Who's That Gal: Jhenane Joseph, Founder of Natural Love Skincare Products by JJ

Name: Jhenane Joseph
Age: 35
Occupation: Registered Nurse
Currently living in: Boston, Ma
Hometown: Boston, Ma
Currently reading: Relationship Goals by Michael Todd
Favorite workout: squats
I never leave home without my: journal

What initially drew you to natural skincare products, and being an entrepreneur?

I was drawn to natural and organic skincare products when I started to have my own personal issues with my skin. In my early twenties, I started to develop dry, itchy, and scaly skin on both sides of my thighs. With the dry and itchy skin came redness and inflammation around the site. Sometimes the area were painful when I stretched it, putting on and keeping on my pants or tights. This caused me to feel insecure. I did not feel normal. I avoid wearing shorts, dresses or skirts. I sought professional help, but after reading the warning labels on prescription ointments and ointments with steroids, I decided to start my own research on how to naturally fix my problem.

Honestly, in the beginning I never thought about becoming an entrepreneur. It was a very far, far thought. I started off by making body butters and scrubs. I made it for myself because of the problem that I was experiencing with my skin. When someone would ask me if I had lotion, my response was “I don’t have any lotion. I stopped buying lotion when I started making my own body butter.” During this time, body butters were not “in.” Many people did not know what it was. But, when people would try my body butter they would fall in love and ask me to make one for them. This went on for a few years.

In the summer of 2014, I took a trip to D.C with a friend and I brought with me my facial mask, facial scrub, and facial serum that I made the day before. On this trip, she forgot her facial products to complete her facial routine. I was thrilled to share what I created. At the end of her facial care, she was in complete shock and said that she felt like she just completed her own facial spa with my products. She was incredibly pleased with results. And when she saw my coffee body scrub she was more than excited to use it.

It was on this trip that I was told to start my own business and to start sharing my products with others. My responses was, “no, this is just a hobby. I do not want to turn my hobby to a business.” Then, in December 2018, I decided to gift my daughter’s teachers, paediatrician, and close friends. They loved their gifts and was surprised that it was homemade by me. They also recommended that I should start a business. For years, I’ve heard so much encouragement to start my own skincare business. On January 1, 2019, I prayed and asked God if I should start a business and this is how my journey as an entrepreneur began and I founded Natural Love.

You have a background in nursing. Did this help you decide what ingredients to use when creating your products?

I would say my background in research, science, and education helped me to decide which ingredients to use to create my products and how to naturally fix it. Nursing help me understand the cause.

What have been the most rewarding and most challenging aspects of entrepreneurship?

Being an entrepreneur is very rewarding. I’ve learned more about myself and how I drive my passion. I love hearing or reading feedback from my customers. Good or bad, it is all used for growth. My biggest challenge is being a sole entrepreneur. I am my own marketer, promoter, and creator—name it and it is all done by me. However, I do try to take these challenges to help build on my business skills.

If someone is interested in transitioning to natural skincare products but doesn't know where to start, what would you recommend?

I would start off with a body butter. A body butter is a great product to help moisturize the skin. When your skin is moisturized it feels and looks better. The more you use it the better the results. After a few months, conduct a test body butter versus a traditional body lotion. What customers have shared with me is that their skin feels weird after using a lotion. The lotion does not last has long as a body butter and their skin feels less moisturized. I call this the skin detox.

You’re in graduate school, raising a daughter, and running a small business. How do you balance your career and your personal life?

Sometimes I do struggle to keep everything balanced. As a single mother it is a thousand times harder. I love each area of my life and each of them needs my time. My best friend is my journal and calendar. I do not leave my house without it. Sometimes I wonder if I have an obsession because I have bought so many. I’m human and sometimes I get lost in what I am supposed to do, so, I write everything down. I’m also learning how to prioritize and understand the difference between urgent and important. We need to learn how to find balance in our life. If we do not take care of ourselves, then we will fall apart. My goal is to avoid this. My calendar helps me to make space in order for me to provide self-care. Other times, I tell myself ‘today is dedicated fully for my daughter.’

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned about yourself since starting your own business?

The most important lesson that I’ve learned about myself since I started my own business is my dedication, determination, passion, and love for learning and creating. I absolutely love what I do. I can’t stop researching on how to naturally and organically improve ourselves. I shock myself that I took what I love to do and became an entrepreneur.

What’s next for you and Natural Love?

The next step for me and Natural Love is to continue growing. I have learned along the way that Self-Care and Self-Love is very important. I want to bring them together and continue to make products that helps all of us (men and women) feel good about ourselves. I also planning to have my products available in stores, so I’m currently looking for that right place!

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Becky Holder is a content contributor for JUGs and works in education. In her free time she looks for the next best cup of coffee and great food. Follow along @rebeccalizholder on Instagram.