Meet the Mettle Makers - Tandia Walsh - MOTHER SPF
When crisis strikes, feelings of debilitating helplessness can ensue. We’ve all had those moments where we receive unwelcome, tragic news and felt bewildered with what to do next because all we could hear was the chaos of sadness. Tandia Walsh faced one of those moments when her Mother was diagnosed with cancer. Inspired by her mother’s ability to radiate joy despite a lifetime of serious illness, she looked this moment in the face, took stock of it, and figured out a way to channel that helplessness into something STUNNING! ….Enter MOTHER SPF.
Their products are not only high quality, 100% reef safe, and vegan…they’re also packaged in post consumer resin plastics tubes filled right here in Aus. It’s a privilege to work with this local legend. We hope you are as inspired by her as we are…
Can you please share the driving force behind your gorgeous, efficacious range of sun protection products?
When my own mother was diagnosed with cancer, finding clean yet effective skincare that was free from any hormone disrupting or carcinogenic ingredients proved surprisingly difficult to find.
After discovering most SPF brands formulated with questionable ingredients that are not only harmful to the body, but also to the environment. I decided to look into making my own.
In 2019, after three years of research, MOTHER SPF was born. Dedicated in both name and nature to those very same MOTHERS.
Studying Marine Biology in your life prior to MOTHER SPF, it’s clear you have a strong commitment to protecting not just humans in the development of your products but also the planet. If you could shift the way people viewed their role in protecting our world, what would you tell them?
I would tell them that we are a part of nature, but we are living in a society that has taught us we aren’t. We are made of the same materials as nature and our complex human bodies have no ability to thrive without nature. Nature is our lifeline.
I also understand that to change behaviour we have to stop telling people what they should or shouldn’t do, and instead start showing how change can begin to happen.
I would advise you to connect yourself with nature. Close your eyes, quietly listen to its sounds, embrace the wind, enjoy the warmth. From these intimate moments, hopefully each of us can learn to feel, observe, and reconnect with nature.
To have ‘Mettle’ means to face adversity with spirit, resilience, bravery and determination. Can you share a reflection about someone in your life that has displayed Mettle.
My Mother! Mum has been unfairly diagnosed with numerous serious illnesses over her lifetime. You would think she is a cat with 9 lives! Through every illness she showed immense resilience - she loves a boogie on the dance floor and has always been determined to never let any illness stop her from dancing with her closest friends and family! It’s her zest for a joyful life that consistently shines through no matter what else is going on around her.
When you’re facing challenging times in business and beyond, what are some self-care habits that pull you through?
Oh too many! My stress levels skyrocketed when I started MOTHER and I quickly learned that in order to sustain business growth I needed to sustain my own personal growth just as much. The below habits are implemented daily:
Breathwork - My absolute go to! It calms me and you can do it anywhere, no ‘probs’ needed and it’s free!
Minimal Technology - I have my phone on aeroplane mode from 8pm to 8am every day. I have all notifications off and I don’t have my mobile number on my email signature.
Dry Body Brushing with a cold shower in the AM - I find this energises me prior to my day.
Ocean Dip first thing - I always make sure I pause for 5 minutes so I can be completely present and take in the beauty of the sea.
Reading - I read for 30 mins every morning before I start ‘work’. I like to start every day knowing I have already prioritised my ‘health’ first and it’s a great way to wake up your brain before you hit the emails! I also finish my day with 60 minutes off reading before bed.
Can you tell us about Tandia as a little kid? What was her dream future?
I always wanted to be a marine biologist, naturally leading to me studying marine biology.
My parents owned a pearl farm in WA and most weekends I would be out on dads Pearling ship (most likely annoying all the workers). But I just loved it - The salt stained skin, the hot sun always warming my bones, crocodiles watching you from the deep blue ocean and a diet of mud crabs and pearl meat!
What is your favourite memory in the sunshine?
My whole childhood! Nearly every memory was in the sunshine. All my camping adventures in the Indigenous communities just outside of Broome, mud crabbing, looking for fresh oysters in the rocks, diving into natural waterfalls, constantly being covered in pindan and watching the most beautiful sunsets everyday.
What does the future hold for MOTHER SPF?
Lots of clean conscious SPF formulations! I am working on a lot of formulations at the moment but because the SPF industry is so regulated - they take a 3-5 years to bring to market. MOTHER will always be an SPF focused brand with a huge emphasis on protecting MOTHER nature and the health of the human being.
You can purchase our gift box that features MOTHER SPF below
100% of profits go to our charities employment and training programs, study scholarship & crisis funds for women experiencing homelessness as a result of domestic and family violence.
Tandia recently completed her first half marathon in support of our work and generously donated profits from. We are eternally grateful to have such a brilliant, generous woman in our orbit and in this world.