‘Evoke spirit of calm’: Market features self-care products

Salma Escoto, Contributing Writer

Outdoors on a rainy day, small businesses selling self-care products lined up around the Main Line Brewery.

The Self Care Sunday Market hosted by Artisan Events occurred at the Main Line Brewery on Sunday, Jan. 28, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., where small local businesses set up tents to sell artisan products based on the market’s theme of self-care. 

The Artisan Events company plans various themed events every month. This event’s theme was based on self-care, according to Morgan Sharrett, the founder of the Self Care Sunday Market. 

The theme of self-care came from the idea of New Year’s resolutions, according to Sharrett. This is the first market of the new year and it’s the best time for the theme of self-care and self-improvement, she said. 

Along the theme of self-care, Sharrett had her own vision for the market. 

“Purchasing something for you — for yourself. That’s gonna make you feel good,” said Sharrett. 

Vendors based their products around the theme of self-care, such as essential oils, jewelry and candles, according to Sharrett. 

Keona Sweeden is the founder of Aroma Bar, an essential oils brand that she started on Etsy. Sweeden’s view on self-care is based on routine, she said. 

Sweeden learned the importance of a self-care routine from running a homemade essential oil business. She implements self-care in her daily life by utilizing essential oils and aromatherapy in her nighttime routine, she said.

“Essential oils — they just wow, they evoke spirit of calm,” Sweeden said. 

Aromatherapy is one of the ways that she implements self-care into her daily routine and chooses to use it for combating anxiety, Sweeden said. 

There was an abundance of homemade natural products that emphasized the self-care aspect of the market, according to Christina Hague, the founder of Essentially Chris. Hague sold essential oils with all-natural ingredients that wouldn’t irritate sensitive skin or those with allergies.

“I want to just make sure that I have a product for everyone that walks up to me,” Hague said. 

Hague wants everyone to be able to experience the calm that essential oils bring without worrying about allergic reactions, she said.

Hague offers the service of custom-made oil blends for the needs and ailments of customers, such as athletes or those who suffer from migraines and asthma, she said. 

Kristine Laura, founder of Kape Lola, gave out coffee samples from the Philippines at the market.

Coffee is a form of self-care since it can help someone start the day refreshed and ready to go, Laura said. A warm cup of coffee is how Laura experiences and shares self-care with customers. 

“It keeps you warm, and you relax while you drink coffee. It makes you feel good and it wakes you up in the morning,” Laura said. 

Attendees Hayden Roberts and Heather Tarr found out about the market via Facebook. The pair came in for a “girls’ day out” based on self-care, Roberts said. Shopping for new products makes Roberts look forward to her self-care routine, she said. 

The pair also said they enjoy the small local businesses available at the market. Tarr especially enjoys browsing markets to support local businesses, she said 

Despite the gloomy and rainy weather, Roberts enjoyed walking around and checking out all of the self-care products available for sale. Roberts said it was a good way to do something fun and get out of the house. 

“I think you always just need little moments in your day that you set aside for yourself,” Roberts said. 

Tarr agreed that the market’s self-care theme during January, right after the New Year’s celebration, was at the right time. She also enjoys a nice day to treat herself on a “girls’ day out” on the search for new products emphasizing self-care, she said.