Craig Davis has studied healthy living for the more than two decades — from “Planet Health,” his radio talk show on holistic health issues, to nutritional consulting work for companies.
His 3-year-old business, By Human Design, is a natural extension of this passion.He has hired top researchers and cosmetic formulators to create potions, elixirs and remedies made with ingredients used for centuries. The company sells Buddha Butter and Joshua Tree Lip Conditioner, with other several other skin-care products in the works.”From antiquity to the present day, natural healers have always used nature’s raw essence to benefit overall wellness and enhance personal beauty,” Davis says.
Buddha Butter is a blend of 25 healing herbs and oils from around the world, including jojoba oil, olive oil, aloe vera oil, black cumin seed oil, burdock root, ghee butter, mango butter, slippery elm bark, Turkey rhubarb root, stevia and red tea.
Black cumin seed, for example, is one of the most revered medicinal seeds in history. The seeds were found in the tomb of Tutankamun and are mentioned in the Bible, as well in the words of the Prophet Mohammed who stated that they cured everything but death itself. The seeds have been used to treat skin conditions such as acne, burns and psoriasis. Turkey rhubarb root was a favorite remedy with early physicians in Persia and Arabia and is used to relieve inflamed skin and conditions such as boils and burns. Red tea has been very effective used to treat eczema and irritated skin. Stevia eliminates dandruff and other scalp problems.
Davis says they have tinkered with the concentrations of herbs and oils in the product to find the most effective formulation — a blend that with the right pH balance to oxygenate and detoxify the skin.”It was a laborious process, but we’re more than satisfied with the outcome,” he says.Davis says he has seen people use the Buddha Butter successfully on everything from athlete’s foot to acne. Some female customers use it as a base for their makeup to protect the skin.”I’ve seen significant transformations in my own skin,” Davis says. “I’ve had a bump come up on my temple. After I apply some butter, it’s gone by the evening.
“The company’s other product, Joshua Tree Lip Conditioner, contains a blend of 13 desert extracts and exotic oils to moisturize, sooth and protect lips. It is sweetened with licorice root extract and spearmint oil.Davis believes chapped lips can affect more than your pucker.”Chapped lips provide a direct pathway for bacteria and other diseases to enter your bloodstream,” he says.
“Moisturizing and protecting your lips provides overall health and wellness when used daily. The more you put it on, the softer your lips get.”It’s only natural that Davis would pursue a career in the health and beauty industry. His father, Morrise Davis, was one of the founders of Pro-Line Haircare Co. — a 36-year-old haircare giant that has since been purchased by Alberto-Culver. The company’s product lines include Motions, TCB and Soft & Beautiful.
“It gave me a good understanding of the manufacturing process,” Davis says. “I watched them work with the chemists on such products as Comb Thru and Hair Food. I saw how to build a business.”Davis attributes his interest in wellness and herbs to his father’s death in 1978 from colon cancer. Once a huge fan of Popeye’s fried chicken, he became a strict vegan at 19, and still is very careful about the food he eats. He fasts before each seasonal change.”It was an opportunity to look at more holistic practices, and the things I needed to do to keep my body in shape and maintain wellness,” he says.
Davis has been making herbal products since he was a student at Morehouse College in Atlanta, where he studied marketing and accounting.”I’ve got 23 years of experience with my own alchemy,” he says.After college, he befriended actor Will Smith, who introduced him to the entertainment industry. Davis wrote for Smith’s “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” as well as the “Jamie Foxx” shows. After four years of writing for TV, he wanted to pursue his entrepreneurial interests.
Now, at 41, he is devoting his energies to By Human Design. He is working on creating different variations of Buddha Butter specifically for different ailments as well as a microderm exfoliator, a toner, an aloe juice-based foaming cleanser and tinted lip balms.He says he is exactly the same age as his father was when he started Pro-Line.
“It’s a do over,” he laughs. “I think my company might surpass Pro-Line’s success. We’re working with people who are seeing their acne disappear inside of a week.”
