Q&A with the Charlotte sisters who started their own business: Skinvolve
Three sisters from Charlotte are living almost every woman’s dream (especially mine!): They’ve built their own business from the ground up and gotten perfect skin in the process.
The Saleh sisters were born and raised in Charlotte and have combined their Southern roots with their Lebanese heritage to create Skinvolve, which they hope elevates women and helps them to feel bold in their own skin.
A photo posted by @skinvolve on Oct 1, 2015 at 10:09am PDT
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Christine Saleh, who told me all about their upbringing, inspiration and plans for the future.
Q: How did growing up in Charlotte motivate you to get into the beauty world?
A: Well, growing up in Charlotte, we didn’t really have a lot of options for us when it came to skin and hair products. Being Lebanese, we have thick, curly hair and a different complexion than a lot of people. It was really tough to find stylists and products that worked for us. That’s when we turned to our mom and grandmas for their tricks and tips from overseas.
It really inspired us to bridge the gap of Mediterranean culture and customs with the traditions of the South. We’re really proud and thankful for coming from such a strong and warm community. Also, you know, the changes in seasons were important too. The weather in Charlotte is so beautiful, but in the spring and fall it could be 80 degrees one day and 50 the next. Those temperature changes and bouncing back and forth between incredibly humid to very dry can really wreak havoc on your skin.
Bathroom essentials #skinsmarts #ohyesidid #essentials #wokeuplikethis #jk A photo posted by @skinvolve on Nov 4, 2015 at 10:14am PST
Q: I know you’ve probably traveled a ton, where do you feel most inspired?
A: We all go to Lebanon every summer to visit family, which is where we really first got our ideas from. We’re always really inspired by their culture and use of natural ingredients. They’re all natural and raw, things like rose water, cedar, orange blossom, and olive oil.
I also personally love Japan. I went there on my honeymoon and was just so impressed with their design, whether it was in their architecture, food or products. Everything seemed very well thought through and intentional. Their minimalism is something that I value, because everything is still so beautiful. And, their way of combining thousand-year-old traditions with modern styles is something that we definitely try to mimic in our business.
Q: How does Charlotte measure up to all the places you have traveled?
A: Charlotte will always be home for us, so there really isn’t a comparison. Our dad is our Charlotte anchor, he set down roots here and would honestly have everyone living as neighbors on the same street if he had his way.
Q: So, what’s next for Skinvolve?
A: We really want to always stick to our roots and honor that original mission to make things we love and are proud of. We’ll always draw inspiration from our mom and grandma and want to keep those original products that everyone loves. The Body Boost Gel is our best seller and basically intensifies whatever physical activity you’re doing on those stubborn trouble spots.
But, we do have a couple new items which are all handmade in Charlotte coming out that we a super excited about. Our Coffee Scrub is a fantastic addition to your shower. We put in organic oils, salt and of course coffee to help with skin firming, cellulite and soothing skin irritation. We’re also launching from everyday soaps that are all organic and smell amazing!
A photo posted by @skinvolve on Nov 16, 2015 at 9:22am PST
Instagram is their favorite to share pictures of products, inspiration and updates. You can find them everywhere @skinvolve!
How you can be a part of the Skinvolve revolution!
The Skinvolve sisters would love their Charlotte family to help them promote their new range of skincare products by going to this link and referring friends and family they think would love the products.
This story was originally published November 17, 2015 at 7:10 PM.