A Peakhurst mum of three has launched into a business venture that was inspired by her children, and now she's up for an award.
MEBEME is a skincare range for pre-teens, and its aim is to boost positive body image for young Aussie kids.
Viria Charitos launched the brand in April this year. She has been nominated for the AusMumpreneur awards, with winners to be announced on September 6 in Melbourne.
The awards recognise and celebrate the growing number of women who balance motherhood and business successfully.
The mum of two daughters, Iliana and Eva, age nine and five, and her son Christian, one, says her natural skincare company has a mission to target children, but not yet teens.
The idea behind MEBEME came about standing in the bathroom, "when my youngest was only three months old," she said. "Months later after countless hours of work, MEBEME Natural Skincare for Tweens was launched.
"When my eldest needed to start cleansing her face and using deodorant, I realised there were not a lot of options for that age," Mrs Charitos said.
"Over a year of researching ingredients, working with formulators, trying and tweaking, the brand was born."
MEBEME is all about empowering tweens, at what can be a very vulnerable age, she said.
"With tween body image, there is pressure what to look like, from what they see on TV," Mrs Charitos said.
The beauty therapist previously worked in administration, but always wanted to launch a brand.
"I love motherhood, it will always be my first priority, I just yearned for more," she said.
"It is really important to me, to show my kids that you can put your mind to something, work really hard and be very proud of what you have created.
"My daughter, Iliana, is already coming to me with her business ideas for the future."
Ingredients in the moisturisers contain Australian plant extracts including Emu Apple, Kangaroo Paw Flower, Lilli Pilli, lavender oil, vitamins B, C and E, lemon, juniper and tea tree oils, sweet almond oil, and Ylang Ylang's antimicrobial properties. Deodorants contain citrus and coconut, without aluminium or bicarb. All products are paraben free and vegan friendly.
MEBEME has also been officially endorsed by Dolly's Dream to raise funds to help reduce bullying and its heartbreaking effects, with five per cent of all sales going to Dolly's Dream.
