Meet Mia Noel Gordon

We were lucky to catch up with Mia Noel Gordon recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mia Noel, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I found my purpose once my daughter began having skin challenges. I myself struggled as a child to my teenage years with eczema, acne breakouts, overly oily skin and dry patches. It took years for me to understand how to balance my skin. Going to the dermatologist and using various otc acne treatments never worked. So when my child started having those same problems, I decided I needed to come up with a solution. Basically Soap was born from this solution. No one has to suffer through eczema, dry skin, pimples, inflammation, or many more. Just because you are a teenager, that doesn’t mean you have to have acne or breakouts. Using natural oils and additives like, castor oil, shea butter, sunflower oil, almond oil, colloidal oatmeal, bentonite clay, and more; can be used in your soap and transform your skin! Family and friends come to me with skin concerns and I have the soap bar to solve that problem. As a chemist, I had the knowledge to understand ingredients and formulas, but as a mother, it was a necessity to turn that science into care.

In 2025 Basically Soap became my platform (Basically Soap Studios) to merge chemistry, creativity, and community. Last year I started teaching at a local high school, actually my daughter’s high school. This experience, transitioning from the chemical industry to education transformed how I thought about my business. I am not the only mom, parent, guardian or just person who has dealt with skin issues or watch a child go through skin challenges. That motivated me to began educating my local community. Now, I teach classes, host demos, and mentor others about natural healing from the earth. I also have written two soap making books, “A Simple Soap: A Beginner’s Guide to Safe, Nourishing Cold Process Soap Bars, and “Let’s Talk Lye! A Calm, Clear Guide For First-time Soap Makers. Every bar I make is a reminder that what started as a need became a mission — to create clean, conscious products that empower, educate, and become self sufficient.
My purpose found me when I stopped waiting for the right moment and started creating what I needed. Now I get to help others do the same.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

My name is Mia Noel Gordon and I’m the founder and creator of Basically Soap LLC, a handmade natural soap and skincare brand. Born from my personal challenges, love for chemistry, and my mission to help others achieve healthy, confident skin. As a chemist, I understand how ingredients interact with the body — and as a mother, I know the importance of care that’s gentle, effective, and honest.
Every product I make is designed to support skin health using simple, natural ingredients — no harsh chemicals, no surfactants, just formulas that truly work. What makes Basically Soap special is that it’s not just a product line — it’s an educational platform. I am not just about the bottomline I want to empower people. Anybody who wants to learn to make and customize a nourishing bar of soap should have that info available. You can make soap as a hobby for your family, friends or even start your own business. Making soap is a very relaxing therapeutic process for me. I let go of life, and can be as creative as I want! I can experiment with different natural ingredients and infusions and more! Also, natural soap bars are eco-friendly and recyclable. You can always use old soap to make something new. With my ebooks, hands-on soap-making classes, and demonstrations others can learn to create their own natural products. I feel joy seeing people’s excitement when they realize they can make something beautiful and healthy with their own hands — that’s the best part of what I do.
In addition to running my business, I also teach high school, which allows me to bring real-world chemistry into the classroom and inspire the next generation of innovators. Education, empowerment, and inspiration are at the heart of everything I do — whether I’m in the lab, the classroom, or my workshop.
This year, I’ve expanded Basically Soap in exciting way! My handcraft soaps are now sold at the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science – a partnership that perfectly celebrates the science and nature behind every bar. I’ve also launch new community workshops, Clean Skin Club monthly soap memberships, and referral rewards that encourage people to share skincare with friends and family while earning discounts and free products. My two eBooks — A Simple Soap: A Beginner’s Guide to Safe, Nourishing Cold Process Soap Bars and Let’s Talk Lye! A Calm, Clear Guide for First-Time Soap Makers — both available on BasicallySoap.com and Amazon.
My focus moving forward is to continue growing Basically Soap through public speaking and community events and expanding the brand in wholesale.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, the three qualities that greatly shaped my journey the most are Resilience, Curiosity, and Discipline.
Resilience kept me going when nothing came easy — at the time Basically Soap was being formed I was working at a refinery on 12 hour shifts rotating day and night every two weeks and my daughter was a toddler. From juggling this and starting my own business there were times when I wasn’t sure about the future. But I had a plan and kept moving forward. Sometimes it felt like I was getting nowhere or I was taking two steps forward and one step back. You must make sure you do your research first because it will be a learning process. Write down your goals and think through ways for you to accomplish them. Write down the steps (which can change), but as long as you continue to work toward the next goal you will make progress. Just be patient. Entrepreneurship will test you constantly, and the truth is, you either adapt or quit. Don’t confuse obstacles with stop signs. Every setback is a lesson in disguise.
Curiosity is what turned my passion into a brand. As growing into adulthood I began to educated myself about the different medications I was prescribed for my acne. As I learned more, I felt deceived. The same thing that was suppose to prevent and heal my acne, contained ingredients that actually cause breakouts. I don’t want my customers to feel this way about my products. I started researching natural oils (just regular ones I would see at the market) and learned how about all the benefits they have for the skin. That curiosity created a more health and nature conscious person. Without my curiosity Basically Soap would exist.
Discipline ties it all together. It’s easy to be inspired — but consistency is what builds credibility and momentum. There were days I was exhausted from the refinery or parenting, but I still made soap, still showed up, still learned something new. My advice? Build a routine that supports your goals, even when motivation fades. Get a mentor or mentors. You will need help you cannot do it all yourself and you also need someone to hold you accountable and on track. There are so many distractions with starting a business and sometimes you become too focus on the wrong things. Contact you local small business organization and let them set you up for FREE a mentor that can help you with your exact business. There are resources available in your community that can and will help you build your business. They will help you stay on track and give you another perspective.
When you combine resilience, curiosity, and discipline, you become unstoppable — because you’re not just chasing success, you’re building strength from the inside out.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I’m looking for partnerships or collaborations. I’d love to collaborate with:
Schools and youth programs that want to bring hands-on STEM and soap-making workshops to students.
Small businesses: boutiques, spas, and wellness centers interested in wholesale.
Corporate organizations team building and education in soap making.
Community organizations and event hosts seeking creative demonstrations, vendor partnerships, or educational pop-up events.
Content creators, educators, and grant-funded programs that focus on entrepreneurship, sustainability, or health education.
I believe collaboration multiplies impact — whether it’s through a workshop for students, or a partnership that empowers the community or upscaling.
Anyone interested in collaborating, carrying our products wholesale, or hosting a workshop can reach me directly at [email protected]; check out my online store – www.BasicallySoap.com; Intsagram @basically_soap; Facebook – Basicallysoapllc. Together, we can create clean, conscious products that make a real difference.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://basicallysoap.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/basically_soap/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Basicallysoapllc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/basically-soap/?viewAsMember=true
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BasicallySoap

Image Credits

Product images were taken by Jason Bleecher, Photographer and Videographer.