The skincare industry in the Caribbean is evolving rapidly, and that’s a refreshing business dynamic to witness unfold. Seeing that a Caribbean woman owns the most successful skincare brand in the world (Fenty By Rihanna), the region can bolster a justified sense of optimism that more skincare products will develop into globally formidable brands. It should therefore be permissible for us to extend this optimism to Abigail Wehby’s Ital Glow brand.
The optimism we have for Abigail Wehby isn’t limited to her brand and we envisage that she will become one of Jamaica’s future leaders. Having been recently accepted to the prestigious Johns Hopkins University, it’s an exciting time in her life right now, and she began our conversation by expressing her nationalistic vision for Ital Glow: “Ital Glow was created to share experiencing the world through the sensation of touch in skincare. With ingredients from around the globe, our formulas are created with one hundred percent organic, vegan, and cruelty-free products; filled with antioxidants and vitamins. These products are handcrafted with love in the magnificent island of Jamaica.”
Wehby is a woman who prides herself on being fiercely nationalistic and she furthered her point by asserting that: “We continue to yield inspiration from the unique Jamaican culture and people every day.” To see a young woman fearlessly delve into creative entrepreneurship during these uncertain times is incalculably inspiring. Like many countries in the Caribbean, the pandemic has shown Jamaica how vulnerable our tourist-dependent economy is. More of our nation’s youth need to consider creative entrepreneurship as a way to contribute to our economic development.
As the beloved, charismatic ‘wash belly’ of the Wehby clan, Abigail’s engaging personality is a direct reflection, of the unconditionally loving family environment in which she was raised. Her distinguished entrepreneurial spirit comes from her father, the incomparable Don Wehby. Her grounded, ‘rootsy’ side is from her brother Nicholas, her practicality from her sister Stephanie and most importantly her selflessness and empathy from her mother Hilary.
Even as a young entrepreneur, Wehby already understands the value of fulfilling her Corporate Social Responsibility. That responsibility, paired with the unending capacity to be compassionate, caused Wehby to entwine Ital Glow with The Birthday Giveback Project. “The Birthday Giveback Project is a non-profit organization that encourages and provides support in giving back to the Jamaican community and people in lieu of birthday presents. 5% of each purchase goes towards an active donation of your choice,” Wehby explained.
Being an entrepreneur is a fantastic way to strengthen character, as the experience is about so much more than increasing profit margins and Abigail is already aware of this. “I’m learning to manage Ital Glow and The Birthday Giveback Project whilst excelling as a student! – all things I’m super passionate about. Making time for each while developing my leadership skills, time-management skills and critical thinking skills has been such an incredible experience”
Product development and brand development are two facets of creative entrepreneurship that Wehby is confidently committed to. “Our first two products were the Glow Sugar Scrub, and the Shaving Butter. I’ve seen so many people – and am guilty myself – of shaving the wrong way and I never realized how much it could damage my skin until delving into research. I developed the perfect natural formula to keep my skin protected and glowing and decided to share it by creating Ital Glow. I soon realized, with the help of customer feedback, that the shaving butter was so much more than just that. It is the perfect body butter to keep the skin looking radiant and glowing. This led to its rebranding and it’s now ‘Whipped Glow Butter”
Determined to prove the sustainability of her product and business model, Wehby closed by explaining to us: “I have some exciting plans for new products and growing the brand throughout Jamaica, especially during the summer when Ital Glow and The Birthday Giveback Project will be my main focuses. I’ll be leaving Jamaica in August for Johns Hopkins, so the plan is to bring Ital Glow with me wherever I end up and continue giving back to the Jamaican community and spreading our unique culture through Ital Glow.”
