Meet Founder J. Nicole Baca of J. Nicole Skincare, her signature product, Overdose, is a one-stop-shop for men & women of all ages and skin types who want healthy skin without spending a fortune!
1 | Tell me about your company… What does running J. Nicole Skincare entail on a typical day?
J.Nicole Skincare, and my signature product, Overdose, is designed to be a one-stop-shop for men and women of all ages and skin types who want healthy skin without spending a fortune. Having ran successful medical spas, I was finding that many products were causing skin irritations. I was determined to find a solution for my own skins’ health problems and along the way ended up fixing everyone else’s skin! For me, motivation is fueled when someone tells me, “No”, or, “You can’t do that.” I not only do it, I conquer it and I do it all while looking beautiful!
On a typical day, J.Nicole Skincare is out in the community, looking for new philanthropic opportunities to help children affected by addiction (explained more below) and developing new natural and clean products for men and women who don’t care for chemicals and parabens in their products.
2 | How long have you been working in your field or in business?
I’ve been in the beauty industry for over 20 years. I ran a chain of successful medical spas in my home state of Ohio and here in Santa Monica. The biggest challenge with the beauty business was the lack of affordable products that actually produced meaningful results. I had to use multiple product lines to get the result I needed for my customers. That made it difficult from a financial perspective to provide the service my customers deserved and also very frustrating for the client who expects immediate results. Using six products on your face is costly and complicated. There are just too many unnecessary products. If you understand it , skin care isn’t that complicated. I was determined to fix this problem, so I did not stop until I invented a new technology in skin care. It’s really simple, you hybrid the ingredients so the customer doesn’t have to. Everything is evolving to hybrid now and I needed to make it happen in skincare!
3 | What are some challenges you have faced being an entrepreneur/working your field?
In business, especially a start-up, every day is a challenge. Having an entrepreneurial mindset is key in the sense that you have to have the 3 P’s= Passion, Patience and Perseverance to see it through… even if you are the last one standing. When I created Overdose Face Serum with Bio-hybrid Technology, everyone insisted that I do what everyone else is doing and to just play it safe by following the trends. I don’t follow other people, I set the standard, I create new ideas and inventions. The biggest challenge was presenting this new product to the world. It’s easy to come up with a cream and put your name on it, but I didn’t have the brand recognition yet like the other brands so I had to rely on the quality of my product. That was ok though because I like to compete and I like to win, and I do it all while looking beautiful.
4 | How much has social media impacted your business/career?
A lot, actually. Social media is a very cost-effective marketing tool and a great way to reach your target audience. I’m constantly getting DMs from potential customers who are curious about my product. It’s also a great way to start a conversation with someone who may not be familiar with your brand yet. Social media also “humanizes” brands, making them more relatable, which is great because my product, Overdose, truly is for everyone.
5 | What makes you unique to other professionals in your space or skincare companies?
Because of a tragic situation that is still close to my heart, I am using the hashtag #myskinonoverdose to inspire beauty, strength, integrity. My brand is bold and that’s reflected in our colors, black and red. We’re different because we raise awareness for people that have been affected by addiction.
Also, I have a background in chemistry, business and a member of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, which really helped when launching my line. I’m severely allergic to the fragrances and chemicals found in most over-the-counter beauty products, so I developed Overdose, which is completely clean and natural and contains no fragrances, parabens, or other harmful chemicals that can cause skin irritation.
6 | What advice can you give to millennial entrepreneurs?
Get as far as you can by yourself, whether it’s by bootstrapping, doing the research, taking higher-level educational courses and taking advantage of your resources before seeking additional funding or help. This will force you to learn the ins-and-outs of your industry. Also, you have to have “Grit “and just go! Have no fear. If you believe in what you are creating, it will happen.
7 | What are you currently working on? Any new products or partnerships you can share?
We’ve just developed our signature foaming facial cleanser and It’s Complicated Facial Peel which are also completely clean and natural and perfect for all skin types. They will be available on the site soon!
8 | Bossfidence is all about finding your bliss and building your confidence, how did you know that you needed to branch out from your comfort zone?
If you’re comfortable, you’re complicit, and no innovation or improvements come from complicity. Fortunately, beauty is my background, but the hard part was exposing my product to the world. It took a lot of meetings, networking opportunities and phone calls in order to bring everything into fruition. I’m very social, but of course it’s always a little nerve-wracking meeting with people and sharing your vision. Will they laugh? Will they judge? Who cares! I find my bliss knowing that my product helps men and women who have similar skin problems like myself, and that my brand is serving a greater purpose by helping children.
9 | Who is your biggest influence or inspiration?
My two daughters! One is currently in middle school and the other is in college studying to be a Dermatologist! They’re the bravest girls in the world. They support me everyday and get involved whenever they can, whether it’s modeling for photoshoots or helping with philanthropic efforts. They share the same passion as I do and keep me going every day.
10 | What do you hope to achieve that you haven’t yet?
World dominance! But seriously, I hope to revolutionize the beauty industry by highlighting the practicality and significance of hybrid products. No one has time to apply 10 different, and sometimes harmful, creams every morning and night. Not to mention that can be pretty costly. Overdose is a simple one-step solution to this that literally “overdoses” your skin with every essential nutrient to keep you looking beautiful without breaking the bank.