Conversations with the Inspiring Selena Castro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Selena Castro.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was a child who loved to draw and make things, from jewelry to handmade paper. I’ve always been creative, and I strive to use that creativity for more than just a painted picture.

With less time to do traditional art, I wanted to find a creative outlet that encompassed my goal to live a non-toxic life and clean beauty passion while being able to give back.

This is where Palettes and Petals was born.

What started out as a clean beauty blog to highlight my DIY all-natural beauty projects and Beautycounter business, turned in to something more when my dad was diagnosed with ALS in August 2018. I began to donate a portion of any profit I made from Beautycounter towards the ALS Association and I Am ALS (a recent organization that uses every penny donated towards research for a cure). For a couple of months, I donated to different causes, but ultimately found myself just wanting to raise money for ALS research. As months passed, my dad’s progression hastened. Raising money was one way for me to cope and feel like I was helping the cause.

I added ALS Awareness Bracelets on my website where 100% proceeds went to I Am ALS. This was something big as I had never had a product to sell from my website. It really inspired me to make Palettes and Petals more than just a clean beauty blog, but a place to inspire, advocate, create awareness and fundraise.

Has it been a smooth road?
Not at all! Starting up with Beautycounter was tough because I didn’t feel like I had a good social circle to start from. I was worried about what my friends and family would think. But the mission of the company is what was, and is, important to me, so I stuck with it.

I decided to build a website to expand my reach and encompass more than just selling safer skincare and clean makeup, but my other passions of art, and living a non-toxic, sustainable lifestyle.

Building the Palettes and Petals website was a nightmare. It took weeks of putting in hours after my day job to get it right, and it’s still a work in progress. I definitely shed some tears.

Aside from the side hustle, I also had just put in some hard work to move up in my day job. I decided to try on management with a company I had been working for eleven years- Trader Joe’s. As with most big companies, there was a need for more female managers (we are called Mates within the Joe). After having been supported by life’s ups and downs for so long by previous Mates, I decided that I wanted to give back and be a mentor and be an amazing female Mate. I wanted to help make other’s people’s days a little brighter at work, support the crew in their day to day, empower and lead by example. I’m a hard worker, and I’ll get through any day.

My advice to other young women is to not feel pressured to do it all now. It took me until I was 30 to decide I had it in me to be a leader. I say, go through all the experiences and learn from the struggles. It’ll make you that much stronger when the is truly right for you.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Palettes and Petals story. Tell us more about it.
I’m an ALS and clean beauty advocate, a manager at Trader Joe’s, a Beautycounter consultant, and a caregiver to my dad. Because my life is a little chaotic right now, I really am passionate about self-care. I recognize the positive role it plays in my life, and I try to promote self-care to my followers. You can’t be your best for all of life’s challenges if you aren’t taking care of yourself. I love what Beautycounter is for this reason. I am able to stick to a regimen with my skincare and give my face a little color and life for long days of work, helping care for my dad, and all those nights with little sleep- and it’s with products I can trust and feel safe using (they ban over 1,500 questionable or proven harmful ingredients). I love being a part of the BC community because it truly is mission based as they are consistently advocating for more health protective laws. Not only do we provide safe products, but go above and beyond by trying change the beauty industry and make ALL products safe.

While I love working with Beautycounter, I am most proud of the advocacy work and fundraising I do for ALS in honor of my dad. The beautiful thing is I am able to use this side business for good; whenever someone purchases Beautycounter from me, they are helping me to raise more money for ALS research to help find a cure. My dad is my best friend, and he has helped me find true focus in my Palettes and Petals business.

I believe our exposure to toxins through things like our personal care products is a big contributor to many diseases these days. Through educating myself on toxin exposure, I have a newfound passion to promote and advocate for more regulations in our personal care industry (most importantly as it relates to disease prevention) and to educate people about reading labels, and to not get tricked by greenwashing.

A lot of people have a side hustle for more money, I have a side hustle for that sense of fulfillment, by doing good and giving back.

*To shop safer beauty and personal care products and help in Selena’s ALS fundraising efforts, go to www.beautycounter.com/selenacastro

Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
My former self inspires me to be better than I was. When I was younger, I was naive, selfish, and unaware of the world around me. It would have been great to be born with this desire to give back and be a positive role model, but I truly believe all those negative experiences and growing pains I went through in my twenties led me to where I am now. I’m just happy my younger self has taught me to not give up or give in. I wouldn’t be able to help care for my dad as gracefully as I am now had I not learned to find my own strength. We can always be better, no matter our age.

Contact Info:

• Website: palettesandpetals.com
• Phone: 831-595-7950
• Email: selena@palettesandpetals.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/palettes.and.petals/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palettesandpetals/

Image Credit:
John Andrews

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