CLEARstem is specifically created to address all of your skincare needs. All the skin help you will ever need is in this one bottle. CLEARstem hydrates the skin while healing acne scars. It also has anti-aging stem cell properties, as well as skin brightening ingredients. CLEARstem’s list of ingredients is organic, short and potent! The two critical ingredients they focus on are green tea and mushroom extract. In addition, CLEARstem addresses skin issues created by PMS and promotes skin healing up to 3x faster all while preventing acne, hydrating the skin and addressing ageing with collagen stem cells. CLEARstem is the best stem cell serum for acne-prone skin that prevents ageing while maintaining skin hydration.
Can you share a typical 24 hours with us, Kayleigh?
I wake up around 7am (unless I am going on a morning hike which then I’ll be up at 5am). First thing I do without a doubt is I brush my teeth, tongue scrape, wash my face and drink a litre of water. It’s so important to wake up and drink water – this is a huge part of what signals the body to start the day, increase production of new blood cells, increases your metabolism, digestions, and ability to absorb nutrients. Brushing your teeth before drinking water is crucial! If not, you are drinking down the bacteria that was building up as you sleep. Then I make my morning detox drink and either stretch, meditate or talk to my husband as he gets ready to leave for work.
Before I’m ready to begin work I review my day so I don’t miss anything then begin to tackle emails and messages on Instagram. I have emails for CLEARstem, my blog, as well as personal so I do a scan through to see what is most immediate and time sensitive. I answer the easiest ones first to give myself a sense of gratification for accomplishing them. I’m big on time blocking so I will typically do that for about 2 hours then take a quick puppy break and walk my dog or play with him and make some breakfast (which is usually eggs & veggies or a smoothie)
In afternoons I have meetings and phone calls lined up. When I get home I do a quick workout and then work on some creative flow such as planning and coordinating the new packaging for CLEARstem, writing blog posts, and answering messages on social media. By this time it’s getting close for my husband to be home so I make dinner and we enjoy a nice evening together without our phones. Sometimes I answer some more emails and messages before I put the technology away for good. I aim for no technology an hour before bed. To wind down I wash my face, brush my teeth, and make a stress-reducing drink to have while I read in bed with my husband. We try to have lights off by 11pm.
Can you talk to us about your career prior to launching ClearStem?
Prior to CLEARstem I was juggling quite a few things! I have degrees in Sports Management, Marketing, and Nutrition. After college I was working in professional sports, then transitioned to College Admissions for High Point University and while I was working there I had my personal Nutritional & Wellness Coaching Business and my Wellness Lifestyle Blog.
As a co-founder, what were the first steps you took launch ClearStem?
My business partner Danielle has a strong background in BioChem and she is also an aesthetician with her own private clinic. When we joined forces she had the contacts with a skincare chemist and I had the background in wellness and nutrition. We worked on developing a product that would be both clean & non-toxic but also truly work for an acne-prone and ageing skin.
How much research did you undertake prior to launching ClearStem to understand the market as best as you could?
Years! We were both already in the market in some capacity. Danielle had been collecting research for years in her clinic and since we are both skincare gurus as well as being acne prone we had year and year of personal research of the market.
Since launching, where can you identify the strengths and weaknesses?
Our strengths are that we truly have an amazing and unique product that you can’t find anywhere else on the market. No one is making a serum or line that combines both acne and ageing properly.
You will see many companies try but they fail to fully understand acne and acne triggering ingredients for the skin. There are many natural ingredients that are still acne triggering that people don’t know about. Our weakness it that it’s currently a team of us! So the workload is pretty heavy and we are both wearing a lot of hats rather than have a team to delegate to.
How are you financing ClearStem? Is it bootstrapped, private funding etc
It’s just us!
Any challenging times you have had to overcome? When were they and how did you learn to overcome them?
Oh absolutely! One of our selling avenues is on Amazon and it’s a beast of its own! It’s an entirely new algorithm for ranking products, learning how to answer reviews properly, restocking in mass quantities – I would say our greatest challenges have definitely stemmed from Amazon!
Have you ever had to deal with any doubts of contention or lack of support from relatives or friends? If so how did you push through?
To be honest, I’ve always gone to the beat of my own drum. My family has always supported me in whatever direction I’ve wanted to go in as long as I am happy!
Have you ever had a mentor, and if so what have you learnt in business so far?
I haven’t had one single mentor but along the way of being an entrepreneur I have met many others and they all have amazing advice, connections, and guidance. I love meeting new people killing it with their own business and when we talk there is always swapping of ideas and tips!
What outlets do use to market ClearStem?
Facebook, Instagram, and Amazon.
What methods are you using to build your audience and expand your network?
We continue to grow organically on Instagram, and take any opportunity possible to speak about CLEARstem at events, workshops, or interviews like this!
What is the best piece of advice you have received to date?
Life doesn’t happen to you, it just happens.
Best advice you could give to others?
You can’t control anything in life, but you can control your attitude towards things and the way you react. Always think about the person you want to be, before acting in any situation.
What would you tell your 18-year-old self?
It’s okay that you have absolutely no idea what you want to do because it will change a million times and continue to. Just go along for the ride, continue to work hard and great things will happen.
What YouTube or online space channels are you watching currently?
To be honest not many! I get way too distracted and sucked into a black hole of YouTube! The only videos I watch are ones that are trending or recommend I watch. I’m a big Podcast listener because I can do other things such a clean, walk, or workout while I listen (and I have my own called Balancing Your Hustle!).
What is a good article or book you have read recently?
Business wise I love the book ‘Starts With Why’ by Simon Sinek. I just finished reading the Harry Potter Series for the first time! It took me about 9 months to get through them.
What does success look like in your eyes?
Being happy with whatever you are doing.
What does #BEYOUROWN mean to you?
No one else can be you. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else because there is no duplicate of you! So just be the absolute best you can be at what YOU love!
Lastly, what is next for you throughout 2018?
We are working on brand new packaging for CLEARstem and coming out with 2 new products I certainly have my hands full here! Lot’s of incredible new stuff to come!
Instagram: @clearstem
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clearstem/
Website: https://clearstemskincare.com
