Meet Alayna Bouie | Founder & Cosmetic Chemist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alayna Bouie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alayna, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Shereen Cosmetics was a passion project before anything else. I knew that I loved chemistry and beauty/cosmetics. The goal was and is to make an impact on this industry in a way that I didn’t see other cosmetic chemists or beauty founders pursuing. I started this because I wanted to share my fun and effective creations with the community, and teach them about the amazing science that is behind them. There is so much fear around what people put on their skin, and I wanted to create a brand around making customers feel safe and cared for through education.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am most proud of my ability to say that Shereen Cosmetics is expert-owned. Many beauty brands today are founded by people that either just enjoy using cosmetics or are influencers/celebrities, which there is nothing wrong with. However, I believe that consumers are craving products that have real passion behind it and are not what often feels like a cash-grab. Shereen Cosmetics is expert-owned because, as the founder, I have been fully educated on the chemistry, marketing, product development, and legislation behind beauty products. Before even starting my business I had formulated over 80+ cosmetic products and tested them, all thanks to my education from The University of Toledo (shoutout to Dr. Baki, my advisor and now friend!). A BS in Cosmetic Science and an MS in Industrial Pharmacy has exposed me to the industry in ways that most founders don’t get. I feel that my passion for every aspect of the industry allows me to do things in a way that make consumers actually feel safe and understood. Our customers know that our products are made with care, from start to finish, because of the palpable passion and hunger for knowledge that I have.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m from Toledo, so I’ll speak of my experience there. There’s so much to love about my home-town! For someone visiting I always love to recommend our Metroparks, especially during the warm months. My favorites to walk at are the Botanical Gardens, Wildwood, and Swan Creek. If you love food my favorite local breakfast place is Nick’s Cafe or Scramblers. For lunch or dinner my friends and I love of El Vejon, Just Like Home, and Spicy Tuna! For a fancy dinner or date night Chop House or Cooper’s Hawk is great. As a coffee lover: Brew Coffee to get work done, Brew House for calm vibes, and Grindhrs Coffee for fun! If you love night life, The Attic is my go-to for a hangout spot, and for a more up-beat party scene Alleyway is amazing. Brew House is also great for a night out, because there’s a speakeasy in the basement! All of these places are a must-see!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My main circle and support system: Andrew (my amazing boyfriend and partner), and our siblings Anthony and Toni! They have supported me through every phase of entrepreneurship.

Website: shereencosmetics.com

Instagram: instagram.com/shereencosmetics

Linkedin: linkedin.com/alayna-bouie

Facebook: facebook.com/shereencosmetics

Image Credits
With Love Photography (product pictures) and A Byrdseye Photos (my lab coat picture)