Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in beauty and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lavanya Rajesh, founder, and CEO of MYSTEEQ, located in Edmonton, Canada.

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

MYSTEEQ is in the business of clean beauty. We refine ancient recipes of skin remedies and combine them with highly effective modern actives. We use high-quality, unique ingredients like Canadian Glacier water, 24-karat gold, saffron threads, etc., to create highly effective clean skincare products that form a part of daily skin care regimen.

Tell us about yourself

With over 25 years in the Indian film and fashion industry as a model and actress, I was always intrigued by natural Ayurvedic concoctions to take care of my skin.

My homemade recipes were always a big hit with my friends and extremely soothing for my own skin, especially after all the onslaught my skin used to face because of layers of toxic makeup and harsh spotlights.

I set up MYSTEEQ to share my recipes with the rest of the world. We set up our own research lab in Edmonton, Canada. It took us 18 months to perfect and release our first set of 5 products that make up the MYSTEEQ regimen. We took ancient Ayurvedic skin recipes, perfected them, and infused them with highly effective modern breakthrough active extracts.

The result was clean beauty products with exotic ingredients which truly refine and rejuvenate the skin. The MYSTEEQ regimen also strives to remove the confusion and guesswork by creating a simple 5 step process which works for 89.65% of all skin types. These products are fragrance-free and extremely light on the skin.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

MYSTEEQ customers keep coming back for more, and that truly is the biggest testament to our success. For a brand born in the midst of the pandemic, in a market which is so fickle-minded, having a loyal customer base is our biggest asset. It tells us that these products work. Once you use MYSTEEQ, you will not want to put anything else on your face.

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

Getting the word out and increasing customer reach is our biggest challenge. As a small local business with a limited marketing budget, it's been an uphill task to create a strong visibility for our brand. The pandemic also has made things more difficult. It forced us to think out of the box and refine our business model. We are thankful that we have seen success with it, but surely the growth rate has been slower than anticipated.

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

  1. Everything begins with a true passion and belief in your vision. For me, MYSTEEQ is my baby. I love it and nurture it and give it everything I have; hence it never feels like work. My brand is rooted in its values and beliefs; hence we create products that are enveloped in those values and beliefs with no compromise on quality
  2. Every vision has to be backed by a strong business plan. This is the backbone of a business and gives our creativity a reality check. It breaks down the dreams into actionable steps and gives us direction.
  3. The centerpiece of any business is "customers." Any product or service that caters to its audience well will be successful. MYSTEEQ is completely customer-centric. We constantly listen to our market and evolve. One of our core business models is our B2B segment, where we create customized products for spas and hotels. We are in the business of converting our customers' dreams into reality, and it's all focused on their needs, their uniqueness, and their requirements.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

MYSTEEQ sources ingredients mostly from craft producers to help small businesses just like ourselves. We also partner with many charities and do our bit in giving back to society. We believe in our brand being powered by the heart. It gives our business a purpose that is bigger than numbers.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.mysteeq.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mysteeqcosmetics/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mysteeqcosmetics/

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.

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