Cheshire Community Foundation awarded Karolina a £500 grant through the SWEF Enterprise Fund to support the growth of her sustainable skincare business, Karolina Naturals. The funding has helped strengthen her product range, improve safety and storage processes, and accelerate development at a crucial stage of her startup journey.
Karolina Naturals creates 100% natural, vegan and zero-waste personal care products, including deodorants and body butters in a variety of scents. Built on a clear mission to provide effective, affordable skincare alternatives that are better for people and the planet, the business has grown alongside Karolina’s personal investment of time and savings while working in horticulture.
How the grant helped:
The £500 grant enabled Karolina to invest in essential equipment and specialist ingredients to create more advanced formulations, including water-based creams. It also supported the development of new face masks, which will soon launch on her website and form part of future skincare bundles.
Karolina explains: “The grant allowed me to invest in essential equipment and ingredients to create more advanced natural skincare products. It also helped me improve organisation and product safety by purchasing proper storage solutions and a fridge for sensitive ingredients.”
By supporting both innovation and compliance, the grant has positioned the business for sustainable growth.
Challenges along the way:
Karolina’s main challenges have been financial. All skincare products must undergo formal safety testing and assessment before they can legally be sold — a necessary but costly process for a small business.
She has also faced the difficulty of building online visibility without relying heavily on paid advertising. Despite this, she continues to grow her customer base through word-of-mouth, local markets and social media.
Plans for Growth
Karolina plans to continue developing her online presence, launch an email newsletter, expand her range to include bundles and gift sets, and explore wholesale opportunities with zero-waste stores.
The introduction of face masks and water-based creams will diversify her offering and create higher-value bundle options, increasing repeat purchases and average order value.
Lessons Learned
Receiving the grant was both a practical and emotional boost. Karolina describes being “truly grateful and surprised” to receive the funding.
Developing skincare is a detailed, time-consuming process involving formulation, documentation, safety assessments and product testing. Through this experience, she has learned the importance of strategic focus: “I’ve learned the importance of thinking strategically and prioritising investments that help the business grow sooner — focusing on one product at a time before taking on longer-term developments.”
What the Grant Meant
The £500 SWEF grant created real momentum. It enabled Karolina to expand her range, improve safety processes and professionalise operations.
Karolina Naturals demonstrates how targeted early-stage funding can help values-led entrepreneurs turn careful planning and passion into a growing, sustainable business.
