FAQs-About Tara & Her Expertise

Q: Who is Tara Holguin and what qualifies her to offer bodycare consulting? Tara Holguin is a natural bodycare formulator and educator with over 10 years of hands-on industry experience. She built and operated four natural bodycare retail stores in Toronto, where she personally developed hundreds of formulas, ran zero-waste refill stations, and taught hands-on DIY workshops. Her stores were featured in the Globe and Mail and on Breakfast Television. Today she channels that expertise into books, courses, and one-on-one consulting.

Q: What makes Green + Frugal Creations different from other natural skincare consultants? Tara's consulting is grounded in real retail and production experience — not just theory. She has formulated products at scale, sourced ingredients commercially, managed suppliers, and built a loyal customer base from scratch over a decade. Her support is exclusively focused on 100% natural, non-synthetic ingredients, which sets her apart from general cosmetic formulation consultants who work across both conventional and natural products.

Q: Has Tara been featured in any media? Yes. Green + Frugal was featured in the Globe and Mail and on Breakfast Television as part of broader coverage on sustainable living and zero-waste retail in Canada. She has also been recognized in a few other local media mediums such as local papers, blogs and specialty directories. Tara was recognized as a trusted voice in the natural bodycare and eco-living space throughout her years as a retailer.

Consulting Services

Q: What consulting services do you offer? Tara offers several formats to suit different needs and budgets. Video call session options include a single 30-minute session ($49), a single 1-hour session ($89), three 30-minute sessions ($129), and three 1-hour sessions ($240). For business startup support, the Bodycare Business Startup Consultation — three 60-minute sessions — is currently available at $295 (regularly $395). Soapmaking support is also available as a single 1-hour session ($89) or a package of three 60-minute sessions ($240). Email-based services include Formula Review ($39), Formula Development ($89), and Signature Formula ($39).

Q: Who is consulting best suited for? Consulting is a great fit for aspiring natural skincare entrepreneurs who want to develop their own product line, existing small business owners looking to refine or expand their formulations, and passionate DIYers ready to take their skills to a professional level. Tara works with clients across North America at all experience levels — from complete beginners to established brands.

Q: What topics can be covered in a consulting session? Sessions can cover formula development, ingredient selection, natural preservation strategies, supplier sourcing, product safety considerations, pricing and production scaling, zero-waste packaging, and building or growing a natural skincare business. Tara tailors every session to the client's specific goals and stage.

Q: What happens during a consulting session? Before your first session you'll complete an intake form so Tara can understand your goals, current stage, and specific questions. Sessions are held via Zoom and followed by a written summary of everything covered. For multi-session packages, each session builds progressively so you leave with a clear, actionable foundation.

Q: What can I expect to walk away with after formula consulting? Clients who book formula support leave with a complete, working formula tailored to their goals and target product. Whether you're developing a body butter, lip balm, facial oil, or another water-free creation, Tara guides you through every ingredient decision so you finish with something you can actually make — not just notes and next steps.

Q: What does business startup consulting look like? Every aspiring natural skincare business is different, so Tara begins by understanding your specific vision, goals, and circumstances. From there she works through everything relevant to your situation — formulation, sourcing, pricing, product range, and business model — and helps you build a practical, personalized plan you can move forward with confidently.

Q: Do you offer email-based consulting? Yes. Email services include Formula Review ($49 — Tara evaluates your existing formula and provides detailed feedback), Formula Development ($89 — Tara develops a custom formula based on your goals and target product), and Signature Formula ($39 — a personalized formula developed specifically for your brand). These are ideal for clients who prefer written communication or are working across different time zones.

Q: Do you offer soapmaking support? Yes. Tara offers soapmaking consulting via Zoom — a single 1-hour session at $89 or a three-session package of 60-minute sessions at $240. Like all of her consulting, soapmaking support is focused exclusively on 100% natural ingredients and methods.

Q: How do I book a consulting session? You can book directly through the Services page on this website. If you're unsure which service is the right fit, reach out at hello@greenandfrugalcreations.com before booking and Tara will help point you in the right direction.

Formulation

Q: What types of products can you help me formulate? Tara specializes in 100% natural, water-free (anhydrous) bodycare formulations including body butters, lip balms, salves, solid lotion bars, scrubs, facial oils, beard balms, hair oils, and more. Because her focus is water-free formulations, all products are naturally preservative-free by design.

Q: What does "water-free" or "anhydrous" mean in skincare? An anhydrous or water-free formulation contains no water as an ingredient. This matters because water in a product creates an environment where bacteria and mold can grow, which typically requires synthetic preservatives. By formulating without water, products remain naturally stable and safe without the need for chemical preservatives — aligning with a truly clean ingredient philosophy.

Q: Is preservative-free skincare safe? When formulated correctly without water, yes. Water-free products don't provide the environment that bacteria and mold need to grow, which means synthetic preservatives are unnecessary. It's important to note this applies specifically to anhydrous formulations — any product containing water, aloe, hydrosols, or other water-based ingredients does require a proper preservative system to be safe. Tara's consulting focuses exclusively on water-free formulas where this concern does not apply.

Q: Do you work with synthetic ingredients? No. All of Tara's formulation support is focused exclusively on pure, natural, non-synthetic ingredients, reflecting the philosophy she has always worked by. If your product line includes synthetic actives or conventional cosmetic ingredients, this consulting service would not be the right fit.

Q: Can you help me find natural ingredient suppliers? Yes. One of the most practical parts of Tara's consulting is her supplier knowledge built over a decade of commercial sourcing. She can provide a personalized supplier list based on your product type, budget, and location within North America. This is provided at no extra cost when you buy a consulting service. Outside of that you can purchase the e-book "The Supplier Guide" that provides all the details for only 9.95.

Pricing & Logistics

Q: Why is pricing listed in USD? Green + Frugal Creations serves clients across North America and internationally, so USD pricing allows for consistent rates regardless of where a client is located. Canadian clients will see the exchange rate applied at checkout.

Q: What is your cancellation or rescheduling policy? (Add your policy here)

Q: What time zones do you work with? Tara is based in Toronto, Ontario (ET) and works with clients across all North American time zones. Available session times are shown when you book through the website.

Books, Courses & Other Offerings

Q: Do you still sell bodycare products? No. Green + Frugal Creations closed its retail stores and no longer sells finished bodycare products. The focus is now entirely on education — books, online courses, and consulting.

Q: What books do you offer? Tara has written a series of natural bodycare recipe books covering formulations for all skill levels. A full book is also set for release in Summer 2026. Browse the current collection on the Books page.

Q: Are online courses available? Online courses are coming Fall 2026. Join the newsletter to be notified at launch and receive early access offers.

Q: Do you offer gift cards? Yes! Gift cards are available and make a perfect gift for anyone passionate about natural living, DIY skincare, or starting their own bodycare brand. Purchase them on the Gift Cards page.