We were lucky to catch up with Marlena Velez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Marlena, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

I own and operate a Holistic Self-Care business, meaning that our products focus on encouraging the total person to strive for better health mentally and physically. Soap making has a dual purpose for me because I have very sensitive skin (as does my entire family) and I like to pamper myself. During my nursing career of 30 plus years I provided skin care to my patients. During that time I noticed that natural skin care and naturally derived ingredients worked the best for my patients. Within my career as a nurse, I worked with cancer patients on the units at University of Chicago and South Suburban Hospitals, in Illinois, so I had first hand experience with what damage can be done to the skin and mentally to someone’s self image. When my mother got sick with breast cancer, I wanted to provide her with a soap that would not damage her skin any further than what the chemotherapy was doing. Having a soap that smelled delightful in the process did not hurt, either. I gave her a bar, and the outcome from use was a success, plus she loved her bar! Since then, I have given other family and friends bars, and they also gave favorable and positive feedback. With the resources to a healthier soap bar I decided to help others with sensitive skin by starting my business. I believe holistic living is the best lifestyle, it’s a way to enjoy natural, physical, motivational products and heal our inner/outer self and our planet. I believe in truth and the truth is a natural lifestyle has always been beneficial for all of us. My business foundation focus on three core components to individuality:

Marlena, 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?

As a child, prior to my nursing career, I was a child prodigy of art, meaning the Art Institute was interested in me as an artist at the age of 5 years old (I did not attend because my parents felt I was too young for that type of exposure. Throughout my entire childhood and high school I was in gifted art classes. I loved making things and science. My family were Pescatarians, during the 1980’s Veganism was not a well known lifestyle, I believe if my parents were aware of this lifestyle we would have been raised Vegan. During that time my family used what is called home remedies for everything. I was right alongside my parents paying close attention to ingredients that they would use for different issues. Of course, we went to the doctor when needed but minor ailments, no need. At the age of 14 years old I enrolled into John Amico Cosmetology school for evening classes, while attending regular high school full time during the day. Although, I couldn’t officially take the Illinois Cosmetology State Boards until I was 16 years old, I continued and graduated. Once I graduated from high school at 17 years old I went to college. After some time I graduated and received my nursing license and passed my Indiana Nursing State Board, on my first try. I was extremely happy with my 30 plus years of nursing and helping others. During my 30 year career I did not take breaks, I mean it was what I loved. But, as I began to return to a holistic lifestyle I began feeling guilty as to my job duties. Administering medications when a change in diet would benefit my patients, or a simple all natural solution to assist with healing of a wound-which I learned this from a Japanese doctor I was under for wound care treatment for my patients. In late 2019, I fell ill to an unknown virus that damaged my lungs and had me in the hospital severely ill. After that I returned to work and fell ill again in 2020 with COVID-19 symptoms that caused many ailments to where I was unable to perform my nursing duties as I once did. The year 2019 caused the beginning to study the art of soap making. I purchased books and watched videos, practiced and perfected how to make safe and beneficial soap. Of course I had flops but I did not give up. I tried all of my products on myself first because I have very sensitive skin. The products were good enough on my skin which gave me the indication that they would be beneficial for others. Part of being a nurse we are taught to care for our patients holistically so I truly desire to help others “whole souled”. I make other products to help with relaxation and self-care. Deep down I knew that I was coming to a transition with my career, I wanted to help others in a different way because nursing became stressful for me after 30 plus years and I am the type of person that if my heart is not fully into what I am doing I’d rather make changes so that everyone can benefit. Because I love art and helping others, I chose to make products that will give others the benefit of my knowledge, experience and creativity. The products that Lena Ve 22 provides are Vegan friendly beauty brand and cruelty free bar soaps, body oils, sugar scrubs, bath salts, and bombs. We also design and make lounge wear and custom mugs with mental health and relaxation as a focus. After all we are living in difficult times and positive vibes and thoughts are needed. Our products are to serve the human in a positive way to raise our vibration and bring about healing of ourselves and the planet. All of our products are made and manufactured in the United States of America. What sets me apart from others in the Beauty Brand industry is that I offer 30 years of hands on nursing experience, education and a deep drive to help others. With over 30 years of nursing experience I have a direct knowledge of the human body holistically speaking.

I am most proud of the years in nursing in which I saw people get better from my care and now my products. I’m proud that people who know of me and my products are benefiting from my skills and knowledge. I am proud that I have a spirit that loves to help others. I am a perfectionist/problem solver. Meaning, when I was working as a nurse, (which as nurses we never really stop thinking as a nurse, lol) one: we are trained to problem solve and even when I get home from work I would still think about what can I do when I go back or the next time to improve my tasks to benefit my patients. Two: someone’s health is always in your hands, there is an ethical responsibility to serving others. My business is to serve others holistically.

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.

I manufacture my own products. I had no idea how to manufacture products effectively. Changing career paths is a time consuming task but well worth changing to do something you love. The first action I took to get started with my manufacturing journey was to purchase my books, then I bought my equipment little at a time with my paychecks. When I made my first batches of soap I was also transitioning to a Vegan lifestyle. I made a batch of soap with lard. Well lard comes from pig fat. Needless to say that batch was given away. I started watching the different videos such as “What the Health” and other You tube documentary videos on the meat and sugar industries. I learned that people will say all natural, organic but they were using animal fat in their products. I use plant oils and fragrant water. I learned that there are a lot of companies that sell ingredients that are damaging to your health and hazardous to the skin, this concept does not speak to my target audience. It took me almost 3 years to find my vendors for my ingredients. I went through companies that sourced from China and can you really say what’s in the product? They are not required to list all ingredients on sites like Wish or Alibaba. it is also a good idea to buy a test trial amount prior to sinking a lot of money into your ingredients. I once purchased 5 bottles of food grade lye for my soap to have to pitch the containers because the company sold me a mixture of sodium and potassium mix. That was horrible, my soap did not harden and I had to throw batches of soap away. This is just one example, make sure your vender is reputable and their ingredients are as they say they are. A part of manufacturing is keeping accurate and detailed records.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Trust and honesty helped build my reputation within my market. I buy and source most of my ingredients locally, most of my customers are local and this builds my relationships and reputation. Online has it’s down falls and the main one is that your customer has to trust that your products are you say they are. Let’s face it there are scammers roaming about and therefore the trust issue is a skill that needs to be developed. I started by word of mouth and vending events. In person I can explain my product and my customers can experience my products first hand. When I speak with my customers in person I can explain my focus is on holistic and Vegan based living. When I say my products are all natural, organic or Vegan friendly, my customers are aware that I do not use harmful chemicals or animal products. My products are plant-based. On my social media pages I have pictures of food that I prepare for myself and family, I have inspirational post to give positivity to others and I explain ingredients whether food or my beauty brand products.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lenave22.com
• Instagram: @lenave22
• Facebook: @mzvelez22
• Youtube: @lenave22

Image Credits
Marlena Velez Dawn Bautista