It is common knowledge for anyone born and raised in Australia that the sun is both our friend and our enemy. Much like you check your shoes for creepy crawlies before you put them on, you apply sunscreen before going out in the sun. Yet, no matter how much awareness is raised regarding sun safety and how many campaigns funded, still two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the time their 70. As it would happen, a tragic cancer scare is exactly what sparked the beginning of Eco by Sonya, and now owner Sonya has made it her mission to educate others on sun safety.

Around 2010, Sonya Driver, Australian founder of Eco by Sonya, received terrifying news that her sister Rachael (aged 30) was diagnosed with melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer. During her sister’s healing process it was imperative to avoid the sun, and she and Sonya both steered clear of the suns damaging UV rays.

As an alternative to direct sunlight, many people turn to fake or spray tanning to achieve that natural sun-kissed look. However, after the skin cancer scare, Sonya and her sister were committed to putting only good things onto their skin. The ingredients they found listed on the back of the tanning bottles definitely did not qualify as good. It wasn’t too long after this that Sonya found herself researching alternative ingredients and beginning to mix her own tanning products from home.

From kitchen to global platform

Starting from scratch in her own kitchen, Sonya admits that “it was a tough journey of many faulty batches.” But through persistence and trial by error, Sonya made Australian history when her company became the first tanning company to be certified by the Organic Food Chain in 2011.

According to Sonya, the biggest challenge in promoting organic and natural products is educating consumers on the organic distinction.
“With so much misleading marketing and information out there, so many people are thinking that they are using natural and organic products, where in fact, they are not.”

Turning a tragic experience into a purely positive one, Eco by Sonya now sells internationally. Obstacles don’t stop her, and Sonya remarks that no matter the circumstance, she always pushes forward with an optimistic attitude, keeping her faith strong.

She takes joy in promoting her natural products, with an ingredient list including aloe vera, coconut oil, lemongrass, and basically any ingredients found in nature that Sonya takes a fancy to. To date, the company now has two self tanning lotions: Invisible Tan for immediate results and Winter Skin for a beautiful, gradual tan. They also recently introduced a Self Tanning Mousse which not only smells of cacao and grapefruit but gives you a streak-free tan in just 4 hours! Their Coconut Deodorant not only smells heavenly but also does a great job at keeping sweat and odor at bay. Coconut Sunscreen, Bodywash and Bodyscrub are the perfect essentials for your bodycare routine. The true showstopper is the Face Tan Water, which you apply with a cotton pad to your face. Over night, you will be rewarded with a tan and radiant complexion. A truely amazing product! Having skin trouble and fighting a lot of irritations and exzemas? Try their Coconut Body Milk with skin healing properties!
New products are in the pipeline as we speak, as Sonya has been hinting that there is more in store for her line of organic cosmetics in the near future.

From creating positive vibes to doing good

A general day in the office isn’t all luxury coconut oil rubs: Sonya is wise to the fact that all companies are faced with adversities and admits that every day in business there are fires to put out and doors that close. For Sonya, it’s essential part of her daily work to connect with her team, all the while creating high energy and positive vibes.
The philosophy Eco by Sonya follows is to do good. Not only do they strive to produce fine organic products, they also support many charities, which are close to their hearts.

The hard work Sonya and her team puts into their products represents an important part of making a necessary change in the world, increasing sun protection awareness. This directly relates to one of Australia’s most pressing problems, skin cancer. Sun safety is at the very heart of what Eco by Sonya is trying to achieve every day. The extra advice Sonya wants to give us, is to “have regular skin checks, keeping in mind that our skin is the largest organ on our bodies, and that it needs to be taken care of properly.”

Rachael eventually made a full recovery from her skin cancer. She now works at Eco by Sonya, spreading information about skin health, and inspiring others with her story. After all, it’s never too late for sun protection.

We got the chance to meet Sonya and her team at the Natural Product Fair in London.