Why Self-Care Is a Business Strategy: A Conversation With Rebecca From The Detour Co

When was the last time you washed your face… slowly?

Not the “kids are yelling, dinner is burning, and you’re using a towel that smells like regret and mildew” kind of face wash. I mean the intentional, “I matter and this is my moment” kind.

If your answer is somewhere between “what’s a moment?” and “lol can’t relate,” then today’s blog post might just shift something for you — because this week on the podcast, I chatted with my friend Rebecca, founder of The Detour Co., about skincare, confidence, self-trust, motherhood, boundaries, and building a product-based business with intention.

And it turns out?
Self-care isn’t just a nice-to-have.
It directly influences the way you show up in your business.

Let’s get into it.

From Melting Butters in a Kitchen to a Skincare Brand With Heart

Rebecca didn’t start her brand because she wanted to jump into the beauty industry. She started because she needed something she could trust while backpacking through Southeast Asia — something simple, natural, and from the land, not the lab.

Her first attempt?
…Horrible.
Dense, hard, had to be scraped out with a fingernail.
But like every great founder origin story, that early curiosity turned into something bigger -  experimenting, refining, exploring ingredients, and reconnecting with the ritual of taking care of herself.

Years later, after working in finance, chiropractic care, Reiki, meditation, and more, she moved to Muskoka, realized she still couldn’t find skincare that met her standards, and finally said:

“Well, guess I’ll make it myself.”

And just like that, The Detour Co. was born.

The Messaging Shift: From Ingredients to Intention

When Rebecca and I first connected, she was leaning heavily into educating about natural ingredients because that’s what every natural skincare brand seems to do.

But here’s the thing:

Her brand was never really about ingredients.
It was always about care. The tiny, intentional moments where you remember you matter.

As she put it, applying her skincare isn’t just functional. It’s grounding. It’s restorative. It’s self-respect.
It’s a reminder: I can show up for myself.

Skincare became a gateway to something deeper:
→ Self-trust
→ Confidence
→ Better decision-making
→ A more grounded version of herself

And yes, that translates directly into how she runs her business and how you run yours.

Why Self-Care Is a Business Strategy (Especially for Small Business Owners)

Here’s the truth nobody talks about enough:

If you’re a one-person business, you are the engine.
If the engine is sputtering, everything else sputters too.

Skipping lunch, rushing through tasks, doing “just one more thing,” using the stinky towel because “meh, whatever” these are tiny signals that you’re placing yourself last.

But when you intentionally take moments to care for yourself, even small ones, like washing your face with something that feels good. It builds:

✔ confidence
✔ clarity
✔ better decision-making
✔ resilience
✔ boundaries

As Rebecca said so perfectly:
Confidence is what helps you actually believe anything is possible — from starting a brand to having tough conversations to simply showing up online.

That confidence stacks.
And so does the self-neglect.

The Power of Pausing Between Tasks

One thing Rebecca shared that I think every entrepreneur needs to hear:

She intentionally pauses between tasks.

Not rushing from work to school pickup.
Not jumping straight from emails into production mode.
Not tumbling from one role to another without a breath.

Sometimes it’s a short walk.
Sometimes a quick meditation in her car.
Sometimes a moment of silence.

And this tiny shift makes the next task easier, lighter, and less chaotic.

Transitions are hard for so many of us, especially as moms and business owners, but they don’t have to drain you.
A five-minute pause can change your whole day.

Running a Product-Based Business: What’s Different, What’s Not

Rebecca runs a product-based brand, but much of what she learns from service-based coaches still applies to her.

Because at the end of the day:

Marketing is marketing.
Messaging is messaging.
Connection is connection.

Whether you sell face cream or strategy calls, the fundamentals remain the same:

✨ Tell stories
✨ Share meaning
✨ Build connection
✨ Understand your customer
✨ Show up with intention

Her brand works because it’s rooted in why she started — not just what she sells.

A New Studio, Stronger Boundaries, and the Joy of Closing the Door

Rebecca recently moved from working at home to a dedicated production studio and the shift is massive.

Now she can:

→ order larger quantities
→ bring in help
→ leave work at work
→ feel more professional and spacious

There’s something powerful about physically leaving your business at the end of the day — not seeing it every time you walk into the kitchen, not mixing home and work energy, not feeling like you’re “always on.”

Honestly?
I’m jealous. One day I, too, will have a door.

Why We Love Watching Her Skincare Videos (and Why They Work)

If you haven’t seen Rebecca’s videos, please do yourself a favour.

They’re slow, soothing, grounded. She walks through her skincare in real time with the kind of calm energy that makes you feel like everything might actually be okay.

And in a world of 18-step, 0.2-seconds-per-product, ASMR-heavy routines that create more pressure than peace, her videos are the anti-hype.

Simple.
Quiet.
Intentional.

They resonate because they show how effortless it can be to take care of yourself without the overwhelm or the consumerism.

Confidence: The Thread That Ties It All Together

Toward the end of our conversation, Rebecca said something I want to put on a mug:

“When we feel confident in who we are and how we feel, we make better decisions.”

Confidence isn’t vanity.
It’s clarity.
It’s momentum.
It’s permission.

When she feels confident, she’s more creative.
More decisive.
More open to possibility.

And honestly?
That’s exactly what I want for every business owner.

Where to Find Rebecca + Her Products

If you want skincare that feels like a love note to your face, here’s where to go:

Website: thedetourco.com
Join her VIP email list. The monthly love letters are chef’s kiss.

Instagram: @thedetourcomuskoka

My personal recommendations (in case you needed a nudge):
→ Body Butter
→ Face Cream
→ Triple C Oil

You're welcome.