Hi, welcome to Twinkle Apothecary!
As it says on my homepage, this is a decidedly small business that's focused on enjoying life's small pleasures.
Twinkle Apothecary is a one-person business.
You've probably noticed how most of my website is in the first person. I use "I" where most businesses would say "we" because, well, there is no "we!" It's just me. I do it all: handmake every product, process every order, pack every box, write every word of product copy, answer every customer service email, and am the person responsible for marketing this business so that others can have the pleasure of finding and using these delicious natural products.
Yes, it's a lot. Yes, I love it. Yes, I consider all of my products pleasurable, life-enhancing, and thus, totally worth it. They are also tiny! Hence: Small pleasures.
Twinkle Apothecary has been my full-time job since 2015.
It takes a lot of creativity and flexibility to sustain a business in today's ever-changing world, so you might notice that I'm constantly tweaking things around here to make it work. I don't run my business like every other business, which means that I get to share my products with the best people who truly understand what it means to support small, handmade businesses.
It's about integrity.
I started my own business because I wanted to earn a living with integrity. I don't claim to have all the answers, but I try to do things carefully and thoughtfully and make my business as sustainable as possible. My completely natural and minimalistic products are PETA-approved vegan and cruelty-free, and I use recyclable, reusable, or biodegradable packaging whenever available. I also offer refills for those of you who are looking to reduce your waste even further!
But sustainability isn't all about trash.
A sustainable for-profit business should be financially viable enough to support its employees. Since I am my only employee, I make business decisions with my own financial and mental health in mind. I put so much work into handcrafting and sharing these products with the world, and I strive to price them fairly. It's harder for me to put money back in my business to keep things running when I'm always offering sales and coupons. I prefer to reward my loyal customers through a generous rewards program. (Click on the "rewards" banner at the bottom of the page to learn more!)
Speaking of mental health.
You might notice that I'm pretty comfortable discussing personal things with the world. I guess it comes with the territory of talking about wrinkles, rashes, and acne with strangers every day for the past six years! Well, I'm sure you can imagine that being a one-person business is pretty overwhelming at times. It's not like I started a business because I wanted to work alone - that's just kind of how it's worked out so far - as I'm trying to grow this business intentionally while raising my son and navigating a global pandemic. The past six years have been some of the most creatively fulfilled and the most isolated years of my life. I am currently trying to find a way to invite more balance into my world, and I invite you to help me achieve this goal by respecting my personal and professional boundaries.
This isn't an Instagram brand.
When I started, I was a plucky gal (who had no idea what I was doing!) making products out of the spare bedroom at my parent's house and posting about it on Instagram CONSTANTLY. Now, in 2022, I'm a business professional with a ton of responsibility on my plate. Instagram and Facebook are useful for sharing information, but I can't do everything that I do and post on Instagram constantly, or even daily. I've also stepped away from using social media personally, and I am happier and more productive for it - so why would I encourage my customers to keep scrolling? The best way to learn about my brand is through my website, email newsletter, and blog. I don't offer customer service through Instagram or Facebook. (As I said, I'm doing things my way!)
I'm not a doctor.
In the early days, well, up until a few months ago, customers would come to me with questions about everything under the sun - and by everything under the sun - I mean everything that they should be asking a medical professional! I have a lot of knowledge about skincare, but I can't diagnose or treat your skin conditions. I also don't have time to offer free skincare advice to everyone who asks. The information that I have to share is already on this website. My products are simple, gentle, and effective for all skin types. I want to empower you to do your research, test my products out, and adapt them into your routine as you see fit.
But it's not all about boundaries!
If you've followed and purchased my products since the beginning, you and I probably have a personal relationship at this point, and I cherish the connections I've made through this business more than words can say! If you're interested in getting to know me better personally and seeing how I use these products that I make in my daily life, I invite you to take a peek behind the scenes by joining my Patreon community. I offer a weekly Q&A session for my patrons and will be sharing more in-depth product knowledge there in the future, as well as DIY recipes if you'd like to learn how to do this yourself!
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about my brand. I wish you great skin and an endless supply of small pleasures!
Stefanie
Updated: January 2022
photo by Valerio Costilla (September 2021)