We were lucky to catch up with Francheska Travieso recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Francheska, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Oh, I love this question because my mission is so deeply personal. I didn’t start this business just to sell self-care products—I started it because I was losing myself.

As a new mother, I felt like I was disappearing into the constant demands of caring for everyone else. I needed something—anything—that helped me reconnect with me. That’s when I started creating. At first, it was just about finding small moments of peace, but without even realizing it, those moments became a healing process. What started as simple self-care turned into something much bigger: self-love.

That’s when I had my biggest realization—self-care and self-love aren’t the same. Self-care is the action, the little things we do to nurture ourselves, like using a beautifully made soap, lighting a candle, or taking a deep breath with a soothing scent. But self-love? That’s the foundation. It’s the way we treat ourselves, the way we speak to ourselves, and the way we prioritize ourselves. Self-care is a tool, but self-love is the journey.

So, my mission is to help women—moms, professionals, dreamers—carve out those small, meaningful moments that lead to something bigger. I want my products to be reminders that you matter, that you deserve care, and that taking time for yourself isn’t just about relaxation—it’s about reconnecting with who you are. Because when we do that, we don’t just feel better—we heal, we grow, and we show up in life with a whole new energy; and that’s powerful.

Francheska, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Francheska, the heart and hands behind this little galaxy of self-love and self-care. My journey into this world started with motherhood when I realized I was slowly losing myself in the daily chaos. Between diapers, sleepless nights, and the endless to-do lists, I started feeling i was loosing who i was. Which made me reflect on: who i really am?. So, as something fun, I took a course and I started making products just to carve out a little space for myself—what I didn’t expect was that it would become my healing process. It wasn’t just about self-care; it was about reconnecting, rebuilding, and truly loving myself.

That’s how my brand was born. I create holistic self-care products that go beyond just skincare—artisan soaps, crystal-infused candles, herbal lotions, lotion bars, auric sprays, and wellness rolls—all designed to help women slow down, breathe, and come back to yourself. Because self-care is part of self-love, but it’s not the whole picture. Part of my mission is to help women understand the difference. Self-love is deep, it’s messy, and it’s a daily practice.

I also offer self-love coaching sessions and one-card oracle readings for those who want to go deeper in their journey. My mission is to make self-care simple and intentional for women—moms, professionals, creatives—who don’t have time to waste but know they need to pour back into themselves.

What sets me apart? This isn’t just about products—it’s about an experience, a ritual, a moment of reconnection. Everything I create is aligned with mindfulness, nature, and energy healing, blending the magic of the universe with the grounding power of the earth. Our packaging is recyclable and others reusable because caring for ourselves should never come at the cost of the planet.

I’m most proud of the community we’re building—women who know their worth, who are learning to embrace themselves fully, even in their imperfections; and more important, that is a space where they feel safe. If there’s one thing I want people to know about my brand, it’s this: You deserve to take up space in your own life. You deserve time for yourself. And I’m here to help you make that happen—one crystal candle, one deep breath, one moment of self-love at a time.

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

The biggest lesson I had to unlearn? That taking care of myself was selfish. For so long, I thought being a good mom, a good partner, a good everything meant putting myself last. Because, to be honest, that’s what society, magazines and everything else taught me as “right”. Like taking time for myself was some kind of reward I had to “earn” after taking care of everyone else. But you know what? That mindset was running me into the ground.

When I became a mom, my whole world shifted—in the best way, but also in a way that made me feel like I was disappearing. I was exhausted, running on autopilot, and one day it hit me—I couldn’t even remember the last time I did something just for me and that I felt like myself. That was a wake-up call..

So, I started small. I did what I used to do—pampering. A face mask here, a mani-pedi there. Then came the soap-making and candle-making courses. And as a daily thing, I still make sure to enjoy at least five minutes of silence. As I noticed the pattern—the way these little acts of self-care were actually part of something bigger—I realized my mission was to share this self-care/self-love experience with others. That’s why I started promoting it through my brand and even took a coaching course to help guide others on their own journey. Those tiny moments changed everything for me. During the process I truly understood—self-care isn’t selfish, it’s necessary. And self-love? That’s the real foundation for everything.

Now, I make it my mission to help other women unlearn that same lesson. Because we are not meant to just give, give, give until there’s nothing left. You deserve to take care of you, too. No guilt, no apologies—just love.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Ohhh, resilience? Let me tell you—this journey has tested me in ways I never saw coming.

Life was life-ing HARD. Orders were slow, social media felt like I was talking to a wall, and juggling motherhood and business felt like an endless cycle; and cherry on top, when I was finally starting to grow my business in Puerto Rico, we took the desicion as family, to relocate to Florida—mostly for my kids, for better opportunities and a fresh start for our family. But that also meant starting my business from scratch all over again.

I remember crying when I moved here because I felt like I was doing everything and getting nowhere. It was overwhelming—trying to settle in, trying to rebuild a business without any contacts, having no one to guide me here. And that business? It wasn’t just some side project—it was a part of me, a reflection of my journey, my healing. It’s deeply connected to my life, my family, my purpose. So having to start over? It was hard.

But then, I took a deep breath. I meditated. I leaned on my husband—my biggest cheerleader; and my friend Mireya, who I swear is my conscience, always bringing me back to center. I reminded myself why I started, and why I keept doing it. This isn’t just a business—it’s my healing. It’s my way of reclaiming myself. Even when it felt like no one was watching, people were feeling it. I was feeling it; and that’s when I decided—if I had to take a break, I would. If I had to switch things up, I would. But quitting? Not an option.

So, I kept going. I focused on the small wins. The one customer who sent a sweet messages. The one post that resonated. The one moment of peace I felt while making something new. And step by step, things started flowing again.

Resilience isn’t about never struggling—it’s about choosing yourself even when it’s hard, and that’s exactly what I did. That’s exactly what I do. Every single day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.soapscandlesanddots.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soapscandlesanddots
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/theselflovelight