They became very impatient with me, but my father recognized that my interest was genuine and that I seemed able to retain much of what I observed. He encouraged my mother and grandmother to teach me as they worked.

By the age of nine, I had absorbed much knowledge and one day pointed out that they had made a mistake in a preparation. They ignored my advice and were startled to when two hours later the cream spoiled and they had to discard the entire batch. My mother hugged me and congratulated me. From that day forward, my mother and grandmother began to seriously pass on to me their extensive knowledge concerning the use of certain plants that help the body to heal itself. At the age of 14, on my own, I invented a cream for rosacea and a cream for psoriasis. My parents tested the cream and when it proved to be effective; my astonished and proud father rewarded me with a motorbike! I wanted to follow my parent's example and make the treatment of skin problems my life and work.

I have spent my entire life studying and learning about botanical skin care, focusing on skin problems and the creation of unique beauty formulas. Keeping with my family tradition, I use only natural ingredients such as flowers, seeds, leaves, roots, and the pine and rasina tree; that can be slowly absorbed by the skin. The skin's natural maintenance system thus benefits from many vitamins, proteins and other nutrients essential to rejuvenation. I have developed products for skin beauty and skin conditions.

Because private business was illegal under the communist Romanian regime, I had to restrict my distribution of products to a carefully selected group of colleagues, friends, family and trusted referrals. Under Ceausescu's regime, individual entrepreneurship was usually punished with imprisonment and even sometimes with death. I was also active in my faith, which was equally unacceptable. My desire to help people, and my belief in God, made me an offender in the eyes of the communist state.

To make a long story short, in the 1990's I was forced to leave my country. I had to leave everything and everyone I knew. I faced many dangers and obstacles in trying to cross the border. With God's help, however, I succeeded. I immediately saw that the cosmetics that are marketed world wide have water as the predominant ingredient, as much as 80 % and only 20 % ingredients which contain chemicals, preservatives and perfume. Also, that there was extensive use of chemical preservatives in food preparation in Canada and that together with the high level of pollution in the air and water; it meant that my products would be welcomed in Canada. But I did not speak the language, I had no money and I had no help.

I started work as a restaurant dishwasher for $3.50 / hour and barely survived. Several difficult months later, God answered my prayers again. A Romanian lady recognized me and convinced me that money or language are not a barrier for good products. I decided that I had nothing to lose.

She made me a flyer and I began by advertising at home and I gave out samples of my creams to people to demonstrate my knowledge and products. My clients loved my products and immediately noticed the improvement in their complexions with the use of my products. Word of mouth about my products began and has not stopped!

People began talking about the amazing effectiveness of my unique moisturizing creams.

Later, I opened my first retail location in Toronto. That same year, the Toronto Sun, the Star and other newspapers published articles about me. Soon after, I was in Chatelaine magazine. I was interviewed several times for television news. My clientele multiplied quickly. My products are distributed all over Canada, parts of Europe and Asia, and over the internet, with great reviews. My greatest reward, however, still comes from letters and the many testimonials I receive each year thanking me. And my clients always receive a gift when they buy my products. The Bible says: "There is more happiness in giving, than there is in receiving."

Sincerely, Mary P. Rostoplasc.