My name is Neri I was raised on Long Island, NY.                                                                                                                                                 

I was first diagnosed with eczema in the early 2000s after having allergic reactions to laundry detergent and body lotion. I first saw a dermatologist she did not diagnose me with eczema but recommend I use fragrance free products. She also sold me some expensive skincare products from her office. Although the products were costly and inconvenient—one required a 20–30 minute drying period before I could get dressed—I was willing to try anything. I stopped using the products because I found them inconvenient.

 

Eventually,  I began developing dry patches on my neck and elbows. I turned to my general doctor, who took one look and said, “You have eczema.” The word scared me at first, but she explained it was just a fancy term for severely dry skin. I was relieved. She prescribed a steroid cream for the dry patches and she too advised me to stop using scented products. As someone who loves fragrances, this was hard to accept. I had just stocked up at Bath & Body Works and was disappointed—but the steroid cream worked quickly and relieved the itchiness of the dry patches almost immediately. Within a week, the patches were almost gone. I used the ointment as needed and turned to buying and trying any fragrance-free body lotion product that was labeled “for sensitive skin” or “for eczema prone skin”. 

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Around 2016, while unpacking at my new apartment, I came across the same steroid cream and decided to read the informational pamphlet. After researching the ingredients listed, I learned that long-term use might carry health risks, including potential links to cancer. That terrified me and marked a turning point.  At this point I still had not found a fragrance free body lotion or cream that helped my dry, sensitive skin. I began searching for natural remedies and learned that while eczema isn’t curable, its symptoms can be managed using certain oils. Inspired by my parents’ use of natural treatments for cuts and burns, I began researching and experimenting.

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In 2017, a friend and I tried to make natural creams for Christmas gifts. We unknowingly overloaded them with essential oils, which we later found could be toxic in high amounts. We discarded the batch and I went back to researching. 

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In 2018, I took a required science class for my degree. Unexpectedly, it gave me valuable skills—measuring ingredients, understanding chemical reactions, learning the basics of product formulation and the importance of ingredient boiling points. Around the same time, a Hobby Lobby (craft store) opened in my area, offering DIY lotion ingredients. I began experimenting with lotion bases, carefully adding oils that I read would help my eczema, along with essential oils so I could enjoy fragrance again. While the base worked, I wanted to create my own formula from scratch —one that was gentle, natural, and effective.

After years of trial and error, by 2020, I had perfected a formula. Today, I’ve created a line of non-toxic skincare products that I love and use daily: Facial Night Cream, Daily Face Lotion, Extensive Dry Cream, Extensive Dry Ointment with Beeswax, Extensive Dry Cream with Beeswax, Silky Body Lotion, and Luxurious Body Cream. Each product can be made with or without fragrance. They’re moisturizing without leaving a greasy feeling, absorb quickly, and almost all have a silky texture. From my own experience and feedback from others, they don’t need to be reapplied throughout the day.

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I still experience occasional flare-ups (dry patches)—usually triggered by stress or sweat—but my Extensive Dry Ointment or Cream with Beeswax works effectively when applied right away. I no longer rely on prescription steroids and I even get to wear my favorite scents again!

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Currently, I use my products daily and share them with family and friends, who in turn have shared them with their own circles. The positive feedback and visible improvements in my skin have motivated me to expand. I want to help others—especially those suffering with eczema, that have sensitive, or cracked, dry skin during winter—and offer an alternative to products made with harsh or toxic chemicals. I’m also in the early stages of researching hair care and soap products. 

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I have dedicated time to researching the safety of all the ingredients I use in my lotions and creams, following usage percentages based on published articles by expert panels who assess cosmetic ingredients for the Personal Care Products Council. This council collaborates with the FDA to ensure the safety of cosmetic ingredients.

 

I strongly believe in the importance of doing my due diligence by thoroughly researching each ingredient to ensure the safety of the products I create. My core philosophy is simple: if I wouldn’t use an ingredient on my own skin or hair, I won’t use it in my products.

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I hope you enjoy my products! 

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With Love,

 

 Neri Arevalo