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

Jahleel, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later

If I could go back in time, I wish I would have started my business earlier. Simply because where I am in life right now with being a new mom and finally getting started in my career, I would’ve had more time to pour into it deeper. But in contrary to how I feel, I’m glad I didn’t because the knowledge I have now has allowed me to execute much better. I know much more now than I did then. Before I just had an interest in skincare, now I eat, live, and breathe skincare. Had i started sooner, I probably would be “IG famous” as other skincare brands are on social media but now I’m just glad I can give people proper insight on not only my products but also products they use from brands like Versed, Dermalogica, etc. Although I wish I had started sooner for the longevity aspect of my business, I’m much more secure in my decision to have started it later. I love that I have the knowledge that I have to provide skincare etiquette where as if I had started sooner, I probably wouldn’t be as interested in becoming an esthetician.

Jahleel, 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 Jahleel but I like to go by Jah the Esthie, your skincare bestie! I am a licensed esthetician with a love for the science of skin. Growing up I had troubled skin and was always looking into ways to soothe my eczema flares or acne breakouts. I started out by making body butters because I had super dry skin, then it became body soaps, oils, and scrubs. Loved ones would see a difference in my skin so I started to make products that were supposed to be only for me, for everyone else. So this passion for skincare started from a selfish act lol. What I want future/potential customers, viewers to know is that with my brand you will get real, transparent information about skincare as well as friendly recommendations. I also do reviews on products, how tos, routine videos for different skin types, and everything in between. My brand is for people to know they can achieve the skin goals they’ve dreamt of with patience, knowledge, and a lot of hydration!

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

TikTok has had a huge hand in bring my conversion from 0-11% a month to 50-70% every month. The algorithm just puts my brand in people’s faces and I love the love that I get on TikTok. POST ON TIKTOK!!!

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.

So outside of the facials, waxing, and massages, I’m an engineer. I work with my hands and building/creating is sorta my thing. I make all of my products, no private label, no manufacturers, it’s all me. I learned from my grandmother how to make oils, YouTube University taught me how to make soaps and body butters, and I learned how to mix and pair ingredients, chemical exfoliants and neutralizers in school. I’ve had the same vendor for years and we work very well together, she’s truly the best. Not to flex but I hit the jackpot with finding her on my first go-round. The only issue I face is getting my soap and butters out of customs because she’s located in Ghana.
Manufacturing products is very tricky, especially with skincare. Some times if you use too much oils, butters won’t set. Too much/too little of preservative your product can mold or expire fast. It’s always a learning process because skincare is always evolving, literally everyday.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: mnxbeauty
• Twitter: MNxBeauty
• Youtube: Minou Skin & Co.