Can you tell us about yourself and why you started Boss Balm?
I’ve always been interested in clean beauty products and was always mixing up my own hair products, face masks, and moisturizers in high school. I recently realized I needed a creative outlet outside of my day job, and recalled how much I enjoyed creating my own beauty products, so I created a challenge for myself: to develop a super high-quality lip balm with only simple and clean ingredients. I gravitated towards lip balm because I’ve never really found one that I really liked (they’re always too waxy or not moisturizing enough). It took eight months of trial and error to develop the formula, and I liked it so much that I wanted to share it with others. And that’s how Boss Balm was born!
Can you tell us a bit more about the ingredients and what your lip balms are formulated with?
Boss Balm’s base formula is made of only four vegan and high-quality ingredients: candelilla wax, shea nut oil, grapeseed oil, and avocado oil. Our scented lip balms also have premium quality, lip-safe, flavor oils only. It’s important to me that Boss Balms feel great on the lips and that they’re also good for sensitive skin.
What is some advice you have for other beauty entrepreneurs who are looking to start a beauty brand during this pandemic?
Seek product/market fit. Try and really understand what your customer base wants and how you can best serve their needs. I always seek input from Boss Balm followers on Instagram about future flavor offerings. It’s a great way to engage with customers and get a good sense of what they actually want.
What does it mean to be a #beautyboss?
Be kind to yourself. It’s really hard running a beauty business solo (or even with a small team), whether it’s a side hustle or a full-time job. Take it day by day and do your best 🙂