It all started with a near death experience years ago.
I am an INFJ, a true introvert, polymath and creative. I did not come from a family that supported my creative endeavors, so I ended up building a successful but very unsatisfactory career doing something else. I spent my twenties travelling as a digital nomad to fill the void.
My NDE shattered all the illusions in my life and my false self.
During this time, I spent it in my home in Turkey, near the Mediterranean and living near a small village near the mountains. I also went back to my ancestral home of East Africa, where my ancestors lived for thousands of years. It was there that I learned that I had a lot of Levantine, Yemeni and Mediterranean blood as well. It is also where started my business ALMADO Beauty, a natural skincare business rooted in ancient beauty rituals and my luxury botanical heritage of the Mediterranean.
Living near the Marmara Sea, I dove headfirst into nursing myself back to full health and I became in touch with my true self. My love for beauty, aestheticism, slow living and living a creative life as a feminine woman bloomed. I wanted to create all forms of art and things with my hands. I love writing, I love making videos, I love making my soaps, natural skincare, beauty remedies and natural foods. I made lots of sugar wax, made the exact way my grandmother taught me how to make this 4000-year-old natural hair removal method. I spent a lot of time studying nutrition and cosmetic formulation. I received my certification in Natural Medicine and Herbalism. I took up niche interests like being an indie hacker, vibe coder, calligrapher and painter.
I dove into the philosophy of sensualism and beauty. I found myself to be something of an aesthete. I worked to make my life as beautiful as possible.
I love creating beautiful things. The craving I have most is to create a community around authenticity, healing, depth and soul-aligned creativity. I want to share the message that it is never too late for a new life that reflects who you want to be, and we should strive to cultivate beauty every day.
Being a beauty anthropologist, cosmetic formulator and herbalist, I will share my many ancient beauty rituals, I have learned from my African and West Asian heritage, DIY skincare, and slow living.
Follow me as I build my natural skincare business @almadobeauty, and my other musings on beauty, history, philosophy, spirituality, what foods I am making, books I am reading or random thoughts I am having.
I hope you will find something interesting in here. Sending love ♥
xoxo,
Sofiya