Hawthorne Handmade Skincare produces handmade skincare in small batches.

Using 100% natural plant seed oils and butters blended with essential oils, Elaine selects the ingredients in Hawthorn Handmade Skincare for their restorative properties. Lightweight in texture, they are absorb easily into the skin. The range currently includes products for lips, face, body and hands. Kennedy is the crafts person behind the Hawthorn Handmade Skincare range. From her family farm in the heart of the west of Ireland, she lovingly handcrafts all of the products; the recipes are carefully formulated to produce skin nourishing products made from the highest quality botanical ingredients.

Based on the shores of Lough Carra at the foot of the Partry Mountains, Kennedy’s family heritage has been rooted in this area for many generations. They have a great family tradition of crafting, dressmaking and knitting, jam making and baking. And of course, farming is at the heart of their way of life. Years ago, Elaine left the farming life behind to pursue a career in the retail industry in London. She spent time working for the high-end fashion retail company, Jigsaw, but was soon led back home. One glorious summers’ eve, as Elaine and her father strolled along the shores of Lough Carra, inhaling in the earthy fragrance of the Hawthorn, she wished she could bottle it.

At that moment, Hawthorn Handmade Skincare was born.

Kennedy has a wealth of knowledge from working in the retail sector for over ten years. During this time, Elaine gained experience of Visual Merchandising and Fashion Display. While still in London, she participated in a business mentoring programme with Melinda Coss, learning how to formulate and sell handmade skincare products.

Hawthorne Handmade Skincare range launched into a number of local Spas, key to the business sales strategy. This creates an air of exclusivity around Kennedy’s brand.  Moreover, there is great potential for expanding the current collection of skincare products. Kennedy intends to build on her bestsellers by introducing new essential oil blends. The range will continue to grow with new products  planned for launch seasonally. Not only that, but recent investment in a purpose built steel tech shed has created opportunities for an additional revenue stream; workshops at the family farm.

We asked how EMPOWER influenced Kennedy’s creation of Hawthorne Handmade Skincare and Elaine responded:

“For me, the programme offered the opportunity to build relationships with like-minded  women. I was one of six finalists to take part in a video-pitch competition at the end of the EmpowerSTART programme. Through the invaluable support of the programme mentors and  participants, EmpowerHer has provided me with the tools to overcome any challenges my business may face. The most valuable benefit of taking part, is that I now have the support of an incredible network of the most talented, inspiring female entrepreneurs the West of Ireland has to offer.”

This project is co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Social Fund as part of the Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020.