Camp Fire survivor promotes self care
Leila RodriguezRathbun is helping make people feel good about the skin they're in.
RodriguezRathbun has started a line of botanicals and skin care products that are made from natural ingredients from her garden. She started the line of products as a comfort to her after the Camp Fire, when she lost her home. She now lives in Los Molinos with her husband.
She had a product soft launch a couple of weeks ago at the Mind Vacation holiday art fair put on by Chico artist Amber Palmer.
“It was a great success, and it felt good to get the brand out there,” Rodriguez-Rathbun said.
She played with rose hips from her garden when she first moved to Los Molinos. Then she delved into making skincare products out of what was growing there.
“I gave my family and friends samples,” she said. “People starting asking for them. They embraced the magical qualities of plants.”
Gardening was something that occupied her mind and body.
“It kind of started as something nourishing for my spirit after the Camp Fire,” Rodriguez-Rathbun said. “My husband introduced gardening to me early on. There are so
many healing properties in plants and natural remedies.”
She studied herbalism classes at the Northern California School of Botanical Studies in Grass Valley.
“Rose hips have more Vitamin C than orange juice,” she said, and “lotion bars create a barrier that protects your skin over time.”
“Great makeup and skin care is taking care of your skin inside out,” she added. “Preservatives are packed in products you see in drugstores. I source beeswax locally.”
Rodriguez-Rathbun says taking care of your skin is vital and wants her customers to feel and look good.
“It's part of the ritual. Self care is deeply rooted in this, too. It's about standing up for yourself and standing in your power. I'm championing for all types of people,” she said.
Rodriguez-Rathbun's favorite product is the calendula rose salve.
“I use it head to toe,” she said. “It's so moisturizing. It has a subtle scent for all day.”
Rodriguez-Rathbun and her husband have six acres. She said she feels a part of her community now.
“When I moved to Los Molinos, I was still reeling from the Camp Fire. I was very fortunate to find this house. We have introduced the healing parts of plants for people to embrace,” she
said. “I feel peace playing with plants.
“The previous owners gave us a beautiful canvas to work with,” she noted. “We have flowers everywhere and an herb garden with rosemary and sage. As time grows, we approach recipes and think of the end goal. It's fun to play around and see how plants transform recipes.”
Her husband gave her her first plant, which was a Christmas cactus
“I planted vegetables and have a full garden with thundering sunflowers,” Rodriguez-Rathbun said. “We started fresh after the fire and cultivated something beautiful. We have a pond and planted trees. We see the progress and the fruits of our labor.
It's something special.”
Rodriguez-Rathbun has plans for her line in the future.
“My next endeavor is to take inspiration and feedback and make what people want. My husband is an artist and has a green thumb. We bounce ideas off each other. It's been fun.”
Rodriguez-Rathbun works at a public relations agency as “a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. job. It's very flexible and I work remotely. It's a great company to work with,” she said.
She is thankful for what she has.
“We honor that time, life before and after the fire,” she said. “We are diving into and creating this project. My friend pushed me, and I'm grateful for that. A friend helped bring
the product flower logo to life. Everyone involved means so much.”
Rodriguez-Rathbun appreciates any feedback.
“It's positively resonating with me and the feedback people share. I love hearing how people interact and what can be changed,” she said. “I want to get the products into stores.”
Rodriguez-Rathbun can be found on Instagram under mexicanprimrosebotanicals. To order her products or learn more about them, instant messenger her on Instagram.