Troy Mom Invents Bath Products to Battle Kids' Eczema

Troy resident Camilla Rice was driven to find answers for her two young children. They were plagued with painful and sensitive skin conditions that needed a solution - and fast.

After months of research and trials of common bath products, Rice embarked on a journey to invent her own soaps and other bath products that would soothe the eczema plaguing her children.

Automotive veteran engineer by day and entrepreneur by night, Rice, 41, used her engineering experience and love of science to help her kids and subsequently launch Green Olive Soaps in late 2016.

Her start-up at-home business now features a line of environmentally-friendly, socially conscious, and handmade organic and vegan bath products made with wholesome, natural ingredients including whipped body butters, soap bars, lip balms, body scrubs, spa bars, bath salts, and more. The products are a labor of love, made at home by Rice and her family.

“Both of my children suffer from eczema and I had such difficulty finding soaps and other bath products that catered to their skin condition,” explained Rice. “I had to take matters into my own hands for my children and invent products that wouldn’t aggravate or irritate their condition.”

According to the National Eczema Association, nearly 32 million Americans, or roughly one-tenth of the population, suffer from some form of eczema.

Rice’s love of science and years of engineering experience helped guide product development. Rice only uses natural ingredients that soothe and moisturize skin, such as whole grain oats, kaolin clay, charcoal, and more. All Green Olive Soaps products are certified cruelty-free by PETA and are absent of animal fats, palm oil, soy, almond oil (nut allergies), paraben, tallow, lard, and phthalates.

The company is quickly growing in popularity. Rice soft-launched her business by participating in various craft shows and other events, often selling out of products. The Cupcake Soap Collection is among the most popular line. It features about 20 styles of soaps designed like cupcakes and available in a variety of themes such as Marry Me Cupcake, Christmas Tree, Love Me Cupcake, Strawberry Champagne, and more. The soaps are made from multiple recipes and cured for a month or more to ensure quality.

“I use my engineering know-how to develop products over a prolonged period prior to making them available to the public,” said Rice. “My vegan whipped body butter recipe, for example, was tested over six months before it was market-ready. It’s important as a mom to ensure our bath and skin care products are wholesome and safe to use for everyone.”

Green Olive Soaps sells products online and at Kitty LaRue Boutique in Royal Oak and Art Is In Market at Partridge Creek Mall in Clinton Township. All products come with gift-ready packaging in individual transparent organza bags with thoughtful message cards. Packaging includes recycled and biodegradable shipping peanuts.

Rice is a native of Highland Park. She earned a Bachelor of Manufacture Systems Engineering degree specializing in Production and Quality Control from GMI Engineering & Management Institute in 2000 and a Masters in Operations Management from Kettering University in 2002. She has worked in the automotive industry for nearly 20 years.

To learn more about Green Olive Soaps or to purchase products, visit www.greenolivesoaps.com.