Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Aisha Lamar. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Aisha , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

The story behind Sucré Naturals mission is really a more personal one. I was 25 and struggling not only with acne, but hyperpigmentation on my face and body. I went to dermatologists who suggested taking medication and also went to the local drugstore to see if I could find any products that would help. Both of these ideas failed me. Firstly, the medication I was prescribed came with side effects like dizziness and nausea. I eventually had to stop taking it because it started to affect my daily life. Also, if you go the drug store, you will see many products for acne and wrinkles, but very few products for ethnic groups that suffer from hyperpigmentation and dark spots. This was really defeating and I wondered why it was so hard to find products for my specific issue on the market. After exhausting all my efforts, I decided to create my own. Through hours of research on natural and homeopathic remedies and formulations, I was able to create products that gave me real results. It was such a success that my friends said I should open a business and help others like myself with skin concerns that effect ethnic groups particularly. I’ve said all of this to say that the mission for Sucre Naturals was always to create affordable, chemical free, skin care products for women and women of color who suffer from common skin conditions like acne, hyperpigmentation, dark spots, eczema and psoriasis. Our company motto is “Life is sweeter when it’s natural” because I strongly believe that switching to all natural alternatives has improved my quality of life and mental health. Your skin is the first thing everyone sees and I know first hand what it is like to experience anxiety and depression due to acne and how defeating it can feel. Being able to create and provide affordable products that most women of color cannot find in a local store, and that are formulated with natural ingredients, is a point of pride for me. This will always be the mission behind Sucre Naturals and I hope to expand my line and become available in local stores in the future.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am the owner and creative director of Sucré Naturals and specialize in creating natural, vegan skincare and beauty products. My company is best known for our luxurious body butters facial serums, and bath soaps that are made with over 95% natural ingredients. The products we create help with skin concerns that effect ethnic groups like hyperpigmentation, dark spots, eczema and psoriasis. I am most proud of the customer feedback that we receive on an ongoing basis from our customers. For example, one of my dear friends suffers from eczema, however, since using my products, she has had few flare ups and feels confident in her skin again. It is small examples like these that truly drives me to continue to create effective products that people can genuinely trust. What sets Sucré Naturals apart from the competition is my commitment to transparency, eco-responsibility, and providing health and wellness information.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

Keeping in touch with my customers is a top priority for my business. I would say that more than 60% of my clientele is return customers, plus their family and friends. We currently have a loyalty program that allows my customers to earn points that can be used as discounts based on their purchases, following our social media, and for leaving reviews on my products. This type of reward system has helped me gain and keep customers coming back for more. I highly recommend any business, especially if e-commerce based, to include some sort of rewards program into their business model. For my business, it’s become one of the best strategies for retaining customers and increasing revenue.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Becoming the business owner of a beauty and skincare company, quite honestly, wasn’t really something I was particularly interested in. As fate would have it though, I went through an embarrassing adult acne stage that lasted 2 years in my mid 20s! After spending hundreds of dollars on ineffective beauty products, prescriptions and dermatologist visits, I decided to turn to a more holistic approach. Initially, I tried using “so-called” commercial natural products, but after reviewing product label after product label, I came to find that some still contained unnecessary and harmful chemicals. I began researching natural remedies for acne and other common skin conditions and was excited to find that there were natural herbs and oils that could be used in place of many store bought products. Through experimentation, I was able to make products that actually got rid of my acne and stubborn scars. Making my own skincare products kind of became a hobby for a while, but later, I started making gifts for family and friends. I also started bringing my products to work and had coworkers try samples. The response was overwhelmingly positive and soon I was making products for family and friends. One day, a coworker suggested I start selling my products online and offered to pay for any products I created. It was in that moment I decided I may have stumbled across a unique business opportunity. I decided on a business name, created a website and logo from scratch and started adding products. Within a couple weeks I was taking in-person and online orders! It was unpredictable for most of the first year, but today, I have an ever growing business that has allowed me to step out of my shell and create products that I truly believe in. I have started vending at various Dallas events and am excited for what the future holds! Look out Bath and Body Works, Sucré Naturals is on the rise! It is my goal to empower and educate others on holistic health and beauty alternatives, provide general wellness information, and to create safe, effective products for all to enjoy.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sucrenaturals.com
• Instagram: sucrenaturals
• Facebook: Sucré Naturals
• Twitter: sucrenaturals

Image Credits
Photos by @ll.cool.mel