Dawn McDowell knows stress. As a real estate broker, a cosmetologist and business owner, she understands how stressful life can be. But it was the pandemic that taught her how to handle stress best.

McDowell’s skin care company, the Unwind Collection by Creatively Covered Co., was developed during the pandemic as a way for her to deal with the stress of worrying about her first responder daughter and husband while caring for her younger children at home during that difficult time.

“It took an emotional toll on me, and I began making soap as a way to soothe my mind. I was surprised by how much it helped me through the pandemic,” McDowell said. “It was a way to unwind.”

The products she made initially helped support her dry skin and her children’s eczema but grew into curated care packages for friends. Those friends encouraged her to share her skills by starting a business.

The Unwind Collection was launched on Instagram, and McDowell’s business was born.

With products that include herb-infused soaps, sugar scrubs, body butters and face oils, McDowell’s offerings are designed for the customer who seeks natural beauty products that nourish the skin and seal in hydration, she said.

“I didn’t think my business would be a business, but the first couple of years took off with a bang,” McDowell said.

The Unwind Collection Instagram page had nearly 4,000 followers until it all came to a screeching halt when the social media account was hacked, and McDowell lost all of her followers and contacts.

“I struggled and almost gave up. I am still not up to 50% of where I was before. Social media is hard, and the algorithm is ever-changing,” McDowell said.

To add insult to injury, McDowell had a car accident in December 2024 that took an emotional toll and forced her to question whether she wanted to continue building the business, she said.

“I almost quit; I thought, ‘Can I do this?’ but now, I am coming back strong,” McDowell said.

A pillar of McDowell’s Unwind Collection is to strengthen her customers’ skin as well as to bolster their sense of well-being. While the natural, herb-based products nourish and support the skin barrier, McDowell includes “tidbits of information” for customers with each purchase. These notes of positivity suggest ways to unwind and take time to support their overall well-being, she said.

“This is what sets us apart. While we want you to nourish your skin, we are not just about body care; we want to encourage whole self care too,” McDowell said.

The Unwind Collection was developed to care for the challenges that people face with their skin depending on diet, medication and medical conditions that drain the skin of necessary nutrients.

“Our products are not a cure, but they do support the skin to nourish and maintain transepidermal water loss,” McDowell said.

Part of McDowell’s business includes hosting interactive Soap & Sip classes using her natural products to guide customers to make their own body care products, including soaps, body oils and sugar scrubs.

Classes are hosted in her shop on Cardinal Drive. McDowell offers both group classes or private classes for parties or team-building events.

As the business grows, McDowell said, she looks forward to moving into a larger space, hiring additional staff and continuing to offer more classes.