An Interview with The Speak Collective Co-Founders

Don’t miss our interview with Mutiara and Nisa, the power duo behind the brand the Speak Collective. We chatted about their fantastic brand, what makes them feel good and self-care

Hi Mutiara and Nisa, it is so nice to have you today as our guests. Let’s get this chat starting! Can you tell us more about your background and how did you start with your brand?

Sure, my background is purely in Customer Service for about 6 – 7 years in Shipping and before I started The Speak Collective, I was running an Italian restaurant. Nisa comes from a financial background but how we started really began out of necessity 6 years ago. Eczema terrorized my business partner Nisa, so she began reading labels, investigating ingredients and sought to reduce the amount of products that could aggravate her condition. Still unsatisfied, she started making her own facial cleanser in powder form and shared it with me. Me and Nisa are cousins and a grievous moment which was the passing of a dear relative led to a conversation that sparked an idea that led to the creation of The Speak Collective.

Can you share more about your brand mission. For those who may not be familiar with the brand yet, what can you tell us about your ethos?

The Speak Collective solves the frustration of looking for effective products for sensitive skin using plant-based skin essentials to unleash your confidence. We have three collective promises; first, We Put Your Skin Health First; second, Beauty from The Inside Out; and lastly, We Go Beyond Beauty.

What is/are the products from your line that you always carry with you?

 Mutiara: I always carry our Cocoa + Calendula Lip Balm to keep my lips soft and Rose + Peach Hydrating Mist to give my skin a refresh when my skin needs it.

Nisa: Definitely the Cocoa + Calendula Lip Balm when I’m out and about because it’s a mini multi- tasker. Apart from using it on my lips, sometimes I swipe it on my cuticles to keep them from drying out after frequent hand washing.

Can you share more about the product featured in the Ambrosia box?

Argan + Rosemary Pre-Shampoo Hair Oil is essentially a treatment oil that you can apply to hair before shampooing to help with frizziness, dryness and itchy scalp to give you touchably soft, shiny hair.

By delivering concentrated moisture directly to the scalp and hair ends, it helps to avoid the ‘overly’ squeaky clean feeling after shampooing that can lead to dryness and scalp problems.

What is your inspiration and creative process when you come up with new products?

Nisa: The starting point is to create functional, effective skin essentials for people with sensitive skin. We’re mindful that everyone will react differently to the ingredients – even natural, plant-based products can cause a reaction – so we minimize the use of essential oils, don’t use any synthetic coloring and are transparent about what goes into the products so our customers can make the right choice about whether it can work for their skin.

The theme of our fall box is Nourish – How do you like to Nourish Yourself?

Mutiara: I believe that nourishing myself is a mind, body, and soul connection. If I don’t eat well, I will feel crappy throughout the day. If I don’t manage my stress, I will likely end up having a stress headache that leaves me tired at the end of the day. So, nourishing myself means doing the little things everyday so that I feel good. I try to get into a routine of eating well, moving, managing my stress. I definitely try to make my skincare and shower time, a time to really relax and take care of myself too.

Nisa: As an ambivert, I’m learning to find the balance between doing enriching activities on my own and socially with others. Some days I like staying in, painting my nails and playing with my pet rabbits and other times I find joy in other people’s company.

Do you have any wellness rituals you would like to share with us?

Mutiara: I drink plenty of water throughout the day and I try to meditate at least once a day to keep my anxiety at bay.

Nisa: I do a mental health check-in a few times a day by asking myself ‘How am I doing now?’. If the answer is ‘I’m doing oK’, I continue to go about my day, but if the answer is ‘I’m not feeling ok’, I take a few deep breaths, take note of how I’m feeling and try to let go of whatever it is that’s bothering me.

What small habit makes you feel good?

Mutiara: Honestly, when I do manage to exercise either with a brisk walk or a yoga session, it always makes me feel good.

Nisa: Listening to music in the morning helps to set the mood for the day.

How does your skincare/beauty/wellness regime change with the new season?

Mutiara: I live in a humid climate with a lot of rain all year round so I don’t experience too much seasonal change but if I sleep in an air-conditioned room I use a cream moisturiser to keep my skin hydrated.

Nisa: When the temperate dips, short showers followed by rich emollients like shea bucer are essential to prevent dryness and itchiness for my eczema prone skin.

What is next for your brand? What are you working on?

We are currently working on releasing a few products by year end. Follow us on Instagram or subscribe to our newslecer to get the latest updates!