Today we’d like to introduce you to Asia El.
Asia, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My childhood memories are filled with the sights, sounds and scents of body care. My Mother and Aunts braiding their hair, cutting bangs and grooming eyebrows. The aroma of my Grandmothers nightly Noxzema and Jean Nate application, and my healthy obsession with fashion magazines and the fragrance samples they contained. As a teenager I loved horror films, I also became fascinated with Special FX Makeup… not your typical Brooklyn kid. I would often daydream about moving across the country to Los Angeles to attend E.I. School Of Professional Makeup.
Fear of the unknown kept me in New York. I eventually attended The School Of Visual Arts to study SFX Makeup. It was excited and creatively liberating. As a professional Makeup Artist I have worked with and for many well-known beauty and skincare brands over the years. Although I thoroughly enjoyed creating makeup looks, my focus was always skin health first, that focus motivated me to become an Esthetician.
2011 – After moving to Atlanta, GA. I decided to open an Etsy shop, I sold handcrafted Lip Glosses, Cold Process Soaps and Body Butters. Within a few months, I had over 500 sales, from there I rebranded and extended my product line using only plant-based ingredients. Within a year I transitioned to my own website https://aeartisanbodycare.com.
2017 – My spouse and I moved to Los Angeles. We now live where we always vacationed. For us, Los Angeles is the epitome of creative energy and cultural diversity.
Has it been a smooth road?
It is often said “Nothing worth having comes easy”… and it does not.
This past August my only sister/best friend and proudest supporter passed away suddenly. She was just 37 years old. I had no motivation to continue building my business. She was so proud of me, I honor her memory each day by continuing to do what I love. My challenges are tailor-made lessons and opportunities to cultivate further creativity.
For example, sometimes my ideas are larger than my budget or an idea may require me to obtain a new skill. I had to learn product photography, social media marketing and FDA standards. Running a business has improved my existing skills and challenged me to master new abilities. I have complete confidence in my products and that is where my focus remains.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Asia El Artisan Body Care story. Tell us more about the business.
Asia El Artisan Body Care is an online business. I create handcrafted body care with plant-powered ingredients. I specialize in making traditional cold process (no heat method) soap, all-natural body butter, dry oil sprays and Original fragrances. I am most known for my Original Coconut Milk soaps, they are cruelty-free, vegan and specially formulated to provide a luxurious lather even in hard water.
As a company, I am most proud of our growth and loyal customer base. My customers introduce their family and friends to my products. The feedback I receive is amazing and confirms every late night, early morning and working weekend is completely worth 100% of my energy and effort. What sets me apart is my skincare knowledge and experience. I practice and encourage a multi-faceted, uncomplicated approach to skincare and beauty with the components of lifestyle, wellness and inspiration.
Where do you see your industry going over the next 5-10 years? Any big shifts, changes, trends, etc?
In the next 5-10 years, I see growth in every aspect of my industry. Customers are well-informed researchers due to access to information. They are educated about ingredients and manufacturing practices. We are witnessing an interesting shift from mass-produced options force fed to the customer via marketing to customers increasingly reading and understanding labels and advertising while demanding high quality, natural products at every level.
Fragrance, color and fashion trends will always be cyclical. The natural body care industry will continue strengthening agricultural cooperatives and local communities. The increase in allergies and various ingredient sensitivities will drive the direction of body care trends to become it’s most ethical.
Pricing:
- Original Coconut Milk Soap – Net Wt. 7 oz. – $10.00
- Argan + Cucumber Luxe Beauty Serum – 1 fl. oz (30 ml) – $27.00
- Full Color Lip Wear (variety of colors) 100% Vegan – .21 oz. – $10.50
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aeartisanbodycare.com
- Email: Asia@aeartisanbodycare.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asiaelbodycare/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asiaelsoaps/
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6uopXKAN8xuWtetKRAfgXg?view_as=subscriber
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