We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sheila And Jd a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Sheila and JD, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the best thing you’ve ever seen (or done yourself) to show a customer that you appreciate them?
At AKINYI, our customers are the heart of everything we do, and they’re the reason behind our remarkable, steady growth. To show our appreciation, we offer year-round sales, ensuring our loyal customers can easily stock up on their favorite products at affordable prices.
For those who prefer shopping in person, we go the extra mile by providing a coupon code with every purchase, making it even easier for them to enjoy the benefits of AKINYI’s luxurious crème.
Our mission is simple: to make beautiful, healthy skin accessible to everyone. We believe no one should be held back by cost when it comes to self-care. With AKINYI, premium skincare is always within reach.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
AKINYI is a skincare brand founded by Sheila and JD, a husband-and-wife duo from Austin, Texas. Our journey began as a personal mission to solve our own struggles with dry skin. Frustrated with existing products, we started mixing our own lotions and oils, eventually working with a scientist to perfect a formula that delivers consistent hydration year-round.
Our flagship product, the AKINYI moisturizing crème, is dermatologist-tested on both normal and sensitive skin, ensuring it’s safe and effective for a wide range of users. Packed with ingredients like collagen, ceramides, niacinamide, and pearl extract, it deeply nourishes, heals, and rejuvenates the skin. Designed for all skin types and ages, the crème provides lasting hydration and protection against environmental damage.
What sets AKINYI apart is our commitment to authenticity, quality, and effectiveness. We’re proud to be a family-owned brand rooted in care, inclusivity, and a passion for helping people achieve healthy, beautiful skin.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
What truly helped AKINYI scale has been the incredible support from vendor markets and word of mouth. The Austin community has been unbelievably encouraging of small businesses like ours. Customers have gone above and beyond—sharing tips on booth setups, recommending stores that would suit our products, and even bringing friends and family to experience our moisturizing crème.
A standout moment was in December 2024 at the Vibe Artisan Market. The response was overwhelming—we nearly sold out on the first day! We returned the next day with more inventory, and once again, the community showed up, leaving us nearly cleared out.
The enthusiasm and love from the Austin community have been nothing short of amazing. We are so grateful for the support, as AKINYI wouldn’t be here without THEM!
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
AKINYI is entirely self-funded, built from the ground up without any outside investors. Creating this beautiful business meant making significant sacrifices, letting go of many luxuries to turn our vision into reality. Every step of our journey reflects our dedication and passion for what we do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.akinyiskin.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akinyiskinofficial/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Akinyiskinofficial
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@akinyiskinofficial
Image Credits
The picture of JD and I please give credit to Romina Olson Photography. The product photography please give credit to Taylor Prinsen Photography.