Meet Carina Polanco | Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carina Polanco and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carina, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I pursued my creative career of soapmaking because I feel empowered knowing exactly what is going on my skin. Many soaps on the market contain commercial detergents and toxic ingredients so I learned how to create my own. I started making soap in my kitchen after watching countless youtube videos and reading soapmaking books. There are so many fun ingredients you can add to soap like carrot juice, coffee, and even oatmeal! It was a creative outlet for me.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Sweat Pretty Soap is an all-natural handmade 2-in-1 exfoliating soap bar formulated to fight breakouts and reveal glowing skin for active skin that sweats. We handcraft products with natural ingredients that effortlessly shorten your skincare routine. From cleansing to exfoliating, and everything in between, each bar of soap is thoughtfully created to be the perfect balance for clear and glowing skin. I spent a lot of time listening to business podcasts, reading marketing books, perfecting my soap formula and taking courses to create Sweat Pretty Soap. It wasn’t easy to find time to learn it all while working full time and parenting a toddler but I overcame the challenges by listening to podcasts/books during my work commutes and house chores. Some lessons I have learned along the way is to ask for help when you need it and not try to do everything on your own. My family has helped me a lot when it came to fulfilling orders and production. I want the world to know that Sweat Pretty Soap believes in empowering women and sustaining their health. That’s why we are donating 3% of all profits to organizations supporting safe shelter and counseling to women and children who are fleeing abusive homes.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would definitely start the day with brunch at Tap 42 then head to Hollywood beach to enjoy the afternoon! Afterwards we can enjoy dinner and drinks at Shooters Waterfront. Knaus Berry Farms is another place we would go to enjoy mouth-watering Cinnabuns then By Brothers for delicious Cuban Food in a beautiful outdoor table.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Kenna Cote from Modern Soapmnaking has played a huge role in the success of my business. I took her 8-week course, Soapmaker to Moneymaker, that gave me the information and tools to successfully transition from a hobby soapmaker to a business with a purpose.

Website: sweatprettysoap.com

Instagram: instagram.com/sweatprettysoap

Facebook: facebook.com/sweatprettysoap