Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Behnke.
Hi Megan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am the founder of Ralphie and Alice, a gender-inclusive skincare brand! My journey toward creating clean skincare solutions began with a lifestyle change after my diagnosis of Lupus. What some might see as a setback, having an auto-immune disease has led me to eye-opening experiences that allow me to better understand the importance of non-toxic personal care.
I am equally passionate about unisex care because, at heart, I am a tomboy through and through; I never felt I could identify with products down the female or male aisle, it feels amazing to be breaking the binary barrier while also helping others restore their skin barrier!
The name Ralphie and Alice was inspired by my grandparents, Ralph and Alice. They were pivotal role models in my life. They taught me with anything you do in life, make sure it’s done with “extra lovin”. It’s with a smile I confirm everything we do at Ralphie and Alice, we do with “extra lovin”. I could continue on for paragraphs on how they inspired and encouraged me to create my brand, but for now, I’ll say I couldn’t imagine naming my unisex skincare brand anything else!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road of entrepreneurship has been unpaved and full of hills! There are little struggles I experienced in the beginning, like time management that I’ve thankfully grown through.
A struggle that is persistent would be having a lack of access to capital. Female founders still face significant challenges when it comes to securing funding. Companies founded solely by women garner ONLY 2.3% of the total capital invested in venture-backed startups in the US. This lack of representation at times feels defeating, but regardless of these statistics, I am still pushing forward every day with an intense passion to bring gender-inclusive care to all.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Ralphie and Alice is a gender-inclusive skincare brand; we are on a mission to fill the gap in affordable, clean, and genderless care. The overall lack of gender fluidity and lack of accountability within the “clean” skincare market is our driving force. We strive for a 12-ingredient or less rule in all of our products, with a large focus on eliminating unnecessary irritants entirely. Ralphie and Alice is taking personal care back to basics and using only the most necessary non-toxic ingredients – always vegan, always organic, and always cruelty-free.
In addition to creating clean, plant-based formulas, we create an experience in which anyone can feel comfortable partaking in. There is a stark contrast between what’s available these days- either entirely female with feminine branding and fruity scents, or there are products with aggressive messaging and masculine fragrances. Ralphie and Alice is breaking the cycle with open arms and gender-neutral products, messaging, and branding.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up I was super curious and shy, yet very goofy. My mom was an artist and worked really hard, I remember always being so inspired by her drive and creativity. Watching her run her own business my whole life definitely sparked my entrepreneurship fire.
I also played soccer competitively and really believe that’s helped shape me and my understanding of how small, consistent efforts lead to one big goal.
Pricing:
- Our pricing is very afforadable, all of our skincare products are $20.00 or less!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ralphieandalice.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/ralphieandalice
- Facebook: facebook.com/ralphieandalice
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ralphieandalic1
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/GjW3fThpJCk
- SoundCloud: https://open.spotify.com/user/2p8v56vyc50nhyitel91mzgcm?si=bd64c4869d8d4230
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/ralphieandalice/
