Kadaesha Lindsay stood in the aisle of the large retailer, reading baby skin care product labels. It was 2015, and the expectant mother was puzzled by the questionable ingredients she saw on every bath and body product she picked up. She left the store with nothing. The trip, however, sparked a curiosity in dissecting labels and inspired a journey that, in 2018, led to Kadaesha launching her natural skin care product company. Four years later, not only is Untainted Bath and Body growing, but Kadaesha is also a student in Centennial College’s Social Service Worker program. While at first glance, social work and skin care may not appear to have much in common, Kadaesha hopes to bridge the gap.
“There are a lot of social activism issues that are important to me, and they aren’t all directly connected to the goods I sell but I look for connections,” says Kadaesha. “I want to be able to help women who have suffered from domestic violence, for example, to help strengthen themselves in self-development and to know they deserve more. I think self-care includes bath and body, so that is one connection I’m exploring.”
Part of Centennial’s annual Black Business Showcase, which features 40 Black-owned businesses in fashion, food, art, and more, Untainted Bath and Body specializes in safe and healthy skin and bath products. Kadaesha makes the goods by hand, using organic, plant-based butters, oils, and other natural ingredients. Untainted products are always free of harmful chemicals, are vegan-friendly, and are made in small batches to ensure freshness.
“People can appreciate that we use natural ingredients, especially with the increasing awareness about the adverse effects of certain ingredients that are in some of our favourite store-bought items,” she says. “There were definitely times of self-doubt for me, but the encouragement from people who love my bath and body products really helps. For example, people have told me how my Skin Healing Salve helped their kids’ eczema.”
Beyond customer support, Kadaesha says being enrolled in the Social Service Worker program has helped her to acquire transferable skills that have a positive impact on her practices as an entrepreneur. She says she has come to better understand policies and gained soft skills such as people and interpersonal skills, which are important when interacting with the public.
The program has also helped Kadaesha to understand what is known in social work as “social location.” Commonly, it is defined as an individual’s social position in their society. It is based on social characteristics deemed to be important by that society (such as gender, race, religion, sexual orientation). This knowledge, Kadaesha says, has allowed her to better understand herself, and by extension, her purpose in business.
“I’m a Black woman, I live in low-income housing, I’m a single mom,” says the budding entrepreneur. “I’m not at the frontline of privileged wealth. Initially, it made me feel defeated. But, being aware helped me navigate through it. I was able to find strength in it. Whether you feel you can’t or you can, you are absolutely right. One thing I really love about owning my own business is the freedom of having a voice. Representation is huge, and I didn’t see much of it growing up. It’s empowering to know I can show a young Black girl how beautiful, and worthy, and celebrated she is.”
Untainted Bath and Body products are available at untainted.ca.
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