We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Amanda Okafor. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Amanda below.

Amanda, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

My brand mission is to offer effective botanical skincare solutions that are formulated with melanin rich skin in mind. In doing this, we are partnering with and supporting local producers of African botanical ingredients while offering anti-aging skincare solutions. This is meaningful to me because I can use my training as a pharmacist to harness the rich beauty secrets of my heritage while offering skin care solutions globally to a population that has been ignored in the past.

Amanda, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a wife, mother of 4, licensed pharmacist and a skincare enthusiast. As a pharmacist with a background in Chemistry and over 12 years of experience in Pharmacy practice/cosmetic formulating, I’ve always had a deep passion for creating impactful skincare solutions. In my personal experience I struggled to find suitable products that were both gentle and effective in addressing the anti-aging needs of melanin-rich skin. In recognizing this gap in the beauty industry, I decided to launch Bellanomi.

Bellanomi is a family-owned business and all our products are proudly made in small batches here in Tennessee utilizing a blend of ethically sourced African botanicals and clean powerful actives. In using African botanicals, we are tapping into the ancient beauty secrets that have been used in populations with darker skin tones for ages and in essence we are staying authentic to our roots. The first product I formulated in the bellanomi skincare line is the uhie clarifying mask which is powered by red African camwood powder. This was inspired by my childhood experience growing up in Nigeria.

The name Bellanomi holds a special meaning to me. It is derived from the words “beautiful and pleasant” which are inspired by my two wonderful daughters. It is a reminder that feeling beautiful goes beyond skincare. It also encompasses the love and joy we find in ourselves and our closest relationships. I am proud that my family and I established a skincare brand that pays homage to our heritage and offers impactful skincare solutions to our community

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

After the birth of my fourth child, I took a break from my career in pharmacy for 3 years. It was a challenging time for me because I began to wonder, what is my identity now? It became clear to me at that moment that I had to unlearn everything I knew about my value as a mother. I had to prioritize my family. This turned out to be the best decision of my life. I was able to enjoy my daughter’s first year of life without the pressure of returning to work before I was ready. It also allowed me the time to pursue my lifelong goal of starting a skincare brand. I was able to return to work as a pharmacist but this time I felt balanced at home and at work.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

I believe in treating customers with respect and offering a high quality products. This fosters trust in my brand which leads to brand loyalty.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bellanomi.com
• Instagram: @bellanomiskincare
• Facebook: @bellanomiskincare

Image Credits
KCulp Photography & Design