We recently connected with Amber Johnson and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Amber , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.
My parents paved the way for entrepreneurship by setting multiple examples of running successful businesses and not deferring their dreams. There is no better business school than having parents who involve you in the daily ins and out of their establishment. Hearing those conversations about the good and the bad things that happened, assisting in the inventory portion, waking up to them counting money at the dining room table, going with them to the bank to make deposits and obtaining lines of credit, coming up with marketing strategies and learning how to manage the staff was something that I could have never received in any business school. My mother owned a real estate company and together her and my dad owned a liquor store. The diversity of firsthand insight and information has given me a plethora of tools in my toolkit that the average person would ever understand. The tenacity, audaciousness, grit, intellect, follow through, discipline, privilege, and bravery that came with having them as my parents is a huge part of why I am the way that I am. They made tough decisions, and we all reaped the benefits from it. I grew up with a gnawing that although I could obtain a college degree, there was nothing better than working for yourself, under your own terms, and not having a limited mindset. Anything was possible and they showed me that every day! It was only a matter of time before I started my own business, and I am currently on business number 4. The courage it takes to push yourself out of your comfort zone, is all I know, and I couldn’t imagine another mindset.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
The portal of wellness was opened when I became a mother. My first child paved the way for my understanding that I had to take control over my health and the health of my family. I come from a chronically obese and sick family. High blood pressure and cholesterol, heart disease, sedentary lifestyle, food and alcohol addiction, diabetes was considered to be things that “ran in the family”, but I came to learn that those were all choices that could be reversed to have a totally different health outcome. I knew I would be the one to break the unhealthy cycles. Although I breast fed and used natural products on my children, they both ended up having eczema. I was determined to heal their skin, especially after what I was prescribed from the pediatrician ended up getting pulled from the market. That was the turning point for taking complete responsibility and digging deep to figure out how to heal my babies. I have always been a lover of all things beauty and had been making beauty products since I was 11 years old. Understanding that the skin is our largest organ and that the care of it is not superficial but much more meaningful and how the inside is connected to the outside and vice versa. The skin is an indicator of what is going on internally and so many people are suffering from ailments and don’t know what to do. I didn’t become an esthetician until 2009, but once I did, I knew that I wanted to open up a spa and create my own product line. By 2012 I had opened my first spa, Triplicity Wellness and in 2013 I created a natural hair care line Adenla that helped heal damaged hair. Hair is an extension of skin and deserves to be treated with care and integrity. The products targeted for Black hair and skin have always dealt in harmful chemicals that cause tremendous damage and havoc on our internal organs in addition to damaging what they say they are designed to treat. I needed to find a solution, so I became the solution and created products that heal, nourish and care for my customers with a level of integrity that could only come from someone who truly is invested in the greatness of my target audience. I truly love the people that I serve and want nothing but the best for them. It is a privilege to be trusted with my client’s skin and I don’t take that for granted. In 2020 I expanded to a plant-based apothecary that offers skincare, body care, fragrances, herbal tinctures, healing crystal jewelry, wellness workshops and plant-based product formulation classes for those who are interested in learning how to make their own products. I make healing herbal cleansing bars that can be used on the face, body and hair. Currently in my inventory I have hair regrowing serums, facial cleansers, toners, rejuvenating serums, undereye brighteners, healing balms, whole body deodorants, and can custom blend anything you may need. My passion is making customized skin care, as everyone’s needs are so very different. I delight in white labeling as well for those who want to sell their own products but don’t’ necessarily want to make them. I am not a gate keeper and I share as much as I know via blogs on my website. I also have an e-book , Self Care 101 that is available and I am currently working on completing my book based on a curriculum I developed for young mothers teaching holistic living. I am most proud of helping my daughter reverse her type 2 diabetes and changing the epigenetics of myself and my family. I know that what I do will affect 7 generations and I have course corrected by the way we eat, move, think and taking responsibility for my health and not using the excuse of that just being the genes that we were dealt. I am proud of my herbal knowledge as a practicing herbalist for the last 20 years, and utilizing that along with my extensive knowledge of skin giving a holistic approach to all the clients I serve. I provide skincare solutions to those who are wanting to get away from toxic chemicals in their everyday personal care products. I know my years of experience and forever expanding knowledge sets me apart from your Tic Tok influencers spouting incorrect information. I take a holistic approach when dealing with everyone I have the honor of touching.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Existing in the market as a natural plant-based skincare line for as long as I have and my background as an esthetician and an herbalist have given me a keen sense of vitality that is well rounded and holistic in nature. So many natural product lines still contain toxins, yet still claim to be all natural. All of my ingredient that I use are food and plant based allowing health and optimal efficacy to shine through. I care about helping people and I make products for myself first, that can then be used by others. I care so deeply about myself and the cutomers who purchase my products.
If I could go back and switch careers, I would choose skin care over and over again. Being a skin care professional is a calling that I am so grateful chose me. I enjoy educating people on what ingredients and techniques will help them achieve their healthiest skin. Sharing my passion for wellness and vitality is one of my biggest sources of expression and this 20 plus year journey has been phenomenal.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.adenlahandcraftedessentials.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adenla_handcrafted_essentials/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adenlahandcraftedessentials
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-l-johnson-24367b75/
Image Credits
Myself