Back when she was strutting down runways for the likes of Balenciaga and other high-end designers and couturiers, Hope Smith became fascinated by the fashion industry’s obsession with makeup over skincare. She delved into skin histology (the study of the derma or skin), and funded her esthetician license with modeling.
Then, Hope’s world and career expanded exponentially in nonclinical settings. But eventually, during her first pregnancy, Hope was faced with products with ingredients that could not meet her high standards. Hope was able to draw upon what she called her “10,000 hours of research on stretch marks, raw ingredients,” and she “formulated batch-by-batch” the products she needed, as she told Violet Grey in an interview.
To become a successful entrepreneur, a person has to have deep industry knowledge. Hope had already reached her 10,000 hours, that “critical minimum” amount of time, a person needs to achieve mastery, according to Malcolm Gladwell in his book Outliers. Hope was prepared to take on the role of entrepreneur. She knew her medium, her audience, and she knew what she wanted.
After all, Hope launched her first business when she was a 20 year-old newly-minted esthetician, opening a medical spa in Texas while modeling full time. She knew what it takes to go from an idea to a fully fledged product or business.
How to be Your Own Boss
“Your passion is your purpose,” Hope told a New Beauty editor.
Hope was asked to share a career counseling tip as the CEO and founder of MUTHA™ in New Beauty’s celebration of International Women’s Day 2021. Hope and other inspiring business leaders in the beauty and wellness industry dropped some inspirational advice for aspiring female entrepreneurs.
According to Forbes, if you want to be your own boss, then get used to also being “a business owner, evangelist, professional fundraiser, negotiator and big deal maker.” Because, even if you have a great idea or product, you need to be able to communicate that and execute it or partner with people who can. That’s just step one.
Step two is “become an expert.” That’s a piece of advice straight from Hope’s husband Robert F. Smith, one of the most successful business leaders in the U.S. As Forbes puts it, ask yourself if your idea solves a problem that you are passionate about fixing.
Hope’s advice as an esthetician
In August 2021, Hope took some time away from the lab, her office and her four children to get back to her roots as an esthetician. She answered questions about skincare, ingredients and MUTHA™ products from her followers on Instagram. Here’s a quick look at what she had to say:
Q: What is your must buy MUTHA™ product for breastfeeding new moms?
Hope: “After pregnancy, body oil is a go-to for skin hydration and elasticity. If you can try two, I recommend the body set (Butter & Oil).”
Q: Heard HA is a gimmick & the real hero is ceramides, is this true?
Hope: “Ceramides are amazing for creating a healthy skin barrier and are super hydrating! HA is very effective at alleviating dry skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.”
Hope: “After pregnancy, body oil is a go-to for skin hydration and elasticity. If you can try two, I recommend the body set (Butter & Oil).”
Q: Heard HA is a gimmick & the real hero is ceramides, is this true?
Hope: “Ceramides are amazing for creating a healthy skin barrier and are super hydrating! HA is very effective at alleviating dry skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.”
What’s a Ceramide? And that other thing?
We would never leave you in the dark! Here’s a brief explainer:
Ceramide NP and Hyaluronic Acid (HA) are hydrating ingredients in MUTHA™ Body Contour Serum. Ceramides are already part of our skin and help it create a barrier to retain moisture. Ceramide production can slow as we age. Hyaluronic Acid is also naturally present in our bodies. According to Harvard’s Health Blog, it’s a “humectant — a substance that retains moisture — and it is capable of binding over one thousand times its weight in water.”
Combining these two with other natural high-quality ingredients makes skin look and feel refreshed and supple.
Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs
If you want to be a boss like Hope, and who doesn’t, here are a few tips to get yourself lined up to be your best.
- Before you do anything else, make sure you are hydrated. Seriously though, staying hydrated is a basic-level commitment to wellbeing, and it also happens to reduce wrinkles. You want to be grounded before you “startup.”
- Second, become an expert. Learn everything there is to know about what you want to do, Then, learn how to talk about it. Never overlook communication. You might have the best idea in the world, but if you can’t get it out of your head to present it in a way that sparks for others, it’ll be hard to get it realized.
- Third, take care of yourself. There is strength in valuing yourself and giving yourself space. And when you are strong, you can help others and really be present for your family. And that’s the best thing in the world.
Want more inspiration? Read about Hope’s business journey.