MOTHERMUSE | Lucy Bradshaw

After 16 years working inside of the beauty industry for some of the most well recognised luxury brands, Lucy was on the brink of burn out. 

But it was in her health & fertility journey that Lucy discovered just how damaging synthetic fragrances can be on our hormone system and overall wellbeing.

We interviewed Lucy on her ambitious journey of bringing to market a 100% plant based fragrance, deeply rooted in the vedic wisdom of energetics and that reached the highest possible standards in sustainability to life. 

Your background spans beauty, yoga and brand building. Did you ever imagine you would be creating a brand that beautifully combines them all?

For such a long time these different passions lived in parallels to one another, each fulfilling me in their own unique way.  I am one of those people that believe that the Universe intends everything as it is meant to be.  Each of my experiences have helped shape Tulita into the unique brand it is today that feels effortless and joyful to create and build.  I think back to the years I would teach a 6am yoga class before going into the office to work a 10 hour day to talk all things budget and beauty and smile knowing I had no idea of what was to come.

It was in your health and fertility journey that you discovered how damaging synthetic fragrances can be to our hormone system and overall wellbeing. Why do you think it’s so important to stay away from EDC’s? 

There are countless white paper research papers mapping the wide-ranging health effects of EDCs or hormone disrupting chemicals.  These span from reproductive health, metabolic health, breast & prostate cancer and even birth defects.  Given the studies it is so shocking that these are still included in products but many EDC ingredients help a fragrance last longer and it is a cheap and easy way for some brands to ensure longevity of their fragrance.

Besides “fragrance” or “perfume”, what other harmful ingredients do you tend to stay away from in your overall skincare routine?

I have a long, ever evolving list but the key ingredients I am looking to avoid in any of my beauty products are parabens, phthalates, denatured alcohol, petroleum, SLES, PEG, EDTA, ALS, silicones, and aluminium.

What are the biggest things you have noticed to your health and wellbeing since moving to natural low-tox skincare and fragrance?

Biggest difference has been less skin irritations and headaches which were very common for me prior to making the switch.  But I now have a very sensitive reaction to smelling synthetic fragrance on others and find it weirdly plastic smelling. 

It is said that for the average woman, by the time she leaves the house in the morning she has been exposed to around 80 hormone disrupting chemicals. What are your top tips for someone wanting to move to low tox personal care items, where should they start? 

This is such a sad statistic as so many of us are trying to make healthier choices for ourselves and our families, but many chemicals are hidden within the ingredient list. Some immediate swaps are candles (most are petroleum wax based so like having a car running inside your house), cleaning products, especially washing machine tablets (most leave bleach residue on your glasses and cutlery) and of course avoiding synthetic fragrance in any of your beauty products. 

Do you have any rituals or a favourite way to start your day? 

As a mum and business owner my personal care routine needs to start early before the chaos begins 😅. I transitioned my meditation practice to vedic meditation a few years ago and its my absolute anchor to regulate my nervous system.  When I can I also include some breathwork and a 10-15 yoga flow to open up the body and circulation.  I don’t manage it every day but when I do I know Im going to have a great day.

Lastly, If you had to pick your favourite scent from the Tulita range, which would it be and why?  

I wear each differently depending on what mood Im looking to lean into for the day.  But I have been wearing Vikasa and Mukta layered together a lot recently and Im becoming a little obsessed with this combo.