Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in beauty and cosmetics but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ashley Kirk, founder of AKA Cosmetic, located in Los Angeles, CA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

AKA Cosmetic is a cruelty-free, plant-based power line of beauty essentials for people of all backgrounds offering an authentic assortment with a conscience to a famously deceptive market. All products are packed with essential proteins that pull the same weight as their harmful counterparts without parabens, toxins, and mystery mixtures. AKA supports a commitment to clean ingredients that mirror the skin in its most potent form and offers a dose of undeniable quality that gets better with time.

Tell us about yourself

Working as a professional model for many years, my sensitive skin had taken a beating from harsh products, which led me to dive deep into different cosmetic ingredients. When I found out how toxic many products were, I wanted to create better products with better packaging without all the phony marketing gimmicks. I love science and educating people on what they can do to target specific skin issues and how they can truly correct problems with the right ingredients!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Being featured in Forbes this year was an incredibly rewarding experience; it has been challenging starting my own company. It gave me confidence that I could be a disrupter in the competitive cosmetics market.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Having to oversee every little detail can be daunting. There are so many aspects to running a business. There are always things to learn, especially how to be more efficient.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

My top advice would be to never give up! If you are passionate about something, you can accomplish anything, and don't be afraid to ask questions. You would be surprised how many people are willing to give advice if you just ask! Also, don't think you need to do everything yourself; collaborating with others lightens the load so you can focus on your specialty.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I love being a part of this exciting industry and hope to shed light on what can be a confusing topic!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://akacosmetic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akacosmeticofficial/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akacosmetic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/akacosmetic
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/akacosmetic/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.