Cosmetics products from local products

ROMA – SELLOANE Motsamai from Cana, Teya-Teyang, makes cosmetics from Artemisia Afra or African wormwood (lengana), rosemary, mint, prickly pear, and coconut oil.

Her wide variety of products include mint and rosemary hair oil, coconut and mint hair food, Artemisia Afra petroleum jelly, prickly pear body lotion and glycerine.

Motsamai started her company, Leaps and Bounce Cosmetics (Pty) Ltd in 2017.

The company’s vision is to help people with their skin and hair problems such as acne, eczema, hair volume, healthy scalp and help curb unemployment in Lesotho.

The company does not only focus on production; it also offers training on how to manufacture cosmetics from indigenous and herbaceous plants.

She has offered production training to different organisations such as the Lesotho National Federation of Organisations of the Disabled (LNFOD).

Motsamai narrates her story:

“Like most of the millennials, I am old at heart, old in mind and old in soul,” Motsamai says.

“I had to be an adult at a very young age,” she says.

“Raised by my grandmother who was a street vendor, I knew I had to pick up some slack and work during school holidays.”

In 2013, Motsamai moved to South Africa where she got a job in a cosmetics manufacturing company.

She gained a lot of transferable skills, and by the time she left she was a production manager.

She moved back home, worked with other companies, mostly Botle Skincare, and eventually opened her own company, Leaps and Bounce Cosmetics (Pty) Ltd.

“I didn’t make it to university after completing my high school,” she says.

“My inspiration of producing cosmetics came from my need to provide and afford my living expenses. I needed something hands on, and I had the skills.”

As time went on, she decided to produce hair products.

“This part of my journey was a bit personal. Relaxers gave me a tough time, and I needed to secure confidence of my natural hair in another way.”

At some point, she met serious business challenges. She says running the business and marketing strategies were no longer serving the purpose.

“I knew I needed to act fast,” she says.

“That’s when I thought of improving my skills and acquiring new knowledge.”

She furthered her studies through online courses, and she became a Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) cohort 7, 2019 alumna.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to pursue project management with the American Corner,” she says.

After completing the course, she was ready to pursue and grow her business.

Things started falling into place and she was able to start and build a loyal clientele.

She advises entrepreneurs to always strive to improve in all aspects.

“These days things are changing rapidly, and if you blink you have missed an opportunity or deal,” she says.

“So, one can only keep up by always learning.”

“I am sure a burning issue is everyone is producing cosmetics these days.”

Of course, everyone is producing cosmetics, and that is a good thing. Greater competitiveness breeds more productivity and better quality of products and services.

The market will grow steadily, and Basotho are going to benefit from a more comprehensive range of goods and services produced locally.

“One thing I pride myself on is my experience in this field,” she says.

“I started my own business and overcame challenges that come with that. I have helped others start something for themselves and I will continue to do so,” she says.

Motsamai says with MILCO coming soon, she is very excited to introduce hair products and a range of skin care products she has produced all these years.

MILCO is a chain-store created by and incubated under the National University of Lesotho (NUL) Innovation Hub.

“This is another motivation to work on producing quality products,” she says.

Black hair is not fully appreciated and there is a huge gap when it comes to finding products that do not either cause skin problems or ruin its texture.

Black hair is such a beautiful crown that one can wear with pride. It is literally different from all other hair.

It tends to grow up rather than down and can make gravity defying shapes like afro and puffs.

“I am now a proud producer of vegan hair cosmetics made from organic essential oils of, mint, rosemary, and African wormwood,” she says.

“AfriBeauty products are meant to give black people confidence and well-groomed and moisturised hair.”

Own Correspondent