Politics Getting You Down? Step Into Take Care For Reenergizing Me-Time

In the political battlefield of Washington, D.C., respite seems called forand Take Care is offering it.

From accomplished clean beauty merchant Becky Waddell, the new 1,200-square-foot wellness and personal care shop on Georgetown’s Wisconsin Avenue spans skincare, bodycare, makeup, fragrance, nail and home with 25 brands in an environment designed for decompressing. She worked with interior designer Veronica Revilla to develop Take Care’s inviting minimalist setting, incorporating Kuzeh Pottery light fixtures, The Forest Fern macramé lanterns and Fajen & Brown custom furniture.

“The city really needs it. It’s a super busy, super stressed, super go go go kind of place. Here, more than some other places, people need more venues to just focus on themselves,” says Waddell. “My friends are all so mentally and psychologically exhausted right now. Anything that brings joy, happiness and a little bit of compassion in their days is going to be very welcome. I hope that this is it.”

“The city really needs it. It’s a super busy, super stressed, super go go go kind of place.”

Be Clean, a 120-square-foot nook on the third floor of a century-old building dedicated to artist studios, was the precursor to Take Care. Waddell opened it in 2014 to be a showcase for natural skincare she had collected initially to satisfy a personal preference for vegan beauty brands. She supported herself with a full-time job while operating Be Clean, which shuttered she finally ended in January. Be Clean shuttered around two months ago.

“My goal was to offer a space for people to come and explore these collections in a peaceful, non-stressful way. Visits were by appointment, and they could take their time to find what they liked,” says Waddell. “The obvious next step for us was to find a store space. I wanted a meeting space for people to convene, create and explore, and I came to really understand that skincare can be a big part of wellness and self-care, but it’s just one part.”

Take Care

The first time Waddell entered the location that’s now Take Care she instantly fell in love with the natural light flooding it and the modern brick structure housing it. There was one problem: the store was taken. Waddell moved on, but was a bit heartbroken. Soon after came news that a previous deal and fallen through, and she snapped up the location.

“Everywhere else was tiny, closed-in boxes, and we’d have to put in all this artificial lighting. We are lucky to have found something that’s naturally beautiful on its own,” says Waddell. There’s no track lighting, and it’s roomy enough for classes, a point of emphasis at Take Care. The shop will host book readings, wellness speakers, yoga sessions, and meditation and makeup workshops. Two tables in its space are intended for class use.

Waddell believes Be Clean’s clientele, primarily women in their 20s and 30s discerning about skincare ingredients and often prone to sensitive skin, will be Take Care customers. Students from nearby Georgetown University and shoppers in the neighborhood for retail therapy will undoubtedly drop into the store, too. Waddell also predicts people interested in natural products from throughout the D.C. metro area will patronize Take Care because clean beauty destinations remain rare in the region.

Demand for natural deodorant has, in particular, led the clean beauty curious to check out Take Care. The shop carries Erbaviva and Meow Meow Tweet natural deodorants. In addition to Meow Meow Tweet and Erbaviva, it stocks the brands May Lindstrom, Gressa, Laurel Whole Plant Organics, Strange Invisible Perfumes, Vapour Organics, Herbivore Botanicals, Lilfox, Smoke Perfume, Mischo Beauty, Drifter Organics, Raaw in a Jar, Henné Organics, Axiology, Essential Apothecary Alchemist, Habit Cosmetics and Sundays.

“We are really looking for brands with obvious TLC. Effectiveness is assumed.”

When evaluating brands for Take Care, Waddell zeroes in on voids in her current assortment, a compelling narrative and consistent, quality production. “We have reached a saturation point with simple serums and toners,” she says. “We are really looking for brands with obvious TLC. Effectiveness is assumed. Laurel is a great example of that TLC. Our customers have an attachment to that product because they know what has gone into making it.”