)....Stay tuned! :)

If you are new here, please, take a minute and tell me a little about yourself. You do not need to include your name (an alias is perfectly fine). This is a psychologically safe, judgement free space I am building here. Disrespect of any kind is absolutely not tolerated. We are mature women, building a community of encouragement and empowerment.