Producing handmade skincare products that look as beautiful as they smell is a venture that the mother-and-daughter team of Bridget and Jessica Delaney started out of a need.
“I've always had sensitive skin and for years it was almost impossible to find something that worked for me,” says Jessica.
She eventually found a goat's milk soap on island that she could use, but after it started to get too expensive, her mother thought there had to be a better solution to Jessica’s skincare needs: having her make soap herself at home.
After doing extensive research and educating herself about products and how to make them, Jessica gave it a try. The first batch was a lavender essential oil bar made in a glass loaf pan. The process was lengthy, but worth the wait.
“I tried it three weeks later and loved it," she says. "My skin felt brand new! I haven't used anything else since."
BRANCHING OUT
Bridget and Jessica initially made the soaps for only their family of four, but they eventually started giving them to family and friends as gifts. The feedback was so positive, Bridget and Jessica took a chance and started going to stores on island to sell the few products they had made. They officially started Delaneys Handcrafted three years ago and their products are now sold across seven different locations on island, including 3 Girls & A Kiln in Camana Bay.
All of Delaneys Handcrafted products are suitable for sensitive skin, but are also great for all skin types. Some of the more popular products include Christmas candles as well as the "Sea Side," "Iron Shore" and "Lavender" soaps.
Besides selling their product lines to retail shops, Bridget and Jessica say they also create custom soaps, as they did with the store Sticks & Stones and condominium development, The Meridian.
“Sticks & Stones has a signature scent," says Jessica. "We sat with the owner and formulated a signature scent for soap, candles, hand sanitisers and lotion. We also supply The Meridian on Seven Mile Beach with Sea Side soaps for their condo bathrooms."
OTHER PRODUCTS
Soaps, candles hand sanitisers and lotion aren’t the only products made by the duo. They also make bath salts and therapeutic massage candles that are made with shea butter, coconut wax, avocado oil, cocoa butter and essential oils for skin benefits.
“The massage candles are scented only with essential oils as essential oils have skin-benefiting properties," says Jessica.
With a new year also comes new products, which include body scrubs, sugar scrubs, pillow sprays, personal inhalers and facial products.
Delaneys Handcrafted will also launch a new website in the near future.
For more information on Delaneys Handcrafted, visit its Facebook and Instagram pages.
This article was originally published in the January 2022 print edition of Camana Bay Times.
