Hidden Gems: Meet Ashley Harmon of Mela Vitamins

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Harmon.

Hi Ashley, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m the founder and CEO of Mela Vitamins. I have been formulating my own supplements for the past decade after being diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and a Vitamin D deficiency in college that caused chronic fatigue, anxiety, and digestion issues. After conventional medication did not provide relief, I was determined to create my own solution to feel better. So I taught herself how to develop formulas, order raw ingredients, and create supplements. I then spent the next decade testing different ingredients and formulas.

While I enjoyed making supplements for myself, I didn’t plan on doing it full-time until the COVID-19 pandemic hit and I saw the need for communities of color to invest in and focus on preventative wellness. I realized that no other companies were willing to invest the resources into creating a product for melanated people, so I set out on a mission to create a clean and effective multivitamin for my community that has been largely overlooked by the wellness industry.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Even though I did not have prior manufacturing experience, I was able to utilize my network and the skills she learned in her previous positions to launch Mela. Ashley was able to overcome significant challenges of manufacturing during a pandemic, which caused supply chain delays, packaging shortages, and more. We were scheduled to launch in December of 2021, but because of the delays, we didn’t launch until late last year.

While it was frustrating to be delayed, I am happy with the choices I made to ensure that we used the cleanest, highest-quality ingredients. Despite all the challenges, our team was able to create an innovative supplement that is making a positive impact in my community.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Mela Vitamins?
Mela Vitamins is the first beauty & wellness company formulating supplements to meet the unique nutritional needs of melanated people. Our mission is to create innovative products that help make beauty and wellness more equitable, accessible, and effective for our community.

Research has shown that melanin impacts how our bodies absorb nutrients, especially Vitamin D. Melanin impacts our body’s ability to convert Vitamin D from the sun, which has resulted in an estimated 76% – 90% of melanated people being Vitamin D deficient. This is having a huge impact in our communities, contributing to our disproportionate risk of major illnesses like breast cancer and dementia. I learned quickly that other multivitamins on the market do not prioritize or address these unique nutritional needs.

We spent a year conducting consumer focus groups and collaborating with healthcare providers to understand what women want out of a multivitamin and what nutrients melanated bodies need. We utilized this data to formulate and manufacture our Daily Essentials Multivitamin for Women, which provides consumers with their daily dose of vitamins, probiotics, and adaptogens in just two capsules a day to help them feel and look their best. Our multivitamin is designed to help consumers take an inside-out approach to beauty and wellness and provides extra support for key areas like stress management, skin health, and hormone balance.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
As we continue to scale our business, we are committed to empowering our communities to prioritize wellness and beauty from the inside out. We continue to invest resources in research to understand the nutrient needs of melanated people and to develop products that address beauty and wellness goals and concerns in our community.

In addition to creating supplements, we are focused on fostering a community both within Los Angeles and online across the globe that is dedicated to improving the wellness of communities of color. We recently launched a free virtual program called “Living Mela Well” focused on education and empowerment that includes discussions with healthcare professionals and melanin skin experts, empowering stories from people in our community, accessible fitness classes, and tips from health coaches on how to build healthier habits. We will also continue to host workout classes, community health days, and other events in Los Angeles.

Pricing:

• $39.99 for Daily Essentials
• $34.99 for Daily Essentials (on a monthly subscription)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://melavitamins.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melavitamins/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/melavitamins/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@melavitamins

Image Credits
Ashley Harmon Founder Photo: Kristi Moore Griffith