ABOUT US

 Ten years ago marked the start of my skin and health issues. I struggled with persistent hormonal acne, unbalanced and extremely sensitive skin, rosacea and scarring (yes, I picked my acne and don't recommend it.) My skin was basically a mess, and so was my body. My hormones proved to be completely out of whack. Cramping, skin flare ups, PMS every day of the month... you get the picture. I tried every skin care product I could get my hands on that marketed acne relief. From Proactiv to prescribed antibiotic gels to natural remedies like tea tree oil and natural skin products, I had tried it all. After having a severe reaction that caused my skin to become a red, dry disaster, I sat on my edge of my bed and cried. I reached a point where I wanted to give up. I tried to tell myself that I was born with acne and that this was my struggle that I had to live with, but something inside of me knew there was an answer. I had to keep searching. My doctor had recently recommended I try the birth control pill, or Acutane if the pill proved unsuccessful. With my limited knowledge at that time, I knew deep down that those drugs would be a temporary fix, and would mess up my body's balance in the process. I knew that I was out of balance, but I didn't know what to do or where to start.

I always had a deep interest in natural health and organic, whole foods. My mum had nurtured this love in me from a young age, as she had a deep interest in nutrition, and brought healthy habits into our home. I started incorporating more organic fruits and vegetables into my diet, and cut out all refined and processed foods. I started becoming more aware of what I was putting inside of my body. I kept wanting to learn more and more, and acquired mentors in this area. Upon finishing high school, I enrolled and was accepted into the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition. I became obsessed of the foods I put in my body, always making sure it was organic and whole. My acne had cleared up significantly, but it was still there, and would still flare up, especially around that time of the month. I had yet another breakdown and was dumbfounded by how my expensive organic eating habits were not doing the job of completely clearing up this acne!


And then it clicked. One morning while I was doing my skin care/make-up regime, I decided to look at the ingredients in the products I was putting on my skin, as I knew the skin is your largest organ and everything applied on the skin is directly absorbed into the body. 99% of the ingredients I read off of my products were like another language to me, and even sounded scary. I decided to start researching just what the heck was in my skin care and make-up products. I bought book after book, analyzed scientific study after study, and what I discovered shocked me. Most skin care is full of toxic preservatives and fillers that disrupt your hormones, CAUSE skin inflammation (acne, rosacea, and so on), AND are stored in your tissues and body fat.  TOXIC CHEMICALS THAT STAY OUR BODIES. All the expensive make-up and skin care I had invested in was basically poison. The slow killing kind. In the books and scientific studies I had read, these toxic chemicals in our skin care, make-up, body care - you name it - were found in high amounts in patients with diseases such as cancer. Especially women with breast cancer. This was a huge wake-up call for me. How is this allowed?! Where is our protection as consumers? After hours deep in thought, I decided that the best way to change and impact skin care was to formulate pure, high performance skin care for myself.

I started to do some in-depth research of the skin’s anatomy, because I'm a researcher by birth. I did extensive research and took courses on skin care formulation, and discovered that the most therapeutic and effective treatment for the skin was high quality oils that had a high absorbency rating and a similar composition to our skin’s natural oil, sebum. This is when I discovered why oils are better than creams and water-based products. Most creams are acidic, and encourage bacterial growth on the skin. They also do not absorb as deep as oils do. Although creams help with hydration, they do not help with regeneration and collagen production nearly as well as oils do.

I started to research the best, most potent, active and nutrient-dense oils and essential oils. Most skin care, I discovered, was full of cheap fillers, and often contained only one or more active ingredients. I wanted skin care that was entirely ACTIVE. It just made sense to me. And not only active, but absorbable. Skin care that was proven to absorb to the dermis and hypodermis; where all skin regeneration takes place.

Graduating as a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, I started to work at one of the largest health food stores in Canada. Through my daily interactions with customers, I discovered I wasn't the only one looking for skin care that was pure and gave results. I started trying every natural skin care product that had fairly "clean" ingredients. Nothing gave me the results I was looking for. Most of what I tried smelled "organic" (think tree bark...), was greasy, and didn't really do anything. I am a person who loves to wake up everyday and enjoy each little moment, especially when I am taking care of my skin. I expected my skin care ritual to be that way. But before that could happen, I needed to trust that what I was using was really from pure, truly organic ingredients (there is a lot of "organic" products that are sadly not even close to organic).

Long story short, I discovered specific oils that almost every customer interacted well with and experienced incredible results. I started formulating and testing my formulas on myself, my family and close friends. After receiving negative feedback on the smell and consistency of the products, I kept going. My first product was the Face Cream, which was a huge hit. I was still sitting on the fence in regards to oils as I had oily, acne-prone skin and was always told by my doctors, dermatologists and estheticians to stay away from oil. I dreamt of a simple skin care ritual that was truly holistic and didn't need a strong preservative; that was so high in vitamins and nutrients that the ingredients preserved themselves. And thus, my persistent research lead me back to pure, active botanical carrier and essential oils, as they proved to work beautifully with the skin. The results were just incredible, everything I ever wanted, and couldn’t be ignored. Shelby Naturals was born.


My skin is not and will never be perfect, but it is balanced, glowing, and exudes health and radiance. I am confident. I rarely experience acne breakouts. The many scars I once had have substantially faded, and most are no longer visible. My desire and purpose is for Shelby Naturals to do the same for you, no matter your age or skin concerns. Our products address aging as much as they address inflammation (acne, rosacea…). Beauty comes from within, and what you put on your skin directly impacts your body. God has provided us with medicine that our bodies are designed to thrive on. I want to personally encourage you to never give up, to never stop looking for answers. At times I wanted to give up and run away, but I never did. And I am eternally happy I never did. The answer is most often times around the corner. Never loose your passion to discover. The world will thank you.


My passion and goal is to provide you with the best skin care. We are all so unique and individual, and I am proud that Shelby Naturals works to balance your skin at every age and stage in your beautiful life.