Graduate Success Story: Rumbi Serima-Fowler launches Mimi’s Organics

Last month Rumbi Serima-Fowler, a Formula Botanica graduate, launched her beautiful new skincare range Mimi’s Organics. Mimi’s Organics is a luxurious skin care range using natural, food grade, cold pressed, organic quality, ethically sourced ingredients. 

We are so very proud of Rumbi and her beautiful skincare range, but more than that – we’ve tried out some of her products and they are simply exquisite. Formula Botanica’s Director Lorraine is still raving about the Night Revitaliser Cream and the Toner. 

We recently caught up with Rumbi to find out more about Mimi’s Organics.

Hi Rumbi, can you please tell us a bit about you and your background?

I trained as a Programmer/Analyst and spent 10 years providing computer hardware and software services to corporate clients through my company, whilst living abroad.

When my son was diagnosed with autism, because of the nature of demands on time, I took on a part time role whilst raising my two young sons and studying towards my Bachelor of Laws degree (Hons).  Whilst researching my son’s diagnosis in an attempt to improve his quality of life I discovered the adverse effect of chemically based substances within various consumer products for everyday use especially on my autistic son and my passion in natural and organic remedies was awoken.

I began searching for more natural and organic products. The quality and nature of those products though did not always lead to a positive experience – so I set out to make my own!

Please tell us about your new business – how did it come to life?

Mimi’s Organics is a real heart-based business, both in how it’s run and the reasons why it exists. We represent both quality and care in the organic skin care sector, by creating food grade based products that use only natural, organic quality, ethically traded raw materials.

Our ethical standards continue past initial product creation – with all containers being locally sourced and packaging on all products being ethically sourced and produced too.  Mimi’s Organics care about providing cruelty free products – not just as an end result – but also in the manufacturing and research stages of production.

I know the importance of providing quality skin care for everyone– regardless of ethnicity or skin type – and the importance of providing effective alternative products to those who are environmentally conscious and wishing to support their ethical ideologies. I also discovered that there were no good quality organic/natural products on the market that targeted the majority of the skincare problems faced by women of ethnic/multi ethinic origin. I researched ingredients extensively and tried a few over-priced one day courses and soon realised that I needed to attain proper qualifications in order to get the right information and set myself up and operate as a legal entity.    

How did you come up with the name Mimi’s Organics? What’s the story behind your brand?

Naming the company was a bit of a  challenge but in the end it was simple. When we were young children my brother could not pronounce my name and called me Mimi and that became a childhood nickname which sounded fine for a name.

Which courses did you take with Formula Botanica?

I spent the next two years researching and retraining to gain my cosmetology formulating qualifications with Formula Botanica, the Organic Cosmetic Science School. I first studied the foundation course learning everything needed to successfully run my own business – from natural skincare and anti-wrinkle/skin rejuvenation products, through to Organic Skincare Business skills from Star Khechara and Lorraine Dallmeier – and also undertook the Skincare Tutor Course successfully becoming a Formula Botanica Licensed Skincare Tutor too. I am now an also an affiliate for Formula Botanica training courses.

You formulate a lot with Neem Oil, what inspired you to choose Neem as your core ingredient?

When creating my product range I sought to use ingredients that would be beneficial to my target market and decided to use broad spectrum ingredients for problems that were common to a range or most skin tones.

All of  my products include Neem either oil or leaves – long known as the most useful medicinal plant in India, the Neem leaf is famous in Ayurvedic texts for having an almost magical effect on the skin. Today’s modern research has verified the remarkable attributes of this tree. Neem is increasingly a key ingredient in modern cosmetics and pharmaceuticals as an active with anti-ageing, antioxidant, antiseptic preserving and astringent properties.

I use neem in conjuction with other powerful ingredients like; avocado, cocoa and Shea butters, as well as oils like rosehip, squalane and seabuckthorn, with a specific emphasis on producing anhydrous products. I worked to create skin care products specifically for all skin types, with ranges to include anti-ageing and sensitive skins… and so Mimi’s Organics was born. 

What is your favourite product from your range?

My favourite product is the Night Revitaliser, I enjoy the luxurious combination of the seabuckthorn oil and rich oils and butters, skin feels and looks great in the morning!

If you were stranded on a desert island and you could only take THREE natural skincare ingredients with you, what would they be?

If stranded on a desert island I would take some Jojoba Oil for cleansing my skin, Shea Butter as face and all over body moisturiser, Coarse Green clay to use as a mask, I am sure I might be able to ‘forage’ some botanicals to compliment my supply lol!

If you could give our students at Formula Botanica one piece of advice about setting up their own natural skincare business, what would it be?

I would advise Formula Botanica Students setting up their businesses to follow their passion and enjoy being creative, and to be patient.

Thank you to Rumbi for sharing her time, knowledge and experience with us! We wish Rumbi and Mimi’s Organics all the success in the world. 

If you want to catch up with Mimi’s Organics, then Rumbi is running a ‘Back to Bare Skin Basics’ event to launch Mimi’s Organics in London. Come and join the party at Cafe Lokum, 52 Baring Road, Lewisham, London SE12 0PS. It will be running on the 8th of November 2014 from 17:30 – 21:00 – come along for a fun-filled evening with plenty of skincare tips to prepare for winter. 

Mimi’s Organics will also be running a 10% off sale that day, so be sure to stock up on all your Mimi’s Organics goodies! …and don’t forget to follow Mimi’s Organics on Facebook. 

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Lorraine Dallmeier

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.