From Patagonia: Cosmetics made with Calafate
This is the 12-year story of Patricia Arcila, the first to develop cosmetics including calafate (Berberis Microphylla)
From a philosophy teacher to transforming her life to becoming an entrepreneur. That is the story of 12 years of Patricia Arcila , the first to develop cosmetics that include calafate (Berberis Microphylla), that berry that grows exclusively in the Patagonia area of Chile and Argentina.
Strictly speaking, the path of this 61-year-old from Puntarenense began when she – as a result of a family situation – began to study how to make infusions with medicinal herbs. Their idea was to make some beautiful arrangements in lenga boxes, with handmade silk bags and earn an additional income.
“And it turns out that the hotels don’t ask me for it even on the way down, because the tea was much cheaper than my box of lenga with the handmade seditas,” he also realized that he had 10 bags of herbs in the barbecue area of the house, which were filling a space of no small amount.
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Thus, Patricia began to deepen her studies in herbs and to realize the impact that they can have on health. “I realized that I had a public danger on my hands and that I had to study hard to do it well. And that’s when I started to see how the extracts were made.”
The Technical Step
With that in mind, he entered to study “Pharmacy Technician” in Punta Arenas. It was complex, he recalls: “The truth is that we suffered a lot, but it happened and we ended up in a pandemic. I did my internship in the hospital, with people dying.”
Within the process, there was something that motivated her. “I don’t like to be the same as everyone else, since I was little. Therefore I always felt that the calafate was potentially something” and so he began to see how to use this fruit, which is recognized above all in the gastronomic world and its application in alcoholic beverages, such as calafate beer and calafate sour.
Thus, he creates an extract of the berry, something that he had begun to glimpse in his attempt to make infusions. And this creation was analyzed by research professors from the University of Chile with the Catholic University of Maule, certifying its composition.
The Effects of Calafate on Cosmetics
For Patricia, this path in developing cosmetic products is not just for something visual. For the founder of Alter-Nativa Patagonia there are two fundamental things
“My main job is not for you to look good, but for me to improve your skin,” she explains. Patricia Arcila, creator of Alter-Nativa Patagonia, cosmetics with Calafate
In that context; A cosmetic with Calafate, helps, what effects does it deliver? “With my calafate, with my extract that works quietly, that has vitamin C and that has polyphenols and that has antioxidants. Antioxidants are going to surround your cells so they don’t die prematurely. And they’re going to activate your own collagen and your own elastin so that your skin.”
Additionally, their products have hyaluronic acid, which “is a natural molecule that comes in various molecular weights. What does that mean? that the molecule is either fatter or smaller. When the acid and uronic acid is high molecular weight it means that it won’t penetrate my skin, it’s going to stay out, but it’s going to give you the optical effect of filler. Therefore, for the photo, we came out regal. The low molecular weight penetrates the skin and with your own hydration it inflates. So, it helps on the outside and it helps on the inside.”
And what’s next?
Patricia’s entrepreneurship in the cosmetics world is not just a commercial endeavor; It’s a personal crusade. “I started from a place of ignorance, which delayed my path,” says Patricia. The beauty of this course of ups and downs is that she is clear about what she wants.
For the time being, it is working at an accelerated pace to be able to have its product, hand in hand with the laboratory, to be able to position it -initially- in wellness and natural products stores, to then advance in being able to be on the shelves of as many establishments as possible.
On this path, it is already being prepared, with Sence English courses because the main objective is to be able to internationalize the product. And not only that, its goal is to sell close to CLP 100 million in a few months of operation, without ruling out growing enough to add more people to the operation.
Additionally, having won the recent Enovus Emprende 2024 contest, an initiative developed in conjunction with Chile Converge and the Iplacex Institute, will allow Patricia to receive mentoring and advice for the business model and connection with a network of investors in Southern Chile.
Where will you be able to get to? The caulk and its products will say so.
Remember, you can listen to (and watch) this interview on our podcast channel on Spotify and Apple Podcast
