During the pandemic, many lives came to a standstill and people were forced to re-evaluate themselves and their lives. Some quit their jobs and transitioned to new jobs hoping for better opportunities. Some were fired or laid off. Some were driven to recreate themselves, rediscover an old passion or ignite a new passion, or learn a new skill. And then, some stepped out of their comfort zone and started a business.
Atlanta resident and black-women business owner, Chiquita Zachery of Skyn by Chi was one of them. Not only did the pandemic cause her to shift her mindset, but her skin health took a downward turn which caused her to act on her thoughts. Zachery had to deal with the after-effects of having a hysterectomy at a young age, which led to a hormonal imbalance and a life-altering facial breakout that included serious adult acne issues, dark spots, and acute dryness.
After many attempts at using store-bought products and realizing nothing was working, she researched how she could turn her condition around. Zachery went to work, and after extensive research, she was able to create products that have worked miraculously on her skin and changed her life. Feeling confident about her products, it is her mission to help as many people as possible who are dealing with skin issues as well as people who simply want healthy-looking skin with a vibrant glow. Whatever your skin needs are, she can accommodate you.
With that said, meet Chiquita Zachery, CEO of Skyn by Chi, certified esthetician, wife, and mother, as she shares her story of triumph over skin issues. Here is what she had to say.
During the pandemic, many people started a business. What led you to start your business?
At the start of the pandemic, I was allowed to take an unpaid leave of absence from the airline industry for about 5 months. I was also dealing with the side effects of my hysterectomy, specifically the adult acne and dark marks. I’ve never had serious skin issues prior to my hysterectomy so when I started depending on makeup to hide the dark marks, I knew it was serious. It’s like I could never allow my skin to breathe because I was always covering it with makeup for work. Initially, I took the leave of absence thinking that I would use this time to give my skin a break from the makeup and work on getting my skin back to a healthy state. I immediately started to research ingredients that helped with adult acne due to hormonal changes. Researching ingredients along with the downhill of the airline industry led me to the idea of starting my skincare line.
Tell everyone about your business, Skyn by Chi, and who your products are for? How does your knowledge about skin help you in this industry?
Skyn by Chi is a Black-owned, woman-owned Atlanta-based company dedicated to CBD-infused skincare. The products focus on achieving healthy glowing skin for women and men of all skin types. Skyn By Chi products are cruelty-free, vegan, and formulated with clean ingredients. Natural, affordable, and luxury are what our products represent. After I started my skincare line, I decided to go to school to become a licensed Esthetician. I felt that it was important for my brand that I became knowledgeable about skin. It certainly gives me an advantage when speaking with someone about my products or about their skin in general. I talk like I know what I’m talking about because I actually do.
What skin problems do your skincare products tackle and what are some benefits people can expect when using your products?
My products tackle acne-prone skin, dark spots, uneven skin tone, and oily, dry, or combination skin types. Our skincare products are CBD-infused, which is one of many benefits. I’ll speak on the CBD benefit because many people aren’t educated on CBD-infused skincare. CBD in skincare works as an anti-inflammatory that helps to reduce swelling, pain, and redness from acne breakouts. CBD in skincare is also useful for reducing triggers of eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis.
June is Acne Awareness month, what do you want people to understand about adult acne? Give an example of how your products help acne sufferers.
I would like people to understand that adult acne affects most adults due to hormonal changes. Just like most teenagers who experience acne due to the surge of hormones during puberty, adults experience the same during hormonal changes due to hysterectomy or menopause, particularly in women. Along with incorporating CBD in my products, I made sure that my products were pH balanced, specifically in the cleanser and toner. When products are pH balanced, they will more effectively work with your skin and help balance your skin type back to normal. Most acne sufferers’ skin type is oily with larger pores.
Besides dealing with your skin issues, how did having a hysterectomy at a young age impact your life?
Having a hysterectomy at a young age impacted my life in many ways. I always speak about my skin issues because it relates to my business and how that got started but what most people don’t know is that the first side effect I experienced after my hysterectomy was an unbalanced vaginal pH. This caused reoccurring bacterial infections and yeast infections. I thought my life was over until I found a holistic OBGYN who saved me and got my vagina back balanced. My OBGYN knew exactly what my previous doctor was doing wrong which was prescribing me Antibiotics and Diflucan together. That should not have happened at all. She came up with a 12-week plan and incorporated Boric Acid Suppositories from a compounding pharmacy. I’m good now but I have to stay on top of it by taking my daily probiotics, eating healthy, and drinking water.
What challenges did you have to overcome starting a business during the pandemic? How did you work through them?
I really didn’t have any big challenges to overcome outside of not being able to visit my manufacturer due to Covid restraints. But because my manufacturer is US-based, we were able to keep close communications, and mailing products to test wasn’t a big issue. I actually had nothing but time during Covid because nothing else was going on.
How do you balance working in the airline industry, having your own business, and your family life?
Now that’s a challenge, “lol”. Balance to me means perfect and my life isn’t perfect. Before I started my business, I didn’t have any social media. I did my job and time with my family was what I indulged in. Of course, now a lot has changed and it isn’t easy at all. I have to continuously make a conscious effort to be present for my husband and kids. They are most important and I’m just so blessed that they understand what the end goal is, which makes the process so much easier.
What’s next for you?
I want to open a full-service luxury spa here in Atlanta. My goal is to provide a tranquil atmosphere for everyday people to come to relax and have a luxury facial experience.
How can people follow you?
You can catch up with her by clicking the links: Instagram │ Facebook │Website
Photo credit: Derrick Barnhill
Writer, Debbie Stokes is a contributing writer. Follow her on Instagram @Iamdebbiestokes
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