Creating a Skincare Line at 18... What I’ve Learned
Creating things in life is beautiful but creating something out of pure love and dedication is the most precious thing you can do. I created a skincare brand at 18 after wanting to find something for my own skin that would work and didn’t have unnatural chemicals. I suffered from severe cystic acne as a pre-teen from genetics on my dads' side, my mom on the other hand never got a pimple in her life. It all began when I was 14 in the summer I was headed to my first ever sleep-away camp, and I had a delay on my plane and stayed at the owner of the beautiful Colorado (no phone) sleepaway camp. The owner of the camp drove this girl and me to the camp because we both had flight troubles. In the car, I was stagnant to listen to all the songs I could before I knew they would take away all my technology because that was the whole point of why my parents sent me there. The girl was talking to the owner, and I began to lower my music and eavesdrop while looking out the window until I heard this 14-year-old say “I have a skincare line with offices in New York City and I just got onto Teen Vogue.” In that second my heart dropped and I started to ask her so many questions. I learned a lot and reflected the entire time I was at the sleep away camp trying to figure myself out and lots of self-growth took place that summer. I went back to civilization with the idea of creating my own line, but I also had no idea where to begin. I began working in digital and affiliate marketing, and after a year I decided that I needed to start my own blog or something to escape the reality of a desk job. However, my whole journey since launching Downs Style has been to be self-employed and create my own future, so I had to keep searching. Months later I had reviewed thousands of dollars worth of products and finally decided that I would do whatever it took to create my own line. This year in January I decided to make my priority to start calling factories and travel to different ones and see what they had to offer. It was a long ride, but I finally found one in Florida which is where I’m from, and they had everything I wanted from a factory and more. I created Transcend Cosmetics with the vision of transcending or revolutionizing cosmetics with all Natural, Cruelty-Free Products that are safe on all skin types and can help adults and teens with the Eucalyptus and Aloe Vera that I added into my formula that is 100% mine. Writing this is one of the most mind-boggling and tear joy some things I’ve done in my life, but I can say without a doubt that I have given this project my 1000% percent and can’t wait to see what’s in store for my cosmetics brand. I began with 2 serums a moisturizer and a charcoal mask because to me that’s the most important thing you can use on your skin, and I already have more planned to come after the holidays but wanted to start off small and focus all my attention to detail because after all, it’s about quality, not quantity. Thanks so much for reading and I hope this inspires you to follow your dreams if anybody tells you your dreams are unattainable just remember nobody can destine your future except for yourself. XOXO -Chaz
