Beauty and the Boss Babes

What I love about being part of YWiB is the positive support. No matter what you want to accomplish, learn or focus on; women are fully supporting women. Girl Power if you will.

Speaking of Girl Power, I want to share two awesome Boss Babes in the Beauty Industry: Laura and Connie of NIU BODY.  NIU BODY is a 100% natural, vegan, and cruelty-free skincare company based in Toronto. They offer affordable and effective skincare without the fancy fluff. Since launching in March of 2017, the line consists of makeup remover oils, toning mists, serums, clay face masks, and lip polishes. An exciting new product is also coming soon, which we can’t wait to check out!

The story behind NIU BODY started in 2016. Laura had this amazing idea for a natural, coconut oil-based makeup remover wipe but couldn’t find one on the market. She was looking for someone to run the idea by, and a mutual friend recommended she chat with Connie because she was the ideal consumer (Connie is into wellness, skincare, and all things natural). The girls had dinner which turned into a 3-hour business meeting. By the end of the night, they agreed to partner and start NIU BODY.

If you are interested in trying some of NIU BODY’s products, Glow Luminizing Facial Serum is their best seller. It contains organic jojoba oil (to minimize the appearance of pores), organic camellia seed oil (packed with antioxidants and Omegas), organic bergamot essential oil (a citrusy scent that relieves stress), and Vitamin E. It’s extremely light weight, moisturizing, and absorbs quickly, leaving your skin radiant and bright. Pro Tip that Connie and Laura learned from one of their customers is to use their serums before applying makeup, to give your skin a dewy, youthful look! Connie’s fav product is the Awake Rose Toning Mist. It’s perfect for travel, post-workout, or just as a mid-day refresher. She’s a sucker for floral scents –  and bonus points for reducing skin pigmentation.

Since we are on the topic of  beauty, I couldn’t help but ask Connie for some skin care tips. Connie says it’s important to develop a skincare routine that works for you. It’s great reading from different magazines and blogs on what products work for different celebrities or influencers, but at the end of the day, you know what works best for your skin.  She also suggests sticking to something simple and preferably natural that you know you will be able to accomplish (i.e. never go to bed with makeup, always wear sunscreen) and you’ll see the results.

Now, for those aspiring Girl Bosses out there this is for you. If you are looking to start your own business, Connie’s advice to you is to have confidence. She thinks a lot of women don’t give themselves enough credit (she’s guilty as charged!) and set smaller goals as a result. When she first started NIU BODY, her original target was just to sell one product to someone who wasn’t a friend. Looking back, it seemed like a ridiculously small goal that Laura and Connie quickly surpassed. Connie also says to set your bar high, vocalize your dreams, and smash those goals!

Connie’s most rewarding part of having a business is hearing such positive feedback from NIU BODY customers. She and Laura were at a market in the fall, and a girl came up to them to show how her skin had changed after using NIU BODY for a few months. She explained how it had boosted her confidence and she needed to share her positive results. Laura and Connie received a message from a customer in BC, praising NIU BODY’s clean products and revealing that before NIU BODY she had such a difficult time finding affordable but also good quality, natural skincare products. Connie says “it sounds cheesy, but moments like this are what keep us so motivated!”

After learning about NIU BODY from Connie and exploring NIU BODY’s natural and affordable products online, I was tempted to try a couple of products myself. With an education and background in beauty, I had more than one reason to add a few items to my cart and proceed to checkout!

The excitement of having a package arrive gives me all kinds of feels; like a kid ready to open their gifts on Christmas morning, which I know some of you can relate to. When I opened the package I loved the message card from Laura and Connie themselves hoping I’ll enjoy their products, and a brief background on what NIU BODY has to offer. I was even more excited to try my new skin care products that evening.

Product number one was the Detox Green Clay Mask. The mask contains kaolin and French green clay and green tea extract that draws out impurities and oil and leaves your skin detoxified and purified. What’s cool about this product is it’s in a powder form. All you have to do is mix a few drops of water to get that mask like consistency and voila, you have yourself a facial mask. I loved how it was easy to apply and it helped with my congested skin.

Calm Lavender Toning Mist was product number two. I have a soft spot for lavender scented products and my bucket list consists of a walk in a lavender field, so naturally this product was a must try. The toning mist has a blend of lavender floral water, aloe vera and witch hazel. When I tried it for the first time, it was love at first smell; I felt like I was walking in lavender fields already! Both products are now a staple in my skincare routine. I always appreciate affordable skin care products that contain natural ingredients.

Thank you Connie for sharing NIU BODY’s story, your recommendations and advice on being a Beauty Boss Babe.  NIU BODY is located in Toronto, You can purchase their products here and from their stocklists.

 Written By: Margaret Saliba