A few years ago when our founder, Andy, got cancer, his sweet wife developed formulas for the most natural soap there is. She wanted to keep him away from harsh chemicals after his successful treatment and help him live a long and healthy life.
Today, we use those exact formulas for Yaya Maria’s. We proudly make the highest-quality liquid soap on the market using 100% natural ingredients and we recently added the a line of powerful organic anti-aging face serums made with bakuchiol, a natural retinol alternative. We do this while respecting animals, the planet, and the well-being of our customers and partners.
And if you’re wondering how we got our name, it began with a little old lady named Maria who lived far away, in Greece.
One day Maria received news that her first grandchild was born. (“Yaya” means “grandma” in Greek). She was so overjoyed that she decided secretly to give the baby a gift. She opened a bank account in his name the same day.
Maria didn’t have much money, but every month, year after year, she deposited a few dollars from her small pension into the account for her grandson’s future. She kept the secret carefully, telling no one. By the time she died she had forgotten about it.
Many years after Yaya Maria passed, her son was sorting through a box of her belongings. To his surprise, a booklet fell out. It was the ledger for the forgotten account that Maria had opened for her grandson. The son couldn’t believe his eyes! Immediately, he called his son – Yaya Maria’s grandson – to tell him about the gift from above, sent by his late grandmother.
The young man was overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness of his grandmother. That grandson is our founder, Andy.
Yaya Maria’s gift helped Andy start this business. In gratitude, he named the company after her. And just as Maria put aside money for her young one, we donate parts of our proceeds to a variety of social and environmental causes that help children achieve a better future. Yaya Maria’s legacy thereby continues to help today’s young ones.
Yaya Maria’s is certified cruelty-free with Leaping Bunny and certified vegan by PETA. All of our products have received the Environmental Working Group (EWG)’s highest rating for non-toxicity and we are Green America certified for being environmentally responsible, socially equitable, and transparent in every facet of our business. That’s how we operate: by respecting animals and the planet while being kind to people and helping the next generation (learn more about our values).