Michelle Antoinette is a South Lakeland based supplier/online retailer of scented and unscented soybean oil based candles, handmade soaps and other delightful gift essentials.

Michelle Antoinette was created in my kitchen after years of searching for products that promotes healthy, smooth, well moisturized skin without all the artificial preservatives and inflated costs. When I look back on how my journey began it started at University. I would save a portion of my salary from my low paying entry-level job to purchase products that supposedly would make my skin amazing. Not to mention celebrities endorsed them so, I got sucked into the whole hype.

My obsession got to the point where my savings account was on the lighter side. I could barely pay my rent or even eat proper meals.  Three of my staple products (which are still very popular in the market) consists of ingredients like pearls, seaweed and diamonds and sold in 2oz containers at £100-£200 a pop. One very cold winters’ day I realized I ran out of skin cream and decided to use olive oil. To my surprise, my skin adsorbed the oil and remained moisturised for the whole day. Pleased with the results, I decided to experiment with a variety of other oils and educated myself on their benefits. The results proved even more positive and I went through all the ingredients of my beloved store bought products to see their benefits. To my horror they were filled with naughty ingredients and the so called natural ingredients were added in small percentages.

I consulted a friend who majored in chemistry and she gave me detailed information on all the naughty additives, how they can affect us and once discontinuing use how long it would take to leave our system. She opened my eyes that day and I made a promise to myself that what I ingest and apply to my body will be 100% natural. I turned to a vegan lifestyle and used products that had no animal by products and free from artificial additives. My skin looked even more radiant than when I used to expensive stuff. Friends started asking me to make products for them and they too saw positive results. Word got around and I started selling my soaps and creams. I wanted to take things a step further and create a product that was a multi-functional moisturising cream as well as a candle with would make a perfect gift. It took many batches to get the right formula. My test run again proved positive with friend, family and loyal customers.