The Story Behind Femme Botanicals

One thing I’ve known for a very long time is that change is the only constant in life. It’s basically a mantra for me at this point—something I’ve repeated to myself through more than a few curveballs. So when change showed up again, I really shouldn’t have been so surprised. But I was. And yes, I was a little irritated about it.

Hi, I'm Jolene, the founder, owner and operator (or as my father would have called it - the chief cook and bottle washer) of Femme Botanicals. And yes, that's really me in the picture.

So, back to the story... The change? I was getting older, and my skin was changing right along with me.

It wasn’t the wrinkles that bothered me the most. Honestly, I’ve earned every single one. I’m not trying to look 40 again, and I don’t believe in “fixing” women like aging is a problem to solve. But my skin? It was getting drier, rougher, and just… unfamiliar. Even though I’d used moisturizer and body lotion consistently since my 20s, suddenly my usual routine wasn’t doing what it used to do. I had patchy dry spots, my skin didn’t feel soft, and it started to look older faster than I expected.

So I went on a mission.

I tried at least 15 different skincare products—different ingredients, different price points, different promises. I gave each one a fair chance, used the whole jar, and still kept walking away unsatisfied. It reminded me of eating a great meal and then being hungry again a couple hours later. Something was missing. Nothing felt like the right fit for my skin now.

Then life added another layer.

During a routine check-up, my doctor found some spots on my face and arms that needed to be removed. Tests showed it was skin cancer—the “good” kind of cancer that gets handled and you move forward. But hearing the word cancer has a way of flipping a switch in your brain. It sent me searching even harder for cleaner, more natural options—things that felt supportive, not questionable.

And while all of that was going on, I was also dealing with something I’ve wrestled with for years and was becoming more and more difficult: sleep. Ambien was the only thing that truly worked for me… until I learned my doctor would stop prescribing it once I hit my 70s. So there I was—changing skin, a cancer scare (even the “good” kind counts), and a sleep situation that suddenly felt urgent.

I wasn’t looking for miracles. I was looking for something real. Something I could actually stick with.

That’s when I started paying closer attention to botanicals—and functional mushrooms. I then learned about nanotechnology or as I refer to it, precision botanical delivery, and how it can help deliver certain ingredients more effectively. That combination was the game-changer I could identify with: nature + smart innovation.

I started working with products that didn’t just sound good on a label, but actually made a difference in how I felt about myself — in how my skin behaved —and even how I slept.

My skin wasn’t dry anymore. It felt softer. It looked more vibrant. Yes, my wrinkles are still here (I’m in my 70s, after all), but they don’t feel as deep, and my skin texture looks noticeably smoother. The biggest surprise? I wasn't only sleeping better, I felt more energized during the day.

That’s what I wanted all along: a self-care routine that supported my skin and my well-being—without harsh ingredients, without ridiculous promises, and without a luxury price tag that makes you angry before you even open the jar.

That’s how Femme Botanicals came to be.

So if you choose to become one of my customers, just know this: you’re buying from a “little old lady” who is genuinely in love with the feel of her skin again. And I have a feeling you’re going to love these products as much as I do.