Exploring Life & Business with Schinequa Alexis of Leapling Radiant Body Care

Today we’d like to introduce you to Schinequa Alexis.

Hi Schinequa, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Leapling Radiant Body Care started unexpectedly. I was simply looking for a hobby to help manage my anxiety and wanted something creative that would keep my hands and mind busy. I became curious about soap making and quickly fell in love with the process, especially blending essential oils and discovering how each scent could create a different experience. What started as a way to relax soon became a true passion.

As I learned more about natural ingredients and skincare, I began making products for family and friends. Before long, people were asking to buy them, and the positive feedback kept coming. Customers started sharing before-and-after photos, reviews, and messages about improvements in their eczema, acne, dry skin, and dark spots. Seeing the confidence they gained from using my products made me realize this was about so much more than making soap.

Over the years, Leapling Radiant Body Care has grown in ways I never imagined. My products have been carried in a local spa and a flower shop, featured at community events, and used for custom party favors and baby showers. One of my bestselling soaps has sold hundreds of bars, but what I’m most proud of is the trust my customers have placed in me and the stories they’ve shared about how my products have helped their skin.

Along the way, I’ve also built a career in healthcare as a medical assistant. Working in healthcare has reinforced my passion for helping people feel their best, and that carries over into my business. I believe healthy skin doesn’t have to come from a complicated routine. Consistency, quality ingredients, and taking care of yourself can make a huge difference.

Like many entrepreneurs, my journey hasn’t been without challenges. Balancing a full-time career, marriage, motherhood, and running a business has required me to slow down at times and reevaluate my priorities. Right now, I’m in an exciting season of rebuilding and intentionally relaunching Leapling Radiant Body Care with a stronger foundation, refreshed branding, and bigger goals for the future, including expanding into wholesale and retail partnerships.

Looking back, it’s incredible to think that something I started to help ease my anxiety has grown into a business that has helped so many other people feel more confident in their own skin. That’s still my “why.” Every bar of soap I create is made with the hope that it helps someone feel a little more confident, cared for, and radiant.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like many small business owners, I’ve faced financial challenges, periods of burnout, and learning curves that you simply can’t prepare for. Building a handmade skincare brand while working full-time in healthcare, becoming a wife, and raising two young daughters has required a lot of sacrifice and flexibility.

One of my biggest challenges has been balancing life and business. There have been seasons where Leapling Radiant Body Care was growing quickly, and there have also been seasons where family needed more of my time. After becoming a mother, my priorities shifted, and I had to accept that I couldn’t do everything at once. Instead of seeing that as failure, I learned that businesses can have seasons too.

Another challenge has been wearing every hat myself. From product formulation and manufacturing to photography, website design, social media, customer service, shipping, bookkeeping, and marketing, every responsibility has fallen on me. As a small business owner, you quickly realize that making a great product is only part of the job. Learning how to market it effectively is an entirely different skill.

I’ve also learned that it’s okay to pause, regroup, and rebuild. Recently, I made the difficult decision to temporarily pause parts of my business while I focused on strengthening the foundation, updating my legal registration, and creating a better long-term strategy. It wasn’t an easy decision, but I know sustainable growth is more important than rushing.

Through every challenge, my customers have reminded me why I started. Receiving messages, before-and-after photos, and hearing someone compliment my own skin because I’m using the products I created keeps me motivated. Those moments remind me that the work matters.

If there’s one lesson this journey has taught me, it’s that success isn’t always a straight line. Sometimes growth looks like slowing down, learning, adjusting, and coming back stronger. That’s exactly where I am now, and I’m excited about what the next chapter of Leapling Radiant Body Care will bring.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Leapling Radiant Body Care specializes in handcrafted skincare products designed to simplify skincare routines without sacrificing quality. My focus has always been creating products that people actually enjoy using every day, from cleansing bars and body oils to body butters and custom event soaps.

One thing customers often tell me is that they appreciate how approachable the brand feels. They know who’s making their products, they know they can ask questions, and they know I’m invested in their experience long after they place an order. That personal connection is something I never want to lose as the business grows.

One of my favorite parts of owning this business has been creating custom products for special occasions. I’ve made soaps for baby showers, events, and gifts, and seeing something I created become part of someone else’s celebration is incredibly rewarding. My products have also been carried by a local spa and a flower shop, which showed me how much I enjoy collaborating with other small businesses.

I’m also proud of the trust my customers have placed in me over the years. Many have shared before-and-after photos, referred friends and family, and continued supporting the brand for years. Those relationships mean more to me than any sales number because they represent real people who chose to come back.

As I move into the next chapter of Leapling Radiant Body Care, I’m focused on building a stronger foundation, expanding into wholesale and retail partnerships, and making it easier for customers to discover the brand. My goal isn’t simply to sell skincare—it’s to build a trusted brand that people think of when they want handcrafted products made with care and consistency.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I’m honestly more of a researcher than a reader. If I’m curious about something, I’ll dive into YouTube, articles, and other entrepreneurs’ experiences until I understand it. I use Canva and Shopify almost daily for my business, and I love learning about skincare ingredients, marketing, and branding.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leapling_radiantbodycare
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