We recently connected with Mayra Ramirez and have shared our conversation below.

Mayra , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

The idea behind Made in Radiance came to me while I was creating salves for my mother, father, and nephew. During the 2019 pandemic, I cultivated a forest garden that provided us with fruits, vegetables, and herbs right in my backyard which made it more special because it became my space for creativity and self growth. This experience sparked a deep passion in me to study these plants and connect with them on a spiritual level, aligning with the cycles of the sun and moon. It was during this time that the name Made in Radiance was born. I realized that the process of harvesting and crafting plant medicine was sacred to me, as it echoed the wisdom of my elders and ancestors, who had mastered the art of plant medicine—a tradition I grew up with. Made in Radiance embodies the creation of things fueled by radiant energy, whether from nature or spirit.

As I spoke with my elders about what making plant medicine meant to them, I began to discover my own identity in this field. It became clear to me that this work was a calling—one that runs deep in my blood. Anything truly worth pursuing calls to you, and this was undoubtedly mine. I reconnected with a friend from grad school who shared my passion for the plant and green space community, and we naturally formed connections with local elders in the community gardens he worked with. Through this, I gained firsthand experience in the dedication and knowledge required for plant medicine, learning the hidden secrets of the garden that unlock its powerful properties.

Made in Radiance LLC is a labor of love—love for culture, community, and people. I founded the company in 2021 with a vision to create organic, plant-based, vegan skincare products for the minimalist at heart. Our products are carefully crafted in small batches using a farm-to-skin approach, where herbs are fermented in rich oils for 6 to 10 months. What sets us apart is our unique method of wildcrafting herbs: we work closely with local farmworkers and always seek permission to use specific herbs in our formulas, honoring their labor and collaboration. We also proudly honor our Mayan ancestral roots and practices, weaving these traditions into every product we create.

Mayra , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a first-generation Latina, born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, California, with big dreams of becoming a successful businesswoman. Growing up, I rarely saw women like me launching their own businesses or succeeding in entrepreneurship. It felt like a path that was beyond reach for someone from my community. Hardships and generational trauma often stood as barriers to taking the leap into business ownership. However, grad school and the guidance of my amazing mentors shifted my perspective. As a social worker by trade, I learned that having an outlet for creativity was essential to my well-being, which led me to invest in my own creative journey.

With Made in Radiance, I knew that the road to entrepreneurship would be challenging, especially with so many like-minded brands. But I also knew my approach and formulations were unique, grounded in my intentions and motives.

My goal with Made in Radiance is to provide clean, organic skincare options to people in the BIPOC community—options that aren’t easily accessible in the community where I grew up. South Central Los Angeles breeds strong people, but access to quality products is rarely one of them. Our skincare line makes clean beauty affordable and gentle for everyone. What makes me proud is being able to create products with my hands that heal, inspire hope, and promote healthy habits for people who look like me.

My brand is also intentional in its simplicity—catered to the minimalist. But what does that mean? It means that everyone can use our products with pride and minimal additions. In this case, less truly is more. Our products serve many purposes: healing skin issues, protecting from the sun and other skin barriers, providing hydration, and even baby care. A minimalist routine is especially relevant to our roots—growing up in South Central, where we work tirelessly to provide for our families and often have little time for self-care. That’s why a minimalist skincare routine is so essential: it allows us to meet our self-care needs in one simple, effective product.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A hard lesson I had to unlearn was how to break free from imposter syndrome. Although I still struggle with it from time to time, reminding myself that I am more than enough has been a powerful shift. For much of my life, this feeling of inadequacy held me back from truly shining in what I set my mind to. Let me give you an example: As a child, I didn’t speak English well, even though I was born in Los Angeles. I was placed in ESL classes and struggled to learn complex words until I reached middle school. By then, my morale had been crushed by teachers who told me it wasn’t okay to want to speak only Spanish, that I wouldn’t succeed with my accent, and so on. By the time I reached high school, I was in honors English, yet the seed of feeling inferior because of my accent haunted me.

When I got to UCLA, I faced racism and discrimination related to my looks and accent, and it affected the way I saw myself all the way through grad school. But by the grace of God and the support of my amazing grad school colleagues—who reminded me daily of my power simply by being and existing—I began to grow bolder with my decisions. I claimed spaces where I didn’t feel like I belonged, believing that I could succeed. That belief has supported and comforted me in every endeavor since.

I am now at a point in my life where I believe my existence is revolutionary, just by simply existing and being authentic. This mindset has also shaped my approach to my company—Made in Radiance—because I firmly believe that self-preservation is resilience. And it is this resilience that drives me to keep pushing forward and to create a brand that reflects my true self.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

I truly believe in the power of community, and it’s the reason why I’ve been able to keep my business going for the past three years, soon to be four. While I’m not naturally inclined toward social media creativity, I’ve found that my best source of new clients comes from referrals and authenticity. I’m very transparent about the ingredients I use and have intentionally created a platform where education is central to understanding what’s right for your skincare needs.

I draw from my background as a social worker and combine that with my passion for plant medicine and creativity to provide my clients—and potential clients—with factual resources for their highest self-care. I believe that when you meet people where they are, with honesty and education, you create a lasting connection and foster trust. And that trust is what has allowed me to grow my brand, one genuine relationship at a time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://madeinradiance.com
• Instagram: madeinradiance
• Facebook: Made In Radiance

Image Credits

Bobby Gordon Photography