We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Frances Lopez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Frances thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Josspure actually started during a really hard season in my life. I was a teacher and injured my back at work, and the injury left me completely bedridden for about eight months. Around that time I also developed two autoimmune conditions, severe eczema and arthritis, so my body and my skin were constantly in pain. I tried every store-bought soap and skincare product I could find, but most of them just made my eczema worse. Since I had so much time stuck in bed, I started researching traditional soapmaking and experimenting with simple ingredients like nourishing oils, butters, and soothing botanicals to make something my skin could actually tolerate. When my skin finally started calming down, it clicked for me that a lot of people might be dealing with the same problem, soaps that strip and irritate the skin, and that’s really how Josspure was born. What started as a personal solution eventually turned into a business focused on helping people with dry, sensitive skin feel good in their skin again.

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?

I’m Frances, founder of Josspure, a handmade skincare brand focused on gentle, nourishing soap for dry and sensitive skin. I got into soapmaking after dealing with my own health issues and realizing how harsh most store-bought soaps were on my skin. That experience led me down a rabbit hole of learning traditional soapmaking and working with ingredients that actually support the skin instead of stripping it. Today we make small batch soaps and body care using things like shea butter for deep moisture, olive and coconut oils for a creamy cleanse, and soothing botanicals like chamomile, spirulina, colloidal oatmeal, and raw honey. The goal is simple. Create a bar that cleans your skin while helping it stay calm, hydrated, and balanced.

What I’m most proud of is hearing from customers who tell us our soaps are the only ones their sensitive skin can tolerate. A lot of people with dry or reactive skin think the solution is more lotion, but what touches your skin first in the shower matters just as much. Our approach is to start there with a gentle, traditional soap that respects the skin barrier. At the end of the day, what I want readers to know about Josspure is that everything we make is created with a skin-first mindset and with people who struggle with dryness or irritation in mind. The goal is simple self care that actually feels good on your skin.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

One book that really shifted the way I think about entrepreneurship is Main Street Millionaire by Codie Sanchez. The idea that stuck with me the most is that real wealth often comes from owning simple, reliable businesses that solve everyday problems, not chasing the next flashy startup or trend. The book talks about how a lot of successful entrepreneurs build freedom through steady, cash-flowing businesses that serve real communities, things people need every day.

That perspective resonated with me because it’s exactly how I see Josspure. I’m not trying to build a trendy beauty brand. I’m focused on creating something simple and reliable that helps people every single day, a soap that actually cares for their skin instead of stripping it. Reading that book reinforced my belief that there’s real value in building a small business that solves a real problem for people, and that “boring” businesses done well can actually be the most meaningful and sustainable ones.

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

One thing I had to unlearn was the idea that a business has to be some big, flashy, groundbreaking idea to matter. For a long time I thought entrepreneurship meant inventing something totally new or building the next huge tech company. But the more I learned and the more I worked on Josspure, the more I realized that some of the best businesses are actually really simple. They just solve a real problem for people.

When I started making soap, it wasn’t because I thought I had this revolutionary idea. I was just trying to make something that didn’t hurt my skin. But when people started telling me our bars were the only soaps their sensitive skin could tolerate, it made me realize how powerful something simple can be when it’s done well. That experience really changed my perspective. You don’t always have to reinvent the wheel. Sometimes doing something traditional with care, good ingredients, and real intention can make a bigger difference than chasing the next big thing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://josspure.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josspureco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559737898782
• Twitter: https://x.com/josspureco
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@josspureco