Our graduate community is growing and taking over the organic beauty movement all around the world. In today’s interview we speak to Barbora Gažová from Mylo Cosmetics in Slovakia. Barbora joined us in early 2017 and is using her courses to take her business to the next level. We’d thrilled to present our interview with Barbora.
Hi Barbora, please tell us more about you!
Hi Barbora, please tell us more about you!Hi, my name is Barbora Gažová and I am the founder and creator of Mylo cosmetics. I come from Slovakia where I graduated at Technical University in Mechanical Engineering. My father is a mechanical engineer and my mom is a nurse. I never planned to run my own business or to formulate natural skin care cosmetics. It spontaneously came out of my need to be creative while I was on maternity leave.
Where are you based and what do you do?
I am based in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. My passion for formulating all-natural cosmetics started with making of cold processed soaps. Continually, I added more products to Mylo range – face and body balms with shea butter, whilst I also kept studying books to make the formulations better. But this was not enough information for me so I decided to look for a school. That time I came across Formula Botanica.
Where did the name Mylo come from and where did you get the inspiration from for your brand?
In my language we call soap “mydlo” and when something is pleasant we translate it “milo”. The brand name came out of the combination of these two words. Making all-natural cosmetics is like cooking a good, healthy and nourishing food for your skin. The inspiration for the products comes from my customers and my family. I listen to what they want to have in their cosmetics and what skin problems they may have. After that I try to prepare product suitable for them which will help to alleviate these problems. All Mylo products are influenced by nature.
What type of skincare products do you sell at Mylo and which ones are you most passionate about?
The basic range is composed of cold processed soaps, where the main ingredients are shea butter and olive oil. At Mylo, you can even find a soap for gentle cleansing of dog’s fur. But my most favourite product is the face oil for dry and sensitive skin “Flóra” and the face oil for acne-prone skin “Ako vánok”. The names of all my products are inspired by Slovak songs or poets.
What kind of ingredients do you like to use?
I usually get the inspiration of ingredients content from an old herbal book I have, from the beauty of my garden, in books about beauty oils, aromatherapy, from the online Formula Botanica classroom. All products must meet the Mylo philosophy. One of value is to work with as many fair trade product as possible.
I am super excited about the fresh raw shea butter I get directly from the Republic of Benin thanks to Minocollective (another Formula Botanica student!). This butter is made the traditional way from high quality shea nuts from wild nature. It’s a fair-trade produce so the women in the community get paid and honest and fair wage and the money earned is used to make their lives better. This butter is rich in bioactive compounds. The essential oil from sandal wood I get from New Caledonia. This source is sustainable and ecological – they develop new methods of distillation that are more efficient. Before they cut out one tree, they plant 15-20 new ones.
Which courses did you take with Formula Botanica and how do you intend to use this information in your business?
I am taking the Diploma in Organic Skincare Formulation and the Certificate in Natural Cosmetic Preservation. Actually, I have not finished yet, but these courses gave me so much already. In the Certificate in Natural Cosmetic Preservation I learned about a wide range of preservatives which are acceptable in natural cosmetics, I learned what I have to look for and bear in mind to formulate safe natural cosmetics.
The Diploma in Organic Skincare Formulation gave me confidence to formulate with emulsifiers and with water, to produce safe cosmetics using essential oils. The thing I appreciate most about this school are the bi-monthly challenges. They raise my level of competitiveness.
Meet Mylo Cosmetics in #Slovakia, Formula Botanica student and formulator #greenbblogger Click To TweetWhat do you enjoy most about running your own business?
The drive I have, because it’s my “baby”. The feedback I get at the market from meeting new and regular customers is invaluable.
What was the hardest thing about launching your own skincare range?
To find all the information and instructions how to meet the EU regulations. And to take the responsibility for safety of all products I sell.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to aspiring skincare entrepreneurs who want to follow in your footsteps?
Slow and steady wins the race.
Follow your philosophy.
Take your own journey.
Thank you to Barbora for sharing her story with us! If you want to follow Mylo, please visit the following links:
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Lorraine Dallmeier is a Biologist, Chartered Environmentalist and the CEO of Formula Botanica, the award-winning online organic cosmetic science school. Read more about Lorraine and the Formula Botanica Team.
