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

Hi Jelitsa, thanks for joining us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

It all started with one thought: “Skincare doesn’t need to be complicated.”

At the time, I was a mom to a wildly energetic toddler that reminded me over and over again that time was valuable.
Leisurely after shower routines? Not happening.
Slow mornings? Yea right!
A 10-step skincare routine? LOL.

But I didn’t want my new sleep-deprived, caffeine-induced lifestyle to hinder my skincare routine…I just wanted my skincare routine to be simpler and more efficient.
I wanted products with multi-ingredient and effective formulas, and I wanted products that gave me more benefits with less steps.

So I began to look for skincare brands/products that weren’t pushing an elaborate 10-step routine and offered intentional products… and when I couldn’t find what I was looking for, I decided to create them.

I took everything I’ve learned in my nursing career and with the help of a chemist I built my dream skincare line, Uviña Skin over the course of about 2 years.

I launched in October 2020 with three products:

– An organic and sustainable facial cleansing bar that cleanses without stripping your skin of oil while providing a deep clean.
– A calming and healing facial serum that is packed with ingredients that deliver a serious glow.
– A refining and intensely hydrating face cream that truly does it all.

It has been a WILD ride! Learning to navigate formula development, product testing, ingredient sourcing, website building, and allllllll of the other things that come with being a solopreneur has been equal parts challenging and beautiful.

Jelitsa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Although I loved the practice of caring for my skin and would often research the best, naturally-derived ingredients, becoming a founder of a skincare brand was never part of the plan. But as those who are close to me know all too well, I often make life-changing decisions at the drop of a hat! And in a
moment of frustration with being unable to find simple and effective skincare products, I became the founder of Uviña Skin.

I built Uviña Skin to be the simple, botanical brand as the answer for those who are too busy for the 10-step bs.
Moms, dads, other entrepreneurs, people who wear too many hats (don’t we all?), and everyone who wants to care for their skin without having to do tons of research.

After all, skincare is healthcare.

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

Launching an online shop during a global pandemic was incredibly challenging because the entire business world went digital, making the online space much more crowded and expensive.

As a grassroots founder, I found that my growth process was going to have to be slow and intentional. I chose to put my efforts into in-person events, which provided so many benefits!
I was able to meet my target audience, test my brand message in real time, and grow my email list.

Many of my loyal supporters are those that I met via in-person events!

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

One of the greatest pieces of advice I’ve received is to focus on the basics. Maintain a line of communication and show your appreciation whenever you can.

One way I do this is via email communication that doesn’t only focus on sales, but offers tips and bits of education.
However, my loyal supporters really appreciate the rewards program that turns points into discounts AND our discounted subscription program!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.uvinaskin.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/uvinaskin
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/uvinaskin
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/uvinaskin