My name is Aura War Eagle McCullough, founder of McCullough SkinCare, a small family-owned skincare company based in North Texas. As a stay-at-home wife and mama, I began creating skincare for my own family after becoming frustrated with the synthetic ingredients, fillers, fragrances, and seed oils found in so many products marketed as "natural." What started in my kitchen quickly grew into a small business as friends and family began requesting products of their own. Today, I handcraft each product in small batches using grass-fed tallow, organic oils, and pure essential oils. As an Indigenous woman, working with local tallow and oils exclusively made with local agricultural into my skincare is also a meaningful way for me to honor my heritage and connection to the land while creating products rooted in tradition, simplicity, and care.
When did the idea for your business first take shape, and what inspired you to pursue it?
When I was pregnant, I wanted to partake in some good ol fashioned TLC for myself, but with this little precious angel growing inside of me, I couldn’t shrug off knowing that some of my favorite products had toxic ingredients. I was overcome with determination. I will make products that are luxurious, relaxing, effective AND clean.
What do you remember most about getting the business off the ground?
The little wins. I’ll never forget the way my heart skipped a beat the first time someone sought and bought my products instead of how I started- giving them as a gift.
Building a business comes with its share of surprises. What have been some of the harder moments you've had to work through?
Finding a balance. I love what I do- ultimately I get to do what I enjoy the most- CRAFT. But I’ve had to learn how to put my tools down. When it starts feeling like work instead of fun, I walk away and recharge. I’m living my dream and I sometimes struggle with wanting to work harder to improve and realizing that it’s equally important to rest and keep the love and passion for my craft intact.
Looking back, what has running your business taught you that you didn't expect to learn?
That’s it’s a never ending game of improvement. Right when you think you’ve got something down pact, you look back and realize you couldn’t done something differently- better.
What does your business do, and what can people in your community come to you for?
My business makes non toxic/natural/ zero waste hygiene, skincare, hair care, cosmetic and jewelry- accesible. Many times clean products come at a price- literally, an arm and a leg is charged my large non toxic product companies because they CAN. The market is scarce and so they can get away with charging more for it. I find that cost is the biggest deterrent for people looking to buy cleaner products and so I’ve made an oath to always be accessible and reasonable with my prices. Caring for you health and the universe are synonymous and the easier I can make that switch over for you, the better a warden of my communities health and well being, I’m becoming.
When someone chooses your business, what do you hope they notice or experience that sets you apart?
The love, labor and authenticity behind my work. I’ll never sell anything I wouldn’t feel comfortable putting on myself, and more importantly, my family. I make you the best because that’s the only thing I’d ever put on my child.
Is there a product, service, or part of your business that you wish more people knew about?
The customization option! I love getting messages “I know you don’t do this but I want to try…” YES. Challenge me. I’m happy to jump into the deep end and create NATURAL and clean products that best suit you and your needs all while learning and enjoying the process myself.
What can someone expect when they become a customer for the first time?
Usually a lot of freebies 😂
What keeps you excited about the work you do?
The confidence that my customers have in their everyday products. I love that I make some of my friends favorite everyday routine staples that they LOVE and feel confident wearing.
What are some of the values or principles that guide the way you run your business?
Zero waste, always natural, always organic, and ALWAYS local. From the suet I render to make my tallow to the adorable bamboo lip balm containers, to my paper boxes, and stamp, 95% of it is right here from Gods country, Texas, and the other 5% is exclusively American.
What does being a local business owner mean to you, and what do you appreciate most about the community you're part of?
I love that a little $5 lip balm sale can be the start of a beautiful friendship or the conversation starter for someone that really needed connection that day.
Is there a customer story that has stayed with you?
I had a mom that loved my products. She was so appreciative of everything, asked questions, and complimented me, she however, wrapped up by telling me that unfortunately she’s in a tight spot financially and she won’t be able to make a purchase that day. I sent her off with a tallow balm and perfume anyway, I wanted her to have it. I didn’t think much of this experience except this same mom visited me at one of my pop up a couple months later. She brought two of her friends with her and amongst the three of them bought a ten fold of what I gifted her… oh and her friend posted all about it on her socials with 26.5k followers so I’ll never forget 1. Be kind because someway somehow it always comes back around and 2. You never know who you’re talking to!
What do you hope people remember about your business after they've experienced it?
That I’m just a mom running on caffeine that happens to use to kitchen as a chemistry lab and sometimes, just sometimes, really cool things come out of my experiments.