Beauty and the bump
This pregnancy-focussed natural product range transforms skincare into an act of self-care.
Words Karl Puschmann
The idea for Pure Mama came to Lara Christie when she was newly pregnant herself. As her body changed, she felt overwhelmed and confused by the skincare options for pregnant women.
She’d find herself inspecting the backs of bottles trying to navigate the safety and efficacy of ingredients. What she found either wasn’t suitable
or smelled terrible.
“I thought to myself, what a horrible way to connect with my body,” she recalls. “As a result, I didn’t take care of my skin as well as I could have during my first pregnancy.”
She realised this was a common problem and that women often put themselves second when pregnant. With all their focus on their growing baby’s wellbeing, they often overlook their own self-care.
“The mother is doing so much hard work and going through a lot, both physically and mentally. For so many women it comes with a myriad of challenges,” she explains. “Everything from sickness, aches, pains, insomnia, diabetes, not to mention the hormonal and emotional rollercoaster.”
This is what Lara wanted to help remedy with Pure Mama’s range of skin care products for pregnant mamas that use organic and natural ingredients. They were a little luxury they could give themselves each day.
“I am a big believer in acknowledging what your body is going through and taking the time to connect with it to truly appreciate how incredible it is. We get so busy, and I often hear women say that there are days where they forget they are pregnant. I was very much one of them,” she says. “At the very end of a busy day, I would feel a kick and that would be
a gentle reminder to take a moment to be present with my pregnancy.”
Pure Mama’s products help alleviate some of the common skin concerns around pregnancy including dryness, tightness and reducing the appearance of stretch marks. It’s all to make women feel as supported and comfortable as they can throughout their pregnancy journey.
“Pregnancy and motherhood really does have its highs and lows. Women often think they are going through something alone or are too scared to talk about it out loud. I have learned to be more confident in sharing the very real, and raw aspect of the journey because I think women need this,” she says.
To that end, a supportive and welcoming community has sprung up around Pure Mama.
“I absolutely love connecting with our community. We talk about everything from leaking boobs, messy houses, sleepless nights, right through to miscarriage and IVF,” she smiles. “Building our community has been one of the most enjoyable things about my business.”