{
  "id": 8384124,
  "title": "Tanya du Bois turned a family challenge into a South African beauty business",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/tanya-du-bois-turned-a-family-challenge-into-a-south-african-beauty",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-19T05:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/lifestyle/2026-09-19-tanya-du-bois-turned-a-family-challenge-into-a-south-african-beauty-business/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Tanya du Bois, a mother from South Africa, transformed her personal quest for natural skincare products into a thriving beauty business called Naturals Beauty. After nearly two decades in operation, she was awarded the 2026 Nedbank Business Ignite competition, which recognizes entrepreneurs facing challenges and developing solutions. Initially, du Bois, with no cosmetic science background, researched ingredients and experimented at home, using a 1960s home-remedies book from her grandmother as a guide. Her homemade products initially catered to her family, but friends and other mothers soon asked where they could purchase the same items. This growing demand eventually led to the establishment of Naturals Beauty. Building the company was a gradual process, with small decisions driving growth. The business expanded beyond homemade formulations as demand increased, finding a reliable cosmetic chemist to create high-quality products. Du Bois learned to seek expertise when needed, understanding that it's essential to know when to back oneself and when to lean on others. The company has also grown alongside her family, with new product lines inspired by her children's needs. The challenges faced by du Bois, including economic downturns, Covid-19, rising input costs, and supply-chain problems, have tested her resilience. However, these experiences have shaped her leadership style, emphasizing practicality, seeking help when needed, and building strong relationships. Today, Naturals Beauty offers bespoke product-development services to other businesses, leveraging du Bois's extensive knowledge of formulation, ingredient sourcing, packaging, and compliance. She sees great potential in using her expertise to support other South African businesses in bringing innovative products to market.",
  "summary": "Tanya du Bois turned a personal family challenge into Naturals Beauty, building a South African skincare business while creating new opportunities for fellow entrepreneurs.",
  "key_points": [
    "Tanya du Bois turned family skincare quest into South African beauty business Naturals Beauty",
    "Awarded 2026 Nedbank Business Ignite for entrepreneurs facing challenges",
    "Company expanded with expert help, now offers bespoke product-development services"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Tanya du Bois's award-winning business, Naturals Beauty, sets a precedent for entrepreneurs turning personal challenges into opportunities, demonstrating the value of resilience, adaptability, and strategic partnerships in driving growth and innovation.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}