Bethany McDaniel values the low points as much as the high.
The onetime acne-sufferer had her eyes opened to natural skincare when she began reaping the benefits of simple jojoba oil on her skin. That, combined with her husband’s founding of an organic livestock farm, inspired her to tinker further and, ultimately, develop her own natural beauty solutions.
At the urging of her family, in 2015, she founded Primally Pure, a 100% natural and organic skincare line using real, high-quality ingredients. Today, the Southern California-based company continues to thrive.
Here, McDaniel shares why enthusiasm for your work—and support from loved ones—can make even the tough moments feel worthwhile:
Live The Process: Did you grow up in a health-conscious or socially conscious household or did you come to those values later?
Bethany McDaniel: Socially conscious, maybe a little. Health-conscious, hardly at all! Toaster strudels and bagel bites were standard eats in my household growing up. In spite of that, I was always super interested in health and fitness as a kid, teenager and young adult. When my husband decided to start an organic and pasture-raised livestock farm with his brother, brother-in-law and father, I was 100% on board and excited to delve headfirst into a whole new world of wellness.
LTP: What inspired you to look for alternative skincare solutions?
BM: I started getting acne in junior high, which continued throughout high school and a little bit into college. I was self-conscious about it and was willing to try any cream, ointment or pill my dermatologist prescribed me. Some of these things worked for a short while, but none provided me with the lasting results I was seeking. I was also on the swim team throughout these years, and many of the creams I was prescribed reacted with the chlorine and sun, often leaving my skin irritated, red and super sensitive. I didn't think much of it at the time because I was following “doctor’s orders,” but, in hindsight, I wish I had listened to my body/skin instead.
In college, I worked at Trader Joe's and started using their jojoba oil in place of my moisturizer. I loved what it did for my skin and was amazed by the healing benefits of this one simple ingredient. That’s what initially got the wheels turning in my brain. But it wasn’t until my family started a farm that I really got serious about natural skincare. I became obsessed with learning about it and trying to make and perfect my own products.
LTP: How did you ultimately come to launch Primally Pure?
BM: I launched Primally Pure out of my own passion for natural skincare and entrepreneurship, but it took a lot of nudging in the right direction from my husband and many others.
I couldn’t live without our deodorant. It was the first product I ever created and it took me over a year to perfect. I rotate all of our other products in and out of my skincare regime, but I use our deodorant every single day. I launched Primally Pure online on my family farm’s website and then opened my own website a few months later. Our line is now available almost exclusively on primallypure.com, with the exception of select Neiman Marcus stores.
LTP: Aside from using your own products, do you have rituals, practices or wellness obsessions that keep you balanced and healthy?
BM: So many things! I try to take baths every single night before bed. Bathing really helps me to unwind, relaxes my muscles and sets me up for a great night’s sleep! I'm also obsessed with taking Vital Proteins' Collagen Peptides in my morning matcha smoothie. The collagen peptides really help to make my skin smooth and plump.
LTP: What does happiness look like to you?
BM: To me, happiness is waking up every day excited to be alive because you love what you’re doing and the people you’re doing it with. I'm blessed to have an amazing family and incredible team of hardworking ladies at Primally Pure with whom I spend my days!
LTP: What does it mean to you to “Live The Process” and how can we all do that more each day?
BM: The process itself isn’t always fun or glamorous, and owning a business is full of serious ups and downs. Some of the low points are really tough, but they’re also necessary in order to learn, grow and get to the high points. I try to remind myself of that when things seem hard, because if the whole process was a breeze, then the good times wouldn't be nearly as rewarding!