Beauty industry veteran Lynn Power’s latest success, MASAMI, is proof that haircare, like skincare, can follow the mantra “everything you need, nothing that you don’t” (like sulfates, parabens, and phthalates). As part of our partnership with like-minded female-founders in the beauty industry, BALM spoke with Lynn about what keeps her addicted to entrepreneurship, the rare ingredient that sets MASAMI’s products apart, and the best skincare tip she’s ever received.
What draws you to entrepreneurship, and what keeps you pushing forward?
I love that I can control my own destiny. Every day is different, but nothing beats working with people I love, making products that are good for you and that are good for the environment. I am trying to make a very tiny dent in the industry in terms of sustainability, quality and luxury experiences. I really believe it's the small brands who will make a difference in how we think about consumption and eco-friendly behaviour.
Once you had the idea for your brand, how did you mobilize it?
It took us about 18 months from the time that James and I decided to partner up (he had been working on our formulations for 10 years before that!) to launch. We came up with our brand name (which means "truly beautiful" in Japanese and is inspired by James' husband, Masa), we developed our packaging (renowned designer Joe Doucet did it for us) and we created a go-to-market strategy. We needed to get our website done, our fulfillment sorted, lots of logistics. And then we launched in February 2020 at New York Fashion Week and haven't looked back.
We’re so intrigued by MASAMI’s hero ingredient, Japanese Mekabu. What are its benefits, and how do you source it?
Mekabu is a Japanese ocean botanical that we get from northeastern Japan (Otsuchi Bay, actually). It is nutrient-dense and filled with vitamins and antioxidants, but the main benefit is hydration. It acts like a sponge to bring hydration to your hair, weightlessly. We get it from a family-owned Japanese skincare company that harvests it, dries it and powders it down for us.
What is the best skincare tip you’ve ever received?
My mother told me to always wash my face before going to bed, no matter how tired I may be. I've followed this advice and even if I've had too much to drink, I still make sure to wash my face. I think it's really helped my skin stay young.
Last one - what’s something you purchased from a small business recently that you loved?
I buy from small businesses all of the time! In fact, we are part of a few female founder marketplaces (The W Marketplace, Colleen, Rush Haus) and I try to give them as much business as possible. I recently bought surfwear from Anowi Surf on The W Marketplace and picked up a gold bracelet from another sustainable female-owned brand, Access 79.
