JustBe Botanicals – Natural Beauty & Pamper Products : Our Independent Shops

January 28^th, 2020

Behind the scenes with the fabulous Gail of JustBe Botanicals, a gorgeous shop selling an all natural range of beauty and pamper products.

Gail Bryden is the aromatherapist founder of JustBe Botanicals. She hand blends all her products in Scotland, using purely natural ingredients designed to balance the emotions and enhance a sense of wellbeing.

The essence of JustBe is to encourage us to simply be ourselves.  I love this.

Gail lives in Edinburgh and has the perfect address for an aromatherapist;  Rosebank Cottages, Gardner’s Crescent.  She is one busy lady and has developed so many lovely products in her many years of running JustBe Botanicals. I am intrigued how she has got to where she is today.  Plus, how she manages to get her picture taken with so many famous people!

 

Gail, such a lovely range of products, can you tell us where it all began?

Thank you. I started with a range of 4 aromatherapy massage oils that I used in treatments.

Through working with a luxury spa, I was asked for an anti-ageing facial followed by a teenage facial. The range developed over the years and there’s now 6 sensory spa treatments and something for each of the 5 senses, including a range of music called JustBe In Tune and aromatherapy chocolates.

 

For those who have not come across JustBe Botanicals before, can you share with us a bit more about your products?

JustBe’s an all natural range that matches botanical’s and a blend of aromatherapy oils with your mood. There are 6 signature blends: Happy, Active, Energised, Tranquil, Detox & Pure.

With award winning skincare, soy candles, herbal teas and chocolates to choose from, there’s an opportunity to practice mindfulness, whether out and about or at home.

The products are 100% natural (free from any nasties), ethically made (cruelty free) and nut free.

 

Do you have a favourite range or product?

I love them all. If I had to choose one, it would be the Hydrating Serum & Treatment Oil, from the facial range, due to how many people compliment me on my skin! The duo of 10ml x 2 (£25) come with a money back radiance guarantee and have been described as “pretend sleep and clean living in a bottle.”

 

Where do you run it all from?  

I work from home. I recently moved from making most of my products on my kitchen table to my loft space. It’s a real cottage industry.

 

 

Looking at your social media, you seem to be here there and everywhere, getting so much done.  How do you manage to achieve it all?

Working from home, loving what you do and living in central Edinburgh all help. There’s always something going on in Edinburgh and as I work for myself I can be flexible.

 

 

You also do Spa’s and Treatments.  Can you describe how this works and can you tell us about the gin!?

There are 6 spa treatments: 2 facial, 4 body.

The JustBe Wellness Journey starts with the simple question how would you like to feel? 

Following the consultation, a scent test will let you know which aromatherapy blend your mind and body needs. Before your treatment you’ll have the opportunity to select 3 JustBe Inspiration Cards, and you’ll be offered some JustBe Chocolate at the end of your treatment.  A very special experience.

The Gin Spa opened in Glasgow in December last year – a spa using botanically based products found in gin. They selected JustBe Botanicals range for their treatments and the feedback has been incredible. I currently offer the therapist training.

 

Since setting up your business, what has been your proudest moment?

There have been so many surprising moments from receiving 21 awards, being asked to display within 10 Downing Street as part of Small Business 100, collaborating with the Edinburgh Fringe Festival on chocolate and meeting / having selfies with so many well known faces.

The proudest moment was perhaps being asked to supply product for Michelle Obama’s changing room when she visited Edinburgh earlier this year.

 

 

What are your future plans for JustBe Botanical, what can we expect to see coming soon?

The big plan is to create JustBe at Home Gatherings.  They will give people the opportunity to experience wellbeing and mindfulness at home. This will hopefully be launched in conjunction with a charitable range to support Mental Health.  This will be such a wonderful product to launch.

Two new eye products are in development, they will be launched early next year.  I am very excited about these!!

 

Before you go can you share with us some of your wellbeing wisdom to help us feel inspired?

Be yourself, keep it real and enjoy the journey.

 

…and finally can you sum up in just a few words, what it is like being a shopkeeper of an independent online shop?

Liberating and rewarding.

 

 

Thank you so much Gail.  Your passion for your wonderful products really shines through.  I love how your business has grown and developed over the years.  Such an inspiration.

If you would to see more of what Gail is up to and her gorgeous products, head over to Instagram @justbebotanicals or on Facebook @justbebotanicals.  You can see all her fab selfies with celebs over there too.

I am looking forward to continuing to follow the JustBe Botanicals story.

I first featured JustBe Botanicals on my blog post sharing lots of Beauty Products.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about Gail’s Our Shops story.  JustBe Botanicals is a member of Love Our Shops UK shopping directory.

 

 

Until next time, happy browsing and inspired shopping.

Barbara

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: Beauty & Pampering, Shops Behind the Scenes