This month we are lucky enough to be working with the lovely Becky Cashman from Goodbye, featuring her brand new product in our body box - The Goodbye OUCH Vanilla Balm. Made with a delicious infusion of Heilala Vanilla, this balm is an all-purpose remedy for chapped lips, dry hands, noses, feet or anywhere else that needs a little TLC over the dry wintry months - while giving you all the benefits and aroma of Heilala vanilla.
What's Heilala Vanilla?
Heilala does more than supply great vanilla, they work from the foundation of the process, assisting the Tongan community that plants and grows the vanilla orchid by building a stable, long-term industry for Tonga, redefining corporate-social responsibility by working with an entire nation to transform their future.
Many vanilla products use fragrances and add-ons to get the vanilla flavour profile, which means the process is cheaper but not so great for our skin. Get your hands on this beautiful balm by heading to the link Goodbye's website here.
A bit about Becky...
We asked Becky Cashman - Goodbye Founder, a few questions about her motivation behind her business.
Tell us a bit about you?
I have spent my life outdoors, kayaking and climbing since my teens. My love of adventure led me to become a professional outdoor guide working all around the world for many years, and led me to settle in New Zealand 25 years ago.
What inspired you to do what you are doing?
Outdoors and extreme adventure is incredibly hard on skin. I want products that are natural, that come in robust packaging and that really, really work. Every product that I develop goes through a whole lot of time in the wild.
What do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy noticing small things outdoors. Recently, I’ve been watching the wax eyes try to work out how to get the sunflower seeds from the old flower heads in the garden outside our kitchen window. They are so dedicated and creative. It’s the best kind of bird feeder- one made by nature.
What advice do you wish you knew or would you give?
I wish I knew that when I grew up, I’d get so responsible that I’d forget how to have fun. Having recently re-discovered fun, I recommend to anyone that fun is as nearby as deciding to learn something totally new.
What do you wish everyone knew about your brand?
I wish everyone knew that our brand genuinely cares. We develop our own products because a lab does not know about outdoor performance. John and I refine every decision of product development and messaging with a lens of integrity. In an era of using all the right words for marketing, it’s hard to tell which brands are real and which are just great marketing campaigns. We are real.
Anything else you would like to share with us?
New Zealand has become my home, but it just about broke my heart to have children here away from my family in the United States. It’s been a long road to making peace with falling in love with a Kiwi man. The outdoors has been the place that I have found healing, peace and connection. I’ve come to love the ocean in a way that is personal and sustaining. My relationship with the ocean is how I’ve come to feel that I truly belong here. I hope that my own journey and the products I make bring people to a better relationship with themselves, their community and their environment. This is where true wellness is.
"A photo of our family taken a few years ago on a river trip on the Salmon River. John and I met as river guides in Nepal and we've delighted in sharing our love of rivers with the kids."
To celebrate the new Vanilla Balm, Goodbye are doing a giveaway for 3 sets of Vanilla Balm double packs (one for you and one for you to give) to be drawn on August 30th. To enter: go to goodbye.co.nz
PLUS...
For the first 100 orders that include Vanilla Balm, Goodbye are gifting a real, whole Heilala Vanilla bean in a hand-folded origami sleeve. If you are a foodie, you will absolutely love the chance to add some delicious pure vanilla to your baking, desserts, savoury dishes and drinks at home! Head to the link here to order your balm!