Julia Link is a self-professed bath- and body-care addict. After auditioning a myriad of products, Link says she came to the realization that “I could do this better, and it would be better for me.” Four years later, what began as a hobby of making treatments for herself, family, and friends grew into a bona fide business - Mermaid Says.Ê

What makes Mermaid Says stand out in the sea of soaps and lotions? Perhaps it’s the refreshing slogan, “handcrafted bath and body products with a conscience.” With this mantra in mind, Link vows to avoid harmful synthetic ingredients and animal testing, and instead opts for vegetarian-ingredient-driven products that “are sustainable, wildcrafted, organic, and fair-trade-certified whenever possible.”

The company’s name is a nod to Link’s roots; she was born in Clearwater, Florida. “I’m drawn to the water, and it’s part of who I am,” she says.

Her best seller is a foot-shaped peppermint and pumice foot soap. But Link says her personal favorite is an orange-whipped shea butter. She adds, “I’m also proud of myÊHempermint Lip Balm (with hemp oil) as all of the ingredients are 100 percent organic.” Other products include Buddha’s Detox Bath with pure himalayan salts, the Bees Knees Lotion Stick, and a vegan Fizzing Fortune Bath Cookie. Ê

Mermaid Says is available locally at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market on the first Saturday of each month. Customers can also shop online at mermaidsays.com.