Carol Cox is flexing her entrepreneurial muscles with the launch of her pampering range of bath products.
When is a bath not just a bath? When it’s a beauty aid – sure. When it’s part of a relaxation ritual – of course. But what about when it’s a step on an entrepreneur’s journey?
That’s exactly what TranquilTub is for Carol Cox. Already a successful business owner, having opened her beauty salon, Refresh Body and Mind, back in 2005, the launch of her luxurious product marks the next stage in her entrepreneurial revolution.
Carol’s interest in beauty therapy started, perhaps naturally enough, with a teenage skin outbreak. One of her friends suggested she go for a facial, which she thoroughly enjoyed (obviously). But what she remembers most about the occasion was that, for the first time, Carol realised that all the little ways she loved to pamper herself could actually be the makings of a career. “I’d never heard of beauty therapy before,” she admits, “but as soon as I got talking to the therapist, asking all about what her job entailed, I had a brainwave: I was already doing this kind of thing for myself, and I loved it.”
This insight led to three years of study, with the third focusing on treatments that feature less frequently on traditional spa menus, but which have an accent on holistic healing – think reiki, reflexology and crystal healing. These learnings had a profound effect on Carol’s approach to beauty.“ The concept of healing really resonated with me. I think that many of us practice the principles of, say reiki, unconsciously. We hug our friends because we’re glad to see them, but we transfer energy as we do. When someone hurts themselves, we hold the injured part and tell them we’re sorry – and even that can make a difference. “ One of the reasons Carol is fascinated by the healing arts is because she was frequently sick as a child. The idea that it’s possible to heal a body with tools besides medicine – such as diet or releasing suppressed emotions – intrigues her, and she enjoys exploring this with her clients, helping them become aware of what might be going on in their bodies and finding ways to shift negative energy.
This is one of the reasons she decided to open her own salon. Although she gained invaluable experience working at a large chain, she wanted to create her own experience; one where clients felt like they were the priority, and that someone was investing time in their wellbeing rather than rushing them from one treatment to the next. She also wanted to work in a space that was dedicated to being as gentle on the earth as possible. As a vegan, she places enormous emphasis on sustainability, and every product she uses reflects this ethos.
She has loved every part of being a business owner, from taking that initial scary step to building long-standing relationships with repeat clients. But, she says, she also realises that there will come a time – even if it’s well into the future – when she no longer has the energy for full body massages. Because she has no desire to expand into an empire of salons, she wanted to find another way to grow the business – which is how the idea to launch her own product range was born.
After completing a qualification in cosmetic chemistry, Carol introduced a range of scrubs and lotions. However, after listening to her friends (fitness enthusiasts who long for a good soak to ease those aching calves and abs) and thinking about her own pet loves (a long soak at the end of the day), she decided to shift focus to more high-end products. The result is TranquilTub, a restorative muscle soak that’s added to the bath. Carol collaborated with a laboratory, tweaking product formulations and rethinking ingredients until she hit on a blend she loved – Magnesium sulphate to detox and ease muscle cramps, assorted plant oils to hydrate the skin while addressing inflammation, cannabis sativa (another potent anti-inflammatory offering a plethora of healthy skin benefits) and essential oils to soothe anxious, stressed minds. “It’s for anyone who has had a day where they’ve been rushed off their feet, given their all in a training session or faced down hectic deadlines,” Carol says.
And this is just the beginning, she adds. She has plans to grow TranquilTub into a range that has goodies for shower lovers, as well as skincare. True to her philosophies, each product will be cruelty free and sustainable (TranquilTub’s packaging isn’t just recyclable, it’s also been recycled) and will feature natural ingredients like hemp.
That’s all in the future, though. For now, Carol is concentrating on her salon and her other great love, photography. “My husband always says that if you can’t find me, it’s because I’m down on the ground looking at the world through my camera lens!” Getting grubby in nature might seem a world apart from her usual world of masks, makeup and moisturisers, but it’s where Carol finds her magic – and as she says, that’s what life is all about.
Feeling stressed? Try this:
- Carol’s favourite way to address anxiety is, perhaps unsurprisingly, with a long soak. “I can stay in a bath for an hour!” she says.
- Breathing is another key part of her relaxation ritual. “Most people don’t breathe correctly. Doing a few breathing exercises, especially before bedtime, can make an enormous difference. It really clears the day.” Start by breathing from your stomach rather than your chest, then give a good exhale, this time leading from the chest before breathing out through your stomach.
Eco-friendly bath soak TranquilTub melts away stress and soothes muscles. R485 from refreshbodyandmind.co.za, Takealot and Amazon.co.za
Details: refreshbodyandmind.co.za; TranquilTub on Facebook and @ tranquiltub_ on Instagram.
