Meet Rachel Mills — Bowen Technique therapist, botanical skincare creator, and the woman behind Herbelara. After more than a decade working in the wellness industry, Rachel found herself standing at a familiar crossroads: the skin she’d known for years was changing, and the products she’d always relied on simply weren’t keeping up. Rather than searching for a solution on a shelf, she went back to nature and created one herself.

What began as a personal response to perimenopausal skin changes, and a diploma in Holistic Herbal Product Making, has grown into Herbelara, a brand crafting small-batch botanical skincare for women over 40. At its heart is something Rachel already knew from her therapy work: that when the body is given the right support, it knows how to help itself.

Herbelara isn’t just skincare. It’s a daily ritual of slowing down, breathing, and reconnecting — and Rachel is just getting started.

About You & Your Journey

Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?

My name is Rachel Mills. I’m 48 and I live in the southeast of England with my husband, two teenage daughters and two cats. I have been working as a Bowen Technique Therapist, a form of holistic therapy that focuses on the relaxation of the musculoskeletal system for 12 years. My passion has always been to help people, and as I progressed through mid-life and perimenopause I started noticing changes to my skin and nervous system in particular. I felt that products I had used on my skin for many years weren’t working, and I was drawn towards more natural skincare. My skin had become sensitive and dry, lost its elasticity, and just looked grey.

I decided to complete a diploma in Holistic Herbal Product Making and, following on from that, I started creating my own blends. Using the natural products I had made really started to work, and I shared some with family and friends. The feedback was fantastic, which made me decide to start marketing my products to other women of my age. This is when Herbelara was born.

Was there a defining moment when you decided to start your business?

Yes, when I mentioned the diploma course I was doing and the products I had created to fellow holistic therapists, they started asking for samples. That was the moment I believed I could turn this into a business to complement my income from Bowen Therapy.

Who has been your biggest influence or mentor along the way?

My friend Lisa, who owns a successful online wedding invitation company, has been my cheerleader throughout this process and offers me regular mentorship over coffee and a catch-up. I always leave our meetings feeling inspired, and when I start to waver she gets me back on track and ready to go again.

How do you balance your personal life with running a business?

I’ll be honest, it’s tricky. Like any new business, there is so much to do in the beginning and it never ends. I want to commit all my time to getting it off the ground, but I’m conscious I still have a house to run, two teenage daughters to ferry about, and a husband who values my time and attention. To start with I was fitting it in whenever I could, but weeks would go by and I felt I had achieved nothing. That was when I decided to pencil in two set days per week solely focused on the business. Now I know I’m moving things forward steadily each week, without compromising family life.

About Your Business

Can you describe what your business does in one sentence?

Herbelara helps women over 40 achieve skin that feels nourished, revitalised and radiant through the power of herbs, natural ingredients and lovingly crafted skincare.

What sets your business apart from others in your industry?

At the heart of Herbelara is a simple guiding principle: to nourish and calm both body and mind through daily skincare rituals. Taking a few moments each day to care for your skin can also become a moment to slow down, breathe and reconnect with yourself.

My tagline is: Her Daily Botanical Calm.

How has your business evolved since you started?

Originally I was focused on organic skincare, then realised my niche was far too wide. As I initially created the products for my own perimenopausal skin, I decided that this was the market I needed to target. Through developing the product range and building my Instagram page, I realised the connection with the nervous system was an important point of difference. I work with the parasympathetic nervous system through my Bowen Technique practice, so this aligned very naturally.

Entrepreneur Mindset & Advice

How do you stay motivated during difficult times?

I focus on my end goal, to build a successful skincare brand and I get such a kick out of helping people, so I let that desire drive me.

Are there any routines, habits, or tools that help you stay productive?

Scheduling two fixed days per week and sticking to them really helps me make sure I’m achieving something every week. It may not be huge, but as long as things are moving forward, I’m happy with that.

Buffer is a tool I use to schedule my Instagram posts a couple of weeks ahead, creating posts in bulk, for example, five per week on a Monday. This saves me a lot of time, keeps me focused, and means that if I have a particularly busy week I don’t worry too much about losing consistency on my Instagram account.

Lists are also my go-to tool for making sure I complete all my tasks. Each week I sit down and write out everything I want to achieve, then tick them off as I go. That visual progression really helps me stay motivated.

What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received?

Be patient and stay consistent. It will happen.

What advice would you give to someone just starting their entrepreneurial journey?

Don’t be afraid to give it a go, but save yourself a lot of time and money by doing your research first. Find a product or service that people already want. I made the mistake years ago of creating a product I thought people would want, then going out to find the buyers. It doesn’t work. Find the buyers, then create the product!

Future & Vision

Where do you see yourself and your business in the future?

I always pictured myself at the head of a boardroom table in a company I had built. I would love to grow Herbelara into a brand that offers products and services for women in midlife who are looking for support during this tricky but exciting chapter of their lives.

Are there any upcoming projects or launches you’re excited about?

I have created an eye balm using all-natural ingredients, which I feel could be an exciting alternative to the existing eye balms on the market that are full of chemicals and confusing ingredient lists. It has been tested with friends and family but still needs to be quality checked and signed off. I call it my “little pot of gold” due to its bright orange/yellow colour, I can’t wait to share it.

What legacy would you like your business to leave?

I want Herbelara to leave a legacy of helping women reconnect with themselves through simple, natural rituals of care. A brand that reminds women, especially in midlife, that their wellbeing matters, that slowing down is not a luxury but a necessity, and that nature holds powerful, gentle solutions. If Herbelara can make even a small difference in how women feel in their bodies during challenging seasons like menopause, that’s a legacy I’m truly proud of.

Fun & Personal Touch

What’s your go-to productivity or life hack?

At 48, my memory is not what it was and life is as busy as ever, so I’ve adopted using Siri on my phone to set reminders whenever something pops into my head. Because it’s voice-activated I can use it absolutely anywhere, at any time, and nothing gets missed or forgotten.

Do you have a favourite book, podcast, or resource that inspires you?

I love The Power of Plants magazine, and I listen to Steven Bartlett’s The Diary of a CEO podcast every day. Over the last few years it has taught me so much, from healthcare and wellness to business and investing.

How do you celebrate wins, big or small?

A glass of rosé on a Friday night!

What’s your mantra, motto, or favourite quote?

I have a few that have inspired me over the years, but one I keep coming back to is:

“Kindness is a gift we can all afford to give.”

CONNECT WITH RACHEL

WEBSITE: www.herbelara.co.uk

INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/herbelara

A huge thank you to Rachel for taking the time to share her story with us so openly and generously. From therapy room to botanical skincare, her journey is a beautiful reminder that the best businesses are often born from lived experience — and that paying attention to your own needs can lead to something truly meaningful for others.

Do you know a female entrepreneur who deserves to be in the spotlight? We’d love to hear from you.