Rising Stars: Meet Tina Benbow

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tina Benbow.  

Hi Tina, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello! My name is Tina. I am a self taught cosmetic chemist who specializes in vegan lip and skincare. Unfortunately, loss & grief have been quite profound in my life. So much so that I fell into a very dark place, battling depression & anxiety. In and out of the hospital. I was so unhappy. I felt worthless. I had already lost my father, brother, a few cousins & a couple of my aunts. The biggest loss I suffered was the loss of my mother which was in 2016. 

I also struggled financially which added to the stress and hard times. I knew I had to do something to get out of this rut. I had to do something to feel worthy. I needed something that would lift me from the sadness. I needed something to supplement my income. Skincare is an essential part of everyone’s life. My mother suffered from psoriasis for most of her life. She had it over 80% of her body. I watched her go through hell with the itching, burning & bleeding. Our skin is our largest organ and it protects us in ways we don’t realize. When your skin is compromised a host of problems arise. 

I wanted to create products that would actually help with skin issues … to get relief from things like eczema, psoriasis, rashes, etc. I’ve also loved lipgloss so I decided I’d turn my life around. By creating these products, I discovered I could really be a blessing to others by helping resolve problems they face with skin ailments. I could also put smiles on faces with the lip gloss. I decided to tap into my creativity & create fun, safe, quality products that not only enhance everyday life but products that really work. It all began in March of 2019. (pre-Pandemic) 

I’ve created a million different colors & scent combinations for my gloss. I’ve created lip & body sugar scrubs along with body butter & various kinda oils that have multiple benefits. 

I’ve found more confidence, happiness & fulfillment with the products I’ve created. Knowing that a product I’ve made helps so many people to look and feel better brings me pride & joy. I believe in keeping things vegan. Our bodies and our planet deserve products that are nontoxic. Sustainability is important to us. I decided to go the vegan, organic & all-natural ingredients because it protects our flora & fauna. It also keeps out harsh chemicals & ingredients you can’t pronounce. I believe that safe, quality & minimal ingredients are the way to go. You’ll be able to pronounce & understand what every ingredient is in my products because who wants a host of ingredients that cause further issues? No one. All of my products are handmade with love under very strict sanitation guidelines. 

Recently I created gloss and sugar scrubs that contain honey. Honey is a nonvegan ingredient however the benefits are endless and amazing. Honey is the only nonvegan ingredient I use. My Honey Drip Lip Tonic, my Honey Lime Lip Shine & my Honey, lime, and coconut body sugar scrub have become some of my best sellers. How ironic. 

I do have a website Etsy where my products are available for purchase I’ve seen the most success at my pop-up events. I do a lot of vending events to help grow my business & brand. Vending events are a great way to network and get your name out there. I have had events at Albany Nutrition, High Street Nutrition, CDCF Headstart & many other venues. 

My products are also available in-store. I have a space at 700 Bryden rd here in Columbus, OH (Near downtown) Everyone is welcome! 700 Bryden has events all summer long and The Kiss Factory will be in attendance. Come out & gloss up for that kiss. Kissable, Irresistible, succulent skin! 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, not at all. However I understand, realize and respect that the process is messy at times. It’s all a part of growing and evolving. Financing my business has been my biggest obstacle. I pay for all ingredients and supplies out of pocket. I also face creativity blocks from time to time. But Instagram and TikTok are good inspirational tools. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
You should know that my products are fun, safe, non toxic, most are vegan and they are cruelty free. I thoroughly enjoy making products that address skin issues. Products that make you look and feel good. It’s then when you’re the best you can be!

What matters most to you?
Aside from being a company that believes in sustainability & keeping products nontoxic, vegan/cruelty-free.. Customer service is and always has been at the top of my list of things that are the most important to me. I feel customer service is a lost art. I’ve dealt with the public all my life as a customer service representative on the phone and in person. Responding to my customers, fixing any issues & making it right -right away is an absolute must for me.

Pricing:

• Gloss $9-$11
• Body Butter $14.50
• Body Sugar Scrub $14.50
• Beard Products $14.50

Contact Info:

• Website: Etsy.com/shop/thekissfactoryllc
• Instagram: Instagram.com/thekissfactoryllc
• Facebook: Facebook.com/thekissfactoryllc
• Other: TikTok.com/@thekissfactoryllc