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

Hi Jie, thanks for joining us today. What do you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry? Any stories or anecdotes that illustrate why this matters?

Corporate America doesn’t focus on my sector – skincare made for people pregnant, TTC or nursing, because generally speaking, it’s considered too niche. Versine started because I had issues finding skincare with effective active ingredients while pregnant, and I realized that there was an underserved demographic in the market. It was a hectic time with a lot of changes, and I couldn’t understand why there were so many baby products but so few products for moms who were undergoing tremendous stress.

When I first started conceptualizing the brand, I spoke with some investors and friends in corporate, they all tell me that it’s too small of a total market to sustain a healthy business, especially because people move past this stage in life.

However, I have found that by creating effective products that are gentle on skin and that conservatively stay away from ingredients like phenoxyethanol and phthalates, our customers stay with us. Pregnancy was their initiation to Versine, but we keep them because we serve a need – clean, effective, time-efficient skincare that make them look and feel cared for and beautiful. I also believe it’s a growing market, as consumers become more conscious of what they put on and in their bodies, and aware of the dangers of accumulating chemicals like PFAs.

Jie, 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 path was different from most beauty founders. In 2019, after a frustrating search for solutions for my own hormonal, pregnancy skin, I left my job as a domestic violence prosecutor to create a better option for other new moms.
Fueled by my new-found passion, and the grit that carried me through Harvard Law, I dreamed of creating a pregnancy-safe skincare routine that you actually look forward to using!

Our products are born from the idea that minimalism, science and luxurious results can coexist. Thoughg Versine was initially conceived so expecting and new moms could feel confident, in body and spirit, we soon realized that our actives-forward yet skin-calming products also resonated with those who had skin sensitivities, allergies, and a busy lifestyle who wanted results without a ten-step routine.

In partnership with an OBGYN, a dermatologist, and an aesthetician, I am committed to providing the perfect skin ritual for busy moms – and anyone else who has ever questioned what they were putting on their skin.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

As a trained lawyer, I really had to unlearn my belief that I can’t make any mistakes. In law, you double and triple check that your arguments are sound and that your formatting/grammar/etc. are perfect. In business, you have to make decisions based on imperfect information, and you have to make decisions under time pressure. You will make mistakes. It’s important to learn from these mistakes when you can, but you also need to realize that sometimes it’s just bad luck. You also definitely can’t dwell on them and learn to move on. Otherwise, you become paralyzed.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Gaining real advocates that have influence in their industry, like respected makeup artists and birth specialists. There is really no short-cut for this. I had initially tried to leapfrog the process by utilizing influencers, but customers are very sophisticated now, and they can definitely tell the difference between true respect for your products and just a quick promotion for fees.

Also, treating our customers with respect and integrity. In return we have received their support. We have close to 300 reviews, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. That social proof is priceless.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.versineskincare.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/versineskincare/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/73831185

Image Credits

Eugenia Weinstein