Barbara McAteer has built an award-winning skincare range based on her mother’s appreciation for natural cures and remedies
As a child, I didn’t have a clear plan for what I wanted to be when I grew up but I knew I wanted to see the world. I was one of eleven children, and our home was full of creativity with a deep connection to nature.
My mother Josie had an instinctive way of caring for us with homemade remedies from the garden with herbs, oils, and what we now call ‘natural healing’. She was a great believer in the benefits of herbs and plants, enjoying her green tea in the morning, her peppermint tea in the afternoon and camomile tea at night.
Natural remedies
She would use dock leaves to cure nettle stings, a dock rhyme we used to say when rubbing was “Dockin, dockin in and out, take the sting of the nettle out!” We’d have gripe water at hand which was used as a remedy for colic and stomach upsets for babies. It’s a mixture of water, baking soda, and herbs such as dill, fennel, lemon balm and ginger.
For any tummy upsets there would be cod liver oil and barley water for our chest ailments.
Nettles were often collected which are a very good detox for the immune system and great for seasonal allergies due to their antihistamine effect. My sister Aine, who was a macrobiotic chef, would sometimes make delicious nettle soups and pesto.
I remember picking elderberry flowers with my Mum while walking in the countryside which we would infuse for tea and cough remedies. Mum’s warm, gentle hands were definitely filled with healing magic. At the time, I didn’t think much of it. It was just life. But now, I see it as the quiet foundation of everything I do.
After finishing secondary school, I felt unsure of my direction. I took a secretarial course, which turned out to be a brilliant decision. It gave me the practical skills I needed to find work easily – first in London, where I moved at 18.
At 21, I made a big leap and moved to San Francisco. It was in California, surrounded by a more holistic way of living, that I discovered massage therapy. I enrolled in a course and something clicked. This was the path that felt like mine.
From sales to soul work
When I eventually moved back to Ireland, I ended up in a completely different field, working as an estate agent. I stayed in that world for over ten years. It was fast-paced, high-pressure, and financially secure and definitely gave me great experience in dealing with people. However, I started to feel disconnected and the stress took a toll. That’s when I decided to return to holistic therapy.
I trained in aromatherapy, reflexology, massage, nutritional therapy and other healing modalities. I took the plunge and left a very secure job to set up my own treatment space and started working one-on-one with clients which was deeply fulfilling.
I saw first-hand how much emotion people held in their bodies and how much relief and healing came through touch, scent, and connection.
I began working two days a week in the community doing holistic therapies for clients with additional needs. I could really see the therapeutic benefits of touch and how aromatherapy would help to balance and support the healing process.
As well as the positive effects natural products bring to the skin, I feel there is a deeper mind, body, spirit connection to it. I have seen the uplifting benefits from using nourishing ingredients, and adding aromatherapy and essential oils can be so balancing mentally, emotionally as well as physically.
Back to basics
Something else started happening. Clients were coming in with sensitive, reactive skin, which was often made worse by the so-called “natural” products they were using. I began reading labels and was shocked at how many formulas were full of synthetic fillers, fragrances, and synthetic chemicals.
That brought me back to my mum’s kitchen. To honey for burns, oatmeal for itchy skin, chamomile for calming. I started blending my own formulas – 100% plant-based, simple, and effective. I tested them on friends, family, and clients and the results were remarkable. People kept asking for more and that’s when Josie’s Botanicals was born.
Growing the business
Like many, my life took a detour when the pandemic forced me to temporarily give up my job as a holistic therapist. It was very daunting at the time but the transition allowed me to explore another avenue that I’d been passionate about since childhood.
Starting a business from scratch was overwhelming. I had no investor, just savings, passion, and belief in what I was doing. There were so many learning curves: sourcing sustainable ingredients, navigating product approval processes, getting the packaging and branding right, and creating a great website.
Slowly, things grew. Word spread. More clients, more demand and industry recognition followed.
Sustainability and working for myself
Sustainability has always been a core value. I’ve kept the business small and focused for a reason. I don’t believe in churning out endless new products. Instead, I formulate with intention—only launching something when I know it’s genuinely effective and needed.
We use recyclable packaging and offer a jar return initiative for local customers in Dunboyne. Any savings from returned packaging are donated—either as products or cash—to local charities. I believe small businesses can do big things, especially when rooted in community and care.
There’s nothing quite like working for yourself. I get to create something meaningful, to help people feel better in their skin, to honour where I came from, and to grow something I believe in. I’ve built my business with heart, honesty, and a commitment to natural beauty.
Josie’s Botanicals is a dream realised, all the things I love together. I have always felt my best in nature, inspired by the positive effects of plants and their ability to heal. My wonderful late mum Josie was and always will be my true inspiration and it’s an honour to name my brand after her.
My advice for future entrepreneurs
One strong piece of advice to anyone wanting to take the plunge and set up a business is to remember that you can’t do everything. I hire an excellent product photographer to create professional product shots for me. I had a professional designer do my branding, and my niece is an excellent Virtual Admin Assistant who looks after all aspects of my website and admin support. It’s money well spent, and it means I’ve the freedom to create and develop my brand.
Listen to that inner voice that tells you not to give up on your dreams. Following your heart will push you out of your comfort zone, allowing you to learn more about yourself and the world around you.
You can find out more about Barbara’s products and therapies at josiesbotanicals.com.
