Why Handcrafted Still Matters
Sometimes I wonder…
Is the handcrafted world slowly disappearing?
In a culture moving faster toward automation, outsourcing, artificial everything, and mass production —
will there still be room for artistry, intention, and things made slowly by human hands?
I truly hope so.
Because handcrafted things carry something machines simply cannot replicate.
Energy.
Story.
Soul.
Care.
And honestly?
I think people still deeply crave that — now more than ever.
Where My Love For Handcrafted Began
One of my very first “grown-up” jobs was managing a beautiful art gallery filled entirely with handcrafted work from artists around the world.
Pottery.
Jewelry.
Paintings.
Woodwork.
Textiles.
Every piece carried the fingerprints, imagination, and story of the person who created it.
The space itself felt alive.
Music played softly.
Incense burned in the background.
People lingered.
Talked.
Sipped tea.
Connected.
There was an undeniable warmth inside that space that came directly from the handmade nature of everything surrounding it.
That experience shaped me deeply.
Learning To Create With My Hands
Eventually, I began studying under a master potter and learned firsthand what it means to create something slowly and intentionally.
Working with clay changed me.
It connected me to:
the earth,
patience,
creativity,
and the beauty of imperfection.
I began understanding something important:
when something is handcrafted, a piece of the maker lives inside it.
That feeling stayed with me forever.
Building A Life Around Meaningful Things
As life unfolded, I naturally began surrounding myself with handcrafted pieces in our home.
Not because they were trendy.
Because they felt alive.
I wanted my children to grow up around:
art,
nature,
creativity,
and meaningful objects made with intention.
Not constant disposable consumption.
And while none of us do this perfectly, I still believe there is something beautiful about becoming more thoughtful about what we bring into our homes and lives.
Who made it?
Why was it made?
How was it created?
Those things matter to me.
Why Be Well Was Always Meant To Be Handcrafted
When Love + Be Well launched in 2017, one thing was crystal clear in my heart:
Our products would always remain handcrafted.
Not mass-produced.
Not outsourced.
Not stripped of personality for the sake of scale.
Because skincare, to me, has always felt personal.
Every toner.
Every cream.
Every oil.
Every deodorant.
Created intentionally in small batches with real oversight and real care.
That slower process matters deeply to us.
The Beauty Industry Lost Some Of Its Soul
One thing I struggled with over the years was watching parts of the beauty industry become increasingly disconnected from people.
Everything became:
faster,
bigger,
louder,
more manufactured,
more trend-driven.
And honestly?
Much of the soul disappeared from it.
At Love + Be Well, we never wanted to build a company that felt cold or disconnected from the people using our products every day.
We wanted warmth.
Connection.
Transparency.
Intention.
Growing Slowly On Purpose
People often assume growth always means:
automation,
mass production,
outsourcing,
and removing the human touch.
But that has never been our goal.
At Love + Be Well, growth simply means:
creating thoughtfully,
serving people well,
maintaining quality,
and staying aligned with the values that built this company in the first place.
We would rather grow slowly and intentionally than lose what makes this brand feel human.
A Piece Of Me In Every Product
At the end of the day, Love + Be Well is still deeply personal to me.
Every product created carries pieces of:
my story,
my values,
my artistry,
and my belief that skincare should nourish more than just the surface.
So when you spray a toner,
massage in a cleansing oil,
or smooth on face cream,
I hope you feel the care that went into creating it.
Because handcrafted things still matter.
And I truly hope they always will.
Love + Be Well,
Natalie
Founder + The Skincare Chef
