Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Montes
Hi Samantha, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Chicago and moved to south Florida in 2017 taking a leap of faith to move to a new location and get outside of my comfort zone. I’ve experienced a lot throughout my life and extremely grateful for all the experiences and learnings I’ve gained throughout the years. I have my corporate lifestyle as a marketing director at an ad agency while also running my own natural hair and skincare business. I’m also a professional salsa dancer which is another passion of mine. Below is a little more detail about me, my business and my passions:
Small Business Owner: I launched my Business Más Made Beauty which is a Caribbean inspired brand that is passionately committed to providing natural and clean beauty products that are effective in promoting healthy hair and skin. I launched it in April 2022 with the goal of providing natural handcrafted products with nutrient rich ingredients specifically for curly hair and sensitive skin. I grew up not understanding the full potential of embracing my natural hair and skin. I didn’t understand the difference between the harmful products I was using and barely understood the ingredients listed on the labels. When I moved to Florida in 2017, I was inspired and made a commitment to go on my natural journey by supporting small businesses that provided natural beauty products and goods. I started exploring different DIY recipes for my hair and skin, avoiding products that lacked nutrients and contained toxic/filler ingredients that didn’t do much for my hair and skin. In 2020 I learned more about the benefits of natural oils, herbs and butters and began educating myself on product formulation. The more I learned and applied, the healthier my hair and skin became.
I began to fall in love with the process of making my own hair and skincare products, incorporating my favorite natural and organic ingredients. Eventually I finally had the courage to put a business plan together and share my passion with everyone. I wanted to encourage others to learn about the power of natural ingredients while embracing their natural beauty. Thus, Más Made Beauty was born in April of 2022
Marketing professional: I got my degree in Advertising from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and have been working in marketing and ad agencies throughout my career. I’m currently an Account Director for one of the largest brands in the agency and continue to push myself to grow in the industry which has helped me apply my learnings to my business.
Professional Salsa Dancer: I’ve been a Salsa dancer majority of my life (since the age of 5) and have had the honor of performing at different events and festivals around the world. I started professionally dancing and teaching when I was a teenager and continue to do so till this day. It’s a passion of mine that I hold dearly to my heart and I’m happy I’ve been able to keep this passion active while balancing my career and business.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road, but my experiences have been empowering and I thank God for everything. I’d say I’m a resilient person with most of the things I’ve been challenged with in life. I’ve experienced painful losses, but I hope that what I’ve been able to accomplish in my life inspires others to never give up on themselves. At the age of 16 I lost my mother to breast cancer which was a key pivotal moment in my life. Despite this tragic loss, I managed to remain driven and accomplished the goals I had set. Times were difficult but I refused to give up on myself because I knew that wasn’t what my mother would have wanted for me, and most importantly…I didn’t want that for myself.
Making the decision to leave Chicago and move to Florida was a blessing in disguise. Yes, I was scared but knew in my heart that I needed to bet on myself and go all in. Once in Florida, of course I faced some challenges. I became homesick at times and it was a little difficult making genuine friendships and connections. But this forced me to get familiar with the community out here and put myself out there to create a life for myself in a new environment.
Once I decided to start my own business, this indeed was a learning experience. Learning how to operate and produce quality products while being a one-woman show was so stressful and there were times I wanted to throw the whole business away. I’ve made a lot of mistakes with failed formulas and poor investments, but throughout this process I have formed a supportive community that constantly encourages and reminds me of my purpose (also shoutout to my family and friends who always hold me down). I’ve learned from my mistakes while building Más Made Beauty, growing my customer base and brand awareness every year. I’ve used my own money to invest in my dream but it has been so worth it.
Current challenges are me balancing everything from my corporate career, running my business while still being a professional dancer. Trying to expand my business has also been a challenge, exploring ways to grow and sustain while taking chances that require risk and commitment. But I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way. The journey and the process has been so enlightening. I continue to pour into my passions and business, learning, growing and remaining in love with the process.
As you know, we’re big fans of Más Made Beauty. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Más Made Beauty is a Caribbean inspired brand that is passionately committed to providing natural and clean beauty products that are effective in promoting healthy hair and skin.
It is a brand that believes in the power of nature, with products that are botanically infused with organic herbs and essential oils to extract all the amazing benefits from mother earth. All products are carefully crafted by hand, with original formulas using ingredients that promote healthy hair and skin. These products will help you embrace your natural hair and skin even more.
All Products contain NO Silicones, Harsh Sulfates, Parabens, Mineral Oils, Drying Alcohols, Synthetic or artificial colors
I’m most proud of how far I’ve come throughout the process of creating my brand. From creating all the formulas that truly improve hair and skin, to designing the labels for the packaging, and putting together the website design all took time and effort and I’m so very proud of how everything came out.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Anyone can support me by spreading the word or trying any of my products from Más Made Beauty. I’m also extremely supportive and open to collaborating with local events that help empower the community. I can be contacted through my social accounts and website. I love working with others, especially other business women who love to support and collaborate. It’s never easy to run your own business, so I find that community is extremely important when it comes to support and overall growth.
Business IG/Facebook: @mas.madebeauty
Personal IG: sam.m0ntes
Website: masmadebeauty.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://masmadebeauty.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mas.madebeauty?igsh=YTJkc3FjdXdhNG16
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1X4ySetVUx/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Image Credits
Vanessa Velasquez (@v_isforvanessa) – Mas Made Beauty Product Images on website
Ravin Media Co (@ravinmedia.co) – Action shots making products
Michael Mabbo (@mabbovisuals) – personal photo image
