We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Aleah Boykin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Aleah, thanks for joining us today. How did you find your key vendor or vendors? Maybe you can share the backstory and share some context and the relevant details to help us understand why you chose them, why they chose you, etc.

So google was my best friend!!! At least I thought. I googled “vendors for cosmetics” and it was a bust! I quickly thought, “Hey! Girl you have apps that you shop on regularly, check those out!!” So I got on Alibaba. It was a lot of work because you literally have to communicate with many suppliers. I ordered so many samples and that can be draining. From ordering and testing each product. Then I finally got to the right one! I felt so comfortable, the vendor overdid everything to make me say ” this is the one!”. My supplier sent me way more than I asked and a girl just can’t say no to great cosmetic products!! I think that my supplier made the deal with me because I gave everything I have far as information about myself and goals for my business. He was super confident in his products and excited to hear my business venture. Overall, the process wasn’t that bad. You will need patience if you want your ideas to really pop!!

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?

I’m Aleah Boykin!! Owner, operator, and MUA of Slay Beatz by Leah, where you unlock your true beauty!!! I’ve been doing makeup and hair styling since I was a kid. It was so much of a hobby starting off, I only charged people $20. I’ve started doing makeup and hair for my friends/family and have been in love with the beauty industry ever since!! In 2019 I decided to take my craft all the way. Now, I am a makeup artist for my company, I provide soft glam makeup application, glitz & glam makeup application, lashes and more.

I also have a new matte lipstick line that launch Nov. 1st! Slay Beatz by Leah Cosmetics!!!

For my clients, I have a loving, professional, and free atmosphere! When you sit in my chair, you will feel amazing, beautiful, and most of all, EMPOWERED!!!! I take pride in making sure my clients feel their very best!!!! In being a business owner of what I love so much makes me most proud because I started. I didn’t let fear take over. I started somewhere, and guess what, it’s so much more to come! Remember all hard work pays off! Do what you love and you will prevail.

Slay Beatz by Leah where you unlock your true beauty!!!

Image Credits
Slay Beatz by Leah