Mother-Daughter Team Create A Skincare line

Nzuri Body Essentials is owned by Brittany Hughes and Adrienne Hughes-Jackson. The mother-daughter entrepreneurs created their skincare line with ingredients that have health benefits and nourish the skin. Photo provided by Felicia Apprey
Nzuri Body Essentials is owned by Brittany Hughes and Adrienne Hughes-Jackson. The mother-daughter entrepreneurs created their skincare line with ingredients that have health benefits and nourish the skin. Photo provided by Felicia Apprey

 Mother-Daughter Team Create A Skincare line

By Tia Carol Jones

Adrienne Hughes-Jackson and Brittany Hughes experienced adverse reactions to popular skincare products and decided to create their own lotions and creams. When they saw they weren’t getting any adverse reactions to what they created, they started handing it out to their family and friends. It snowballed from there to become a skincare line, Nzuri Body Essentials.

Nzuri is Swahili for beautiful.  Hughes and Hughes-Jackson want the people who use their products to feel good about themselves. The brand which includes body oils, body mists, exfoliating body polish, bath and shower gel. The products promote self-care and encourages people to take time for themselves.

“We want you to feel good about yourself and use great, quality products that you don’t have to worry about having any type of reaction, it’s great for all skin types,” Hughes said.

Prices range from $9.97 for bath bombs to $79 for a gift set. The brand started off with a cream and a lot of trial and error, mixing certain ingredients to see if they work. In the case of the cream, they found that by triple whipping it that gave it a fluffier lighter texture. There were a lot of things that didn’t make the cut.

“What we do, before we introduce it to the public, we try it ourselves for a good month or two, just to see how our skin reacts to it, and how we like it and how it makes our skin feel,” Hughes-Jackson said.

They also find different ingredients  then research the benefit it has and why it is good for a person’s skin. One ingredient used in the product is Baobab Oil, which comes from a tree in Africa. It is very nourishing to the skin and hard to find. Using hard to find ingredients is what makes Nzuri Body Essential’s products stand out.
“We do a lot of research, we find different things that can help some of our skin concerns or various concerns we’ve heard from our customers and clients,” Hughes said.

Nzuri Body Essentials tagline is: Create the ultimate spa experience at home, the products are used for people who want to find ways to ease stress and relax. Hughes and Hughes-Jackson preach putting yourself first, creating a skin care routine to make yourself a priority.

Hughes-Jackson suggests people exfoliate -- hands, bodies and elbows -- regularly. Hughes and Hughes-Jackson have run into a number of women who don’t exfoliate or didn’t know what it was. Exfoliation uplifts dead skin cells and allows new skin cells to come through. The result is radiant skin. Using oils and serums can keep skin moisturized throughout colder, drier months. Hughes suggested the Nzuri Triple Whipped Body Souffle, which comes in citrus mimosa, eucalyptus, lavender chamomile, moroccan rose and vanilla lavender.

Hughes wouldn’t pick anyone else to start a business with. She and her mother have learned to respect each other’s roles as business partners. Hughes-Jackson acknowledges that Hughes bring her youthful and young ideas to the business, Hughes handles a lot of the social media for the business and Hughes-Jackson handles a lot of the administrative and legal aspects of the business. It’s easy for them to flow as business partners because they have always been close.

“We respect each other’s role. I’m not intimidated if I have an idea that’s not best for the business, I’m not intimidated or offended if she says, ‘well no, I don’t think so,” then she’ll tell me her reason why. If it’s better than mine and if its works for the business that’s what’s well for the both of us,” Hughes-Jackson said.
To create a spa experience at home, Hughes-Jackson suggests downloading spa music, lighting candles and get away from the everyday stress and struggle.

“It’s just very important that everybody finds that time, whether it’s once a week or a couple of times a month, to just really make themselves a priority, especially their skin. You only get one body and your skin is your biggest organ and it is so imperative that you are taking care of your skin,” Hughes said.

For more information on Nzuri Body Essentials, visit www.nzuribodyessentials.com.

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