Our Story
ABOUT OUR FOUNDER
Temika Walker, the founder of BlacBeutyNo9, LLC is a Brooklyn, NY, plant-based and black owned skincare company that created “B4 UR SKN®” in 2020. With a BA in International Trade & Marketing from Fashion Institute of Technology, she has traveled abroad to Shanghai, China, and studied at Donghua University in an effort to refine her understanding of product development and import/export logistics on a global scale. In addition, Temika has over two years of experience in the cosmetic industry, where she has gained the necessary skills to launch a successful skincare line.
TEMIKA’S INSPIRATION TO START THIS SKINCARE BRAND
Skin Care Issues. As a child, Temika had to deal with dry, scaly alligator skin. Her mother would have to combine vaseline and cocoa butter and slather it on her legs at night to have some moisture during the day. And when she thought she was able to battle one skin issue, growing into puberty without foreseeing to have adult acne, which was very frustrating.
In the wake of 20 years of maintaining her skincare issues with over-the-counter products that seem to stop working for some time, she researched different kinds of fruit butter and plant oils to help heal her acne-prone and dry skin.
“After growing tired of suffering from confidence issues resulting from damaged, dry skin and acne prone skin, I used the formulated solution called The Mahogany Hair & Body Butter.” -Temika W.
Dr. Glensford Lester Craig guided her with his spiritual presence to continue a business in beauty and skincare.
Family Roots. Temika’s late great Uncle, Dr. Glensford Lester Craig, inspired her to work in the beauty and cosmetic industry, and it was her calling that came full circle. In Temika’s early 20’s, her great uncle Dr. Craig wanted her to join the Guyanese business side of the beauty schools and hair care industry in Florida. And she politely declined because she had other goals and aspirations to become a fashion model.
While working for a cosmetic company for the second year, Crabwood oil was introduced to Temika by another Guyanese associate. Temika loved the way it felt on her skin which had a strong earthy smell. Therefore, she asked her grandmother, aunts, and uncles about this Crabwood oil (Andiroba oil the cosmetic industry term). Her grandmother explained the history of crabwood oil and how the natives of Guyana, South America would coat their bodies to repel insects when harvesting the crabwood fruit from the Mahogany trees of the local Amazon forest. Her family spoke highly of the oil, its healing benefits, and how production works from harvesting the seed to unrefined oil.
When mixing the crabwood oil with other fruit butter and oils, the recipe drastically improved my legs' skin's texture and healed my acne breakouts and facial scarring. -Temika W.
Pondering, this oil is the Guyanese Gold of Skincare to the South Americans but not readily promoted among the Guyanese Americans/minority community in Brooklyn, NY. Boom, there’s Temika’s market niche! And this is where the full circle occurs for her to stay in the beauty and skincare industry. And her late great uncle, Dr. Glensford Lester Craig, guided her with his spiritual presence to continue a business in the beauty and skincare industry for her Guyanese family and the West Indian community.
“The Guyanese Gold of Skincare”
B4URSKN ®
When Skincare Takes Its Course!
