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

Alright, Latoya thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

In 2017, my husband and I signed up for an artisan soap making class. We learned the art of cold process soap making and even made our own batch of soap. After our soap cured for 4 weeks, we began using our handmade product and fell in love. We immediately made the switch from commercial bath and body products to making our own handmade, plant-based soaps, bath, and body products. The days of dry, irritated skin were gone. As a Registered Nurse, I recognized that there is a desire for natural, health promoting self-care products. In 2019, my husband and I formed Lovin’ My Skin, LLC. We handcraft natural, plant-based soaps, bath, and body products.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a Gullah native of St. Helena Island, South Carolina. I am a wife and mother of two sons. My husband and I have been married for 22 years. As a Registered Nurse with 24 years of experience, I recognized that there is a desire for natural, health promoting self-care products. Skin is the largest organ of our body. It is responsible to regulating our hydration and temperature, protecting against infection, and reducing the harmful effects from ultraviolet rays. At Lovin’ My Skin, our motto is “skin care is healthcare.” According to the United States Food and Drug Administration (2022), there are very few products on the market that are truly soap. Most body cleansers, both solids and liquids, are actually synthetic detergents (United States Food and Drug Administration, 2022). Synthetic detergents strip away the skin’s natural moisturizing factor leading to dryness, redness, and irritation.

We want our customers to love the skin they’re in by using our health promoting self-care products. We’ve found the perfect combination of oils, butters, and milks to create a bar of soap that produces a smooth, creamy, luxurious lather. Our soaps are nourishing, balances skin pH, anti-aging, suitable for all skin types and ages, and eco-friendly. The Lovin’ My Skin brand is like no other. Our soaps are fun, creative, colorful and artistic. Our products are made in small batches in the Lowcountry of St. Helena Island, South Carolina.

Reference:
United Stated Food and Drug Administration (2022, February 25). Frequently Asked Questions on Soap. https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-products/frequently-asked-questions-soap#:~:text=In%20the%20past%2C%20people%20commonly,are%20actually%20synthetic%20detergent%20products

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

When my husband and I started Lovin’ My Skin, we both lacked the knowledge and understanding of what it actually took to be business owners. I recently completed a business class called Black Equity University. This class is offered by BlacQuitySC, a nonprofit organization that elevates, empowers, and promotes black-owned businesses in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. Black Equity University is a 12-week course designed to teach the foundations of business ownership and growth. The curriculum included information about personal budgeting, business finance, licensing, product pricing, bookkeeping, marketing and sales, and entrepreneurship well being.

BlacQuitySC: https://www.blacquitysc.org

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

What has helped Lovin’ My Skin succeed is staying true to our mission, vision, and values; never compromising who we are as a black-owned business; learning from our failures; and providing our customers with a positive, professional, and personalized experience when shopping with us.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lovinmyskinllc.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_lovinmyskinllc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovinmyskinllc