Is Your Waxing Product Full of Hidden Plastic? (The Beauty Truth)

Starting with small batches in a home kitchen to delivering 18 pallets worldwide for The Body Shop, true brand resilience takes heart, hard work, and genuine adaptability. Join us for a warm, candid conversation with Rosie Candwella, founder of Sugar Coated and Aqua Natural. Rosie shares her incredible life journey, from growing up in Tanzania learning resourcefulness to arriving in the UK and navigating the highs and lows of the beauty industry. We delve into the science behind pure sugar syrup formulations, the environmental impact of plastic-based waxes and microplastics, and why salon owners should consider eco-friendly, water-soluble alternatives. Plus, Rosie reveals how mentorship and continuous learning helped her overcome burnout and step back into her passion with renewed purpose.   

5 Key Takeaways

Adapting Roots into Resilience: Growing up in Tanzania taught the value of resourcefulness, providing the foundational mindset needed to navigate financial recessions and product setbacks.

The Power of Pure Chemistry: Standardising sugar-based hair removal requires mastering sugar chemistry to create stable, pure syrup blends that work without additives or synthetic polymers.

Reducing Salon Environmental Footprint: Traditional waxes contain plastic polymers and require harsh solvents; water-soluble sugar products allow easy cleanup and reduced landfill waste.

Ergonomic Safety in Treatments: Traditional hand-flick sugaring can lead to repetitive strain injuries, whereas strip-sugar application offers an easier, joint-friendly alternative for practitioners.

Mentorship Renews Energy: Business isolation and fatigue can affect anyone, but engaging with accelerator programmes and mentors brings fresh perspectives and renewed drive.

Quotes

"I had my son who was with me... he joined the business... but I think being a female brand, a female product, it was difficult for a young man to really put himself into a position where he felt comfortable."

"I had to learn how to purify water... and these are the sort of things I think that probably gives you that... you had to adapt to it, and I didn't think any different."

"When you mix sugar and lemon juice, you have to make sure that you get the pH right. So when it went into warmer countries, it started melting; when it was in the winter places, it started crystallising."

"We are the only company who make a product from blends of sugar syrups only. There are no additives, preservat