This Kochi-based online portal sells skin and hair care products made of natural ingredients

Regardless of what we are shopping for, most of us tend to gravitate towards environmentally conscious brands these days. But, exactly how eco-friendly are these endeavours that deliver their products in a plastic tube/bottle? The question isn’t ours. It’s raised by Ranjini Krishnan, a Kochi-based woman entrepreneur, who launched Body Tree, an artisanal personal care brand, two years ago.
      “We need to rethink and reflect on what we consider harmful as these buzzword-driven campaigns can be confusing,” begins Ranjini, whose revamped product line features over 16 variants of natural skin and hair care segments. As Body Tree finds its niche within the e-commerce arena, we catch up with the woman behind it, in the hope of extracting a beauty secret or two. 

Tree of life
Limited to a range of handcrafted cold processed soaps—such as Tranquility, a combination of vetiver, patchouli and cedarwood— previously, Ranjini has now shifted her focus to body butter and cleansers.“I have always favoured body butter over creams as they are on an oil-based formula that allows for a preservation free making process,” claims the 36-year-old, who crafts her products in small batches.
     However, knowing more about these products meant taking a peek into this Kochiite’s childhood. “It took me a while to realise that several exotic blends found within today’s artisanal products (such as tamanu oil) are extracted out of punna kaya, a remedy used by our elders for curing cracked feet,” explains the entrepreneur, adding that her hand-and-foot butter is infused with the cold pressed variant of the same.

Moisture central
Apart from regionally-produced ingredients such as mango and kokum butter, Body Trees’ products also feature essential oils including jojoba. As for hair care, Ranjini regards shampoos as a strict no-no as they tend to rip the moisture off. Body Tree’s alternative for the same, a cleanser made with refined hibiscus leaf powder and aretha powder, is one of the fast moving items in their portal. Currently operating out of her soap-making unit in Aluva, Ranjini also accepts custom orders. So, if you’d like your soap to be a bit more moisturising, be sure to ask!

Soaps from `200 onwards
Details:bodytree.in 

 aryadinesh@newindianexpress.com
@Arya_TNIE