Reversa Rose Skincare owner Marissa Morris stands in her business' new location, at 124 West German Street, on Saturday afternoon. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — When Marissa Morris was put on permanent leave from her job as a manager of a GNC in Frederick, Md., due to COVID-19 Pandemic closures, she decided to make the most of her situation and focus on her side business, Reversa Rose Skincare.

After a few months of developing organic, vegan skincare products, Morris began selling them online. She also began making some skincare products for Meditative Medicinals from the shop’s CBD oils. Through those two sales avenues, Morris saw there was a demand for handmade products made from high quality organic ingredients, like her own.

“This is all organic skincare. Everything is handmade by me, and is 100 percent natural and chemical free,” Morris, of Harpers Ferry, said.

According to Morris, her working relationship with Meditative Medicinals owner Samantha Savoca led to her opening a brick-and-mortar location to sell her non-CBD products in, at 124 West German Street. Savoca apparently saw the business location was available for rent, and encouraged Morris to move about three weeks ago. On Saturday, Morris held the grand opening for her business in its first brick-and-mortar location.

“I am someone who has suffered from sensitive skin all my life,” Morris said, mentioning her negative experiences with popular acne skincare products led her to explore natural skincare. “My skin was so dry and red and peely — it would take away my acne, but would also take away from my self esteem and confidence.”

Some of Reversa Rose Skincare's organic products are displayed on a shelf in the business' first brick-and-mortar location, 124 West German Street, on Saturday afternoon. Tabitha Johnston

Making her own products was a gradual process, that began with a bottle of rose hip oil in Nov. 2019. She then began experimenting with it and other organic ingredients, to create products that allegedly “eliminate acne marks, signs of aging, skin dullness and hair frizz.” Today, Morris’ encourages customers to “Embrace Your Natural Beauty,” whether that is with or without makeup.

“I believe you should love the skin you’re in. Having good skin helps with one’s self esteem. I call it ‘skin confidence,’ to love yourself as you are,” Morris said. “It’s really important to be more mindful of what you put on your skin. I wouldn’t want a child to put something with a lot of chemicals on her skin, and we shouldn’t want anything different for ourselves as adults.”

Reversa Rose Skincare’s CBD products are exclusively sold at Meditative Medicinals, while its other products — moisturizers, serums, toner, body butter, soaps, hair oil, beard oil, facial scrubs and lip scrubs — are available in Morris’ store. To learn more, visit reversarose.com or email reversarose@gmail.com.

Reversa Rose Skincare celebrated its grand opening on Saturday at its first brick-and-mortar location, 124 West German Street. Tabitha Johnston