Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alexis Holman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Alexis, so happy to have you on the platform and I think our readers are in for a treat because you’ve got such an interesting story and so much insight and wisdom. So, let’s start with a topic that is relevant to everyone, regardless of industry etc. What do you do for self-care and how has it impacted you?
Self-care is one of the most underrated, yet essential forms of therapy. Personally, I self-care by taking time away from potential stressors. Long walks and soaking up natural Vitamin D (GREAT for melanated skin!) is one of my favorite ways to self-care. Generally, finding any secluded place in nature helps me destress and is my favorite form of self care. In that space, I can write, sing, journal, read, color… whatever is going to help me mentally step away from the work world and come back to why I do what I do.
I think its almost impossible to be truly productive while stressed, so self-care is important. When I make time to pour into the non-work related things that are important to me, I feel at ease inwardly; like I just hit the reset button and picking work back up will be much more rewarding when it’s time to.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I run a holistic skin care brand called Ancient Path Skin Essentials and founded it in late 2019. There, we focus on the benefits of positive life choices, not just topical treatments and we concentrate on what is best for all skin types. For example, we get a lot of clientele who struggle with acne. But when they reach out to us, we don’t just throw a product at them and say “this’ll work we hope”. We talk about what choices they are making that may be leading to the issue. We discuss external factors like the move to a new area or new stressors, and come up with a plan that will benefit the individual long term, not just in the moment. We have a wide range of products from facial cleansers and serums to perfumes, colognes and rubs for the expecting mama.
My brand is different because my focus is on the benefit of the client, not the benefit of my wallet. Sometimes, the best choice for a person is to give their skin a break from all products, which means I lose a sale. Sometimes a client has a poor mental association with a specific type of ingredient due to a personal trauma, and I take what they say into consideration before trying to offer them something. I take their budget into mind and I notate their goals. Sometimes that means recommending a DIY treatment they can do at home instead. I’m a saleswoman and a CEO, but I’m a person who cares about people before that, which means I’d rather put the needs of the many over the needs of the one.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
One is definitely to always be flexible and willing to learn. I’m constantly learning so much I can apply to to my business from my siblings, parents and leaders. Even after being in business for so long, I value honest feedback–even if it stings a little bit–because it helps my business grow. My community and family keep me focused and encouraged; for that, I am eternally grateful. But their presence and wisdom also reminds me that I don’t know everything and if I’m not willing to learn, I’ll stay stagnant and never elevate.
I’d also say that consistency is something I’ve learned to adopt. I was a professional giver-upper at one point, but eventually, you get tired of complaining about what’s too hard and what you don’t have. I’ve learned that the only difference between those who have and those who have not is those who have did not give up when things got difficult.
The third bit of knowledge I’ve learned would probably be to take social media tidbits with a grain of salt. Consistency is key, but “no days off” isn’t healthy or feasible. One business model doesn’t work for everyone. Your favorite influencer’s path isn’t yours. Failure is an option, as long as you continue to move forward.
One of the best pieces of advice I received was to find your “why”; why do I do what I do? Who is this for? What do I hope to achieve with this? Sticking close to my faith, culture and family are what keep me grounded, but that’s me. I don’t consider myself an expert or a mentor in any way and I’m still growing and learning myself, so the only advice I can offer is find what motivates and drives you and stick close to that while simultaneously opening yourself up to learn from those wiser than you.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal client cares about their total health, not just their skin. My ideal client is not into vain beauty, but enjoys the comforts of living in their own skin and wants to feel more confident doing it. My ideal client sees an issue and does not want a quick fix, they are open to dedicating time into reaching their goals.
Being a holistic brand means acknowledging that a topical problem is typically rooted in an inward problem, be it stress or diet or whatever. We have brands that share our values and core goals that we refer clients out to after a sale, but the client has to be willing to put the effort in to solve a problem long term.
The ideal client is also interested in the way they look and feel and wanting to make that a positive experience. We have a variety of spray and oil-based fragrances that cater to social needs and things like bug bite salves, nausea creams and vapor rubs that help the client feel their best, no matter the season. Feeling confident in the skin you’re in isn’t strictly about your skin care regimen, or lack there of. There are lots of ways to feel like your best self and Ancient Path Skin Essentials is excited to help others find it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ancientpathse.com/
- Instagram: @AncientPathSE
- Facebook: Ancient Path Skin Essentials
