For me, one of the key ingredients to success is consistency, says Sabrina Suhail

Sabrina Suhail is a Bangalore based make-up artist turned businesswomen with a deep interest in animal welfare, fried food, and working out. A professional make-up artist and a student of chemistry developed this truly forward-thinking brand to customize your make-up. Tinge is a clean inclusive and cruelty-free brand that allows the customer to co-create lipstick, foundations, eye pencil, etc based on their preference. Sabrina’s magical lab is every beauty lover’s haven and is also paving the way for people who are trying to take the first step into clean make-up.

Here are a few excerpts from the interview where Sabrina unfolded her entrepreneurial journey with HelloPost Team on the occasion of International Women’s Day:

• What motivated you to start your own venture?

Having been in the makeup industry for well over a decade, I couldn’t find any 100% natural and handmade products, that would fit the varied skin tone of Indian women. I saw this gap in the market and wanted to ensure that makeup users got the personal attention that they deserve. Customised
makeup is done by only a handful of brands even now, and I see a massive scope to cater to the individual needs for different skin tones and types. That’s how Tinge came about.

• What were the challenges that you’ve faced while starting your own venture?

Starting the venture has been challenging on many accords, but what strikes me most is getting the correct licenses and navigating the Govt. paperwork to be legit and adhering to the norms followed here and internationally. This is both, expensive and time-consuming.

• Which was the moment in your journey when you felt that it’s not working but still you didn’t lose your hope and kept it going?

When I first started, I didn’t have a mentor or an example to follow and figured that I’d have to learn things along the way. There were moments that I felt like I needed a helping hand, but not lost hope. One I started, I knew that there was no turning back.

• What was the biggest achievement during your entrepreneurship journey?

Taking the first step, opening the studio and seeing Tinge products in the hands of hundreds of users has together been a great achievement. Of these, actually getting started has been the biggest achievement.

• How do you maintain a good work-life balance and mental health?

Work-life balance can be a myth, but I keep my head about myself by ensuring that I get some exercise each evening – even it means a walk. I spend some time in the animal welfare space to do something other than the business that my heart is truly hooked to.

• Who is your role model?

I don’t have a specific role model, but I get inspired by the positive energy of people who I meet along the way.

• What is your secret to success?

For me, one of the key ingredients to success is consistency – of course, along with skill and being empathetic and fair to all stakeholders concerned.

• What’s one leadership lesson that you’ve learned in your career?

I value the people and partners I work with and try to be empathetic, understanding and fair in my dealings with them. I feel like it’s such a simple thing to operate from a place of doing good. It draws great energy and productivity from all concerned, which is great for me personally, and the business.

• What are your future plans?

My plans with the business are to grow the product range and make Tinge accessible to users across the world. On a personal front, I want to start a small shelter for aged street animals.

• Any advice to aspiring women entrepreneurs?

As I mentioned, consistency and keeping the eye on the ball relentlessly has worked for me. It could be business or anything else – if you want to make something work, get consistent.