WHEN DID YOU BECOME A VEGAN
I became vegan in May of 2015, after trying and failing twice before earlier that year. I had been vegetarian for about eight years before that!
WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO BECOME A VEGAN?
My decision to go vegan was actually the end result of several different decisions – several different resolutions I made. I had been educating myself about the dairy industry and figured that the logical next step toward a “kinder” lifestyle was to not support it by purchasing and consuming its products. I also wanted to be kinder to myself – animal products tend to be full of saturated fat, cholesterol, and/or hormones, none of which your body needs in that kind of excess! Oh, and I was converting my business over to being 100% vegan during that time as well (when I opened my shop, most of CFC’s products contained beeswax), so yes, the logical next step was for me, myself, to go vegan!
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START YOUR COMPANY
I had been buying and using exclusively cruelty-free beauty products for the past two years, since 2012. However, I was having trouble finding brands that both had “clean” ingredients and were not exorbitantly expensive! This seemed fundamentally silly to me…because no one should have to pay more for a product with fewer/simpler ingredients, you know? I was also stuck at a low-paying corporate retail job that made me miserable. Having always been a creative individual, I really wanted to try my hand at crafting and selling cosmetics – hopefully, it would be a fun way to bring in some extra cash. So I started researching, DIYing/experimenting, and taking photos…several months later (in 2014), Clean-Faced Cosmetics was born!
WHAT PRODUCTS DO YOU OFFER?
CFC offers organic, cruelty-free, vegan cosmetics. Each product is made with ingredients that you can both pronounce and count on your fingers! Many of my bestselling products are “staple” products, such as black mascara, black eyeliner, and foundation, but I have quite a few “wildcard” products as well that aren’t as traditional (moss green tinted lip balm, anyone?).
HOW CAN OUR READERS USE YOUR PRODUCTS WHEN PLANNING THEIR NEXT EVENT?
CFC offers wholesale for party favors, etc. If you are interested, please send me a message on Etsy for more information.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WITH HAVING A VEGAN COMPANY?
Sourcing my ingredients is always challenging! For example, just because something is cruelty-free does NOT mean it is vegan, and vice-versa. I am also trying to transition CFC to zero-waste right now, so that’s a whole new challenge – you really don’t realize how much plastic packaging is in our everyday life until you try to avoid it completely!
HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THIS CHALLENGE?
I always make time to do my research. As of late, I have been asking for – and receiving – a TON of help from CFC’s fans on Instagram! Right now, I communicate regularly with a very dedicated group of zero-waste fans, all of whom I am very grateful for.
WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE FOR YOUR COMPANY?
Good question! I would very, very much like for CFC to be completely zero-waste one day. I want to start a new trend in the world of cruelty-free cosmetics. I want to promote reducing, reusing, and recycling in addition to animal rights.
WHERE DO YOU FIND YOUR INSPIRATION?
I tend to be inspired by the concept of minimalism – or maybe it’s the constant need to save time in my morning beauty routine or space in my small bathroom; I don’t know! Anyway, my cake mascara is a good example of this – the product also functions as eyeliner and brow filler and, unlike vintage cake mascara, you do not need to add water to the product before applying! It’s been my bestseller since day one. I’m also constantly inspired by my customers and the wonderful feedback they provide!
IN ONE SENTENCE, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL AN ASPIRING VEGAN ENTREPRENEUR?
As clichéd as it is, do not be afraid to just take baby steps – starting a vegan company is NOT easy in a society like ours, where animal exploitation is, unfortunately, so prevalent in so many industries – do not be afraid to take it one challenge at a time for the first few years.
WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE?
Although there isn’t one specific experience that sticks out, customers with extensive skin allergies and sensitivities will often tell me that, thanks to CFC, they can finally wear makeup all day comfortably! Hearing these stories always makes my day.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT YOU WOULD LIKE OUR READERS TO KNOW?
CFC currently has 80+ products listed on Etsy; however, I am always happy to do a custom version of anything – just shoot me a message if you want products made just for you!
