Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in skincare but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ahlam Khan, CEO of Dirty Lamb, located in Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.

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

Dirty Lamb is 100% natural, vegan, cruelty-free skincare that is all-gender inclusive. We are the 5-star restaurant experience for skincare. It is specifically formulated for acne & oily prone skin. Dirty Lamb has helped many of those with cystic and hormonal acne (read our reviews!) Our customers care about their physical health, but their mental health comes first. Our customers give us a try first before heading to the dermatologist as they know we will give them faster and better results. Our customers love Disney World dogs, and they like to experiment with different products. We have a wide age range, but our main audience is 25-35 years old.

Tell us about yourself

I am Ahlam Khan, CEO & creator of Dirty Lamb, a model with Select Model Management, and a culinary expert in food & skincare creations. I first started working on Dirty Lamb while I was in nursing school (which, yes, I did complete and worked as a nurse for two years.) I couldn't find any products that would clear my acne; I was dealing with hyperpigmentation and oily skin. I would do a great job at covering it up with makeup, but I wanted to love my skin without anything on. I went to numerous dermatologists who all told me the same thing...."this product will make your skin worse before it gets better." Who wants to hear that, especially when your confidence is already low?! I was done. I took matters into my kitchen; I always loved cooking, so I took my science background and middle-eastern ingredients and turned it into a skincare line specifically for me. I started to get compliments on my skin from co-workers, family, friends and would start having them try my products. They loved them, and from there, I got the confidence in me to launch Dirty Lamb in New York City to see if wholesale buyers would be interested. Once I launched in 2017, I got word that TJ Maxx & Marshall's wanted to place an order; I quit my job as a NICU nurse two months later and haven't looked back since.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment is being able to heal cystic and hormonal acne 100% naturally and effectively with the products I created in my kitchen.

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

One of the hardest things is having to keep a very clear vision of what it is you want for your business. There are so many opportunities that come around, and it's hard to say no, although I am getting better. If it's not getting me to my goal, I have to turn it down; you really gotta be laser-focused.

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

  1. Don't worry about there being "competition" if you are passionate and love what you are doing, just start!
  2. To go off of that, have a financial plan. I had a good amount of money put away from work that I was able to use in my business. I didn't quit my job without having a plan in place.
  3. Start small; test as much as you can. Testing can prevent big unnecessary purchases and save you money. The internet is so helpful, and I don't know what I would do without it.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://thedirtylamb.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedirtylamb
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedirtylamb/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hellodirtylamb

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.