Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and beauty but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Steven Bullon, CEO of SCENS Skincare, located in Barcelona, Spain.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

SCENS is an organic & vegan skincare brand offering natural, vegan, high-quality, gender-neutral cosmetics to both business professionals (hotels/resorts spas, esthetician centers, etc.) and end-consumers.

Our products hold really high percentages of active ingredients in order to concentrate the potency and effectiveness of our formulas. We are 100% VEGAN. Absolutely none of our ingredients are animal-derived, and we do not test on animals. OF COURSE!

Our customers cares about animals, the environment, and sustainability. We use as much recycled materials as we can and have eco-friendly premium packaging. We have a minimalist approach with few references for an easy, efficient routine. We are 100% natural with certified vegan ingredients. We are free of GMOs, Parabens, Sulfates & Silicones, Fillers, and artificial colors.

Tell us about yourself

I am originally from France and Spain. I worked in the luxury Beauty Industry in Paris for years before creating SCENS. I often suffered from dermatitis. I was frustrated with not finding any cosmetic products that were natural, vegan, organic in spas to get treatments routinely. I also wanted effective products with lasting results that really treated the skin problems, not just offering superficial results. I also love animals, so I mixed my needs, my work experiences, and what I loved. Et Voilà. My idea was born.

I wanted an effective vegan cosmetic brand with high-quality natural ingredients proven for their potency and effectiveness on the skin. I wanted a professional and consumer genderless brand that would deeply treat the skin. It was difficult to fight against regular standards, but I believed in my choices, and I do not regret it. SCENS started a handful of years ago and is already well professionally recognized and available in 5-star spas around the world.

With perseverance, SCENS started to become a standard in professional luxury skincare and was requested by end customers to maintain the results between esthetician appointments. So logically, we are also launching our products in the retail channel.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Seeing SCENS growing worldwide and being recognized the way I envisioned my brand would be is very exciting and the biggest accomplishment. I am glad to see that people appreciate quality and not just marketing. I am glad to see that people are willing to contribute to the health of our environment by using good products instead of chemicals. I am glad to see that beautiful resorts, known to be very selective, recognize the quality of SCENS and want them in their spas.

Since we are a very young company, I am glad we survived and even continued to grow during the difficult time the world had the last two years due to COVID.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Rapid expansion and traction are great but are difficult to manage and handle. As a small business, human resources are limited at the beginning. Everyone wears several hats, but there are still only 24 hours during the day. There are plenty of challenges to overcome, such as production, cash flows, customs, and shipping constraints, you name it.....

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Things will not always go the way you want or plan. That's ok and normal. Adjust to what comes along, even if it is not exactly what you wanted.
  2. Be patient and organized. Do things one by one.
  3. No matter what happens, as long as you fight for what you believe and like, you will not have any regrets. Take the time to breathe and enjoy the ride no matter what happens.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Look for external information and outside feedback. Sometimes we get too close up on our own ideas. Also, use the internet. It is a great source nowadays. You can find information on small businesses, classes on things you need to learn, ideas, challenges, and experiences from other entrepreneurs. It will help you go.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: http://www.scens.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScensSkincare/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scensskincare/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/scensskincare/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/scens-skincare/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.