Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Meeks.
Justin, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started my journey in the beauty industry about 12 years ago. I went to the brown Aveda institute in mentor Ohio. My focus and studies was the science of skincare through ayurvedic esthetics. I’ve always been passionate about healing and learning the ancient art and rituals of skincare taught me so much about myself and how to help others. The most amazing part of ayurvedic practices is that it’s a lifestyle and based on the internal workings of the body, mind and spirit. Skincare was the core but aromatics and energy work was tied into the curriculum. I became infatuated with the scent and the way products smelt and felt from the beautiful pieces of nature that was behind them. I loved making people look and feel good from the inside out and the end result of a more calm glowing happy person was always such a fulfilling feeling! I consider myself a skincare guru and definitely intertwined comes my healing ability and skill set.
I moved to Los Angeles in 2013 with the dream and goal to expand my knowledge and horizons in the industry. I had always been drawn to the west coast and found myself at such home in Los Angeles. The history the culture the energy has always drawn me in. I always told myself from such a young age inspired by cinema specifically, one quote I lived and live by is “don’t dream it be it” from rocky horror picture show by the spectacular Tim curry as dr frank: I spent quite a few years in the beauty industry in Los Angeles as a professional makeup artist and esthetician learning and growing but longed to create and build something of my own. A brand and a concept that would essentially help others to feel good and create an experience through the many things I’ve felt connected to throughout my practices and experience in the industry and life over the years. I love that in every culture and in every place I’ve traveled or have been people resonate with rituals they connect to and the scents that create memory feelings and experiences around that. Jmeeksapothecary was born while working with a dear friend who’s a perfumer with the concept of inspiring me to create a customized scent to start with. With That came my signature scent of 21 four years ago in the making inspired by the east and west coast and the journey to becoming and doing what you seek to be.
The core of my brand is working to create natural based products that invoke an experience for the user’s mind, body and spirit. I create and curate a full collection of items ranging from incense to room sprays to luxury candles. Launching in the pandemic officially but with over 4 years in the making and a lot of setbacks worldly and in life it was a success. I also however launched my own private skincare practice and service my clients as a holistic esthetician.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would say it’s never been a smooth road but the journey and getting through the obstacles to be here at this current state has been worth it.
Coming from the Midwest and starting a career and journey in a big city like la was daunting to say the least. I never let the fear get to me and when I decided to move and start my journey I knew it was the right time.
The year I moved, my family had lost their house due to a terrible storm. The storm flooded the basement in the house and the damage was beyond repair. I immediately wanted to return home but had arrived a few months prior, I’ll never forget my parents talking me out of coming back and to continue pushing forward and keeping myself focused and centered on my goals of success. That was a hard moment and definitely an event that made me a bit stronger and motivated me to keep going. My parents were and are so supportive of my dreams and goals and I’ll always be grateful for that!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I own and run the brand JMEEKSAPOTHECARY it’s a modern-day take on an apothecary. I create and curate products that invoke an experience for the user’s mind, body and spirit. I am most known for my signature candle 21 and our array of various incense. Everything is hand made and poured in California.
My private spa business JMEEKSBEAUTY is a holistic skin approach and I use state of the art technology while utilizing the rituals and practices of the ayurvedic ways.
How do you think about happiness?
The thing that makes me most happy is making others feel good through healing or creating things. I love sending my creations and the experience a person gets from a scent or a memory it can invoke in incense form, spray, candle whatever it is!
I also love the feeling one gets after a skincare treatment. The afterglow or the extreme release of worry tension or just the simplistic 60! min escape from the daily reality of life.
Contact Info:
- Website: Jmeeksapothecary.com /Jmeeksbeauty.com
- Instagram: JMEEKSAPOTHECARY & @Jmeeksbeauty
- Facebook: JMEEKSAPOTHECARY
- Youtube: JMEEKSAPOTHECARY
- Other: TikTok JMEEKSAPOTHECARYofficial
Image Credits
Photos Jon Delouz
