By Rita Okoye

 

 

 

Indeed the importance of skincare can’t be over looked especially for women.
Oluchukwu Victory Ngozi, a Linguist, an Aesthetician and founder of Gleam Skincare Nigeria shares her four years experience as a skincare expert, her challenges in business and misconceptions of clients.

Why did you decide to start a skin care range when there are so many brands already in the market?
I started my beauty product line because it’s something I have always loved doing and I have a passion for.
I see people everyday from different walks of life with some skin concerns, I knew I could help these people achieve the skin of their dreams. I have love for flawless skin and no better thing to do in life than doing what you love to do.

 

How long have you been in business?
I have been in business for over 4 years. We started April 2015.

Who are your clients?
Our clients include anyone that is facing any skin challenge whatsoever. Anyone who wants to make a switch from chemical based products to organic and natural based products, anyone who want to embrace organic body care and people who want to glow in general. Male or female, young or old and within Nigeria, Africa and the world at large. Gleam skincare Nigeria is for you.

How do you source for materials for production?
Our materials are mainly sourced from UAE. We get a few from Paris and Thailand. We prioritize in quality of our products and can go to any length to bring you the best.

What inspired the name Gleam?
When this idea was born, I wanted a name that would portray how well an individual would appear when using our products. As a matter of fact, I wanted a word that could justify the efficacy of our products thus I came up with “Gleam” which goes a long way to tell you that you’d shine bright, glimmer, shimmer, glow, sparkle when you use the products.

Do you have celebrities as clients?
Yes I do. I have lots of them but I would love to keep their names private.

What are the major challenges you face in skin care business?
Major challenges faced especially at the beginning were competition, capital, logistics etc.
I have faced and still facing challenges as this only makes you better at what you do

How did you tackle these challenges?
I have been able to tackle these challenges basically by innovating and going all the way out. The drive to please my clients makes it even easier. When it comes to competition, I have succeeded in building a very strong clientele base which knows no bound. People now know I’m very good at what I do and this has helped me far and wide.

How can whoever wants to go into the business, start up?
First, I would strongly advice you do it basically because of the love of it. If you have a flair for it, then go for it; because when you face challenges, it’s the love for it that’d keep you going.
Next, get qualitative professional training. I did this twice. One in Lagos, Nigeria and the other in Dubai , UAE not to mention lots of international online classes which I took especially at my beginner stage
Also worthy of note that the research do not end! You have to keep up your research, reading and acquire new knowledge on it daily by this you can always innovate and get better.

How affordable are the skin care products?
Our products are quite affordable especially for the quality we render. Like i said earlier, we prioritize in safety, efficacy and quality of our products

These days lots of bleaching creams are saturated all over the market, what are the major ingredients you use for making yours?
Major “bleaching” creams you find in the market these days are ladened with hydroquinone, steroid and paraben which can cause an adverse effect on the skin especially when used for a long time.
We do not sell bleaching creams. I mean even if you need to brighten your skin, it is recommended you do it the safest and most natural way. our creams are 100% natural and that is exactly what you need for your skin because in years to come, you’d be glad you used natural products.
Active ingredients in our products include bear berry extract, alpha arbutin, kojic, carrot extract etc.
The skin is the largest organ in the body, why not treat it with utmost care? Our products provides you with all the safety you need!

 

 

What’s your advise ladies on how to take care of their skin?
Having a flawless skin can never be over emphasized. Finding the right skincare products and routine can be an overwhelming and intimidating experience. Good news is we are here to help you through it.
I’d advice every lady out there to know her skin type first either dry skin, sensitive skin, oily skin etc (we have products for all skin types) and use products suitable for you.
Always follow the ABCs of skincare routine which is cleanse, exfoliate , moisturize. I won’t be able to go into full details on this but these are some of the things we educate our clients on and of course been our client comes with a lot of benefits.
Finally, I want to encourage everyone reading this to opt for organic and natural skin care products, it comes with overwhelming benefits for your skin, wellbeing and health in general and you’d be very happy you made the choice in years to come.

What would you have done differently if you are to start all over?
There are a lot of opportunities and decisions I would have made to put my brand ahead of other brands. For example, getting my training in Dubai was one of the best things that happened to my brand, I would have done that way earlier.

Who are some of the people that inspired you and still inspiring you?
hose who inspired me are those still inspiring me today. The likes of Folorunsho Alakija and Linda Ikeji. These women inspire me and motivate me and are part of the reasons I won’t give up.

What motivates you as a businessman?
As a businesswoman, what motivates me is where I want to be. Keeping my eyes on the goal and being hungry for more, I always say no to mediocrity and yes to greatness.
What keeps me going is my vision. When you have very big dreams and plans, you can hardly sleep at night. Eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, what Gleam Skincare Nigeria would be in years to come. When I think of my plans for Gleam skincare Nigeria, I wake up every morning and get to work.

How to you handle your personal and business life, so they don’t clash?
Truthfully, it’s not easy. Often times I get so engrossed with building my brand and forget to have a social life but I try my best to manage both to the best of my ability, leaving work at work and having time for family and friends. Balance in life is always very important and should not be compromised.

What are the major misconceptions you have encountered with your clients concerning creams and its usage?
A lot for this question! Some clients have the misconception that we sell bleaching creams; this isn’t true because our creams are completely organic.
Furthermore, clients want swift results in 3 days! This has been a major misconception and that can only be achieved with chemical products. We always educate our clients on this just to pass on knowledge because once they are aware of the damages this can cause, they’d rather opt for our products. Organic products work wonders, consistency is key.
Another misconception I have encountered with clients is often times, they think once they discontinue our products, they go back to their old complexion, that is not true and that only happens with chemical based products.
With us, whatever your skin concern may be, acne, smoothening, lightening, hyper pigmentation, pigmented knuckles & elbows, moisturizing etc be sure to find the best product to suit that need.

 

Can you talk about the rebranding/relaunching of your product?
For 4 years, we have been empowering individuals across the world through our amazing organic products. We are relaunching Gleam skincare Nigeria in order to serve our clients and prospective clients better.
This time around, we have our products in a redefined look, improved quality and ofcourse with guaranteed better results because our clients deserve the best.
We got promoted to this because we just wanted our clients and prospective clients to get the very best from us, Highly sourced unique and Luxurious packaging and more effective products.

Lastly, what’s your fashion style?
Most times, I love to keep it classy and simple. I love fashion, so sometimes I can go all the way out.