Iliyan and Christie are the husband and wife team behind CEVARI, which was created to infuse nature back into your daily skin rituals. The ancient wisdom of plants inspires them greatly and they find great joy and balance through their love of nature which shines through in their brand.

They passionately create clean, ethical, and safe skincare so that you can instantly connect with your truest self through uplifting aromas and powerful botanicals. Their company ethos is one to be admired and their outlook on life is inspiring.

We spent some time with them to find out more…

Tell us about the journey that led you to launching CEVARI NATURALS…

I have always had a passion for nature and working with my hands. I would always enjoy coming up with beauty routines made from fresh materials I had around my home; something I’ve done since I was a teenager, but now in an advanced and professional way. My passion gave me vision towards one day running my own business that incorporated working with nature in some way, which led me to becoming a Certified Organic Skincare Formulator. Skincare has always been an enjoyable part of my day, especially when it’s made with natural elements. It is a daily ritual that allows the practice of slowing down, nourishing the body, and staying deeply connected to the self and nature. The beauty of it is that I now get to help others with their skin while being able to do something I am passionate about each day. I love to create, and I hope that passion can be felt throughout our company and products.

You’re a husband and wife duo, how do you separate your work from home life?

My husband and I have always worked well together as a team, in our personal life and now our professional life. We have a second bedroom in our apartment that serves as our office/studio space. It’s all about switching the mind into work mode. Once we step into our office we stay focused on the work at hand. We have weekly morning meetings, do a lot of brainstorming and planning, and most importantly have fun with the process. We treat our business as a business as we continue to strengthen its foundation and build. I’m blessed to have my best friend by my side helping me with all of life’s challenges as we balance and navigate being business owners.

What has been the biggest learning curve since launching the business?

I’d have to say learning to balance everything and having patience. There were many moments of overwhelm in the beginning because there are so many different areas of responsibility to juggle with a business, especially when we are doing everything ourselves! I’ve started to implement more structure around my tasks which helps me stay focused and have more patience with myself.

Talk us through your role as the formulator…

My favorite part! This is where all the magic happens! Developing a product takes months, there are even a few formulas I’ve been working on for over a year. This is where the creation and experimentation stages happen. When I am developing a product, I see it as a story being written through each ingredient coming together to tell the entire story of the product. Every ingredient is intentional and I do heavy research on each ingredient and how the whole product will come together as a synergistic blend. Many people may not know this, but on our website I have two articles up about the story of our two current products. Our products are more than just a product, they are an entire experience, a story that can be told with deep expression and feeling, inspiring all the senses, mind body and soul through daily use. A story that continues to be written through the experiences of our customers.

Do you have plans to expand your product range in the future, if so, what will you add?

Yes absolutely! I have so many ideas and I’m currently working on many different formulations. I want there to be an entire line that our customers can have a daily routine with. As I mentioned before, developing a product from conception to market takes a ton of time. I’d love to have a new product launched this year, but it’s something I do not want to rush. I can’t reveal what we will be launching with next due to having the element of surprise, but rest assured these formulas are being worked on behind the scenes.

Looking back since launching the brand, is there anything you would do different?

No. I believe everything has worked out the way it should have. We learned a lot of lessons along the way and continue to learn. With that said, as we move forward there are many things I’d like to add and spruce up. Through adapting to the role as a business owner, I’ve realized change and adaptation are elements that need to be implemented regularly, but would I change what we’ve done so far? No. The whole experience is a journey with many nuggets of great lessons.

How much has social media played a role in the success of your brand?

Major. Social media is our main form of marketing and where we cultivate relationships with our customers. I have met some incredible people through these platforms who vibe with our brand’s values. We’re building the CEVARI tribe one day at a time.

What is your go-to quote when lacking motivation?

I love this question, I’m such a quote nerd! When I very first started learning how to formulate I hung a quote on my wall which is still my go-to quote along this journey:

I also love the fable of the tortoise and the hare and will often say to myself on a stressful day, “Slow and steady wins the race.”

How has Covid19 impacted your business?

We launched our business during the pandemic, so there is no other time in our business that we can compare this experience to. It became our normal and we are grateful each day we were able to launch in 2020. It certainly taught us that we can push ourselves far through a challenge.

How do you want people to feel when they use your products?

Nourished and loved, connected deeply to their intuition, beauty, purpose, and awed by the power of nature. Excited for their daily self-care rituals as they create a sacred space to care for their skin and their soul. I want them to know that they deserve these special moments to reconnect and be inspired by their unique expression here in life.

What does self care mean to you?

This is one of the core values we hold, so it has a very significant meaning to us. Self-care can be many things, but I think it is first and foremost being very self-aware and in-tune with yourself. Only you truly know what you need in any given time of life. That may look like creating a spa-like ritual for yourself, getting away on a weekend adventure, having a good cry, exploring a forest, or setting boundaries. The action of self-care always depends on a deep inner understanding of what you truly need, and relies on intuition and inner-knowing, the origin for everything within. My definition of this is also tied into the slogan of our brand: Intuition, Beauty, Purpose. When you stay deeply connected to your intuition, you understand the immense beauty you have and find purpose in each day. It is a part of conscious living and our relation to the self and everything around us. So, in short, know yourself, love yourself, and don’t be afraid to take care of yourself.

Where can people find out more?

We are based in Charlotte, North Carolina USA. You can find us by visiting our website at www.cevarinaturals.com to learn more about our products and our environmental impact. Also follow us on Instagram: @cevarinaturals YouTube: CEVARI NATURALS Facebook: CEVARI NATURALS Pinterest: @cevarinaturals.

Author

Northern girl Laura is the epitome of a true entrepreneur. Laura’s spirit for adventure and passion for people blaze through House of Coco. She founded House of Coco in 2014 and has grown it in to an internationally recognised brand whilst having a lot of fun along the way. Travel is in her DNA and she is a true visionary and a global citizen.

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