{Melissa Picoli, founder of BijaBody}

A few of my favorite things: a great pair of boots, wildflowers, Sundays with a new magazine, a city with real beat, a slightly complicated river rapid, and health + beauty rituals. I love that all women have them, and that we share them like guarded gifts!

Our skin tells the story of a life well-lived. I want that story to include the precious moments we take to nourish ourselves, and the connection shared amongst women everywhere.

A day before my eighteenth birthday, I began traveling the world both as a curious woman and as a kayaker, and never stopped. When traveling, I focus on conversations with women, and am amused that it always reverts back to the same topic, regardless of socio-economic differences or geographical locations: beauty secrets and relationships.

In Bali, I learned of using turmeric to lighten pigment and brighten skin; in New Zealand I became enamored with honey, and in Thailand, rice. In Mexico I fell in love with cacao; in Ecuador to unaltered rose.

Each place I've visited has an ingredient BijaBody has researched and incorporated into our products based on a "secret" shared amongst women, and I knew, the very first time I scrubbed my face with rice flour, what my life's work would be. My notebooks of ingredient notes dates back to 1999, when I read a book by Rosemary Gladstar, and began creating my own lotions and potions...

I was born and raised between southern Brazil and  California, and deeply affected by a family full of Portuguese speaking women, a little SoCal grit, and a northern California earthiness. It's been a fun juxtaposition, and certainly serves me well when I have to get dressed up in my car after a river trip and walk into a meeting however nervous and own it!

I became an esthetician through Paul Mitchell, the School, and opened BijaBody, a healthy skin studio in Missoula, Mt. It was an interesting transition to go from taking care of kayak clients in remote parts of the world, to taking care of some of Missoula's finest ladies facial and waxing needs!

Thing is though, I genuinely care about women taking care of themselves, taking pride in it, and having great products to do so. I love the rituals.

There's been lifetimes between then and now, all leading up to the AHA! moment, in which I knew exactly what I wanted to create in and for the world. I had the moment a couple years back, and instantly (as in, that Sunday after a shower) began the work of making inspiration a reality.

That reality is BijaBody and RootedinBeauty. RootedinBeauty (RiB) is a program that aims to link the beauty industry with women-owned agricultural cooperatives in developing countries to provide sustainable farming and economic opportunities in places that desperately need them. BijaBody is the culmination of so many years of passion and curiosity. And they are coming to life at the same time, which gives me unparalleled hope and joy.

Today, I can be found drinking tea completely tied to my mac, traveling around the country introducing BijaBody, or taking a couple of hours to be on the river.

xo, Melissa

p.s. Look for my notes in the product description. It'll give you a little more sense of my connection to each product. Also, keeping up with our blog is my "down-time". I love doing it, and hope you'll love reading it.