Tell us about your early stages when building the Strange Bird brand.

The idea for Strange Bird came to me when I was pregnant with my first child... but it took me 4 years - and two babies - to finally launch in Nov 2019. For me, the early stages of entrepreneurship were like daily tests for my self-trust. Each day that I trusted myself was another step forward. I additionally learned how to refine my self-understanding, my capabilities, and how I wanted to to share my work with the world. People often describe this stage as 'hustling,' but, for me, it was more of an emotional/spiritual process than a physical one. In my case, the logistics of starting a business were easy... the real challenge was being brave and gaining the clarity I needed to keep moving forward.

What are your favorite Strange Bird products to use?

Our Inner Clarity Cleanser. It is a 3-in-1 product (cleanser, exfoliator, mask), but in and of itself has four dimensions of cleansing (clay based, gritty, balmy, foamy wash off) that is gentle enough to use daily, powerful enough to detoxify your skin, and effective in preventing 'mask-ne'. It's our 'hero product'; we've sold out four times!

What do you do regularly for your own self-care?

As a full-time working mother of two toddlers, I need to self-care daily (at least, if I have time do it). I'm also an empath, meaning that I am constantly absorbing emotions. To keep my anxiety low and my mind calm, I need to cleanse my energy daily. However, my day-to-day routine changes quite a lot depending on the time I have or what I can handle on a specific day. Sometimes I wake up in a headspace that tells me that I need to cancel my meetings and just spend the day focusing on myself. Those days, while the kids are at school, I work on my breathing, focus on my inner child, meditate, read tarot, and practice yoga. Other days, I feel inspired, spending my hours painting in my studio. Most days, I do some quick meditation while I'm doing my skincare routine, a five-second child's pose, and I'm off to the races.

What are your hopes for the future of the beauty industry?

More diversity, more representation, more nuance, and less tokenism. I am 100% Chinese, was born in California, am married to a white man, and have two bi-racial children. I have worked as a painter, an actress, a social worker, a life coach, and, now, a skincare company founder. I am obsessed with my family, crystals, energy medicine (anything 'woo woo'), fashion, art and mental health... which is not easy for one person to do, never mind show to others! In general, I feel that we need to take a holistic approach when representing entire people; to gain an understanding of their depth and authenticity. I think it is the responsibility of the beauty industry to pave the way in transforming our archaic norms. Beauty does not look just one way, nor is it skin-deep. It is our experiences, our stories, and our humanity that truly makes us beautiful.

What was the biggest "no," that you have heard in your career, and what did you learn from it?

Every 'no' feels big, especially given the state of mind I am in when I hear it (another shameless plug for self-care). The fact is, even a yes can feel like a no depending on the story you tell yourself. I have learned that trusting the process - whether in timing or the direction of my life - is everything. I try to avoid seeing life in 'black and white,' as 'yes or no,' but rather as arrows; messages to continue straight or find another way. Otherwise, it is easy to get caught up in consciously or subconsciously 'tallying' up the ratio of yes to no, which causes you to lose sight of the greater picture. You are moving towards something that you most likely don't fully understand or see. Even if you have a specific dream, whatever ends up actually happening will be what is right. You just have to trust. □

Article Credits

Tina Instagram: @tinachowrudolf

Tina Website: tinachowrudolf.com

Strange Bird Instagram: @strangebirdbeauty

Strange Bird Website: strangebirdbeauty.com