Smart Cookie: Debora Lengler, Founder Of Ujala

1)  Could you tell us a little about yourself and what’s your business about?

I’m Debora, I live in Sydney with my teenage daughter, my partner and our three rescued cats.

I’ve always wanted to create something of my own, even better if with my own hands! My mother’s side of my family is full of empowered self-started women that endeavoured in business and creative pursuits and I carry that in my heart. My mom and my grandma are my biggest inspirations and proof that a woman can manifest anything she dreams of.

During the first lockdown in 2020, I decided it was time to start investing my energy (and my wages) in something I could sow and cultivate with passion and principle.

I’ve always had sensitive skin and a hard time finding products that could simply cleanse or moisturise without giving me weird skin reactions.

I already knew how to make soaps (thanks, mom!) yet it still took me months of studies, research and lots of trial and error until I got confident Ujala had great quality products to launch.

I started selling to friends and the positive (and constructive) feedback was essential to encourage me to keep going forward.

Today I am proud to have Ujala and be able to create self-care that is truly natural, vegan and healing.

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2)      Do you have a morning routine? If so, what is it you do to set yourself up for the day ahead?

My morning routine changes depending on how busy is the day ahead but one constant is that I love to wake up early and enjoy a few minutes of silence on my balcony while sipping some hot tea or hot water with lemon. Then I have a cold shower (that’s a must!) and I am ready to start my day.

Even though I am a morning person, those minutes of stillness watching the birds and the sunrise are essential to put me in the right mindset and prepare myself for any busy day.

ujala celan beauty and eco-frienldy skincare

3)      Why did you choose to go sustainable and eco-friendly?

I couldn’t have done it any other way, it’d just not feel right. I believe that we are one with the environment that surrounds us, not separate.

I am deeply connected and reliant on nature and can’t envision a life where I act and consume like I don’t care for it.

If we put it in perspective, consuming carelessly towards our planet is like using the bricks from your walls for furniture, you can have beautiful interior decor, but eventually will be left out with no shelter.

4)      What was the hardest part of starting your own business?

Surely the hardest part, when I was starting Ujala, was to try and find sustainable solutions that were affordable for my initial investment budget. Sustainable packaging is usually far more expensive than plastic tubes and jars, and the same happens with organic and sustainably sourced ingredients.

But I believe that if more people become aware and consume responsibly that scenario can change in a way that sustainability is the norm and not the exception.

ujala celan beauty and eco-frienldy skincare

5)     One book and/or documentary everyone should read/watch? Why?

An amazing book that I strongly recommend is Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari. It gives a lot of insight into our role and impacts as a species on this planet and how what we perceive as progress doesn’t always favour us as human and spiritual beings.

On documentaries, I love all Attenborough docs and also would love to see everyone (daring to) watch Cowspiracy, Rotten, Seaspiracy and Planet of the Humans, all of them so eye-opening and necessary.

6)       Best piece of advice you have ever received?

Stick to your guns and believe in yourself.

The market and the marketing strategies, in particular, can be quite overwhelming if you don’t refuse to compromise and don’t have faith in your product.

Believe in what you do, hold on to your principles and never be afraid or ashamed to promote yourself.