Busy mompreneur Khaki Paquette has a two-year-old daughter, an 18-month-old skincare line, and another baby on the way! In this interview, she shares her passion for self-care, the pitfalls of mixing face cream in your own kitchen, and why Newburyport was the ideal place to launch her all-natural skincare business. Meet Khaki Paquette of Face Food Natural Skincare Studio!
Macaroni Kid Newburyport: So, what drives a sensible woman to start her own business with a six-month-old at home?
Khaki Paquette: I'd been working as a licensed aesthetician since 2007, but what really turned me on to all-natural skincare products was moving to Seattle with my husband for a couple years. I worked at a beautiful spa in downtown Seattle that had a more holistic vibe, and I learned a lot about essential oils and other natural ingredients. I also worked with raw shea butter for the first time and totally fell in love with its healing qualities.
We moved back home and I had Lucy, and when it was time to go back to work I found that things just didn't feel the same. I couldn't find that niche that I had enjoyed in Seattle. That's what spurred me to start my own skincare line, playing around with shea butter and other materials. I jumped headfirst into it - researching, coming up with different formulations, using trial and error to test things out. I was definitely my own guinea pig!I've always been dedicated to skincare, and I enjoy creatively using my hands. I just needed something that was mine, something for my own mental health. I also like to feel like I'm contributing to my family financially. So I opened my Etsy shop in January of 2014 and things just took off from there.
MK Newburyport: Took off how?
Khaki: At first I was just making raw shea butter balms with essential oils in a product line called Khaki's Bomb Balm - just a silly name that would stick in people's minds. My name is very memorable, too. My dad grew up next to a little girl nicknamed Khaki and I guess it stuck with him!
In any case, the name "Khaki's Bomb Balm" stood out, so I've continued to use it even as the line has matured to include facial care. That's what I'm really interested in. Creating a body butter is simple: it just has to be moisturizing and smell good. It takes a lot more effort to formulate a successful facial care product. People are much more particular, for one thing - you're putting it on your face! - so the question is, what is this product really going to do for the skin? Everything has to be just-so to get the results you want.Now I have to tell myself, "Stop coming up with new products!" That's what's fun - coming up with an idea and experimenting to see what works. It's so rewarding when I find a new formulation for a product. I recently added an all-natural Bug Bomb bug spray to my line.
MK Newburyport: How did you balance such a fast-growing business with the demands of a caring for a baby?
Khaki: In the beginning I was doing everything from home, which was totally insane. Everything was everywhere - the kitchen and dining room especially. I was making all the products out of my house and it was totally taking over.
So I made a schedule. I put my daughter in daycare two days a week, and I really dedicate those two days to getting stuff done. Otherwise I'd be working all the time!
This past February I realized that I really missed that interaction of working with clients doing aesthetics, so I had this crazy idea to find a space outside the home where I could formulate the products and also have a skincare studio where I could offer my own line of exclusively all-natural skincare services. I do a variety of facials for all skin types, plus facial and body waxing (click here for a service menu).I really like taking care of people, making them feel nice, and now that I'm a mom I realize how important this kind of self-care can be. Skin health is also about mental health - taking time to do something for yourself that makes you feel beautiful. It's the mental break of being taken care of instead of always caring for someone else.
MK Newburyport: Do a lot of moms buy your products?
Khaki: My core customer base ranges from mid-20s to early 60s, but I do see a lot of moms who start going all-natural for themselves because they're more concerned about the products they use on their kids - avoiding toxic ingredients, etc. New moms especially - once you get pregnant you really start thinking about that stuff. You have this person inside you, and everything you ingest is one way or another making it to your baby.
Also, I frequently sell my products at the Newburyport Farmer's Market, and I've noticed that people in the Newburyport area seem to be particularly attuned to buying all-natural, buying organic, and buying local. The small businesses here are truly each other's cheerleaders.
MK Newburyport: How are you going to handle your upcoming maternity leave?
Khaki: I currently have an employee to help make the products and ship orders, and I may be hiring an aesthetician to take appointments at the studio during my maternity leave. I know I'll come back when I'm ready!
Face Food Skin Care Studio is located at 37A Pleasant St., Newburyport, between Just Dogs and Denise's Flowers. The studio is open Thursday and Friday evenings and Saturdays (by appointment only). Call 978-697-2590 to schedule a complimentary skin analysis. Follow Khaki on Facebook and Instagram to find out when she'll be at the Newburyport Farmer's Market.
Book your first facial by July 31 and receive 20% off! Call 978 697-2590 to make an appointment.
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NOTE: Macaroni Kid Newburyport received compensation in exchange for conducting and publishing this interview.
Are you a mompreneur or dadpreneur? Email emilycowan@macaronikid.com to find out how you and your business can be featured here!
