Today we’d like to introduce you to Makaya Tome.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I had severe acne about five years ago. I took tons of prescription medications, used many topical creams, tried several treatments, but my acne would always come back, and often worse. I decided to do my own research and figure out why these “miracle” treatments were not working for my skin. Problem skin came with a heavy emotional toll, as it often does, which destroyed my confidence and inhibited my sociability for a period of time. I wanted to fix my skin issues, so I figured out the science, created natural formulas, and cured my acne. I turned my biggest insecurity into an asset. I want to help others and show them that true healing is through balancing skin, not stripping it. I want to help others feel confident and good about themselves.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Like most small business ventures, we definitely had struggles along the way. These included: a limited budget (big one as advertising is HUGE to gain a client-base), limited knowledge about various marketing platforms, and limited time. I’m one person, so initially when I worked by myself, I also was a full-time student and worked in the service industry. I also had saved up the funds for this business from working. There were many unanticipated costs along the way which hindered the business at times; this is something that happens to most entrepreneurs. I took business courses via SCORE LA and at Yale University, coupled with my own research, to better understand entrepreneurial finance and marketing.
Kaya By You – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Our philosophy behind skincare is that each person has their own unique skin, so why shouldn’t their products be uniquely for their needs as well?
We specialize in natural, lightweight facial serums – customizable and pre-formulated options – that can be layered and mixed together to promote a unique skincare experience that addresses a plethora of skin concerns. This customizable regimen aims to address the root external problem, as opposed to many products which instead provide band-aid solutions that aren’t great for the long term. For example, our Pure serum aims to balance the fatty acids in the skin, which balances the oil production and can lead to decreased breakouts and less oily skin. When I created the Pure Serum, I was struggling with excessively oily skin and many breakouts because of that. Many products/medications I had tried to eliminate this problem just dried my skin out completely. Once I stopped using that product/medication, my skin would return to its prior oily and breakout-filled state. All of the products we’ve created were developed because they worked for our community, even before Kaya By You was formed.
We are most proud of our Gold Serum, a CBD and essential oil-packed serum. This product is the exact one that really expedited the healing process from my acne and hyper-pigmentation. We’ve gotten great feedback from our community, and we believe this all-purpose serum has the ability to help others begin to love their skin.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success, in this regard, is to be able to help others. I know how emotionally upsetting skin concerns can be, and I know how frustrating it is to try almost everything available and to be doing everything “correctly”, but still not see results.
The biggest marker for success is community feedback. We love hearing from you, so we can do better for you. When we create custom formulas for community members, we continue to work closely with them and tailor the formula as need be, to ensure our community can show their skin with confidence.
Pricing:
- Most of our products are $20, with the exception of our CBD serum and custom serums.
- Our CBD serum is $50 and our custom serum is $30.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kayabyyou.com
- Phone: 3102664821
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/kayabyyou
Image Credit:
Shereen Kheradyar, Meka Tome, Rebecca Bekele
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