Dana JacksonBeneath Your Mask
Dana Jackson started Beneath Your Mask after she battled a severe form of lupus. Her goal has been to create safe skincare made with rich, natural ingredients that support the immune system and overall health.
What drove you to start your own brand? Have you always been an entrepreneur? After being diagnosed with lupus and lupus nephritis, I wanted to repair the damage done to my skin and hair in a way that was non-toxic and not going to challenge my immune system further. I began crafting products to help my condition. Eventually I wanted to share them, as well as my story, with others going through the same thing. I haven’t always been an entrepreneur; I ran other people’s businesses, though, and knew it was preparing me to do it for myself one day.
What’s your favorite product in the line? This is really hard as they’re all my babies, and I have different phases where I use one more than the other. If I had to choose, I’d pick Heal Whipped Skin Soufflé. It’s the product that started it all. I formulated Heal in my kitchen in 2012 to combat the dark purple stretch marks I got after gaining 100 pounds in water weight from lupus and the extremely dry skin I had from chemotherapy. It worked like nothing else I’d tried, and it truly has a cult following.
What’s the very first thing you do when you wake up?
I’m currently on an extensive supplement regimen, so the first thing I do when I wake up is drink warm water with apple cider vinegar and collagen.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I’ve always wanted to experience living abroad, and my ideal life would include me living in a few other countries for a while. First up is Bali.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about starting their own business?
Start with one product. Work out all the kinks in packaging, formulation and branding with one SKU.
The Founders Series
Learn how some of the beauty industry’s most dynamic entrepreneurs find inspiration and develop must-have products as they share their advice for aspiring business moguls and much more.