About

I’m Sophia Tapper, mother, chemist, and creator. I make traditional soaps, seaweed infused face oil, shampoo and conditioner which is all inspired by my love of the sea. I have always enjoyed creating and my academic background in chemistry means I have the toolkit to formulate great products for you and me.

Why choose Tappermade products?

I’m a fussy customer when it comes to my skin and hair, especially now that I have reached my 40’s.

For example, over the past 10 years I have tried a plethora of shampoo bars that didn’t work well so I went about formulating my own because I am determined to ditch unnecessary plastic. The result is my pH-balanced, sulfate-free Kelpie shampoo bars.

My fussiness and skills as a chemist mean that I am driven to make products that work, are sustainable, and are as friendly to the environment as possible.

I am currently a one-woman band making these products from my studio while my children are at school. I have ambitions for this business to grow but I can not do this without your support. If buying high-quality products from a small business is important to you then grab some goodies and enjoy!

How I started developing my seaweed skincare products

My PhD research was concerned with making a synthetic copy of a protein found in seaweed. This protein was an enzyme that could grab useful minerals from the sea. Seaweed is clever stuff.

While reading studies on seaweed including how it may be used in carbon fixing and nutrition I discovered the incredible cosmetic benefits that seaweed has within its little cells. It is my goal to capture the healing properties of the sea and seaweed for you to enjoy at home.

The rich blend of vitamins, minerals, trace elements, amino acids, and anti-oxidants in seaweed makes it the ideal main ingredient for detoxifying, re-balancing, hydrating, anti-aging and renewing benefits. If you would like to read a scientific review on this click here.

I have been testing methods for extracting the most beneficial lipids (fatty acids) from seaweeds and this is what I will be using in some of the future handmade skincare products.

What I am working on now

As Tappermade grows, my focus is shifting from expanding the range with brand-new products to refining and perfecting what I already do best. At this stage, it’s about maturing as a business and cementing Tappermade’s reputation as an established, reliable, and trusted brand.

Moving forward, my main priorities are:

• Uncompromising Quality: Ensuring every handmade batch meets the highest standards, so you get a consistently exceptional, high-performing product every single time.

• Sustainable Packaging: Continuously evaluating and improving packaging to keep it as eco-friendly, plastic-free, and earth-conscious as possible.

• Fair & Accessible Pricing: Maintaining high-end formulation standards without setting obscene prices, keeping effective, science-backed skincare and haircare genuinely accessible.

Rather than constantly chasing the next formula, I am taking the time to hone the core lineup, streamline studio production, and build a lasting business you can rely on for years to come.

If you wish to stock my products, please contact me for more details.

Stockists

Wool On the Exe, UK. www.woolontheexe.com

Maker Mart in Exeter, UK. www.makermart-exeter.com

House of Green in Tiverton, UK. www.houseofgreenshop.com