The story behind the bubbles: Sarah-Jane’s journey with Hot Mess Body

From a bath bomb hobby at 20 to building a business, taking big risks and learning that success doesn't always look the way you imagined.

It all started with a bath bomb.

Back in 2017, I was 20 years old, working a job that didn't bring me much joy and trying to figure out what I wanted my life to look like.

I knew I wanted to do something meaningful. Something that excited me. Something that felt like mine. I just hadn't figured out what that was yet.

I've experienced anxiety from a young age, although I didn't fully understand it at the time. I was having panic attacks at work, putting enormous pressure on myself to push through and believing that walking away from something that wasn't right for me meant I'd failed.

Looking back, I wish I could give that 20-year-old version of myself a hug and tell her that choosing something different isn't weakness. But at the time, I was still figuring that out.

What I did know was that I needed something in my life that brought me joy.

So I started making bath bombs.

It was a hobby. A creative outlet. Something I could learn, experiment with and enjoy entirely for myself. I loved playing with colours and fragrances, learning how to formulate products and turning a collection of ingredients into something tangible.

I started gifting my creations to friends and family, who encouraged me to turn them into a business.

And in 2017, Hot Mess Body was born.

I had no grand business plan, no crystal ball and certainly no idea where it would take me. I just had an idea, a passion for self-care products and the excitement of creating something of my own.

Sometimes, that's all you need to begin.

Learning as I went, one very step at a time

What started as a hobby quickly grew into something much bigger.

By 2018 and 2019, I was selling through collective stores and local markets. People were discovering my products, coming back for more and sharing them with others. I started exploring wholesale, building relationships with retailers and learning the many things that come with running a business that nobody necessarily teaches you beforehand.

Product formulation was one thing. But pricing, marketing, stock management, customer service, cash flow, tax, employment and business strategy? That was an entirely different adventure.

I learnt by doing. I made decisions, tried new things, celebrated the wins and adjusted when something didn't work as planned.

Then came 2020, and Hot Mess Body experienced an incredible period of growth. During lockdowns, people were looking for little comforts, thoughtful gifts and ways to make home feel a little more enjoyable. My products found their way into more homes, and the business grew to the point where I stepped away from employment to focus on it full-time.

From there, I expanded into wholesale stockists, multiple collective stores, workshops and a physical retail space through a small-business incubator program at a major shopping centre.

I employed people, collaborated with other small businesses, hosted creative events and took opportunities that the 20-year-old version of me probably wouldn't have believed possible.

Every new chapter came with its own set of nerves.

But I kept reminding myself that being scared didn't necessarily mean I shouldn't do something. Sometimes, it simply meant I was doing something unfamiliar.

And there is a big difference between taking a risk because you've thought it through and taking a risk without considering the consequences. I've always tried to be strategic with my business, using my own savings and funds rather than taking out loans to finance my ambitions.

I wanted to give myself room to experiment without putting myself in a position of financial risk I wasn't comfortable with.

For me, courage wasn't about throwing caution to the wind. It was about doing the things I genuinely wanted to do, while making the most considered decisions I could along the way.

The opportunities that scared me the most

Over the years, I've said yes to opportunities that stretched me well beyond my comfort zone.

One of those was participating in the Sydney Royal Easter Show, another was signing a lease at a major shopping centre (Stockland Shellharbour), and another - how about opening a warehouse! Taking Hot Mess Body into a major expansions like that was a huge experience, involving weeks of preparation, product creation, planning and stepping into an environment that was much bigger than anything I'd done before.

Was it a little intimidating? Absolutely. But that's also what made it exciting.

Opportunities like these have taught me that you don't always know exactly what you're going to get out of an experience until you put yourself out there. You meet new people, learn how to navigate unfamiliar situations, discover what you're capable of and come away with knowledge you simply wouldn't have gained by staying in your comfort zone.

Sometimes, the value is in the experience itself, the lessons you take away and the confidence you build for whatever comes next.

I've learnt to be thoughtful about the risks I take, but I've also learnt not to let fear make every decision for me.

I could have said no to plenty of opportunities over the years because they felt too big, too unfamiliar or too scary. Instead, I've given myself the chance to try, learn and discover what might be possible.

And I'm so glad I did.

Growing a business while building a life

For a long time, Hot Mess Body was the primary part of my life. I grew it from a hobby into a thriving business, built a team, expanded into retail and wholesale, and created something I was incredibly proud of.

But as the years went on, I started thinking more about what I wanted my life to look like outside of work, too.

My professional goals have always mattered to me, but so have my personal goals. One of the biggest was buying a home with my partner.

I reached a point where I needed to think realistically about how we could achieve that. As much as I loved running Hot Mess Body full-time, having a stable, consistent income through full-time employment was the more reliable path towards that goal.

So, in 2025, I returned to full-time work as a Marketing Manager while continuing to run Hot Mess Body alongside it.

That meant evolving the way I operated the business, simplifying my product range and focusing on the parts I loved most. Today, I'm back at the heart of Hot Mess Body, creating products, packing orders, connecting with customers and building the business in a way that works for my life now.

And in July 2026, my partner and I bought our first home.

For me, that was a reminder that success doesn't have to look the same at every stage of your life. Sometimes, pursuing one dream means approaching another differently. Sometimes, the right decision isn't about growing bigger, but about creating the stability and freedom to enjoy what you've worked so hard for.

I'm still incredibly proud of what I've built with Hot Mess Body, and I still love what I do. My business hasn't stopped being important to me just because my priorities have evolved.

If anything, I'm excited to see where this next chapter takes us.

Because building a business is one adventure, but building a life you love is another - and I want to make room for both.

A little reminder for anyone who's scared to start

If there's one thing my journey with Hot Mess Body has taught me, it's that you don't need to have everything figured out before you begin.

You can start with a hobby. You can learn a new skill. You can try something you've always been curious about, even if you're nervous, even if you're not entirely confident and even if you have a thousand what-ifs running through your head.

You don't need to turn every hobby into a business, either. Sometimes, doing something purely because it brings you joy is more than enough.

I'm not going to tell you to ignore your fears, quit your job tomorrow or throw your savings at an idea without a plan. Life involves real responsibilities, and taking thoughtful, calculated risks matters.

But if you've considered your options, made a plan that works for your circumstances and the biggest thing holding you back is the fear of trying something new, perhaps it's worth asking yourself a question.

What if it actually works out?

What if the hobby becomes something you love? What if you meet incredible people, discover a talent you didn't know you had or create memories you wouldn't have made otherwise? What if you learn something valuable, even if the experience doesn't turn out exactly as you expected?

At 20, I couldn't have predicted where making bath bombs would take me. I couldn't have imagined the customers I'd meet, the opportunities I'd experience, the people I'd employ or the lessons I'd learn.

I also couldn't have predicted every challenge or change that would come along the way.

And that's the point.

You don't get to know the entire story before you start writing it.

Sometimes, you just have to take the first step, give yourself permission to learn as you go and see where the adventure takes you.

Because the experience, the memories and the person you become along the way can be just as valuable as the destination.

And if all of that started with a bath bomb? Well, that's a pretty good story to tell.

Still here, still making bubbles 💕

Hot Mess Body has been a huge part of my life since 2017, and I'm so grateful to everyone who has supported this little business through its many different chapters.

Whether you've been buying my bath bombs since the early market days, discovered us through a stockist or found us online for the first time, thank you for being here.

I'm excited to keep creating, keep experimenting and see what comes next.

Want to follow the Hot Mess Body journey?

Come along for the colourful, occasionally chaotic, always evolving adventure. Follow us on social media for new products, behind-the-scenes moments, market dates, pop-ups and plenty of self-care inspiration.

Instagram: Follow Hot Mess Body on Instagram

Facebook: Follow Hot Mess Body on Facebook

Got a question, want to chat about small-business life, or simply want to say hello? I'd love to hear from you.

Email me at hotmessbody@gmail.com

Thanks for being part of the journey.

Sarah-Jane 💖