Handmade Naturals: the family skincare brand made in a Cheshire workshop

Some of the best businesses start at the kitchen table, and Handmade Naturals is a lovely example. The Cheshire-based artisan brand now offers an extensive range of organic, vegan and natural skincare and cosmetics, but its roots lie in a mother looking for gentle products for her baby.

Founder Rossi began researching options for her daughter's cradle cap and nappy rash, and that research led her to start making her own skincare products at home. What started as a personal project grew steadily, and today Handmade Naturals is a family-owned and family-run company.

Everything is still freshly handmade in the brand's workshop in Cheshire and delivered directly to customers, a small-batch approach that keeps the business close to its origins.

The range has expanded well beyond those first baby balms. Customers can choose from face creams and moisturisers, cleansers, toners and serums, along with hair care, with dedicated collections for sensitive and dry skin. Formulations focus on organic and natural ingredients, and many products are vegan, making the range a natural fit for anyone following a plant-based lifestyle.

Over the years, the brand has collected a string of industry awards from health and beauty titles including Natural Health, The Green Parent and Veggie. Its Balancing Face Cream was recognised in The Green Parent Beauty Awards in 2011, and Handmade Naturals has picked up Platinum Awards from natural living author Janey Lee Grace in several years, including 2013, 2014 and 2015.

It is a reminder that the natural beauty movement is not only about big international labels. Here in Cheshire, small family businesses are making products by hand, building loyal followings and winning recognition on the national stage.

Buying direct from the maker has its own pleasures, too. Products arrive freshly made rather than having sat on a warehouse shelf, and customers know their money is going straight to a family business in the county. It is a model that plenty of Cheshire shoppers are increasingly keen to support.

For anyone looking to support a local maker while refreshing their bathroom shelf, Handmade Naturals is well worth a look. The full range is available to order online at handmadenaturals.co.uk.