Meet Jenny Holden | Founder & Formulator

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

Hi Jenny, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Starting Oleema Skincare required a nuanced approach to balance. When I officially launched my business I was already a mother of three young children. I think that with motherhood, comes a little wisdom and a better understanding of my priorities. To be completely honest, it has been difficult at times to harmonize both roles. While I still took many risks, I had a more cautious and strategic approach because I needed to juggle family commitments and financial stability along with my dreams of launching a successful natural skincare business.

Finding balance meant I put time into carefully planning, seeking mentorships, setting realistic expectations, and not getting too down on myself for failure (which inevitably happens). Overall, the business side of Oleema Skincare has been a balance between ambition and practicality, and making all aspects of my life (family, business, social, well-being, etc.) coexist,

Ultimately, I hope that by taking a chance and starting Oleema Skincare, I am a role model for my children, teaching them the value of hard work and pursuing passions.

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?
Oleema Skincare is a labor of love, born of a passion for sustainable beauty. And I think that love is felt in every bottle and jar. I created Oleema to fill the need for a high-end, luxurious all-natural skincare line at a more accessible price point, without sacrificing the quality of ingredients. Every detail is carefully considered, from texture and feel to scent profile.

What sets us apart is a commitment to purity and our eco-friendly practices, beginning with the farming practices of our suppliers to our packaging. All Oleema Skincare products are made from the highest quality, ethically sourced, nutrient-rich ingredients and are defined by a simple and affordable approach to luxury skincare. I begin by combining only the purest ingredients that have been used effectively for centuries. Each element works in harmony, producing a skincare product that enhances your skin’s own ability to heal and protect itself, promoting beautiful, glowing, radiant, and most importantly, healthy skin. Oleema Skincare’s ingredients are free from parabens and laurel sulfates and made without harsh chemicals, dyes or perfumes. We are also proud to be Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free.

The journey to create Oleema Skincare wasn’t easy. It involved (and still does) countless late nights, financial hurdles, and fierce competition. Other challenges ranged from sourcing quality ingredients to marketing. But it’s been worth every challenge to have a beautiful, extraordinarily effective finished product that doesn’t compromise my values of luxurious self-care, all-natural ingredients, sustainability, and affordability.

Perseverance and adaptability were key and the lessons learned along the way are invaluable. I’ve learned the value of resilience, adaptability in a dynamic market, the significance of customer feedback, and the power of word-of-mouth marketing when you have a high-quality product. All of these have been instrumental in fine-tuning my products and building strong relationships which have been the biggest driving force in Oleema’s success.

Oleema Skincare is built on integrity. I want the world to know that we’re here to provide clean, effective skincare and that we promote a lifestyle that prioritizes health and the planet, above all. Our story is one of passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to providing customers with products that are as good for their skin as they are healthy. I’m excited to continue this journey, sharing my commitment to natural beauty and sustainability with the world.

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?
Oh my gosh, if my best friend was visiting me in Marin I would have the hardest time deciding what to do. Marin is the perfect location – sandwiched between the vibrant city of San Francisco and beautiful wine country. Because there are just too many places to visit and too much good food to eat it would be difficult to keep the list short…but then again, not doing everything gives my best friend a reason to keep coming back!

Day 1 would start with walking around my sweet, little town: San Anselmo. We would grab the most delicious bagels (outside of NYC) at Barton’s Bagels and then cross the street and go to Marin Roasters for a delicious and strong cup of coffee (if we’re lucky we may even get to her some live music). We would have to pop into each boutique on the avenue, but we would spend some serious time at OCN Culture, a gem with beach-y vibes and lots of locally sourced, socially responsible products (that also happen to be perfect for the beach). We’d grab our new gear and head west, driving the scenic, windy road through redwood groves until we get to the fork in the road at Olema. There we’ll turn left and head to Stinson Beach. We’ll finish the day with fries from the snack bar at the Parkside Cafe and be sure to grab any of their amazing pastries for the ride home (seriously, you can’t go wrong).

After that busy day, I won’t set an itinerary for the rest of the visit, but here are some musts while in town:

– Get in some good exercise and sightseeing with a jog along the water in San Francisco starting at the Golden Gate Bridge and ending at the Bay Bridge. On the way home stop at Playa in Mill Valley for their Baja fish tacos and their delicious and refreshing signature cocktail, the Playa Paloma.

– Drive to Napa to spend the day: Visit Domaine Carneros, a landmark winery with an over-the-top chateau. Get a massage and take a hot mud bath at Indian Springs Resort and Spa, then relax in their geothermal, mineral pools. Grab a delicious, locally sourced dinner at Harvest Table at the Harvest Inn in St. Helena. End the day by catching a live show at the Napa Uptown Theater (a beautiful, art deco style, intimate theater).

– I’m an avid swimmer and anyone visiting knows there will be swimming involved, so if you’re visiting me we’ll probably take a swim in Aquatic Park in San Francisco.

-Hop on a ferry from Larkspur and take in the gorgeous views of Marin and San Francisco. Check out all of the cool shops in the ferry building and, depending on your mood, grab a delicious burger, garlic fries, and a milkshake at Gott’s, or go for fresh, local oysters and Hog Island Oyster Co.

-Head over to the Tomales Bay Resort in Inverness and rent kayaks to paddle along the shores and take in the natural beauty and wildlife of the Tomales Bay State Park and Point Reyes National Seashore.

-Finally, no visit is complete without a really special meal. State Bird Provisions is one of my favorite restaurants in San Fransico and never disappoints, I love the fun atmosphere and playful mix of menu options and dim-sum style carts options serving the most delicious, innovative food.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, I have to give a shoutout to my mother for her unwavering support and boundless love as I started my skincare business. Her encouragement and belief in my abilities, even when I doubted myself, have been the guiding light that empowered me to take chances and turn my dreams into a thriving reality.

The second shoutout I’d like to give may seem a little strange, but I am profoundly thankful for the place I call home. The nurturing embrace of Northern California’s natural beauty and its tranquil environment has been a huge source of inspiration and resilience in my journey to launch a skincare business. The beautiful, natural landscapes and the region’s easygoing spirit have provided the backdrop for me to start my business, and I’m grateful for that as well.

Website: https://oleemaskincare.com/

Instagram: @oleemaskincare

Image Credits
Rachel Weill