Within Beauty
How might we make high-quality, small batch organic skincare at an affordable price that is safe for women with PCOS?
Year
2021-present
Passion Project
Kenza Fernandez
-
Within Beauty started by way of frustration. In high school, I was diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome). To this day, the weight of the symptoms can override how I go about my day, week, or month.
The most recommended method of controlling PCOS is birth control, which comes with numerous and heavy side effects. Once in college, after 5 years of birth control, I decided I would take control of my body and learn how to heal from within.
I wasn’t aware of how sensitive bodies are to endocrine disruptive chemicals until I took to throw out all my household cleaning and beauty products and started to look for alternatives. The organic beauty market is overpriced, which led me to create the healing concentrate, the only product in my “Within beauty” line, which I’ve been developing since 2021. It combines my favorite high-end beauty products into one recipe. I make it in small batches and sell it to family and friends.
-
My friends have benefited from this product in more ways than expected. It’s been an excellent remedy for rosacea, dermatitis, and sensitive skin.
Blue tansy oil is the main ingredient of this concentrate. Its anti-inflammatory properties make it compatible with acne-prone skin and helps strengthen the skin barrier.
My passion for understanding my body as a system and learning about the root causes of disease instead of focusing on treatment led me to Yo San University in Los Angeles, where I studied Traditional Chinese medicine for three months in 2022 to widen my understanding of medicinal herbs and meridians.
-
Since the skin absorbs up to 90% of what you apply to it, I follow a simple rule: if I’m willing to put it on my skin, I should be willing to eat or drink it. While my concentrate isn’t edible, nor do I recommend ingesting it, it is significantly safer than 90% of conventional skincare products—even if accidentally consumed.
-
I enjoy working on my personal project, "Within," but it’s not a priority now. I plan to continue making small batches for friends and family (conveniently only when I need a restock), limiting production to no more than five pots at a time, and I don’t intend to expand the project right now.
Process
Ingredient Sourcing:
All ingredients are sourced from local organic farmers in the CA area except for Blue Tansy Oil, which is made in Morocco, and I order from a natural store in northern CA.
Packaging:
I wanted the packaging to be elegant and minimalist.
I sent my desired design to a local screen printer and screenprinted the logo on the boxes and jars with her.
This is an image of the 1st iteration I did of the healing concentrate in college.
Name and branding:
I believe beauty isn’t just about what you apply—it’s about how you care for your skin as its vital organ. We prioritize holistic, safe, and natural skincare solutions designed to nourish your skin from the inside out, reflecting true health and radiance