During my time with this months girl date she made it clear that she has had the most non linear journey…
And I love that she said this because it provided perspective and comfort for all that think the boss life is ever simple. HOWEVER, (and I intentionally put that in all caps…) Chi inspired me most with her seemingly effortless ability to be multifaceted and multitalented literally naming off fifty leven life titles and tasks she was handling at once and with execution!
Hair, Wedding Makeup, Modeling, Masters Degree, PhD Student, Skincare, Mom, Esthetician, Consultations, entrepreneurship, and giving back to the community…
“I always have a billion things going on and I have a daughter too but I am also very detail oriented.”
After COVID hit, the idea for starting her own business came to the table because corporate positions were not providing what she needed post degree. She had been working on formulas since undergraduate which were being kept in a massive binder and ultimately became the products that we all need to get some of (for women and men). Chiquilla is touching our hearts, minds, and senses with her ability to find solutions to our issues and use her creativity at the same time.
Keep reading there is so much more. I leave all of my girl dates with a sense of fullness and this one did not disappoint. Her high energy and radiating intelligence, emotionally and literally had me wanting more (no kidding I had to call her after the zoom call to continue)
And this is how that went….
Tell me about your business…
Chiquilla got into how she started in pre med as a lover of science . There were limited options when it came to the beauty/art industry in college and as a military brat she needed to make decisions quickly. She always wanted to be a doctor and life presented her with a child which derailed her perception of the medical career field completely. She started taking courses in science and botany, learning as much as she could to elevate her knowledge for what would turn into Skin by Chi all while juggling life and side hustles/hobbies.
“I had to take extra classes and at that time because being a full time mua wasn’t a thing so I needed more. My business came out of nowhere, but it was always there and ever since then it’s been a go.”
She ran into a commonly known issue when trying to apply for a corporate job within her field which had everything to do with having the accolades but lacking the experience. So she went to get her Masters in public health while consulting with various companies about makeup.
Multiple opportunities presented themselves for Chi to get involved in the makeup industry but she spoke to the need to do more, add value with the use of her education, and elevate it all.
“I genuinely found a way to combine all the things I love to do into one so I don’t feel like its work. It’s what I love to do.”
Were you intimidated at all in the process?
“It was some imposter syndrome. Certain industries have certain types of personalities and as a scientist I asked… do I really jump into this?” “It took some talking off of the ledge and years of taking notes. When it finally clicked, it clicked because I was literally building this up in my brain up over a decade.”
She dove into conversations she has had with women that don’t “feel” like they are qualified and how she had to tell them to simply take the feelings out of it. Her advice to them….
Write down a list.
What do you know?
What don’t you know?
What can you learn from what you don’t know?
Do you find yourself getting stagnant?
“Honestly… I am very artistic and very creative and I never get stifled with the creativity part. The only thing that ever stops me is a little analysis paralysis which is not a real thing. I have a billion ideas all the time.”
It’s a grind. Everyday I wake up is not a $5k day…I have days where it’s dead.
She went on to discuss her struggles with understanding the ups and downs/ebbs and flows of entrepreneurship and the initial discouragement she faced. What I adore is how she turned the slow days into the opportunity to elevate, upgrade, and learn. This half glass full and gratitude attitude was so inspiring. Then came the church amen moment for me while breaking down how important it is to know when a person is genuinely giving feedback because they want to help or when they are not in your best interest.
“There are really good days and then there are horrible days. Also, I am really intentional about where I spend my time. It’s [about] discernment and being able to make distinctions. I have never in my entire life left a negative comment [on others products}. If I can help, I like to do it privately. I am too busy to be negative”
Chiquilla was so incredibly forward and transparent about the story. As she stated, “we always hear about the come up”, the part that is aesthetically pleasing and seemingly easy, but it is a journey. In her work with community, she highlighted the need to explain to young girls the concepts of delayed gratification and hard work because it doesn’t always happen overnight.
“I think it’s important to know…. I am still scrapping and fighting everyday. I like a challenge…but its like an adrenaline rush. When you do something that is easy it doesn’t feel as special”
Tell me about more about Skin by Chi
“I have everything….”
She listed a multitude of skin safe care products. Toners, serums, oil moisturizers, body toners, butters and she crafts them in a way that makes us all want to take care of our skin better. The convo took a nerdy turn after that and I was in love! Chi broke down the skin organ for us and how it is so incredibly important to take care of our entire body versus the areas that are typically more visible to others.
“I am really big on taking care of the full body. The whole thing matters! The skin is your largest organ… if you walked outside in the rain and you didn’t have skin you would blow up like a blimp. It keeps your absorption levels regulated, your body temperature where it’s supposed to be and…germs out. People look at skincare as a superficial thing…so really my mission is to change that.”
She highlighted a few tips in conversation that I wanted to share…
With age our skin changes so hydration is critical
Skincare is necessary
All women and black women deserve skin care that’s not boring and what’s currently available can sometimes make it seem so
“The package is boring, the experience is boring. Tell me why there’s nothing fun to resolve that. That’s the goal because I don’t want it to feel like a chore. I am a foodie so the inspiration came from food.”
“That should be the number one mission of every business is finding a solution . The bible said there is nothing new under the sun so I’m not the first person, but I am going to try to do it and put my stank on it.”
Are your formulas built based on this?
“Yes”
She discussed a few very common skincare issues that her clients have experienced that directly contributed to her mission at Skin by Chi. Hyperpigmentation, eczema and acne were a few that she highlighted as typical issues that we have to manage with ways beyond pharmaceuticals. Her holistic thought process along with her education is what makes her brand so unique.
Tell me about your morning routine…
“I wake up around 5, but I lay in bed until 6 because I feel like that helps me get myself together. I’ll go through my to do list and get everything together. I write everything down…(she said write it down and make it plain that’s scriptural)…I do read my scripture every day that I study.
After that Chi does coffee, very intentionally gets sunlight, and then its skin care body care time. She explained a routine I have never heard of but quickly understood the purpose in. Separating body care from facial routine was the big takeaway (she offers courses on this entire process go get that). After Chi time she gets to the business which includes, social media marketing, managing organization tools and laboratory time. She gets into full and relentless go mode after that.
“Stand firm and you will win life is gem from Luke I have to remind myself that as long as I keep going I will be fine”
How important is community and women empowerment to you?
“It’s the most important thing. I had a really supportive system growing up but some people don’t have that. So I fill in where I can….when I do have it, I give back.”
Her passion for women in the STEM community and she confirmed how reaching back to support others helps.
“We get beat up on. The last to be appreciated and the first to be asked for something….for us to be beat up by the world so much we need to bring people in”
What is LOVE to you?
“Honestly what I will say it’s about what the word says love is….
Non judgement, gentleness, kindness, sharing knowledge…all of those things for me. I feel like a lot of the times kindness if overlooked and selflessness. True kindness is really selflessness. I don’t mean put yourself behind. It all goes back to kindness. Internally I would say forgiveness.”
Lastly…what do you say to someone that wants to quit…
“What made you start? Write it down!”
There was more conversation and energy after that but if you want more please go follow her. Get your life and get your skin in order and it’s going to look like a literal snack sitting in your space. Again it was the multidimensional, god loving, bossy Inspiration that sets the tone for the quality of service and product you get here. I don’t mean to sound like I am marketing for her but it was truly a soaking and learning moment here for us all to have with Chiquilla. Thanks girl date.
LOVE Charlotte.
