SALTWATER ATELIER
BY MIYA CHONG
The one bringing self-care to the masses / @saltwateratelier
You might already be following Saltwater Atelier on Instagram — perhaps attracted by their curated pictures of mesmerising crystal-infused bar soaps, also known as Reiki Bars. It’s all thanks to the hard work of the 28-year-old founder Miya Chong. To her, shower time is a simple “luxury” that she indulges in; it’s when she truly winds down. And it’s this daily personal hygiene ritual that inspired the mother of three to launch her soap-making business, as a way to encourage even the busiest of individuals to take part in this easy form of self-care.
Soap-making as a business is rather rare in the beauty industry. What is your inspiration for starting this business?
I stumbled upon this craft by accident when I walked past a shop selling a melt-and-pour soap kit in Kuala Lumpur in 2017. I was instantly intrigued by the complexity of the process — melting, mixing, cooling — the making of such [an] everyday product is actually so interesting. Being fond of beauty and art since young, I knew this was something I had to experiment with. Before Saltwater Atelier started as a business, the Instagram account was my medium to document my trials and errors. Then, people started messaging me to enquire if my soaps were [for] sale — that’s when I realised I could sell my craft.
What’s up with #rethinksoap?
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