Career Diaries: How a Lupus Diagnosis Led Dana Jackson to Start Beneath Your Mask

Before she became a successful entrepreneur, Dana Jackson was an entertainment business manager who got a diagnosis just after her 30th birthday that would change her life. She found out she had lupus and lupus nephritis, autoimmune diseases that were causing her to lose her hair and break out into rashes all over her body. During this time in her life she became more conscious of everything she was putting in and on her body in attempts to heal her skin and hair. After learning about natural remedies that helped, she made it her mission to make this information accessible to others like her. Now, Jackson has her own clean beauty skin-care brand called Beneath Your Mask that is non-toxic, organic and vegan. Keep reading to learn more about Jackson’s journey, why she believes it’s important to approach skin care from the inside out and what’s next for the brand.

How has your journey with lupus influenced your skincare company? 

After being diagnosed with lupus and lupus nephritis, I lost all my hair, had rashes from head to toe and gained 100 pounds in water weight. Once I learned about what I was putting in my body, I became hyper sensitive about what I put on my body. I wanted to repair the damage done to my skin and hair in a way that was non-toxic and not going to further challenge my immune system. I wanted to share the products that helped repair my skin and hair, and also share my journey with others newly diagnosed.

Tell us about the ingredients used in your products.

We’ve sourced the world’s most potent, organic and wild-crafted botanicals from 25 countries, each chosen for its restorative benefits. We pack 11 to 18 active ingredients into every product. Our products are highly concentrated and do not contain any water, phosphates, parabens, sulfates, gluten, toxins, GMOs or synthetic colors and fragrances. As such, we only scent our products with pure, steam-distilled essential oils. Once a formulation is complete, it is hand-crafted with love in small batches and sealed in violet-colored glass packaging that harnesses specific light rays to increase the energy level of each product.

How do you define clean beauty? 

I define clean beauty as products free from phosphates, sulfates, parabens, GMOs and gluten. Sustainable packaging, transparency with ingredients and sourcing are also important in clean beauty.

What is your daily skin-care routine? 

I clean my skin with Ranavat Botanics Luminous Ceremony Cream Cleanser, then I follow with an essence I’m formulating for Beneath Your Mask. Next, I massage our Nourish Skin & Hair Serum into my face. My routine is quite simple. For the body, after I shower, I spray magnesium oil and then massage Heal Whipped Skin Soufflé into my skin.

What is your favorite product from your collection? 

That’s so tough! I’d have to say our Heal Whipped Skin Soufflé because it’s truly healing. It’s the first product I created to repair my skin and hair, and it tells the story of our brand so well. It can be used head to toe, and it also won us our first Allure Best of Beauty award.

 

 

 

 

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What are three skin-care tips you think everyone should know? 

First, hydrate your skin. Don’t be afraid of oils because moisture is good for the skin. Second, don’t over-wash your skin and dry it out. Finally, skin-care should be approached from within as well. It’s not just products. What you’re putting in your body makes a huge difference. 

What inspires you? 

Seeing the world inspires me. My travels have not only inspired my business and the ingredients we source, but it somehow always puts life into perspective and grounds me mentally and spiritually. I always return home more grateful than I left after immersing myself in cultures from around the world, and I can’t wait to be able to travel again.

What’s next for Beneath the Mask? 

We’re continuing to grow our team to help support our retail growth, and I’m always working on new products in my head. We’ll be launching an essence and a body wash towards the end of this year.

Photo: Courtesy of Beneath Your Mask, Design: Hannah Packer 

 

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