Hello
My name is Nellie and I am the owner and founder of Tender Punks Skincare. I was born and raised in SoCal, however, LA will always be where my heart lives.
While we are in a late-stage capitalistic, oligarchic society that forces us to work to the bone, our rest and self-care is outright rebellion. Centering our care and the care for our communities is considered radical.
This sparked the "Tender Punks" Skincare. Tender Punks Skincare is made for the regular day punk, goth, queer, immigrant, disabled person, community activist, single parent and worker that is doing their best to exist and resist everyday.
My Story
I grew up as a 90s kid, primarily in the emo/metal scene, where adults saw us as troublemakers and constantly spewed religion, militarism, gender roles and patriotism in our faces. Along with the common millennial experience, I had some extra obstacles to work with:
1) I had eczema that was triggered by store bought soap, detergent, shampoo, you name it.
2) I am a HSP and have many sensory sensitivities.
3) I have a strong response to injustice as a person who was forced to conform and growing up as a queer person in a weaponized hetero, misogynistic upbringing. I was indoctrinated like many of us as kids, but as a millennial queer, I am here to speak up now.
Long story short, I did not grow out of my eczema and I did not grow out of my HSP tendencies, Queer-ness and strong response to injustice. What changed is that my mindset changed.
I started making my own skincare, starting with handmade soap, then body butter, body oils, the creations were endless. Not only did I learn so much about what my skin wanted, I found a place where my senses could relax and my creativity could bloom. And I started embracing my creativity, which also meant embracing who I am to my core.
If we're being transparent about quality skincare, it's inaccessible. It is expensive, often uses animal parts, has harsh detergents, and is not made ethically. We all need skincare, but at what cost?
When I was younger, I used what was available to me, I didn't have the luxury of choice back then. Quality soaps, detergents, shampoos, conditioners, etc. were not accessible at this time. When I got older, these quality items are still not readily accessible. If I walk to one side of town and find natural, unscented soaps, but the other side of town has harsh detergent soaps that smell like cleaner, it's not accessible.
Not to mention natural, handmade soap selling for $15-$20 a bar, this is not accessible to most working class people. Quality skincare should not be gate kept by privileged groups, as well as soap makers, we have a role to do better or perpetuate this vicious cycle. It's a root problem of our capitalistic society.
Tender Punks Skincare was made for me originally, but it's now made for you. It's meant to remind you that skincare and self care is meant for all of us.