A Chat with: Morganna’s Alchemy

Let’s say an acquaintance comes up to you while shopping in the mall.  She harps on how she barely recognized you, in disbelief of how haggard you look.  Yes, clearly you’ve rounded way passed 25, (35 even), and perhaps put on a pound or two, but whose counting.  You might be tempted to blame it on the kids you had, lack of sleep, some stress.  There are no excuses to be made to her about your late blooming acne or wrinkles that seem to multiply like your daily to-do list, but that’s when a new formula need to apply. Morganna’s Alchemy, for instance.Morganna’s Alchemy has a magical line of potions whose ‘Charm’ leaves us with ethereal skin, antagonizing only what repetitive movements and age have embedded. Maya Hyppolite-Williams is our modern day Morgan Le Fay, (she credits her ex-husband for the name inspired by the fairy), and her multiethnic cosmetic line relies on natural ingredients derived from across the world. Many beauty products, Maya explains in her accented speech, contain perfumes that can have up to 150 components (and that’s just the perfume), making clients susceptible to allergic reactions. Her hypoallergenic creams have yielded noticeable, by the end of a work week results, having her client base maintaining a steady supply.It took weeks to catch up to Maya, as her schedule is loaded with research trips to Europe and quick dashes to Haiti to attend conferences.  I am hours away from her, relying on a Skype video call, however even onscreen I could see she has flawless skin.  She’s understated, casual, even pulls back her meek “bonjour” as we go live when she realizes I will be conducting the interview in English.Applauded by other chemists and doctors in her latest presentation of her area specific formulations, she is adamant about “No depigmentation!” Many products lighten the face as a whole to reduce the appearance of age spots. Not hers. Throughout the interview, she laughs effortlessly and catches herself when she slips into dermatological terms describing areas of the face in numbered zones. She continues to explain the properties of Morganna’s Express Anti-Spot, and Morganna’s Enchantment (acne), and Morganna’s Elixir (anti-aging). Her answers are sprinkled with references of motherhood, justifying the scope of her line. “I’m a mom, I have three children. I don’t have time to go through seven steps, so I designed a three step system to suit multi-ethnicities.  I don’t have a toner in my line.  Cold water is the best toner.”I couldn’t resist asking about one product, Morganna’s Blossom Cream, claiming to lift the breast area. To which she laughs and says it “firms indefinitely.”  In the product, there are natural estrogen hormones from a plant from Thailand.  Lately, she’s been researching grapes from France and ingredients from Haiti to further expand the line.Maya has a masters degree in cosmetic science, and over fifteen years of working experience in the industry both in the US and Europe. With a propensity for formulating, her ethereal skin need not only glow from merit, but also from the recent news she received and shared with us.  Sam’s Club (who has been instrumental in mentoring her efforts) has contracted Maya to feature Morganna’s Alchemy at their locations-nationwide!  Soon she will appear on a shopping network that will air across France, Belgium and Switzerland. She would like to have a factory in Haiti, someday.  Having started this venture on a shoestring budget seven years ago, and three products, now expanded to twelve, I would say Maya’s efforts are closer to the apex of the climb.Often expressing how lucky she is to be in an industry where she loves what she does, she is grateful for the contacts and recognition she received along the way. She doesn’t downplay her dedication and hard work, burrowing herself in her lab, for instance, for days on end working out variables, or having inspiration strike her at two in the morning at other times.“When you work for someone, you have a specific job and you may be particularly good at that job, but when you start your own business, you are in charge. It is an adventure and there is so much learning. Don’t ever let anyone tell you you’re not going to make it.”Morganna’s Alchemy can be found athttp://www.morgannasalchemy.com/By: Mahalia Solageshttp://www.mahaliasolages.com