My name is Dawn and my induction into the world of organic self-care products began back in 2014 when I started to experience excruciating aches and pain all over my body. I had been prescribed pain killers and muscle relaxers, along with a brigade of other various medications to try to alleviate my pain. But, despite all of this, nothing seemed to work. It was then that I decided to take matters into my own hands.

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All of the research I did kept coming to the same conclusion that a magnesium deficiency was to blame. So, I began the long process of learning how to create a natural remedy for myself. But even from the very beginning there were two things that I refused to compromise on: I wanted these products to be made from 100% organic ingredients and I only wanted to take the magnesium topically.

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As an owner of a very successful catering business located in Northern Indiana, I put my kitchen skills to the test. I was constantly working with different things having to do with magnesium to find what worked best for me. My trials varied from magnesium sprays to magnesium supplements which tended to burn and were just too temperamental. And if these products were made using the wrong amounts, they had the potential to cause more harm than good. So, I went back to the drawing board and conducted more research. At this point, I found that whipped magnesium body butter had the best success rate, and after countless free samples and reviews from friends who had tried it, I found the recipe that worked the best for everyone.

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In 2015, I started to lay the groundwork to launch my very own Etsy store, and by early 2016 I went live and quickly began to have much success. Fast forward to mid-2019, my store was growing at such a rate that I could no longer continue on my own. My friend Jill had always been an huge supporter of my own self-care journey. She had also been using my products to help alleviate her elderly father’s many health issues and the different pains that he experienced because of it. Jill also had a strong background in sales and had been in the field for over 25 years. So as you would imagine, it was a really easy decision for Jill to be the co-owner of Pura Vida Chicas.

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Jill and I both decided at the end of 2019 to relaunch our own line with our own webpage to market our self-care products. By July 2022, we had officially launched our own E-Commerce site. And as of March 2024, we celebrated Pura Vida Chicas' 5 year anniversary. Since the beginning of the new year, we've also begun construction on a new storefront and place to make all our products. Over the last 5 years we have rapidly outgrown our existing location and needed a major upgrade to keep up with us. What started with just Jill and I in 2019, has now grown to 23 employees who are just as excited to help people on their self-care journeys. We don’t claim our products to be the end-all solution and cure, but we do hope that they can at least be a more natural and healthier way to alleviate persisting aches and pains.

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As a small, local woman-owned and women-run business, we are very adamant that we continue to make our products handcrafted in small batches. We strive to stay true to the organic and natural ingredients themselves. Just as I had entered the world of organic self-care products 10 years ago, I hope to help others on their own health journeys. We want to help others learn how to go 'back to the basics' with their health, and provide them with what they need to do so. We believe that our organic self-care products are not only better for their health, but better for themselves. As we always say: be good to yourself,

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The Pura Vida Chicas,

Dawn and Jill