Cris’s Blends was founded by Cristina Black, mother of two and an entrepreneur, who saw a need for a change within the skincare industry.

Her goal is to offer products that are efficacy driven, without compromising on ingredients, quality, and sustainability. Cristina believes that self-care should be a lifestyle, and strives to inspire healthier choices one deodorant at a time.

Can you tell our readers about your background?

Growing up, I would always watch my grandmother, who was an herbalist, put together her concoctions and potions. As a kid, seeing her dedication, was so inspiring. I learned a lot from her, and I feel that’s when my passion for wellness and formulating was born. 

It wasn’t until I had my first child, and I became a stay at home mom, that this passion was awakened, and I began formulating my blends, mainly for my family.

What inspired you to start your business?

 As I continued to learn about the beauty and skincare industry, I saw a need for an effective deodorant, that doesn’t come at the expense of our health and our planet. I was puzzled by the fact that everyone was questioning the efficacy of natural deodorants. 

I had already developed a formula that worked, and I decided to make a business out of something I was passionate about. 

Where is your business based?

Cris’s Blends is based in South Florida. We source and manufacture locally, trying to enhance our community’s economy. 

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

The first step I took was to create an image for my brand. I started with the name of the company, which came naturally. I was creating my own blends, just like my grandma was creating her potions, so Cris’s Blends was the perfect name for my vision. Then I started working on the logo and packaging. At first, I created a sole proprietorship, which I later incorporated with the state of Florida.

I first sold my products on Etsy and at farmers/artisan markets.

 What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

Social media has played a huge role in raising awareness for Cris’s Blends. At a local level though, joining maker’s markets was great for brand recognition.

What have been your biggest challenges, and how did you overcome them?

 For me, it was extremely hard to balance being a full-time mom of small children and grow a business from the ground up, at the same time.

I did not have much help and could not afford to pay a sitter. My husband was working ten to twelve hours a day to provide for our family.

I worked at night after the kids would go to sleep. I was always either not paying enough attention to my kids, or to my business.

Some people around me, whom I thought highly of, were not supportive of my business, and at times I felt like I was ready to give up. Sometimes I would go on just to prove them wrong.

Along the way, I realized the importance of believing in myself, and I became more confident as time passed.

It is interesting that something as simple as a schedule would come to the rescue. I allocated four hours to work each day, and the rest was for the family. Adhering to this schedule made a huge difference.

How do you stay focused?

My motivation keeps me focused. I enjoy what I do very much, and the lab is my Zen. I try to always keep a clear mind and see the end goal.

At the same time, I believe working with essential oils helps me destress and stay focused.

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

Honesty, transparency, and effective products that deliver the promised result. There is this misconception that natural products do not work and that we must use synthetics, or harsh ingredients if we want a flawless skincare product. 

Our deodorant really works, and it is as luxurious and easy to use as its conventional counterpart. It is organic, sustainable, and efficient.

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

Influencer marketing has proved to be the most effective for Cris’s Blends.

What’s your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

 Always believe in yourself, you are more powerful than you can imagine, and don’t be afraid to take risks.

 What’s your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

My favorite app has to be the one that I play my music on. Music is a big part of my life, it helps me relax, and it relieves anxiety, so I can work and create in a happy state of mind.

Because of my busy lifestyle, I only read the occasional blog, and I wouldn’t consider one to be my favorite.

A good book to read if you own a business, is “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert T. Kiyosaki. It will give you useful insights into running a business.

What’s your favorite business tool or resource? Why? 

Canva is one of my go-to resources. It makes it easy for me to take on projects that involve graphic design. 

Who is your business role model? Why?

Richard Branson. I think it’s fascinating how he turned his weakness into a source of strength and motivation. I admire how he created an empire out of nothing while staying true to his values.

How do you balance work and life?

 As I said, I had to come up with a strict schedule and stick to it as much as possible. After four hours of work each day, I stop. Then, the rest of the time belongs to my personal life.

There are exceptions, of course, when I have to meet a deadline, or when I am traveling, but for the most part, I am quite efficient with my time.

It is not easy, but if I am not strict about it, my life will become chaos all over again.

What’s your favorite way to decompress? 

I look forward to a long walk on the beach with my music and try to do it as often as I can. 

What do you have planned for the next six months?

In the next six months we plan to expand to more local retail locations, and possibly nationwide. We will also launch two new scents that I am extremely excited about.

How can our readers connect with you?

We are very active on Instagram and Facebook, where we always give tips on how to use our products and advice on things that matter to us.

You can also contact us on our website. I am always available to answer any questions.