Kim Roxie is the Founder & CEO of LAMIK Beauty, a clean beauty brand that caters to multicultural women. In 2019, Kim was honored as one of the Houston Business Journal’s 40 under 40 and was named one of the American Business Journal’s Most Influential Young Executives of 2019.
What were some obstacles that you faced in the beginning process of starting your business or career?
The biggest obstacles, in the beginning, were finding funding and finding ways to let our potential customers know that we existed. Interestingly, the solutions overlapped when we were able to obtain crowdfunding through future customers who contributed to our IFundWomen crowdfunding campaign. As a result, we were able to launch LAMIK 2.0 as a technology-enabled e-commerce brand.
What inspired you to break into your particular industry?
When I began to look at the ingredients in my makeup, I felt bamboozled. Most of the makeup options available to me were really ugly stuff in pretty packages. I wanted to create clean makeup that fit my skin tone and the skin tones of other women of color; and I wanted to create a line in which women of color are fully seen and fully reflected.
How do you balance your personal and professional life or have you been able to find a balance?
I find balance in imbalance; that’s how rocket ships take off! A huge thrust is needed to overcome the great pull of the earth’s gravity. LAMIK Beauty is working to overcome the inequities in clean make-up offerings for women of color and the thrust required to make a meaningful difference is invigorating to me. My personal and professional lives are blurred, but it’s ok as long as I am mentally balanced. We are who we are, and as long as the journey is fun, I feel mentally balanced.
What is an inspirational quote that you live by?
“Comparison is the thief of joy.” – attributed to President Theodore Roosevelt and others
Who is one influential person and/or mentor that has helped or encouraged you along the way?
The greatest influence in my life is my mother. She was the first to invest in my business; she gave me $500 and her blessing to start my makeup shop. She always encouraged me and believed in me. She transitioned in 2014 as a result of metastatic breast cancer and is still my strength and guide to this day. When I am afraid or discouraged, her spirit rises in me to face challenges and to show up in strength.
What are your “must-haves” to keep your career or business going strong?
My must-haves are my amazing team of mentors and the beautiful community of LAMIK Beauty’s customer base.
The team of mentors I enjoy offers an environment of trust where knowledge and wisdom are freely shared.
Our beautiful customer base is unique in the way that we all connect, encourage, and lift one another. In 2004, LAMIK started as a local makeup shop in Houston, TX where women would come to get their makeup and eyebrows done. We started selling them products made by hand and soon LAMIK was much more than a place! LAMIK became a community where women knew they belonged. Now, this community is welcoming more and more women and is the beating heart of LAMIK Beauty.
What is your definition of a BOSS?
A BOSS holds a vision of service and community. A BOSS shows up and faces challenges and keeps going as my mother inspired me to do. A BOSS leads and serves.
Provide us with two words that describe you? “Beauty Revealer”
