Australia, an inspiring land. And which gave a great idea to Caroline Serra, a 24-year-old French girl; create everyday products, respectful of people and the environment.
A year ago, this Marseillaise decided to come and try the Australian adventure with Tristan, her partner. Having a Working Holiday Visa, they choose to work in an organic farm because after having studied in Aix-en-Provence in management and environmental protection, with a specialisation in wildlife preservation, the well being of the Planet and animals are Caroline's priorities.
"The farm's boss was making soap with the milk of her animals, I found it really interesting, and I asked her to tell me how she was doing," Caroline explains. "I became a vegetarian in Australia, for animals and for the environment, so I started creating soaps with no animal fat and no palm oil."
Handmade vegans soaps
At first, it's only for fun then it became a passion for Caroline. "The benefit when you start alone is to be able to test, to manage your time, not to have a boss, to enjoy this freedom by stressing as little as possible". It was during hours spent trying out her products that Caroline created GoodKarma.
All soaps are based on essential oils and plant oils, "I use coconut oil, olive, rice, avocado ... Natural shea butter, I mix paprika for orange, carrots for yellow, charcoal and even chocolate."
Only natural and good ingredients for the skin; coconut oil moisturizes and softens, vegetable charcoal detoxifies, shea butter nourishes skin and hair.
"It combines what I like, I wanted to develop an everyday product that is as respectful as possible of the environment."
Caroline began her experiments in her van. "It's Cold Process so I don't need an oven, I mix a soda with a greasy substance, the result is soap, I let it sit for 24 hours in a mould and the soaps dry for four weeks. This keeps all the properties of oils.
For all tastes and all skins
Caroline does a lot of research on the different types of skin and creates adapted ranges. GoodKarma soaps have two ranges, for the skin and for the hair.
"For example, I created an after sun soap, a natural skin scrub made from red clay seeds and poppy with organic shea butter. Another one based on Turmeric powder with an organic infusion of chamomile and roses, which has exceptional anti-oxidant virtues. For the hair, I make solid shampoo, the one with Ylang-Ylang oil protects and stimulates hair growth.
Caroline does not hesitate to test her products with her family and listens to everyone's needs to create products at the request of all.
"For the little story, I have a soap called Dirty Hands, which was originally created for a mechanic friend who always had dirty hands. The soap is made from extra virgin olive oil, organic coconut oil, water, organic shea butter, aloe vera leaf gel and charcoal. I thought it could be good to add (organic) coffee grounds which is a totally natural exfoliant to help him wash his hands. "
"It's like a Christmas morning, you don't really know how the colors look like and when you discover your design it's great."
Asian influences play a role in making Caroline's soaps, "my mother is Vietnamese, I think I have this zen side, I like taking care of things, having control too, being strict enough with myself. Each of my moulds is handmade, they come from Thailand, each soap will be unique, a little different. "
"There is a lot to learn, it's delicate but not difficult, it's fun, you combine the colours, ingredients, some speed up the process, it's a bit like a Christmas morning, you don't really know how the colors look like and when you discover your design it's great."
Seducing soaps
In June last year, Caroline began creating her first soap. And after a few months, the products quickly accumulated. What was only a passion became a business. "We had no more room in our van, and as the soaps were already seducing our friends and family, we thought we would try to sell them."
Stroke of luck or chance, Sydney's Vegan Market launched its first edition at the same time, last November.
In March it will be the third edition in which Caroline and Tristan participate. "It has always worked well, people are seduced by the designs, the colours, the scents. For example, one of the most successful models is the elephant, customers also buy to offer. I have a range of travel-size soaps and larger size soap but I work on an intermediate size. "
"Cosmetics is a passion that can be profitable, you must try to do little by little, it's a little scary at first but don't hesitate."
"At the very beginning, when I was working at the organic farm, I was afraid to ask my boss how she was doing, I was afraid that she thought I wanted to steal her idea, but you realise that the creation of soap is a super open community, there are plenty of tutorials on the internet where people exchange their know-how, "says Caroline.
"You have to learn, to try, to miss, that's how you learn, I'm happy to share my recipes, my experiences, we're always proud of what we do ourselves, we know about where it comes from, it's a pleasure to exchange. "
Vegan or not, good products for us and good for the environment, an idea that does not fail to seduce, especially in Australia.
"The products are very well received here, the people are very open and support you. I already had some orders from France and I don't know if the market is more difficult, but as I come from Marseille, the competition is already well established! "
For more information, visit the GoodKarma website.
