As people, we can have an initial vision of how we picture the trajectory of our lives, but our upbringing can play a role in shifting our path toward purpose.
In Davlyn Mosley’s case, her mother’s career path ultimately influenced her own.
Going From Tech To Beauty
Formerly excelling as a Google tech executive, the Washington, D.C. native found her way into the beauty world, thanks to all she learned over the years from her mother, Dr. Lynn McKinley-Grant — a board-certified dermatologist.
Through her own experience of having hypersensitive skin and picking up knowledge along the way from Dr. McKinley-Grant’s work, she went on to create Namesake Skincare, which is a line of dermatologist-approved skincare essentials, which caters to people of color.
Solution For Simpler Beauty Routines
Taking notice of the rise in beauty influencers’ 10-20 step skincare routine videos, Mosley wanted her brand to stand as a simpler route to healthy, radiant skin.
“Watching these videos and also reading the comments section was one of the things that inspired me to start Namesake,” Mosley shared with AfroTech. “Access to fun, succinct, expert-backed information about skincare is lacking. So, in addition to creating simple effective products, my goal with Namesake is to be an educational resource for those who may be confused or overwhelmed by skincare.”
Like Mother, Like Daughter
Mosley’s profound understanding of simple routines, as opposed to overly complicated ones, comes from Dr. McKinley-Grant, who Namesake Skincare is an ode to. Although the beauty industry didn’t instantly show itself as her calling, it’s been in the cards all along.
“Growing up, Davlyn honestly didn’t have beauty as a focus, but it came naturally for her,” Dr. McKinley-Grant said. “When she entered college, she began to appreciate the art of beauty and fashion — whether through magazines or art. I did take notice that she enjoyed spending time at my dermatology office, asking questions and wanting to help in any way she could. In addition to finding solutions for friends that were having skin issues, she became their go-to person. So, creating a skincare brand that works to help a specific group of people and their skin needs is something not too far-fetched for Davlyn as she has always been a person in service of helping others.”
Along with being her daughter’s inspiration, Dr. McKinley-Grant serves as an Advisor for Namesake Skincare.
@namesakeskincare Our founder @mymomsaderm hyping up her mom who is inspiration and expert behind Namesake💪🏾 #skincareroutine #skincareproducts #dryskincareroutine #blackgirltiktok ♬ a negroni sbagliato w prosecco l hbo max – hbomax
“I was surprised by the impact my experiences as a skin expert have had on her. Although at times it may not have seemed like it, I’ve learned your children do actually listen to you. In addition, assisting with Namesake has helped me stay abreast of various skincare trends, products, brands, and ingredients. Learning more about what works and doesn’t has been an interesting process as we developed the formulation. I am also enjoying watching how young people are placing emphasis on their skin and health. They really do care.”
The founder’s mission is for Namesake Skincare to provide access to effective yet gentle products. Being alongside her mother, the two have put a lot of work into the backend to ensure quality is at the center of the brand.
@namesakeskincare Namesake in a nutshell 💕 #skintok #dermatologist #skincareforpoc #bestmoisturizer #sensitiveskin ♬ bad habit – ✿
“We spent almost two years perfecting the formula for the Daily Moisturizer and we started from scratch,” Mosley told us. “We made so many revisions which meant I was constantly FedExing samples from LA to DC so my mom could weigh in on everything from the ingredient list to the texture and scent. She was incredibly instrumental in making sure that we didn’t include ingredients that she’s seen her patients react negatively to.”
“In her career, she has seen so many patients with allergies to preservatives, acneic reactions to certain ingredients and so her first-hand experience was key,” she continued. “Through this process, I learned a ton about ingredients from her, and I now know what to look out for, but having her as our Advisor is invaluable.”
As Namesake Skincare is approaching its first year since launching, Mosley revealed to us that there are fun partnerships and collaborations with like-minded creators and brands on the way, as well as more informative content on socials.
