We were lucky to catch up with Negin Niknejad recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Negin thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

One of the most challenging things as a human, especially in society, is to be our most authentic selves, showing up as we are and not caring about what others expect us to be. For me, even before I began walking on my path of self-discovery, I always said that my mission in life is to come as close as possible to who I am, all of who I am.

In 2008, my beautiful aunt in Iran was diagnosed with terminal cancer and I had not been back to my home country in 26 years so I ran to her. Before my trip, I created a humble spa menu and invited a few of my friends to come for a facial so I could have extra travel money. After the facials, they each received an organic lunch bag, and inside the bag, for the first time, I made some products and included them in the lunch bag. Once in Iran, I received an email from one of the recipients of the lunch bag and he said his girlfriend loved the products and asked if I sell them. I said no but that I could, and suddenly I thought, “Omg! What am I going to call my skincare line??” :)

Once in Iran, I thought I would finally visit India-my dream place. And there, one day, at the chai shop outside the famed Ramana Ashram, I met the sweetest man. He had a sweet bun on his head, adorned with lots of malas dressed in all white. We talked and when we were about to say goodbye, he said, “Let me give you my business card.” I thought it odd coming from this spiritual-looking person to want to give me his “business card” in this remote corner of India. And so he did, and when I looked at his “business card”, it only said one thing: Just Be Yourself.

And that is how India helped me with naming my skincare line- JustBe ♡

Negin, 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?

My name is Negin Niknejad and I was born in Iran. We moved many times around the globe and many years later I ended up in the heart of my first guru: New York City!

Looking back, I have been the same person my whole life. Sassy, independent, creative, fun, & an adventurer. I have a drawing from when I was about six years young, of a little girl standing in between two trees with the sun above her :-)

I have always been creative, but I had to become “somebody” when I grew up so I chose accounting because I love numbers and problem-solving. For some odd reason, after graduation with my bachelor’s in accounting, I took the LSAT because I thought I would be a good tax attorney. The day I went to Pace University to take the test, I saw so many people there wanting to do the same as me and that is when I began to question my purpose in this life. One thing I did know from a very young age was that I wanted to help people. And so began the journey to “come closer to who I was.”

It took many years to find my way, I began to do a lot of work on myself through yoga, meditation, therapy, art, acting, traveling, and partying.

And honestly, my work found me. One day, I was getting my hair cut and there was a woman from Aveda giving the staff product knowledge, and she spoke of this oil, that herb, and I was so intoxicated that I went to the Aveda Institute right after and inquired about the Esthetique program. It was so strange. I never had thought about becoming an esthetician though I always did take care of my skin and body. At that time, herbs and natural healing were a big part of my life. One month later, I got sober and told myself I would graduate top of my class and I began school. It was not easy, and I came across many hurdles, and in the end, I did it! For the first time in my life, I truly showed up and gave my best. When we show up professionally, it automatically helps us to be the best we can be.

After I graduated, I wasn’t making much money, but I worked at a spa in Harlem and there I learned how to work with dark pigmented skin which was truly a blessing. Then finally, I landed a job at Clay and after a few years, I felt I was not growing and I was super bored. That is when I received the news about my aunt. In a way, SHE changed the course of my life.

Honestly, everything happened fast. After Iran and India, the following year I went back to India to work deeper on myself and study Ayurveda, and while there, Town & Country wanted to write about me so when I came back, after two days I signed a lease and opened my first skin studio in Chelsea in 2011. I always worked hard for what I have. With a little money from my father, and myself, I turned the studio into a quaint space and opened one month later. I opened a business bank account with my first client’s check. Isn’t that wild?! I was proud of myself. And no one was doing what I was doing. I used food materials like honey and fruits as skincare, including the element of healing in my facials by using crystals and sound healing. It wasn’t just a facial, it was a full-body experience.

It was very important to me that the ingredients I used and sourced were clean organic and as local as possible. I know where all my ingredients come from and are sourced through my travels, from local farms, mostly my friends. I buy the best of the best, and I love beautiful things :)

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Honestly, not giving up. There were many times I wanted to and still do. If you talk to people who have made it, one advice they almost always give is NOT TO GIVE UP because we never know when that big hit will occur.

As a small business, with BIG dreams and goals not yet achieved, it still feels like a start-up. My resilience is not giving up and continuing to show up as my authentic self. To be authentic and moving forward with integrity is the kind of wealth that makes me realize I have arrived.

Has your business ever had a near-death moment? Would you mind sharing the story?

Arg yes. In 2017, I began the new year with a broken wrist and I did not work for four months. I had to let go of my assistant and my small team. But again, somehow, I made it. It was hard to get back on the saddle again because returning to the city, and the hustle & bustle after four months of self-care and quiet living, I realized the city life was no longer aligned with my aspirations. The following year I closed the studio doors as the first step towards a more nature-filled life and then the year after that I was covid. With COVID, finally, the world was at my pace and I felt so at ease. After closing my studio in Manhattan, and working from home, it felt I was living a life of quality. It wasn’t about making money, it was about enjoying life. It is a different kind of wealth. A type of wealth where I have the freedom to travel more and be anywhere anytime. In a sense, the wrist fracture was MY covid and I was already working from home, with a different pace. When I closed in November of 2018, I was not planning on working from home all these years. Covid interrupted my flow and I felt stuck. This year, finally, I have made some decisions and I am working towards making some big changes. It will be amazing!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.justbeskinline.com
• Instagram: @justbeskinline
• Facebook: JustBe Skin Line
• Twitter: @justbeskinline
• Youtube: JustBe Skin Line
• Yelp: JustBe Skin Line Inc.

Image Credits

That would be me :-)
I shoot almost all the photos and videos for my website and social media. Help is welcomed though!

And my friend Nicole Benusca is my photographer when I need her. She is AMAZING!