I still feel a little emotional writing this, but I wanted to share the full story with you because this moment belongs to more than just me.
Mel’s Little Luxuries has been awarded Runner Up in the Female Business Awards in the Best Product category. Even typing those words feels surreal. I never imagined that something created out of fear, worry and sleepless nights would one day receive recognition like this.
But to understand why this award means so much, you need to know where it all began.
A Kitchen Table, a Crying Baby, and a Desperate Mum
When my second daughter was a baby, her skin was in agony.
Painful. Raw. Bleeding.
She could not sleep, she was losing weight, and I felt utterly helpless.
I followed every piece of traditional advice I was given, but nothing brought her relief. Every night I watched her struggle, and every night I felt the same knot of fear building in my chest. No parent ever forgets the moment they realise nothing they are trying is working.
One day, in complete desperation, I decided I could not sit and hope any longer. I started looking for natural alternatives, and through pure luck and determination, I found a wonderful woman up North who showed me how to make gentle, natural soap.
I made my first bar on my kitchen table with shaking hands, praying it would help even a little.
Over time, her skin began to calm.
Then soothe.
Then heal.
She slept. She smiled. She ate. She came back to herself.
And that was the moment my life changed.
The Beginning of Something Bigger
What started as a mother trying to help her child quietly grew into something far greater. Friends asked for bars. Then friends of friends. Then people I had never met.
And as I stood at markets and events, women would tell me their own stories. Stories of painful skin, of stress, of exhaustion, of guilt for never putting themselves first. I realised quickly that my products were not just soaps or balms. They were moments of peace in overwhelming lives.
Mel’s Little Luxuries was never meant to be a business.
It became one because people were hurting, and I wanted to help.
Why This Award Means So Much
To now be recognised as Runner Up in the Female Business Awards feels like a full circle moment. It represents every late night, every batch that did not go to plan, every mother who cried at my market table because she finally found something that soothed her child’s skin.
Most of all, it represents my daughter, whose pain started all of this.
And it represents you.
The people who have supported this journey, trusted my products, and shared your own struggles with me so openly.
This award is a reminder that small beginnings matter.
Personal stories matter.
Integrity matters.
And that sometimes the most meaningful businesses are born out of love, not strategy.
What I Believe, and What Comes Next
My mission has always been simple.
To help people feel comfortable in their own skin again.
To encourage moments of self care in lives that never slow down.
To make products that do exactly what they promise, without fuss or confusion.
This recognition has given me a fresh wave of energy, ideas and determination. There is so much more I want to create for you, and I cannot wait to share what is coming next.
If You Would Like to Explore the Award Recognised Products
If you would like to see the products that made the finalist list, you are welcome to explore them at Mel's Little Luxuries. I hope they bring comfort, calm and a moment of softness to your day.