Meet Robin Hawkins | Owner & Founder of Blaque Sage Cosmetics & Barbie Dreamz University

We had the good fortune of connecting with Robin Hawkins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Robin, what’s the most important thing you’ve done for your children?
Well, as a divorced single mom of 5 young children, I feel as though, I have impacted my children’s life with persistence. I am showing my children that though my circumstances are not ideal, I do not get consumed with the false reality that this is all I will ever have. I am showing my children that no matter the circumstances, I am still able to get up and follow through with my dreams and goals. Granted, with me holding so many responsibilities alone, my dreams may be delayed, but it is not denied. Every day I try to do something that would take me one step closer to my ultimate goal. They watch me make and sell products, work on my laptop, go to pop-up events, and not do things that distract me from what will make me successful. I am showing my children that I do not have to be a statistic or a stereotype, but I can be more, a trendsetter, a person who has broken years of multiple generational curses to build longevity of generational wealth, My children will then use what they have seen in me, over the years, to than power their own destiny, strength, and courage to create their own success.

What should our readers know about your business?
Blaque Sage Cosmetics, LLC is a sexy luxury brand of beauty & lingerie products. It is a brand that brings the best of both worlds of the importance of self-care and also remembering to feel sexy at the same time. BSC provides homemade hair cream, facial oil cleanser, perfume, & soon lingerie.

My brand is different from other brands because I focus on not just the outer beauty, but the inner beauty. When your inner beauty of feeling sexy & sophisticated is enhanced, so does your outer appearance. I wanted to provide a luxury experience to black women, especially mothers, who have lost themselves in giving their all to their families & careers and forgot themselves. Society says, as a mom, you can’t be sexy anymore and “act like a mom” , well I say being sexy is what made me become a mom. When we start taking care of our hair, skin, & body, we gain the confidence to BE THAT WOMAN.

“A woman without her luxury perfume is lacking her true confidence”-BSC

I’ve been in business for 2years now, and I am proud that I took that time to build and rebuild this brand. I didn’t start out with this vision for BSC. I was following behind the general “cosmetic brand” because I started with selling lashes and lipsticks, however, I got tired of buying inventory that mimics the same brand. So I started researching and had many fails before I finally came to the final products, then I had to test them, and give them away for free or at lower prices just to get accurate feedback. I changed my branding colors & logo to fit a more luxurious and sexy feeling. I started with pink!!!! just like other cosmetic brands, but when I decided on RED. Red is passion & love and BLACK is luxury & power. Those were the feelings I wanted women to create when they see & use my products.

it was definitely not easy, and it’s still not easy. I have made so many mistakes and still do, but I get better every day. I still have to take care of my children and pay the bills alone, and fund my business..bootstrapping for 2 years was a true risk & big faith. I had and still have no clue what I am doing…I am just doing lol.

I would experience doubt, frustration, and discouragement and I would accept those feelings and let them pass through, and while they are passing I would also be feeding my mind with positive audiobooks, affirmations, and self-talks to encourage myself that this is temporary pain for a greater cause.

I’ve learned that you shouldn’t tell everyone your plans because they look at your current situation and judge you based on that. They can’t see the vision God gave you so it’ll be super hard for them to see passed who you are today. So, if that person is of importance to you it may determine whether or not you’ll take action, so you have to definitely have a lot of crazy belief in yourself in order to make the steps toward your dreams.

To The World: I am not your Statistic, I am not your Stereotype

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Hey, Best Friend!

This is the plan,

Monday

we go eat at The HAMILTON on 14th Street NW
we go to Nailbed & Bar for our nails & toes

Tuesday

we go to the Zena Hotel with a hotel pass to spend the day at their pool
we go get drinks, eat & smoke hookah at “Stop Smackin” in NW

Wednesday

we attend the Black Hair Experience
we do a sip & paint at Allure Lounge

Thursday

we go to Van Gognh: the immersive experience
we go eat at the Founding Farmers

Friday

we go shopping at Anne Arundel Mills Mall
we go eat at the Sugar Factory

Saturday

we take the early morning to go to Mckinley High School Football field and sit on the benches and look at the sunrise and the entire city

we eat brunch at Clydes

Sunday

we go to Moechella & listen to the gogo bands and eat at the local black-owned food trucks

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
God.

Without God, I couldn’t even touch the inch of success I have gained so far.

Also,

All of my friends, family, & supporters who continued to encourage me when life got hard & when life got easier.

Website: https://blaquesagecosmetics.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsrobbinn/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4UHEMC6s4OiDJTWScNQtsw

Other: Blaque Sage Cosmetics IG: https://www.instagram.com/blaquesagecosmetics/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsrobbinn