[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.4.8″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.4.8″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.8″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Maurita’s Essentials
Specializing in Beauty Products ‘Naturally’ Made in Baltimore” _builder_version=”4.9.7″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]
Looking back on her childhood, Meredith Hurston vividly recalls her mother wearing Estée Lauder’s Eau de Parfum Youth Dew. “As a kid growing up, I remember my mother was an avid wearer of Estee Lauder Youth Dew, she said. “It’s a perfume that comes in a clear hourglass shaped bottle that has a gold metallic elastic bow tied around the front of it.”
Created more than 50 years ago, Estée Lauder describes the parfum as “absolutely captivating, with opulent flowers, rich spices, and precious woods.” Hurston would grow up to become a medical lab scientist working as a quality specialist. She has also “mixed” her interest in beauty products and science through her company, Maurita’s Essentials.
“My Mom is who you’d think of when it comes to sophisticated and classy ladies,” said Hurston. “She loved things that were elegant and timeless. What stuck out to me was how much this fragrance was a part of her daily routine. It dawned on me that there is no reason I couldn’t become like Estee Lauder and have thousands of brand loyalists like my mother was to Youth Dew.”
Hurston founded Maurita’s Essentials in 2008 after she learned how to make soap, lotion, and body butter. According to Hurston, the Maurita’s Essentials line of products is predominantly plant-based and free of harsh chemicals. The entrepreneur said unrefined shea butter is the company’s star ingredient and is used in most of their formulations.
She also noted Maurita’s Essential products are free from parabens, sulfates, and phthalates and handmade in small batches to ensure quality while using premium butters, oils, botanicals, and fragrances.
“Although I was interested in science and medicine as a kid, I had no idea there was such a thing as cosmetic chemistry,” said Hurston. “I ended up with a degree in medical technology/clinical laboratory science. I have an affinity to healthcare, but I discovered my love of natural hair and skincare when I decided to give up relaxer treatments.”
Maurita’s Essentials is based in Baltimore. The company’s products include: Decadent Whipped Body Butter; Glow Body Oil; Radiant Sugar Scrub; and Ultra Hydrating Shea and Aloe Body Cream.
Maurita’s Essentials will be among the “Made in Baltimore” businesses participating in the “1st Annual Times Community Services Baltimore Maker Marketplace.” The Baltimore Maker Marketplace will be held Saturday, September 18, 2021, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Coppin State University located at 2500 W. North Avenue, and will feature products made and sold by businesses based in the city.
Founded by Andy Cook, “Made in Baltimore” is a community of manufacturers, retailers and maker spaces working together to create and promote locally-made products. The organization has a growing network of over 200 product-based businesses ranging from home-based maker to large scale manufacturer.
“People like skincare options that don’t present harsh ingredients, and are mainly plant-based oils,” said Hurston. “They are looking for natural products that are non-toxic and provide alternatives to products found on retail shelves.”
Hurston says the company’s top sellers are its body butters and cremes. Maurita is Hurston’s middle name, which she chose as a tribute to her late grandmother, Katie Maude. Hurston is a native of Flint Michigan, and a graduate of The University of Michigan-Flint. The 45-year-old is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Like Estée Lauder’s Youth Dew, Hurston hopes her products will have an impact on consumers for years to come. “Our dream is to transform your dry skin to help you achieve a gorgeous and glowing complexion,” said Hurston.
For more information about Maurita’s Essentials, visit https://www.mauritasessentials.com. You can also follow the company on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mauritasessentials and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mauritalux/
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]