Meet Pam Harlow

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Pam Harlow. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Pam, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I didn’t have one single moment where the heavens opened and my purpose appeared. It came together slowly, through healing, a little rage, motherhood, and realizing how much the beauty industry needed someone willing to tell the truth.

When I was rebuilding my life after leaving an abusive marriage, everything I thought I knew about myself had been stripped away. I was starting over financially, emotionally, and mentally. To top it off, I had a little boy who needed a mother who could stand back up. I couldn’t fall apart forever. I had to show him what resilience looked like in real time.

Soap making became my anchor during that phase of my life. I often joke that being an art school dropout, soap making had become my new art form and creative outlet, but it also turned into a form of healing and therapy. Formulating let me create moments of beauty and calm when everything else felt chaotic. Each batch reminded me that I could still build something meaningful out of nothing.

But the deeper I got into formulating, the more I saw how much fear, misinformation, and shame the skincare industry uses to sell products. Greenwashing, fear-based marketing, “clean beauty” scare tactics, the whole thing preys on people’s insecurities. And I thought, absolutely not. We’re not doing this.

That’s when everything clicked into place. My purpose wasn’t just to make good products. It was to create honest ones. It was to educate, empower, and refuse to participate in manipulation. I wanted to build a brand rooted in science and integrity, not fear.

And my son was watching the whole time. Watching me rebuild, choosing truth over trends, turning pain into something useful. That shaped my purpose just as much as the work did.

So I didn’t find my purpose in one dramatic “aha!” moment. I built it from survival, honesty, motherhood, art, and a healthy amount of “I’m tired of this industry’s BS.”

My purpose is simple: to create products people can trust, care loudly, stand for something real, and help people feel at home in their own skin. Without the fear, shame, or manipulation.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m the founder, formulator, designer, packer, shipper, and basically the every-hat-wearer behind Lather + Soul. I create handcrafted soap and skincare that’s rooted in science, driven by intention, and made to feel like a tiny ritual in your day instead of just another task on the to-do list.

My work lives in this sweet spot where chemistry meets creativity. I love the nerdy formulation side just as much as the artistic side, and I don’t believe you have to choose between the two. You can care about pH levels and efficacy while still making something beautiful.

And yes, I work with crystals, which tends to surprise people who know how strongly I stand against fear-based “clean beauty” claims. But for me, crystals aren’t some magical cure all. They’re not there to “heal your skin,” or work in place of medicine, or replace the actual science happening in the formula. The science is the science. The crystal is for the experience. It’s a moment of meaning, symbolism, grounding, a tiny bit of magic you’re allowed to have without needing a dissertation to justify it. It’s the same reason we listen to music, hang art on our walls, keep sentimental objects, or for some people, hold rosary beads. It’s not about the object doing the work for you; it’s about how it makes you feel.

When I started my crystal soap line years ago, I honestly didn’t see other makers doing it. I won’t pretend I invented it, because trends pop up everywhere, but I definitely wasn’t seeing crystal infused soaps in the way I envisioned them. Now it’s all over the place, which is a little surreal, but my approach has always been rooted in intention and authenticity, not trend or clout chasing.

What sets my brand apart is that I’m not shy about calling things out. I don’t do greenwashing, fear marketing, or prey on people’s insecurities and pain points. My whole philosophy is transparency. Truth. Science. Soul. I want people to feel good about what they’re using and why they’re using it.

One of the things I’m most proud of is my Soaps for a Cause initiative. Throughout the year, I create soaps that raise funds for organizations supporting various meaningful causes, from immigration rights, LGBTQIA+ suicide prevention, domestic violence survivors, reproductive freedom, and more. It lets me merge my art with the issues I care deeply about, and my community always shows up for it in such meaningful ways.

I’m not one to shy away from speaking up when something matters. I’m not a “stay neutral” brand. Life is political. People’s safety and rights are political, whether we like it or not. So if I’m going to have a platform, even a small one, I’m going to use it with intention.

Running a one-woman business isn’t glamorous. It’s messy and exhausting and wonderful. I hand pour every soap, design every label, and meet customers who tell me my products helped them feel beautiful or soothed or supported. That part still blows me away, and it’s why I keep doing this.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

For me, the qualities that had the most impact are resilience, authenticity, and my willingness to learn.

1. Resilience
Resilience has probably been the biggest force in my journey. I didn’t have a smooth, linear path, far from it. I was rebuilding my life through trauma, divorce, financial strain, and single motherhood. There were so many moments when it would’ve been easier to quit, but I didn’t have that option. I had to keep going for myself and for my son. That kind of resilience becomes a muscle. You don’t always feel strong, but you learn to show up anyway.

You don’t build resilience by waiting for life to get easier. You build it by showing up for yourself on the days you feel least capable. Start small. Keep going. Remember your “why,” especially when things get uncomfortable. That’s where the magic and growth happens.

2. Authenticity
A small business friend recently told me that I’m really good at bringing the “humanness” to my brand. That I show up vulnerably without oversharing, and it makes people feel connected instead of sold to. Honestly, that’s become one of the most powerful parts of my business. People are tired of perfectly curated brands with no soul. They want to see the person behind the work. They want honesty, not performance.

I’ve learned that being human (sharing my struggles, my growth, my values) is what builds real community. And that connection has carried me through the hardest moments of entrepreneurship. You don’t have to turn yourself into a brand character. Just be a person. Be honest. Share with intention, not for sympathy. Let people see the real you, because humans connect with humans, not logos.

3. Willingness to Learn, Unlearn, + Re-Learn
This one has been huge for me. When I started formulating, I was deep in the “all natural” mindset, because that’s the fear based messaging we’re all fed. It’s the grocery store warriors telling you everything is toxic and will give you cancer, but “buy my non-FDA approved supplements instead!” I had to unpack my own biases about ingredients, preservatives, and what the heck “clean” even meant. Spoiler: it means absolutely nothing.

The more I learned, the more I realized that science, efficacy, stability, safety, and transparency matters. It’s what I wanted for myself, and I knew my customers would too. Natural isn’t inherently safer or better, and synthetic isn’t the villain in disguise. I had to be willing to challenge what I thought I knew, and then educate the public too, gently, but firmly. Yes babe, you do want preservatives in your skincare. They keep your products safe, not scary.

It means always being curious. Be willing to update your opinions when you learn something new. Don’t cling to an identity that limits your growth. And for the love of science, follow formulators and chemists, not fear based influencers.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

When you’re a one woman show, The Overwhelm can take over at any moment, and I’ve been there multiple times. I know I should outsource more than I currently do, but sometimes budgets (and relinquishing a little control) can make that difficult. But you can’t do it all, so something’s gotta give, and it shouldn’t be your sanity, relationships, or your own well-being.

The science geek in me loves formulating new things, testing new ingredients, and improving formulas, but I had to learn that just because I can make something doesn’t mean I should. I’ve significantly streamlined my product line, and I know I should cut it down even further. It might mean that I’ll disappoint some customers, however it’s a boundary I need to set for myself. I’m the one who has to live with the chaos.

Martial arts training is my nonnegotiable. It’s my happy place, my outlet, and a big part of my healing. I’ve been training for years, and it’s where I found true love and met my partner, Matt. I go several days a week, no matter how busy life gets, because it keeps me grounded. Yes, striking and hitting things is fun, but I’ve also gained insight into my mental fortitude and have created a deep sense of community with the people I train with.

Also, get in therapy. I’m a firm believer that everyone can benefit from it. It doesn’t make you weak or a failure. Just like we work out our bodies, we need to maintain our mental health too. I’ve been able to work through so much of my trauma and PTSD, and while punching and kicking things helps, it only gets you so far.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://latherandsoul.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/latherandsoul
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/latherandsoul
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@snarkandsuds
• Other: https://titkok.com/@latherandsoul