Simplifying Skincare.
When creating my skincare brand Eléngé, I set out to create a product i would be happy to use both on myself and my children. Something toxic free, safe enough for a baby's skin and beneficial.
Going on to create sustainable, hand made, vegan products that target dry, chapped or eczema prone skin, inspired by my son and work as a facialist and as mother, my products center on the properties and benefits of natural
My story.
Hi, My name is Carine and I am the founder of Eléngé.
I was pregnant with my third child when my son was diagnosed with leukaemia. It was a really bad time and we had to live in the hospital. The stress alone triggered multiple skin issues ranging from acne to melasma. The pregnancy had my hormones going up and down, and I started to get acne on my back. I was so happy when we could take my son home.
I tried every product I could find on my skin to get rid of the acne and dark marks, at the same time I was trying to find products that would heal my son’s skin, as it went extremely dry in the hospital. He had eczema and lots of marks on his legs. Nothing worked for us, I was so frustrated, all the energy it took from me and the money I wasted on so many products.
After researching and talking to my aunt, who advised me to return to the source, in other words, use natural products…''Return to Nature''. That's exactly what I did! I threw out every hair, skin product with chemicals and I started experimenting with different natural ingredients, I also changed our diet at home and started cooking more vegan meals that were healthier.
Eventually, I came up with the recipe for my whipped shea butter and coffee scrub. I started using the products on myself and my son, his dry patches and eczema started to disappear. I had also given birth to my daughter just five months after creating my shea butter recipe. So I started to use my shea butter as a nappy rash on my daughter.
My skin was getting better and clearing up. Soon friends and family started requesting products and when my mother in law gave me her positive feedback, I knew that if my products impressed her, then everyone else would easily love my products. Here I am a few years later with Eléngé: A black-owned, one woman, small business based in London.
Dream it.
I wanted to create a product that I could use on myself and my children. Something that is toxic free and beneficial for your skin and safe enough for a baby’s skin.
I wanted to create vegan products that target dry, chapped and eczema skin. I’m a mum of three and I work as a facialist, I am always washing my hands and using a sanitiser when working with skin. I really needed a product that would keep my hands moisturised and not greasy, that’s why I love Shea butter its just perfect.
Shea butter is something that African women have used for years to help keep the skin and hair moisturised, It’s so easy and fun to work with if you understand its texture.
Create it.
It takes me three days to whip up my shea butter, this is why its has that unique texture.
I hand make it using sustainable methods, so no radiation, as in microwave to melt my shea butter. my shea butter is made in small batches, only 5 ingredients, all natural and organic.
With my shea butter you can customise your own scent, my favourite scent is the lemongrass. The results are a texture so creamy Soft with an airy, silky texture. It’s literally like like rubbing ice-cream on your skin. Whipped and creamy, it melts onto the skin leaving your skin glossy and glowy. The best shea butter experience!
Build it.
Start with what you have and do what you can until you are able to do what you want to do. Find a mentor or surround yourself with at least two people from your industry, YouTube has everything you need to know, the internet is your friend. If you go to a supermarket how many packets of bread will you find from different companies? There are more than ten yet they are all making money. So focus on what you are doing, look at other people to get inspiration but don’t focus on competing as there is space for everyone, however still work hard so that you are visible. There are so many resources available, such as doing your own PR. You don’t need to have everything in place to kick of, Just start from where you are.
Tools, Resources, books & memberships that have & are still helping me on my journey as a business owner.
Positive mindset, lifestyle, books & health videos.
