Unable to find a solution for her own eczema and her daughter’s painful skin reactions, Leah Sheehy set out to create natural skincare products that support the body rather than stress it. What began as a passion project grew into EarthKind Apothecary, where she blends science with natural ingredients, using her love of learning to educate others about ingredients, the body and healing. Leah believes that skincare should be as pure and nurturing as nature itself. Born from a deep passion for holistic wellness, she provides a safe, effective alternative to chemical-laden skincare. Every product crafted is rooted in nature and backed by science, designed to work in harmony with your skin’s microbiome. Here Leah talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about the inspiration behind her work, the challenges she has overcome, and her hopes and dreams for the future.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
My hands were so damaged from eczema that my knuckles would crack and bleed. They wouldn’t heal for weeks and I was ashamed to show them. My daughter reacted with rashes to every cream I tried. At the same time, my best friend was losing her hair, battling chronic fatigue, and doctors found a mass on her pituitary gland – which can be caused by bioaccumulation, a build-up of toxins in the body.
That was my turning point.
I began digging into the science of what we put on our skin and was horrified by what I found: synthetic ingredients and endocrine-disrupting chemicals were everywhere – in skincare, deodorants and even baby products. Slowly, I began replacing everyday products in my home with all-natural ingredients. I made it my mission to create products that support the body, not stress it.
EarthKind Apothecary was born from real pain and real science. It’s about full transparency, natural ingredients and zero tolerance for greenwashing. On a deeper level, it’s my quiet rebellion – against capitalism that profits from illness, and against a system that dismiss women’s pain and neurodivergent voices.
EarthKind exists because we all deserve better!
The launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
As a teacher (and a pretty decent cook, if I do say so myself 😉), I decided to teach myself how to “cook” skincare – skincare so clean you could eat it.
I launched EarthKind Apothecary as a passion project alongside my teaching job, from my home, with two kids under three. No investors. No fancy lab. Just a neurodivergent woman with the audacity to believe she could do it all.
I studied ingredients like a science textbook and experimented like a kitchen witch. I built the brand on my laptop during nap times and late nights. Every product I made had a purpose: to heal, protect and educate.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
The biggest breakthrough wasn’t just making a product; it was realising how much I loved learning and teaching about the ingredients.
I became obsessed with understanding every component: what it is, what it does and how it affects the body. That curiosity turned into confidence. And as a teacher, I naturally wanted to share that knowledge.
I don’t just want to sell skincare. I want to educate other. About ingredients, about neurodiversity, about how every system in the body is connected. Selling the products is only part of it. Helping people understand and protect their bodies is the real mission.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
When my daughter reacted to even “organic” baby lotions, I knew I had to create something better. Her eczema was painful and persistent, and nothing on the market was helping. That’s when I developed SerenGlow – an all-natural tallow moisturiser infused with avocado, coconut and hemp oil for maximum healing.
At the same time, I was raising a two-year-old and a three-year-old. I worked standing at the breakfast bar, answering questions, wiping spills and squeezing in moments of focus between naps and chaos. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was mine.
I don’t believe in “work-life balance”, not in the way other people talk about it. I threw away the scales. Instead, I’m building a life I love, right in front of my children, out of passion and purpose. They’re watching, and they’re learning that you can create something meaningful from what lights you up.
