We recently connected with Dairia Brown and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Dairia, thanks for joining us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

Gladly, let me break it down to you on how Momma’s Natural Defense was thought of. Momma’s, because I am a mother of 3 handsome boys and wanted something that was safe for the body. Natural, because all of the ingredients are raw, and organic. Defense, because it protects from the biting bugs, harmful uv rays and chapped lips. It’s also free from the chemicals that are in leading products.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Most definitely, I first created Momma’s Natural Defense (MND for short) All-Natural Bug Repellent to protect my family. There was not a product that satisfied my need or comfort to use. Being a family that used coconut oil in other areas of our lives, I decided to research what other natural ingredients would blend well and keep the bugs away. Testing on small areas and getting feedback allowed me to improve on the formula to what I bring to everyone today. With the success of my Bug Repellent, I repeated the same process to develop my Lip Balm and Sun Defense.

I love my products because MND not only protects, but also moisturizes the skin and lips by using raw ingredients with coconut being the base. I feel what sets me apart from others is my Bug Repellent. It’s my triple threat by repelling, moisturizing, and soothing the skin before and after a bite. Sun Defense protects from the sun’s rays and feels light on the skin, not greasy, or dried out. Lastly, the Lip Balm is in five flavors also protecting, light, and moisturizing. All my products absorb well into the skin, have natural benefits as single ingredients, and smell great. My products are safe for the whole family along with the environment. I am proud of all of the hard work and research that has gone into making sure what is safe for my family is also safe for yours.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Yes, so my story of resilience are my customer’s stories. I have had customers tell me how my products have helped them in more than one way and that makes me so happy! A customer shared with me that she went hiking and got poison ivy, so she put some of my Bug Repellent on the area and it helped soothe the itch and irritation from the poison ivy. There is a customer that buys my Sun Defense because he has very sensitive skin and uses it against the harmful rays. Another customer doesn’t go outside to do yard work without putting on my Bug Repellent because she says not only does she love the smell, but she doesn’t get bit once with it on. And those stories are why I continue to make my products. I started out with my family in mind and have helped so many others in the process, which fuels me to keep going.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

So with my business being family owned, it takes a family to help run it! My business partner(s) are my husband and my mother. I met my husband/silent business partner 23 years ago. We were just in middle school. At lunch one day, he decided to approach and talk to me, and that was the beginning of our journey together. After moving away many years later, we stayed in touch. He later proposes to me Christmas morning and we have been together for 13 years now. I remember when he came to me a couple of years ago, suggesting that I should sell my repellent. Ever since, we have been working at building Momma’s Natural Defense. He has been by my side at vendor fairs, listening to ideas of new creations and making sure money is spent wisely. I also have the pleasure to have my mother assist me. She is pretty much my Editor- in- Chief. I know that whatever my vision is, she will make it come to life on paper or offer the best way to express it. They both bring such different views to the table to help this business learn and grow. I love having people that I trust to work alongside, making this journey much more enjoyable. They’re an important part and a great team and I couldn’t see myself doing it without them!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @mommas_natural_defense
• Facebook: mommas_natural_defense
• Other: etsy.com/shop/MommasNaturalDefense
• Website: mommasnatural.bigcartel.com