Tell us about how and why OMni came about.

From my own use of natural products as a teenager 30 years ago to my son’s journey with eczema as a wee boy (he’s 24 now), there are many experiences and factors in my life that led me to producing OMni balms. At one stage I even ran a website selling products like Earthwise, Eco-Store and Living Nature, before they became more widely available.

But probably the most pivotal time was when I was approaching my 50th birthday. I was experiencing a lot of anxiety as I entered the menopausal phase of my life, and I had such a strong urge to not live with any regrets. So that’s when I decided to fulfil my passion to produce a truly natural product range.

OMni is a range of six 100% natural multi-use balms made from botanical ingredients and essential oils designed to truly benefit your skin. 

The balms can be used anywhere your skin needs nourishment and hydration (lips, hands, cuticles, elbows etc), or wherever you want to add a natural glow (lips, cheeks, your decolletage etc). They are a natural alternative to traditional lipsticks, blushers or highlighters, and the natural colours absorb into your skin over time and don’t stain. 

What was the hardest part about making sure it’s sustainable and you’re not falling into the category of green washing?

Such a great question! Overall, as a brand, OMni Balms aligns itself with the Slow Beauty movement; a philosophy that includes the use of natural ingredients, a gentle attitude towards ageing, being mindful and eco-friendly, and above all, being yourself.

The underlying premise of OMni Balms is that the ingredients are 100% natural, and so the balms are free from synthetic ingredients including parabens, petrochemicals, artificial fragrances and colours. 

Because the balms are natural and don’t contain preservative, I purposefully selected glass pots to maintain their integrity. The pots also mean you get to use every speck of OMni balm and no product goes to waste, like often happens in squeezable, twist or pump cosmetic containers. 

You can choose re-purpose, rather than recycle, the pots for other uses. They’re great as mini travel pots for your other cosmetics, or as containers for small objects like rings and ear-rings, or even in the kitchen for herbs. 

With all of that as a focus I have also tried to introduce as many other sustainable elements as possible into the business since its inception. 

For example, the outer sleeves around the balms pots were deliberately designed to use less paper. They have 2 sides “missing” to reduce paper usage and waste. The paper stocks used for the outer sleeves, the information leaflets supplied with each balm, and OMni’s business cards, contain 30% post-consumer recycled fibre and are Green Seal certified.

All the delivery packaging used to send out the balms was selected because it can all be re-used, recycled or composted, including the boxes, the wood wool packed around the balms, the cotton ribbons used to tie the boxes, and the courier bags.

And of course, being multi-use, the balms are time and money savers too, and to me that’s an equally important part of being sustainable.

What is the most challenging part of starting your own business?

This might sound a little upside down, but I actually think starting a business is the easiest part. You take the idea, do your research and set about pressing “go”. 

The hardest part for me has been developing the ongoing business direction, and maintaining that belief in my ability to achieve my goals – I work on my mindset every day!

Fatigue has played a big factor too … when you’re one person doing everything from the development and planning, marketing, social media, accounts, packing and sending orders etc, you can burn out a bit … eventually I realised I needed to factor in down time too, especially since I still work full-time in my original day job. 

What tips would you give to somebody who wants to start an eco-business but has no idea where to start?

I think the most important thing is to be clear in where your passion lies and what your vision is. Once you have that, do your research well so you know exactly what you need to achieve your vision … and what all the potential pit falls are. That’s what keeps you creative.

Then take one step at a time, set goals (small ones and big ones) and stick to your plan, seek support and guidance when you need it, celebrate your daily achievements, and your milestones, as you reach them. 

Most importantly … be kind to yourself (you’re learning!!), and don’t forget to prioritise yourself and your family too. 

It’s so rewarding to be working on your own dream and vision – to be able to bring your passion to life and see it evolve. I am the one accountable for setting the standards for OMni Balms, and that’s both scary and exciting! 

I have learnt many skills, and yet have also at times had to let go and ask someone else to help – I had to realise I can’t do everything! It can get overwhelming, and tiring, if you try to do it all alone.

If anyone asked me whether they should start their own business, I will totally say “do it” – I have no regrets! Go for it!! 😊

What’s one thing that happened recently that you’re proud of?

At the end of this last 2021/22 financial year, I had sold just over 6000 balms – that just feels incredible to me! I am so grateful to everyone who has purchased a balm, and to all the other local businesses around NZ who have stocked OMni Balms for their own customers. 

I think as a nation we have really stepped up and supported local businesses – both online and in-store. Long may that continue!!  

What do you want from the future of OMni?

My focus for the foreseeable future is to continue building the OMni Balm family, and to get as many people as possible to experience and fall in love with the balms. Because OMni balms are multi-purpose, everyone can benefit from them no matter your gender, age or skin type. 

So far, our customers are mainly women of all ages and stages of life, who want something that feels and smells luxurious, who either like a minimal makeup look, or a beautiful natural glow as part of their makeup style, or who don’t like wearing lipstick anymore because it bleeds (that’s me!).

We’ve also seen new parents who want something safe to use around their babies; teenagers who want to experiment with makeup but want something natural; and generally just people who have dry lips and love the feel of OMni balms on their lips and skin. Basically, anyone who loves a natural product that does what it says on the jar!

And for the more distant future …? I would love to develop a full skin care range, so keep watching this space … 😊.

Product Highlight

It’s really hard for me to choose one OMni Balm over another!

The Nourish balm is the most popular – it’s a colourless balm that contains the essential oils of peppermint and ylang ylang. Like all OMni Balms you can use it absolutely anywhere and everywhere ... some customers even use it as a gentle night balm on their lips and around their eyes and love how their skin looks and feels in the morning, and others use it to shape their eyebrows, or tame the wild ends of their hair – it’s pretty versatile!

The Blush and Rose Petal balms are the next most popular and have gorgeous hints of colour that you can layer up or down, and are perfect as an alternative to traditional lipstick and blusher. The colours don’t stain or bleed around your lips – the more you blend them, or the longer you wear them, the more colour is gently absorbed into your skin. 

You can use the paler colours of Sheer Coral and Baby Pink as a highlighter, and on your décolletage for that sun kissed glow – they have a beautiful sheen because of the zinc component. Zinc is great at reducing inflammation in the skin and helps to balance skin tone. In fact, I have used Sheer Coral as a face moisturiser after being in the sun, and as a lovely hydration treatment in general. 

The Polish balm is a delicious smelling exfoliant that contains fine granules of coconut sugar and sweet orange oil. It’s gentle enough for delicate areas like your lips, backs of hands and cuticles, and your often-forgotten elbows. I’ve even used Polish on my whole face for a gentle exfoliation cleanse and deep hydration treatment. And it honestly tastes delicious … coconut sugar and sweet orange oil – yum!

When I was developing the range, the nourishing capabilities of the ingredients were critical to the performance of the balms. They all repair dry, cracked or chapped skin, some of them have antibacterial properties, or the ability to reduce inflammation, or promote the production of collagen.

The smell, texture and taste were also equally important, to ensure the experience would be enjoyed by everyone who used them. They’re not matt, and they’re not glossy or sticky or tacky … they have a beautiful lip feel, and the balms absorb into other skin areas easily leaving your skin feeling soft and supple. 

Plus, the essential oils I use all have restorative properties and are mood enhancers that help uplift your day – they all smell delicious!

Other information if useful

My background:

• Currently aged 53.

• Always interested in natural products from a teenager.

• Started my working life in journalism, marketing and comms, then went to the UK in the 90s, and experienced the usual array of travel and work opportunities, adding print and advertising to my roles.

• Had my son in 1998, and he had terrible eczema all over his body. This led to running a “chemical-free” home and further underpinned my interest in natural products, paying much closer attention to ingredients used in everything from household cleaners to personal care products.

• Briefly ran a website in my spare time selling “chemical-free” products, like Earthwise, which are now found on most supermarket shelves.

• Studied Homeopathy and then Traditional Acupuncture in my late 30s/early 40s, running a women’s health practice for a few years specialising in fertility, where I also saw how the effects of modern living impacts on our whole health (mental, emotional, physical).

Information for ETHICALLY SO, published July 2022

Supplied by Vanessa Morgan, Founder, OMni Balms