Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in skincare but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Marissa Hicks, owner of Faceplant Organic Skin Care, located in Richmond, BC, Canada.

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

Faceplant is an organic health and wellness brand offering non-toxic alternatives to skincare and your everyday products. From shampoo to healing salves. Every product is vegan and handmade in small batches. We believe in being transparent, and we list all ingredients on our labels. Faceplants products are preservative-free; we add no fillers or chemicals. Our products are gently scented with organic essential oils, no perfume or synthetic fragrance.

Tell us about yourself

Having sensitive skin, my daughter having eczema, and my mom having rosacea, I always had to read ingredients labels. Even when I read the labels and did not list anything I had a known allergy to, I would still react. When I did some research on cosmetic laws, I was appalled to learn that a company can say they are organic when only one ingredient is. The kicker for me was that if an ingredient was below a certain percent, it did not need to be listed. The term "greenwashing" was coined by so many companies claiming to be chemical-free when in fact, they were just not listing them.

Having the word perfume or fragrance can mean a blend of 300 chemicals. This did not sit well with me, and I wanted to come up with a brand that only used organic, vegan ingredients, was transparent (lists everything on the label), and did not use preservatives or any unnatural chemicals.

When I eat something unhealthy, I can feel it; it's the same as what I put on my skin. It is your biggest organ, and all these chemicals from all the different products you put on your skin each day get soaked into your body just the same. When I talk to people and share these facts, I can see a light bulb go off. They are usually super thankful and appreciative. Knowledge is power, and everyone has the right to know the truth about the industry. Unfortunately, we cannot just trust that brands create products that won't harm us.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

When people tell me that my products have changed their lives and they are so happy to find products they do not react to, it warms my heart and pushes me to keep going.

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

Managing my time. I find it tough to figure out the best use of my time, what to tackle next, and when to stop! Making time for family, friends, and self-care. It is a bit of a juggling act.

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

  1. Have a solid business plan put in place. Make sure it aligns with your values and do not stray from them. There will be times when things come up, and it seems tempting; ask yourself if it aligns with your values. Some things will naturally evolve, but your values typically do not. I have been approached by different distributors that would be cheaper but do not align with my purpose of providing products as healthy as possible for my customers.
  2. If there is an aspect of running the business that you do not like doing, hire someone right away instead of letting that area slide.
  3. Do not give up!

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Faceplant is always going to be formulating more non-toxic products that are good for you and the environment. If there is a product someone is having a hard time finding in a vegan/non-toxic form, we encourage you to drop us a line, and we can add it to our list of what to formulate. Check back with us from time to time to see our new products. We have some surprises rolling out soon.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.faceplantorganic.com/
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3t2O7Nw
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faceplant_organic/

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.