Founder Story: Regeily By Courtney and Christian

Industry

Consumer Goods

Location

Bloomfield Hills, Mi

Stage

Seed

We have brought an interesting startup to your attention today "Regeily Skin Care by Courtney". They've developed a line of skin care that simplifies your body care routine. Launched with the Essentials Collection, this range of five products targets transepidermal moisture loss and boosts the cellular turnover process, enhancing skin regeneration from neck to toe.

Each product in the Essentials Collection serves as a building block, designed to work individually or together through a step-by-step process. They're planning to expand their offerings to tackle issues like hyperpigmentation, body acne, and overall skin health, aiming not just to remedy but also to prevent skin concerns.

Regeily's journey began in 2021 after a chance meeting between founders Courtney and Christian during a prenatal massage at Christian’s Body Works Spa. This startup is setting new standards in bodycare, offering solutions that promote healthier, more resilient skin.

Please Introduce Yourself and Tell Us About Your Startup?

Regeily's inception in 2021 emerged from a serendipitous encounter between Courtney and Christian, catalyzed by a prenatal massage appointment at Christian's esteemed Body Works Spa, facilitated by a referral from NAWBO GDC, the National Association of Women Business Owners, Greater Detroit Chapter.

Following a few transformative sessions, the duo's connection blossomed over a shared vision during a casual lunch, igniting the spark for a joint venture. Christian's journey to becoming an esthetician was profoundly influenced by her experience as an Army Veteran, where her time stationed abroad ignited a deep passion for skincare and wellness, ultimately guiding her towards a fulfilling career dedicated to enhancing others' well-being.

With Christian's extensive background as a licensed esthetician, boasting over a decade of client-centric expertise, and Courtney's seasoned prowess in digital marketing, cultivated through her tenure at Glow Social Media and Fortune 500 giants like The Walt Disney Co. and Dodge, the dynamic duo assumed their respective roles as CEO and CMO.

Officially establishing Regeily in August 2021, the journey was propelled by years of meticulous research and development, culminating in the monumental milestone of our inaugural sale on January 31, 2024. Guided by our internal mantra, "Sephora Ready," every aspect of our endeavor reflects an unwavering commitment to exude the sophistication and quality synonymous with premier retail outlets.

With aspirations to grace the shelves of esteemed mid-tier to high-end retailers and eventually attract the attention of major brands, Regeily embodies a fusion of passion, expertise, and ambition poised to redefine the beauty industry landscape.

Overview of Regeily

Regeily by Courtney, co-founded by Courtney and Christian in 2021, offers a unique skin care solution focusing on body care from neck to toe. This innovative startup emerged from a serendipitous encounter at Christian’s Body Works Spa and has since developed a product line that simplifies complex skincare routines.

Their flagship Essentials Collection, designed to combat transepidermal moisture loss and boost cellular regeneration, includes a body cleanser, toner, polish, butter, and oil, which can be used individually or as a complete regimen.

With a mission to address common skin concerns like hyperpigmentation and body acne, Regeily by Courtney aims to establish a baseline for healthy skin using a combination of high-quality ingredients and thoughtful product design.

Their approach includes utilizing technology such as AI and online quizzes to personalize skincare solutions for their customers.
Now poised for retail expansion, Regeily by Courtney is set to enter new markets, starting with a beauty boutique in Playa Vista, CA. This move marks a significant step towards integrating more tech and AI into the beauty industry, enhancing customer interaction and product effectiveness.

As they prepare for this new phase, Regeily by Courtney continues to embody the passion and expertise at the heart of its visionary founders.

What Problem(s) Does Your Startup Solve?

Our inaugural line, the Essentials Collection is a neck down skin care regimen comprised of five products to address and remedy trans-epidermal moisture loss and increase the cellular turnover process, promoting cellular regeneration. Our Essentials Collection work together as battle buddies to combat common skincare concerns.

This current line includes a body cleanser, toner, polish, butter, and oil. Structured as building blocks, these products can be used separately or congruently through our step process. Our subsequent regimens will address epidermal integrity, hyper pigmentation, body acne, and provide a general baseline for healthy skin and body. Our goal is to use technology to match our customers with the best regimen for them, through a website quiz and AI chat.

How Did Your Startup Gain Its Initial Momentum? Share Successful Strategies or Future Plans.

Christian and I are active in our communities. Christian owns a Spa and has an existing client base. I am active in community organizations like NAWBO GDC and Jack & Jill of America North Oakland/Macomb Chapter.

As a social media professional, we knew launching our social media presence immediately would assist with initial growth. We launched retail sales February 2024 before opening our e-commerce website, and made sales at pop ups held at Club Pilates, Lululemon and other local businesses.

What Were the Biggest Hurdles in Gaining Traction, and How Did You Overcome Them?

Our biggest hurdle is accessing major advertising. We've identified a DIY CTV placement company, Mountain. We plan to launch streaming tv advertisements starting late Q2. Brand awareness and ability to convert device viewers via commercials is a major part of beauty brand awareness.

From Your Perspective, What's Missing in the Current Startup Environment?

More support for women and diverse founders. Full stop.

Can You Share Your Experience With Fundraising? What Was Your Approach?

We have used crowdfunding to date. Activating friends and family helped with our initial boost and once we gained traction, the community at large resonated with our story as a Black, Female, Veteran owned business.

What Hurdles Did You Encounter While Fundraising, and How Did You Tackle Them?

Building a digestible business plan was a hurdle. Our goal was to get our plan from 25 pages to under 15. With the use of the Michigan Black Business Alliance we were able to work with a consultant to assist is making our business plan lender and fundraising friendly.

What’s Next for Your Startup? Any Exciting Developments on the Horizon?

We are preparing to enter our first retail location - in Playa Vista, CA. We are excited to appear in a beauty boutique opening in April. We will go out for the launch week events. We also look forward to being in the Playa Vista area as it is an up and coming tech hub.

I am SO excited about the addition of Tech and AI to the beauty industry. From in person tools like a Real-Time AI Skin Analyzer to digital tools like chat bots and virtual skin care quizzes, there are so many exciting opportunities on the horizon for tech in beauty.

If You Could Go back and Give Yourself One Piece of Advice at the Start of Your Journey, What Would It Be?

I would tell myself to not worry because we WILL WIN!