Meet Christina Nimely, the beautiful Ghanaian American entrepreneur who also works in the hospital pharmaceutical industry, the epitome of brains and beauty. Skin by Ame a natural skincare brand was birthed from the entrepreneur’s burning desire to leave her mark on the world and most importantly create a product that would benefit others. Her love of the motherland Africa and interest in beauty fuelled the idea behind the brand. The interesting thing about Christina is she is no ordinary girl boss from her having a full-time job in a completely different industry.
Read our interview below as we discuss the beauty brand and how she balances her 9 to 5 with her side hustle.
Can you tell me a bit about your brand and what inspired you to create it?
Skin by Ame Natural is a skincare brand handmade in Ghana, West Africa. All products are organic, vegan and cruelty-free using ingredients native to the country and from the soils of the earth. As a child of the motherland, I grew up with the scents of cocoa butter, shea butter and coconut oil surrounding me. Whether these natural earth blessings were being used on my skin or on my hair, it produced even toned, glowing skin and full, shiny hair. Skin by Ame is skincare made simplified. I believe in the power of nature and that beauty can be achieved using only natural and organic ingredients that you can eat.
Two years ago, I sat in my 600-hour healthcare internship and thought of how I would leave my imprint on the world. Without second thought, I thought of my white haired, dark skinned maternal grandmother Daa. I thought of home. I thought of Africa and that is how Skin by Ame was birthed. This skincare line was created to make every single person feel comfortable, confident and beautiful in their own skin.
What is your career background?
You will be shocked to know that my career background is quite the total opposite as I briefly mentioned above. I currently work in the Hospital Pharmaceutical Industry and a couple months away from completing my Master of Public Health in Healthcare Management.
Have you always wanted to be an entrepreneur?
It’s funny because entrepreneurship was something I never thought of and certainly did not think I wanted or could do. I was one of the few in this generation content with having a high-level degree, going into work, clocking out and going home. However, in 2017, I experienced this shift in my life where not only did my viewpoint and energy changed but also the things that I valued did as well. With that shift came this immense desire to shape my own future. The idea of making money whilst I slept or working in my pajamas and being the boss was everything I wanted. There is a certain kind of freedom in entrepreneur and it is quite liberating.
Can you tell me briefly about the products and what distinguishes you from other natural skincare products at the moment?
Most of my products have a shea butter base, The Raw Shea Butter, The Raw Shea Rosehip Oil, The Whipped Shea Butter, The Vanilla Whipped Shea Butter, and etc. Skin by Ame also has facial products that include an aloe vera based serum – The Illumine Facial Serum, organic handmade soap – African Black soap and Facial oils like Sweet Almond Oil and Organic Rosehip Oil.
My products are different from other skincare products because it comes straight from the source. They are handcrafted with the purest ingredients in Ghana and imported for packaging. Each jar is set to have quality in every drop.
Are there other women that have inspired you during your journey and why do you think more women are becoming ‘Girl Bosses’?
I truly admire Oprah Winfrey, as many hardships as this woman has battled, she never once let any of them weigh her down, that is inspirational. Girl Bosses have always been present – but now it’s becoming popular because more women are interested in holding the pen that writes the script to their lives.
Where do you see Skin by Ame in five years?
In 5 years, I see Skin by Ame in the homes of many women and men. I see us published multiple times in magazines such as O, Essence, Teen Vogue, Vogue, Health and more. SkinByAme will be a household name that everyone has either heard of or supported.
How would you define success?
Success to me is waking up each morning with a smile on your face and a heart full of contentment knowing that you’ve left you footprint in the world that has bettered the life of others.
You can find the brand on www.skinbyame.com
Interviewed by
Lawrencia Nelson
