We recently had the chance to connect with Melinda Gonzalez and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Melinda , thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity is absolutely important to me, especially as a founder. In business, your word and your actions have to align. For Mi Eleménte, that means being transparent about ingredients, staying true to the mission of creating all-natural skincare, and delivering on what I promise customers. Trust is something you earn, and integrity is the foundation of that trust.”
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Melinda, the founder of Mi Eleménte, an all-natural skincare brand rooted in regenerative herbalism. Before launching Mi Eleménte, I spent 19 years as a marketing executive building celebrated hospitality and lifestyle brands across the globe. I was always busy working and never had the time to launch my own business, until I finally decided to go all in and take a risk for a passion I’ve carried since childhood. That passion began with crafting body scrubs and oils as a young girl, and years later, after studying herbalism in Costa Rica under renowned teacher Sarah Wu, I combined that knowledge with my creative background to bring Mi Eleménte to life.
Launching this brand has been a dream come true, and right now I’m focused on expanding the line and sharing the story of how choosing natural, transparent ingredients can truly transform the way we care for our skin. For me, skincare is more than a routine, it’s a ritual that nurtures the body, calms the spirit, and reconnects us to nature. Through Mi Eleménte, I share my knowledge, recipes, and passion to inspire others to embrace beauty as a mindful, healing experience, and to discover the transformative power of plants in everyday self-care.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One moment that truly reshaped how I see the world was my experience at Rythmia in Costa Rica, participating in ayahuasca ceremonies. It was an intense and transformative journey that allowed me to deeply connect with nature, my intuition, and the healing power of plants. That experience reinforced my belief that wellness is holistic, it’s not just about what you put on your skin, but how you care for your body, mind, and spirit. It’s a perspective that continues to inspire how I formulate and approach every product at Mi Eleménte.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There were definitely moments when I almost gave up. I struggled with the fear that my work wouldn’t be as perfect as I envisioned. For years, I had to put my career first and only work on my passion during weekends, which often made me question whether I could really make this dream a reality. But last year, I decided to go all in and dedicate myself fully to Mi Eleménte. My biggest fear has always been regret, regret of not trying, more than failure itself. I’m so glad I pushed through, because taking that leap has been the most rewarding decision I’ve ever made
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
I differentiate between fads and foundational shifts by analyzing both consumer behavior and industry adoption. Fads are usually short-lived, like when one trendy ingredient or product type suddenly dominates the market but fades quickly. Foundational shifts, on the other hand, are rooted in deeper changes in values and lifestyle. In skincare, for example, the move toward natural, non-toxic, and sustainable products is a true foundational shift. It reflects a lasting change in the way consumers view health, wellness, and the environment.
With Mi Eleménte, I chose to align with these shifts by focusing on natural formulations, intentional craftsmanship, and transparency. This ensures the brand is grounded in a movement that’s shaping the future of skincare and wellness, not just chasing temporary trends.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Yes, absolutely. For me, the motivation doesn’t come from external praise but from knowing that I’ve given my best and created something meaningful. Recognition is nice, but it’s not the reason I do this. With Mi Eleménte, I pour months of intention into every formula, even if no one sees that part of the process. The reward is when someone uses the product and feels better in their own skin, that’s enough. Praise fades, but impact lasts.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mielemente.com
- Instagram: mielemente
- Facebook: mielemente
