Living in the Midwest is special. The people are next-level kind, jobs are readily available and the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well. But, just like everywhere else in the world, it has its cons too. If asked, most aestheticians might say one of the biggest cons is what the Midwest can do to your skin. Fixing their dehydrated and lackluster skin is a common need that Native Atlas owner and local aesthetician Alexia Wambua hears from clients seeking her facials. In 2014, this problem gave her motivation to find a solution. Little did she know her attempt to resolve the dryness and dullness in her own skin would evolve into a skincare line that has gained popularity around the world.
Using her background in aromatherapy and oil blending techniques, Wambua began creating her own oils, and it did not take long for her exceptional talent to be noticed.
“The first time I used a face oil I had made on a client she asked, ‘Can I buy it from you?’ More people started commenting on the oil that I was using on their face, so I started making more bottles and giving some to my friends,” she said. “It took off in a way that I did not anticipate.”
A similar interaction occurred when Wambua’s husband, who is a personal trainer, began using her muscle rub at work. Not only did his dry hands show improvement, but the rub received rave reviews from his clients who wanted to buy the product. Thus began the snowball effect of sales, and Wambua began a dedicated approach to creating Native Atlas.
“Everything is very intentional and not every aroma is for everyone,” she said. “I'm using products that are safe and used at really good levels. You have to be really conscious of that when making products that will go on people’s faces.”
With new bottles in tow, Wambua set out for her first independent beauty expo in Los Angeles. The reactions to her products were highly positive, and she secured her first client, a business out of Hong Kong.
Inspired by the success she has found in wholesale, Wambua is just as overwhelmed by the support in her own city, in both her business and as she grows her family.
“I just love Kansas City. Everybody is just trying to create their dream, and it's really beautiful,” she said. “I have wonderful local retail partners (Clairvaux and Welwythn) and that has allowed me to sustain my spa business and be available to my children.”
With both her facials and her Native Atlas products, Wambua maintains her holistic approach and believes in the power of small incremental changes over time to help her clients achieve their desired results.
“I want to do things that will assist the body and what it naturally wants to do,” she said. “Our body makes oil, so it loves oil. My goal is to get those lipids back on the skin, to get people back to their baseline.”
In a city full of incredible aestheticians, Wambua believes there is an opportunity for anyone to enjoy an hour of relaxation. She strives to meet her clients right where they are, even if their needs go beyond the skin.
“I might have a tired mom on my table, and I get to help her feel like she's just hit the reset button; or maybe, I've got a woman who is feeling the weight of her job, and she gets to lay on the table and just do nothing. I love all of those touch points in my job, and my goal is to make them feel amazing and give them glowing skin,” she said.
All products are available online at nativeatlas.com/
I want to do things that will assist the body and what it naturally wants to do. Our body makes oil, so it loves oil. My goal is to get those lipids back on the skin, to get people back to their baseline.