How this South African turned a persistent acne problem into a successful skincare business

During her adolescent years, Didintle struggled with persistent acne that defied the available skincare products in the market. At age 18, she decided to try organic alternatives after reflecting on the possible adverse effects of the products she had been applying to her skin.

“After years of trying what the market offered, at the age of 18, I decided that I might as well try an organic alternative. Unfortunately at that time, the market could not offer this, as a result, I decided to opt for what I ate. This revelation simply came out of my need to say, ‘beauty should not be harmful or toxic, as long as I can eat it, I can use it on my skin.’ Years later, the vision became clearer.”

Many people battle with acne at an adolescent age and sometimes throughout their lives. It can be challenging to find an effective and reliable permanent solution. Acne problems often lead to low self-confidence and an unsettled mind, and Didintle struggled with low self-confidence, which also motivated her to seek an effective alternative that could boost the confidence of her fellow African women.

Her low self-confidence and emotional trauma deepened further as a result of many suggestions on how to treat her acne surge.

“Nobody knows you, but everyone feels the right to talk to you about your situation,” she said, recalling a time when someone advised her to use toothpaste and lemon juice as a remedy.

The organic ingredients she utilized were extracts from the widely accessible Mowana, Morula, and Moringa plants in Botswana. Mowana has anti-inflammatory effects and omega-3 fatty acids that are used in treating acne. Marula is frequently used as a moisturizer because it is high in antioxidants and widely used as an ingredient in skincare products. It is beneficial in reducing acne-related hyperpigmentation.

Someday while she was on school break, her grandmother introduced her to the benefits of Moringa oil, which later improved her skin condition.

She vividly recalled how her grandmother and mother cared for the plants in the family compound and used them for various family needs because of the values and benefits of the plants. This helped her to explore the benefits of the plants, which led to the founding of a beauty care company – Organic Naturals Skincare, a Botswana-based company that manufactures skin care products using plants native to sub-Saharan Africa.

“I was intrigued by why Moringa was in every single home, especially in my village, Kanye. When we were young, if you had back pain or period pains, we would drink these [Moringa] leaves in tea. According to my grandmother, Moringa oil and Morula were used to moisturize and keep one’s skin fair and even.” Didintle said.

“I came to understand that I had low self-confidence due to this skin acne. As a result, I know that whatever I was formulating had to boost the confidence of the African woman and empower her to be confident in her skin.”

Didintle started her entrepreneurial journey at age 10, when she regularly assisted her parents in selling watermelon, maize, poultry birds, and other products from their family farm in her village, Kanye. Kanye is a village in the southeast region of Botswana, 83 kilometers from the capital, Gaborone. Over the years, she developed a business acumen that effectively helped her to successfully launch Organic Naturals Skincare in 2019.

Her company faced many challenges. “The first was finding a distribution partner, showing the legitimacy of what we’re doing, gathering the funds for testing, and most importantly ensuring the sustainability of our products on the shelves. So going into retail was not easy, it required us to build a strong distribution.”

Building a team was also a challenge for her. “Our core team is made of three women who had the honor of being mothers during their teenage years. Their ability to rise and ‘become’ has been a story and a reminder to us that ‘Becoming is a journey.’ These ladies, with the assistance of our in-house scientists and farmers, assist us to serve and package Africanism as a skincare range.”

Her supply chain opened opportunities and financial empowerment for the local farmers in Maun – the fifth-largest town in Botswana.

“Our key suppliers are female farmers who hold vast knowledge of plants and how best to extract active ingredients.”

The plants are harvested and processed into chemical-free oils. “Our formulations are creatively crafted by us with distinct understanding and deep thought, as compared to laboratory-bought formulations.”

The uniqueness of Organic Naturals Skincare is a story born out of the need to create a solution for African Women, using 60% of zero cancerogenic raw materials harvested in Botswana.

Available in more than 11 stores across Botswana, Organic Naturals Skincare products have 15 products for men and women, including facial bar soaps, moisturizers, alcohol-free toners, facial masks, body butter & oil, and facial serum. The company offers skincare consultations and complimentary skin assessments.

Her mission is to build a skincare brand that is manufactured in Botswana and serves the local and international markets. She aims to empower African women and men through the development of effective skincare products that are tailored for African skin without any harmful chemicals.