The Story Behind Mona Moon Naturals
SANDRA (MONA’S SISTER) LEFT, MONA’S MOTHER, MONA RIGHT
If you asked me how a busy mom of two, with a full-time job and family commitments, started a beauty brand, I’d quote Helen Keller:
‘Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.’
However, the adventure that got me here was not as exciting as I’d like it to be.
The story of Mona Moon Naturals began well before the idea of a brand. It began over a phone call with the news of my sister’s breast cancer diagnosis. As we went through the appointments, a double mastectomy and a lengthy recovery process, one question troubled us just as it troubles so many others:
How did this happen? More importantly, how did this happen again?
My family has a history of cancer. My mother, aunt, cousin, and now sister were all diagnosed. Even my father’s side of the family has women with cancer. So you could say that not only did we expect it, we were preparing for the possibility. Our doctor told us it might be linked to environmental factors. But the thing is - everyone lived on a different continent, let alone a city.
SAMAAN SISTERS
My sister’s cancer was estrogen-based. Simply put, the level of the hormone estrogen had caused the cancer. So what had caused that hormone level to change? How did my sister, who had adopted a lifestyle to avoid this very result, get cancer?
As we dug deep our questions got answered. The answers were frankly alarming. Our daily products had ingredients that were known ‘hormone disruptors’. Personal care products, cleaning products, and even plastic containers all had them. From the minute we stumbled out of bed to the moment we ended the day we were using products that were absorbed by our skin. Think about it. Toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, sunscreen, not to mention all the makeup and skincare we use. And that only touches personal care.
Thankfully, many had figured it out before we had. We made the conscious switch to clean products almost immediately. But something that didn’t seem right was deodorant. No matter how many we tried, they just weren't working. I’d smell really bad, sweat through them, or get rashes! Thank goodness for the school mom network. They not only had recipes for baked goods and homework advice, but who knew that someone had the recipe for homemade deodorant!
As an engineer, I am a natural problem solver. Tell me it can’t be done, and I’m even more excited to solve it. I also love cooking. I began modifying the recipe a mom from school gave me, and soon I had two versions of deodorant with fewer ingredients that worked! It’s a process I continue to enjoy with all Mona Moon Natural products.
It wasn’t long before my family and close friends began using the deodorant and referring it to others. People kept coming back for more! A weekend retreat with my WPO (Women President Organization) sisters later, I was ready to make my product official.
My dear friend (and breast cancer survivor) created the name Mona Moon Naturals and designed seven logos for me to review. Seven. Seeing her enthusiasm for the adventure I was soon diving into scared me. I asked her if this would work. Her simple response was, “If it doesn’t, we’ll just readjust and try again.” And I jumped in.
Mona Moon Naturals began with family and friends and remains running through their support. I’m most grateful for the willingness of friends to try the deodorant every time I tried a new formula, my tribe of sisters who continue to encourage and guide me, and the love and support of my family, especially my husband. Each product we sell has been made in the kitchen he built for Mona Moon Naturals.
I was eager to create a product with a list of ingredients that people recognized without having to Google to see if they were harmful chemicals. Mona Moon Naturals now has a small family of three products and each has clean and healing ingredients. We are a brand focused on giving. Whether it’s giving by carefully making each product by hand in our kitchen or by supporting the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester with 10% of all purchases.