We recently connected with Nathaly Restrepo and have shared our conversation below.

Nathaly, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

Opening my business was a risk I recently took. A friend mentioned the Small Business Administration (SBA), which supports small business owners and entrepreneurs in pursuing their dreams of starting their own companies. My mother was always an encouraging force for me. Before she became ill, she would advise me to start my own business and to work hard for my interests; I used to tell her “I would love to but it’s not that simple, and I don’t have the money or savings to launch my business at the moment”. My mom believed in me and my potential; she encouraged me to see my value and to have confidence in my abilities. I gradually regained the guts to be my own boss, and find resources and support such as that of the SBA. A year and a half after my mother’s passing, I have a business because of the risk I took as I also grieved and honored my mother.

Nathaly, 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?

I pursued the goal of becoming a Licensed Esthetician from my daily skincare routine. Due to genetics and my struggle with acne since puberty, I spent a lot of money trying to get “perfect” skin before realizing that I was more than my acne. I began to wear less makeup and felt confident going bare-skinned. I came to the realization that everyone worries more about themselves than other people, and made the decision to differentiate myself from the rest. I entered Aveda Institute’s Esthetician program knowing nothing more than the makeup products and my journey. I gained knowledge and experience working with the skin, handling various skin types and conditions, and learning about skin care products and substances for skin treatments. Using natural, botanical, and plant-based products like Aveda, I became aware that being bare-skinned, accepting my acne, and going natural was a better alternative as I worked with customers at the school and observed improvements. This inspired me to embrace my uniqueness and develop an all-natural skincare brand with empowering services.

I’m an Esthetician. I specialize in Facials, Waxing, Lash Lifts, and Lash/Brow Tints. What I love about being an Esthetician is seeing the clients’ reactions when they get the results they hope for, and being able to empower their beauty by using natural, organic food products in skin care to achieve the same or even better results than most skincare products on the market.
A few months ago, I decided to focus on formulating and manufacturing my skincare line and stepped away from providing services at this time. I chose to close my service location after analyzing the state of my business and contemplating my challenges, and personal finances. I then pivoted to another stage in my business. Closing my service location was emotional, it was my first attempt at business venturing, but I took this as a learning experience. For some small businesses, it can take a while to build momentum and gain traction. I am still pursuing my business and passion for Natural Skincare by focusing on creating my line of skin care with natural ingredients. I’m happy and proud of all the progress I made by taking the risk of starting my business. It is now evolving, and I will continue to utilize the marketing and networking skills which served me well in the start, while I build partnerships in sourcing my skin line ingredients.
I have been working on creating the formulas for a skincare kit I want to launch first, branding and messaging to customers, and transitioning my website from scheduling services to an online store. I am incorporating what I have learned in the field and through my personal experience. With skincare, all you really need is a Cleanser, Moisturizer, and most importantly, SPF! EsthiNat is all about simple, natural skincare. That is why as my first product, I will launch a simple skincare kit that includes a Cleanser, Moisturizer, and SPF that not only have the purest ingredients but are simple enough for everyone of all skin types. I also want to invite people who don’t use skincare to have a simple routine that empowers their beauty while protecting and nourishing their skin.

Starting a skincare line will take some time to ensure it is up to safety standards. What I want most for everyone to know is that EsthiNat is all about quality. I grew up in a Colombian household with fresh, exotic produce not just to eat but also to enjoy the benefits of those products for skin care. I want to highlight the purity and quality of these ingredients. I am putting a lot of thought and effort into the ingredients, testing, the packaging, and the overall brand. I can’t wait for everyone to see and enjoy the end result of the simple beauty and wellness that is, EsthiNat Skincare!

Have you ever had to pivot?

I really had to pivot in life and my business this past year and a half. I lost my mom due to Covid in 2021. I had to keep moving with my life knowing I wouldn’t have that motherly support, guidance, and presence with me anymore. From losing her I decided to start my own business, both to pursue my goals and to honor my mom, who was a constant supporter and believer in me. I started working alongside a business consultant from The Small Business Administration, built my website, created a business plan, and found a location to provide services.

I opened my business in July 2022 with my first client, excited to practice my skills serving clients and contributing to the beauty/skincare world. It was a difficult start. Despite promotion and marketing efforts, building a client base was not as I hoped for. After consulting with my SBA person, I decided to close the service location in July of 2023. It was a hard decision to make, without making myself feel like I failed in something I am so passionate about, but I knew I had to be realistic, objective, and courageous. I seem to thrive in the face of challenges. Despite closing my location, I am taking what I learned to the next stage of my business in creating, formulating, promoting, and selling my skincare products.

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

I am in the research stage with my skincare line. EsthiNat is in the early stages of development and conducting research to better understand my target market, competition, industry trends, and regulations. This research phase is crucial to ensuring that EsthiNat is well-informed and to ensure that we have a solid foundation to build upon moving into the next stages of development.

I am in the process of securing partnerships to source natural ingredients from Colombian-grown fruits and vegetables at the core of my products. Formulating and testing the products from these ingredients is next. I will be securing a licensed lab to ensure the safety, integrity, and quality of my skincare line. I will also test all the products on myself to demonstrate their effectiveness and to engage clients. Part of the process is to secure vendors to package, manufacture, and market my skincare line.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.esthinat.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/esthinattt