By Seleoe Nonyane
Limpho Ntoanyane’s journey to producing skin care products using goat’s milk commenced in 2021 after receiving a goat as a gift.
The skin care range is labelled Natural Care which is goat milk lotion and goat milk cream.
Goat’s milk is a functional food packed with antioxidants, nutrients and phytochemicals that can be used to maintain a healthy nutrition for the body skin.
Since she already had some knowledge of how beneficial goat milk is to a humans’ body, Ntoanyane came to a decision to use her gift to produce skin care products.
She then continued to do her homework on goat’s milk on skin and was extremely blown away about her findings.
“Because we had only a small supply for milk of one goat we opted for skin care products and research was made on goat’s milk on skin.
“Research among many things talked about lactic acid and the availability of probiotics that are needed for exfoliating dead cells, unwanted spots treatment of acne and scars. It also touched on improving the tone of the skin and moisture,” Ntoanyane shared.
Speaking to the Reporter, she described the process of making skin care not as tedious as she had anticipated. She added that all the ingredients needed to making these products are found locally and this makes work easier.
“The process of making skin care products is not as strenuous as making rose hip tea. It is quite easy and some of the ingredients are found locally such as the neem leaves, goat milk and lemons are easy to access”, she said.
Among other things, Ntoanyane has great advantage with the production of the skin care range because her business is incubated at National University of Lesotho (NUL) Innovation Hub which comes with more benefits such as space and access to the laboratory.
She got the skills to make such products from the university.
Ntoanyane studied Bachelor of Science in Nutrition at NUL. She explained that the course particularly entails seeking healing and prevention through nutrients and chemicals found in food and plants. Therefore, accessing information on goat’s milk was not farfetched due to her academic skills.
However, getting in to the business of skin care was not her first attempt into entrepreneurship. The nutritionist tapped into the business scene by packaging rose hip tea bags and a lose tea supplier to some local shops.
The idea came after she was assigned to analyse rose hip for its nutritional content through determining moisture, colour and ash content of rose hip found in Lesotho. She discovered the rose hip in teabags to earn a living.
Moreover, it is through the teabag business where she acquired business experience and the do’s and don’ts of running a business.
“It has been an amazing experience where I learned tricks of the business. I also had many loses but they are all lessons learned”, Ntoanyane stated.
Although she said her business is still not where she would have liked it to be yet, she is grateful for the support and the positive feedback she has received thus far.
The Mafeteng born lady said that she is hopeful for the future and success of her skin care range business.
At the moment she is still in the process of getting her business grow as she has managed to advertise on radio stations and on social media.
For now, the skin care products are available in only two districts in Lesotho being Mafeteng and Maseru.
The products can be found at Jaosaphela Sefika opposite and at Metcash room A139 Naturem, healthy by choice Pioneer mall, Cura Pioneer mall and Tsele music shop at Maseru bus rank.
