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

Hi Toni, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The premise in which we’ve built Duchess Cosmetics is that we’re all about delivering products that complement your existing beauty … not transform you into someone you’re not. We see beautiful Queens who are more than enough and are not defined by societal standards or trends. Duchess Cosmetics is here to amplify your natural beauty with our hypoallergenic, vegan, and paraben and cruelty-free cosmetics.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’m Toni McEachin, founder of Duchess Cosmetics, a beauty brand for ambitious, goal-getting women who want to enhance their natural beauty with no-fuss, chic, classy makeup that calls in the compliments, wears like a dream, and brings out their inner boss. Whether they’re a corporate exec, a busy mom, or a bustling entrepreneur, our timeless cosmetics are made to give women the confidence to show up as their most bold and beautiful selves. We specialize in paraben-free, vegan beauty products including smudge proof kiss me now lipsticks, flawless foundations, and more. Any entrepreneur will tell you the journey to get where they are today has been anything but easy. Entrepreneurship is often glamorized but requires an incredible amount of tenacity and an unwavering passion for what you do. It’s not for the faint of heart. You’ll question yourself on why you started, why you keep putting yourself through so many highs and so many lows, you name it. When I started Duchess Cosmetics, everything that could go wrong when setting up the business went wrong. I wasn’t able to launch my business during my original timeline. I was discouraged, of course, but I diligently pushed through all those roadblocks. What kept me going through the challenges was my clients’ transformations: how their disposition changed after doing their makeup or putting on one of my lipsticks, for example. They stood a little taller. Smiled a little more. And felt that much more confident strutting into a boardroom as if it were their own personal runway. The confidence, freedom, and newly found boldness they feel from putting on makeup that enhances their natural beauty is what excites me. I love making women feel beautiful. Through those initial challenges, I’ve learned some important lessons: 1. Your clients will tell you what they want from you if you ask and look in the right places. Look at their buying and spending patterns. 2. Articulate clearly what your brand is: your story, your services, and how you solve your clients’ problems. 3. Don’t let challenges stop you from pressing on. You must reinvent yourself everyday as an entrepreneur. Here’s what you should know about Duchess Cosmetics: we enhance your natural beauty, without all the “beats” and “cake face.” We don’t chase after the trends. No matter what the occasion, Duchess Cosmetics will bring out the inner royalty within you so the world can see, recognize, and fawn over just how much of a queen you already are.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
This question was definitely a challenge living in the midst of a pandemic. I almost forgot what it is to go out in the Covid-19 era. However, I am a foodie and lover of music so a best time ever is going to always include one or both of those activities. A perfect weekend would be staycation in the city at one our fine hotels. The itinerary would include dinner, concert, and conclude the night with cocktails. The next morning all roads would lead to Brunch and then relaxing day at the Spa. Pretty Zen and Chill are words to describe me. Admittedly, I am a foodie so all activities will always include food and my favorite local restaurants.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are 2 people who’ve made an immeasurable impact on Duchess Cosmetics. The first is my mother. As a cosmetologist whose magic hands transformed hundreds – if not thousands of women’s confidence levels with new hairstyles. She was my first introduction to the world of beauty. And as her daughter, I had a front row seat as I watched her beautify herself and others every day, doing hair and sometimes makeup. Without her, I would have never fallen in love with beauty. The second person who deserves a star on my personal walk of fame is a dear friend of mine that challenged me to do something that changed the trajectory of my life: he challenged me to live a life where I loved everything. Not just the weekends. Not just my hobbies. Not just spending time with my loved ones. But what I did everyday. I struggled to figure out what that was until they told me they noticed a sparkle in my eye every time I talked about beauty and makeup. I hadn’t realized that my everyday love had been right up under my nose until that friend pointed it out. So to my mother and my dear friend – thank you for pulling me into the beauty world and for continually igniting and reigniting my love for it. Without them, Duchess Cosmetics wouldn’t exist.

Website: www.duchesscosmetics.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toni_naturalbeautyexpert/
Twitter: @Duchess_DC
Facebook: @duchesscosmeticsllc
Other: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/duchesscosmetics/

Image Credits
Pictures taken by CapturedbyJo

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