The GLAMOUR Women’s Month Series is an ode to women who are following the beat of their drum and doing it successfully.
For Women’s Month 2020, Glamour will be empowering and celebrating the achievements of our strong South African women. Since arriving on the local beauty scene in 2018, CEO and Founder of boutique beauty brand Chick Cosmetics Nomfundo Njibe, has opened up and diversified the industry. Take a look at the insightful Q&A with Nomfundo Njibe below.
In light of Women’s month, is there a woman in your life or industry who positively impacted you in your career/business? How?
My mom, because she has been everything to me. She supported me at every important decision in my life. Internationally, a lot of women have set the bar and I’m inspired by all of them, I love Oprah, Pat McGrath, I love Anastasia from ABH and I love what Emily Weiss has built at Glossier.
What was the most difficult obstacle you had to overcome as a young entrepreneur?
Funding is our biggest challenge at the moment because we are bootstrapping. Every businessperson knows you’ll need a steady flow of funds, especially in early stages, to turn those ideas into reality.
As a modern African woman, who is a powerhouse in her own right, how do you manoeuvre the African expectations for what Africa believes a woman should be, particularly in countries that are rooted in patriarchy like ours?
I would love to live in a world where behaviour traits are treated equally. Male leaders are viewed as decisive and women leaders are viewed as bossy or men are confident, and women are controlling. I don’t want special treatment, but I want to be judged based on my capabilities, not my gender.
Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to get into the beauty industry or simply become an entrepreneur?
Be your own biggest fan. If you don’t truly love your own product or believe in your own brand, people will know. Focus on growing organically. Trust yourself. Consistency is key.
What is your daily skincare routine?
I wash my face every morning and every night. I use different kinds of product depending on how my skin is doing, so sometimes it’s just about taking off the make-up, sometimes it’s exfoliating. I love serums, my favourite at the moment is our Glow Boost Serum. I apply a moisturiser-face oil-sunscreen, I mist and go!
To you, what is the most beautiful thing about being a woman?
I love the complicated existence of women. We have so many beautiful parts of ourselves that we often don’t take advantage of of...and the moment we take the time to get to know ourselves, we find something new and beautiful about us. I consider the strength women have as one of our biggest assets. The fact that we can birth children -- not just one but multiple -- and then bounce back, while conquering so many other things, shows the genetic and spiritual strength we possess.
Do you have a few tips to caring for your skin at home during lockdown?
Follow a proper cleansing routine even if you're at home all day.
Moisturise - not only your face but your hands too. We all know how imperative it is to wash our hands, especially now but, this excessive washing also leads to very dry hands. It’s very important to stay moisturised.
Don’t Skip The SPF- Just because you aren’t going out in the sun, doesn’t mean you need to ditch your sunscreen. While it should be used throughout the year, applying sunscreen indoors is also a must if you want to avoid sun-damaged skin. Think about it—your glass windows aren’t a shield from the sun’s UV rays. These harmful rays can penetrate through the glass and affect your skin causing wrinkles, fine lines, and other skin damage.
Slow down on processed food - Your skin is the mirror of your internal body. A healthy body and rested mind leads to glowing skin, there is no shortcut to that. The aim of the lockdown is to fight the infection, hence, at this time it is all the more important to have food packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Make use of home remedies - Although not every ingredient in your home is suitable for your skin. There is no better time to make use of all the DIY Youtube tutorials you watched than during the quarantine period.
Hydrate by drinking adequate water and get enough sleep!
Tells us more about the inspiration behind the SKINBAR collection?
There has been a major shift in beauty from colour cosmetics to skincare. The rise of a more knowledgeable consumer is starting to impact the industry as a whole as consumers are becoming more focused on a skin-first approach to results-driven beauty. We wanted to create products that spoke to our audience who are and also worked well for them.
How has self-care contributed to the woman you are in all facets of your life?
Self-care has taught me the importance to take good care of your body, mind, and should every day. As a busy woman, learning how to find balance by eating right, exercising regularly and still making time for myself can be challenging. I’m glad to have had that wakeup call that made me stop neglecting my mental health in pursuit of success.
What does Women’s Month mean to you and what would you like to be done to push or commemorate this month?
The fundamental purpose of obtaining complete gender equality for women in the world has still not been accomplished. A gender pay gap persists across the globe. Women are still not present in equal numbers in business or politics. Figures show that globally, women’s education, well-being and violence towards women is still more severe than that of men. South Africa is highly ranked in violence against women; crime against a woman is committed every three minutes. I think a day is still not enough to appreciate what women go through just to stay alive. I particularly hope that this Women’s Day will be the start of greater shared understanding and action on behalf of all women.
