Interview: Santu Founders Alicia Nogales and Angelique Van Wyk on Building a Wellness Brand Rooted in Love

Today, Evie sits down with Alicia Nogales and Angelique Van Wyk, the founders of Santu, to discuss how they’re redefining wellness through Mexican tradition, self-love, and intentional ritual. Rooted in heritage and inspired by ancestral healing practices, Santu is more than a beauty brand — it’s a celebration of culture, emotional wellness, and community care.

In this episode, we discuss:

– Rooted in Love: How a friendship formed in a small pueblo in Mexico inspired the creation of Santu and its philosophy of emotional, spiritual, and physical wellness.

– Reframing Self-Care for Latinas: Why the founders believe self-care is essential rather than selfish, especially within cultures where women are often taught to prioritize everyone else first.

– Mexican Tradition & Ancestral Wisdom: The significance of incorporating ingredients like copal, locally harvested sea salt, and centuries-old healing practices into every product.

– Building with Intention: Why sourcing, manufacturing, and collaborating entirely within Mexico was a non-negotiable part of Santu’s mission.

– Wellness Beyond Beauty: How scent, ritual, and grounding moments can reconnect people to memories, heritage, and themselves.

– Advice for Latina Founders: Alicia and Angelique share why staying connected to your roots and leading with authenticity is the foundation for building a meaningful brand.

If you love conversations about culture, wellness, beauty, and honoring tradition while creating something modern and impactful, you won’t want to miss this interview.