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    LuLu & Max offers handmade products made with natural ingredients

    In less than a year, the mother-daughter duo behind LuLu & Max has brought to market more than 50 handmade products designed to cleanse, soothe, refresh, and beautify.

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    Natural ingredients, like mushroom extract and lavender essential oil, are used in all the company’s products, which are made and packaged in the Central Ohio homes of its founders and namesakes, Leslie Rector aka LuLu (the name her grandchildren call her) and Max Paz.

    “When my children were young, I would always say, ‘We don’t need to buy that; we can make it,'” says Rector.

    It’s an ideology Paz is passing along to her three kids, who are actively involved in LuLu & Max’s production process.

    Leslie Rector
    Leslie Rector (left) and Max Paz (right)

    “I use the entire family to test, sniff, and help brainstorm for product names,” says Paz. “My seven-year-old daughter Madison is especially helpful with naming products. She came up with several of the tea and perfume names, and I just love working with her.”

    When Paz turned 30 and began to see fine lines and other signs of aging on her face, she set out to create an effective yet affordable anti-aging cream.

    After hours of research, she developed a formula, tweaked it and −if sales are any indication−  perfected it. Today, it’s LuLu & Max’s bestseller and its success has inspired Paz to create an entire line of anti-aging products packed with plant extracts and minerals.

    In addition to skincare products, teas and perfumes, LuLu & Max sells products made especially for babies and young children, such as boo boo cream and chest rub.

    “I usually create products that I either have a need for or that my family does,” Paz says. “I also listen to our clients’ feedback and try to fill those requests.”

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    At the moment, Paz and Rector are working on a line of acne solutions and a line of hair care products that they hope to release by mid-year.

    Ten to 15 percent of LuLu & Max products are sold online via its company website and Etsy stores, and about 35 percent are sold at LuLu & Max parties, two of which were recently held in New York City.

    The remainder of sales are made at area retailers Charm of Dresden, Celebrate Local, Green Velvet, and The Garden Herb Shop.

    “We plan on branching out to as many more shops this year as we can,” Paz says.

    To learn more about LuLu & Max, visit LuLu-and-Max.com.

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