We recently connected with Djhanet (jj) Ali and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Djhanet (JJ) thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
I have a passion for skin care and believe that naturally derived, plant-based ingredients can nourish, protect and rejuvenate the body naturally, hence help the overall psyche of one’s mind. Using all natural body care products is a healthier alternative than using chemical-based body care products that can cause more damage. Therefore, it is my mission to introduce people to a healthier alternative when caring for themselves and others.
Having endured a life changing traumatic event that altered my physical appearance at the young age of five, I want to help individuals facing comparable challenges and support those managing significant skin or body conditions that altered their lives by taking care of their body in the most natural way. By using all-natural and organic ingredients, I have made it my mission to develop the most effective line of nutrient rich body care products relatable to our bodies natural needs in order to replenish and repair skin to a healthy state naturally.
Djhanet (JJ), 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?
My name is Djhanet (JJ) Ali, I am the founder and creator of MY Natural Beauty. I have an all-natural body care line aimed at helping people who suffer from skin ailments such as acne, eczema, scars and even hair loss. My body care line not only focuses on skin ailments, it also focuses on providing simple and clean complete body care products for those who have very sensitive skin and who prefer to use all-natural products.
MY Natural Beauty is a small family-owned business that originated from a homemade recipe I personally created for my own use. The inception of my venture into handcrafting all-natural body care products started with a single item: the Supremely Divine Butter. This marked the beginning of my journey as an artisan, aiming to assist individuals facing challenges similar to mine. Initially aiding those with acne, eczema, and scars, my offerings later expanded to address concerns related to hair loss.
My expertise stems from thorough research, which includes a significant life-changing event that transformed my physical appearance at age five. This enduring memory motivates me to assist those seeking healthy guidance in the future. Preserving and passing on this knowledge across generations is paramount to me. Hence, I share my comprehensive knowledge with my children, aiming for its continuity in the years ahead.
Individuals grappling with skin conditions like acne, eczema, and scars often struggle with self-esteem due to concerns about how others perceive their appearance. I understand this firsthand, having been in that position myself, and I frequently hear similar sentiments from a diverse range of individuals. Experiencing the impact of low self-esteem caused by external judgments due to imperfections is something I can relate to personally. I did not go to school for dermatology or any other field that focuses on human imperfections; however, as a human, who genuinely cares and understands how it feels, my approach is rooted in compassion and understanding as a fellow human being. My products aim to support individuals dealing with acne, eczema, scarring, and hair loss by providing natural solutions that address these concerns without introducing unnecessary chemical complexities.
Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?
My journey began at the age of five, when I was attacked by two Doberman Pinscher dogs that left three impactful scars on my face. Enduring these scars from the dog bites and childhood chicken pox played a significant role in my struggle with self-esteem. Throughout my youth, I endured taunts from peers who teased me because of my scars. As I transitioned into young adulthood, inquiries about my facial scars would evoke memories of the dog attack and the associated bullying, keeping those experiences vivid in my mind.
After countless attempts with store-bought products that aimed to moisturize and treat scars failed, exacerbating skin issues like clogged pores and acne, I was inspired to create a custom product for my sensitive skin. Through years of refining a formula that met my requirements, I developed an all-natural solution that provided comfort and visible enhancements in less than a year. Despite the severity of the dog bites, it took a few years for the old scar tissue to heal, resulting in minimal visible traces. Over time, my chicken pox scars vanished, while my blemishes and signs of aging also improved, naturally.
Handcrafting all of MY Natural Beauty Care products has been a challenging journey to reach where I am today. Each day, I embrace learning opportunities to enhance and refine my recipes. My son, Makaijah, has been instrumental in the growth of MY Natural Beauty, contributing new ideas for products, testing them himself, and providing valuable feedback for continuous improvement. Currently, he assists in maintaining our website and accompanies me to artisan markets, where we promote our products directly to customers.
How’d you think through whether to sell directly on your own site or through a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc.
I happily market my products online, having personally designed my own website using the Shopify platform tailored for small businesses. Selling online is a demanding yet fulfilling endeavor. Crafting my website was an artistic process, allowing me to customize it according to my preferences and showcase my products with passion. While time-consuming, effective time management and focus make it achievable.
Utilizing online platforms is straightforward, but mastering each platform necessitates dedicated learning. Selling on external platforms besides your website demands additional effort, as each platform has its unique navigation requirements. Nonetheless, they all adhere to similar fundamental criteria concerning FDA regulations, image standards, SKUs, and barcodes. While I currently offer some products on Walmart and Amazon, my future plans involve extending to health and wellness retailers like Sprouts and Trader Joe’s. Among the platforms, Amazon presents the most significant challenge, while Walmart is comparatively more straightforward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mynaturalbeautycare.com
- Instagram: mynaturalbeautycare