SKINCARE

Where There’s Where There’s Simplicity, There’s Skincare

2020 has not been easy. Society continues to face unexpected challenges including ideas of separation, isolation, economic instability, and racial injustice. We have seen many small brickand-mortar businesses across the country struggle through closure, bankruptcy, and an unstable future, yet we have seen a flourish in e-commerce. One business to see a major uptick in sales is Beauty N Simplicity. Based out of Quincy, Massachusetts, owner Mavis Hicks made it her mission to provide quality skincare products that not only produce fabulous results, but also a new found feeling of self-love.

In today’s society, many young women struggle with the concept of self-love thanks to the standard marketing practices of the beauty industry. Hicks believes that even just the act of taking care of one’s skin can become a gateway to better self-acceptance.

“Self-care is the ultimate form of self-respect. There are so many reasons that women put other things before themselves, and I feel that it is my charge to have a product that helps women nourish themselves, and reconnect with self-care,” Hicks said.

When Hicks started Beauty N Simplicity in 2015, it was a small operation. It was what Hicks called her summer and weekends hobby. Apart from selling on Etsy, she would often travel with her products to different craft fairs and farmers’ markets. She used her background knowledge in culinary arts to develop her products; using different blends of sweet almond oil, shea butter, and argan oil, she strived to make every product something that allows people to slow down and find inner tranquility. Her products range from the signature whipped shea body butter, to bath salts and facial toners. Her products are even safe for people with preexisting skin conditions, which is what spawned Hicks’ interest in skincare.

“My interest in skincare began in late middle school to early high school. I struggled with eczema. As a young girl, I always had dry skin and skin issues, and I was always searching for a nonexistent cure for eczema. Any type of product that came out on the market I tried, and that fascination carried into my life as an adult,” Hicks said. Although the beauty industry paints a picture of perfection, Hicks uses Beauty N Simplicity as a way to show women that it is not about perfect skin, it is about loving the skin you’re in. The current state of our world has allowed us to rethink societal values, not only through self-care and health, but also through cultural and social change.

On May 25, the Black Lives Matter movement reached new heights when George Floyd was inhumanely killed by Minneapolis police o icers. The media storm that followed brought to light the importance of recognizing and working toward ending racial injustice in America. The pandemic highlighted the importance of supporting small businesses, and in alignment with the Black Lives Matter movement, many people began to turn their interests toward minority-owned businesses. Hicks, a proud African American woman, saw an increase in sales and site tra ic. Although she was amazed by the numbers, what really amazed her was the types of people now purchasing her products.

“The e ects of Black Lives Matter and racial unrest in America has highlighted and brought awareness to many of the African American and minority industries of New England, although they were present years before. Minority businesses needed more support, because most of the time, or all the time, these businesses have great products. It has been wonderful to see the diverse range of women enjoying my products. All women love things that smell good and feel good on their skin, and it’s amazing to go from a primarily African American clientele, to a clientele full of diverse women. It became a new community, not focused on race or skin color, but focused on women supporting women,” Hicks said.

Since her business is more of a passion project, Hicks never cited any major problems being an African American business owner, but it wasn’t always easy emotionally. Balancing a full-time job with pouring her energy into something she loved proved to be a long road to online success. E-commerce is a tough industry to find success in due to its competitive nature. For those thinking of starting a small business, it can be frightening. There is no guaranteed success, and for Hicks it was the same. There were times she wanted to throw in the towel because she wanted to achieve an unattainable idea of perfection, but her loyal customers told her to keep pushing forward and to look toward the future. This outlook is something Hicks wants to share with newcomers to the e-commerce world.

“Just start and see where it goes. Don’t beat yourself up if things aren’t perfect. You have to rely on things progressing over time. Just like life, it naturally progresses and gets better. You have to start and create it. You have the authority over your creativity and business,” Hicks said. Hicks’ passion project has now reached a brand new audience, and she continues to create and empower women of every race, shape, size, and sexuality. She continues to bring the importance of self-care and small business patronage to the forefront of our society. Her dream for the future of the company is to expand to big-box retailers, and to create an even stronger presence of natural self-care in the beauty industry. Hicks is currently working on the formula for an all-natural facial cleanser, which she hopes to add to the collection some time in the near future.

Mavis Hicks is one of the most inspiring women in the Boston area, bringing her clients back to taking care of themselves, and making sure that women are unified and confident in the way they see themselves. With her heart and soul in the business, Hicks wants to make sure that every woman understands her own self-worth, as skincare isn’t just an act to keep us beautiful, it is a window into self-reflection. Although we are surrounded by a pandemic plagued with darkness, businesses like Beauty N Simplicity are constantly reminding us to slow down, take a breath, and make sure that we take care of our bodies, our minds, and our souls.

@thebeautynsimplicity; www.etsy.com/shop/beautynsimplicity

Kiersten Brown