Now that Joy Andrews’ daughter is away at college, her former bedroom has become a storage room for homemade bars of soap, lotions and lip balms.
The products are part of Andrews’ business, Duet Body Care, featuring all-natural products made in her kitchen and basement, usually during time off from her full-time job.
The business was indirectly inspired by Andrews’ mother, a five-year cancer survivor. While seeing an oncologist, her mother was told taking care of the body, by eating organic for example, is important.
“It just started me on this path of trying to introduce more organic and all-natural things into our lives and our family’s lives,” Andrews said.
Eventually, not only were they eating better, but Andrews said she started using better cleaning products to reduce chemicals used around the home. In her research, Andrews learned more about all-natural soap and body products.
“My interest in treating our bodies like we want to care for them, by reducing the amount of chemicals and bad stuff that we take in, has transformed into a hobby,” Andrews said.
Andrews said caring for others is just as important and she uses Duet Body Care to give back to her community.
“Along with this idea of putting good stuff in our bodies, I’ve always used cooking and things like that to show my love for people,” Andrews said.
“I’ve put a lot of care into cooking from scratch and providing my family with really wholesome ingredients.”
While making her own soap, friends would ask if Andrews would sell them some.
“I couldn’t get excited about just selling stuff,” she said. “But I could get excited about doing something for someone. … It’s in line with my whole philosophy, which is just putting my whole self into stuff that I make for other people so that they have the best I can offer.”
Because her mom volunteers for local nonprofit Food For Thought, Andrews could think of no better way to collaborate and give back.
For each Duet Body Care Product sold an equivalent product is donated to local nonprofit Food for Thought. Photos Courtesy Joy Andrews
“[My mom] always talks about how little people have. … Basic hygiene stuff, it’s just not available,” Andrews said. “That has really just resonated with me. … I guess it just kind of evolved.”
The collaboration between Duet Body Care and Food for Thought was officially launched Feb. 13. For each product sold, an equivalent product is donated to Food For Thought, a local social justice organization “dedicated to feeding the hungry and offering dignity … to anyone in need,” according to its website.
“Duet is a great example of what I would call a thoughtful company,” said Food for Thought’s Chief Thought Officer Sam Melden. “[Hygiene products] are endangered items in essence because food banks typically don’t carry them and SNAP benefits, or food stamps, don’t cover them. With cuts to food stamps and people constantly having to make choices, Duet steps in and says ‘Why don’t we make access to these items a little more available?’”
More than 100 products were donated the first week, Andrews said.
“I really liked the idea of being able to give to people something they wouldn’t be able to maybe get on their own,” she said. “It’s more than just buying soap. … [Service work] is something that my husband and I believe in anyway.”
A lot of research went into learning how to make the product.
“I bought books, I watched videos,” Andrews said. “I probably did research and educated myself for a couple of months before I tried my first batch, just to make sure I was comfortable with how to handle the ingredients and not get hurt.”
Her line of body care products can be purchased online at duetbodycare.com. Prices ranges from lip balm for $3, soap for $7 and lotion for $10. Shipping is free.
