NATURAL SELECTION
These local skincare brands are all about organic ingredients, a back-to-basics approach and tapping into the power of nature. From nourishing marula oil to Kalahari melon, Africa delivered the goods, and then some.
Meet the entrepreneurs whose organic skincare brands are all about going back to basics
SKIN CREAMERY
HANNAH RUBIN
STARTUP COSTS: ‘It was basically investing in a batch of cream. For about six months after that, I funded the business by buying new bottles or another batch of stock. Since then it’s been self-funded.’ TURNOVER: ‘Our first year’s turnover was about R17 000 and I am pleased to say we have grown phenomenally over the past five years.’
After five years of working in high-end spas and salons, Hannah Rubin fell pregnant and opted to become a stay-at-home mom. But after her second baby, she decided it was time to do something for herself. During her time working as a skincare therapist, she had always wondered about the luxurious products used on clients, how they were developed and what made them so special.
Hannah is all about simplicity and minimalism, which is why she wanted to create a cream with high-quality ingredients that could be used for your face and body. ‘You wouldn’t usually use a body cream on your face because of the mineral oil content or because of the fragrance in the product, so I wanted to develop something that was multifunctional without that obstructive layer,’ she says.
The cream that Hannah developed became the brand’s flagship item, and the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey. A cosmetic chemist helped bring her vision to life. ‘I tried to mix the product at home, but I quickly realised it would have to be done on a more professional scale.’
The cream contains nourishing coconut oil, baobab oil (which is rich in vitamins A, D, E and F) and jojoba oil, which contains naturally occurring iodine and is packed with anti-microbial properties.
For two years, Skin Creamery marketed the Everyday Cream as its only offering, but customers soon started asking about more products. So they developed two more, the Deep Cleansing Powder and the Facial Hydrating Oil, and another two a couple of years down the line, the Oil-milk Cleanser and the Two-Phase Skin Tonic.
To market her business, Hannah created an Instagram page that she says started a conversation around her brand. ‘It worked really well. People become overwhelmed by information and choice – they just want something simple. Our followers were interested in
asi mplified skincare routine, getting back to basics and improving the overall health and quality of their skin.’
When it comes to business challenges, Hannah says she’s had very few hiccups. ‘I have day-to-day challenges like managing employees, sales and cash flow, but those are doable.’
Her biggest obstacle was filtering all the advice she got in the early days. ‘There are so many people telling you what you should or shouldn’t do; I think you should just stay true to what you believe in and trust your intuition.’
Looking to the future, Hannah has plans to break into the European market. ‘There is a lot of demand for the kind of ingredients we use, which are sourced from Africa. Baobab and Kalahari melon oils are gaining a lot of popularity in the European market. So it’s our aim to get EU certification.’
Her favourite product remains her original cream. ‘I use it on every area of my body. The core reason for creating that product still rings true today. Every time I put it on, I say a little prayer of gratitude for what I’ve been able to create.’ Website: skincreamery.co.za
Instagram: @skincreamery
Facebook: facebook.com/skincreamery