Conversations with Karyn Tonge

Today we’d like to introduce you to Karyn Tonge.

Hi Karyn, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey as a soap maker started as a hobby in 2020, during the pandemic. Lockdown got extremely boring, and as someone who loves learning new things, I dabbled in a little of everything, old and new. I dove back into reading, sewing (which I absolutely love), and writing poetry and spoken word. Then I tried something brand new: acrylic nails, which taught me very quickly that was NOT my expertise. I’ll stick with the professionals!

That’s when I discovered soap making. I watched educational videos, read soap making books, ordered my supplies, and started experimenting slowly. It took two and a half years before I pursued it as an official business, because I had to be certain God was, and is, in it. It expresses my passion, and I could see real income potential. Once I had that clarity, the real work began: I created a business name, a logo, and a business plan.

I may not officially be where I’d like to be, but I remember, my why is simple: building a faith-led business that gives my family freedom, makes products that help people feel cared for, and proves you can build a purposeful life with your own two hands. I’m building something of my own, something that gives me options and peace. Every bar of soap, every product, every late night is a brick in that foundation.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. The biggest challenge was patience: it took me two and a half years of experimenting before I felt certain God was in it and I was ready to make it official. Waiting on that clarity while watching others launch faster was hard, and honestly, self-doubt crept in more times than I can count. There were moments I wondered if I was even cut out for this.

Then there was the learning curve itself. Soap making looks simple until your first few batches don’t turn out the way the videos promised. I had to learn through trial and error, which meant wasted supplies and funds while I was still figuring out recipes that worked.

And through all of it, I was juggling school, a demanding full-time job, and personal matters as they came up. There are only so many hours in a day, and everything, from supplies to packaging, to the website, came out of my own pocket and my limited time. But every obstacle taught me something, and I wouldn’t trade the slow build. It made the foundation solid.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
By day, I work in business operations in healthcare, where I’ve spent the last few years keeping the behind-the-scenes moving: streamlining processes, solving problems, tracking metrics and making sure everything runs smoothly for both staff and patients. I’m the person who sees the system, finds the gaps, and fixes them.

What I’m most proud of is that I didn’t leave that skill set at the office. I brought it home and built a business with it. Running my soap company taught me that operations isn’t just spreadsheets and workflows, it’s the backbone of any dream. The same mind that organizes a department is the one that formulated recipes, built a brand, wrote a business plan, and now creates digital products.

What sets me apart is that I live in both worlds. I’m analytical and creative, structured and faith-led. I believe excellence is a form of stewardship, so whether I’m improving a process at work or pouring a batch of soap at midnight, I give it my whole heart.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
First and always, my mom. She has believed in me before I believed in myself, through every version of this journey. When the self-doubt was loudest, her voice was louder. She didn’t just cheer me on, she told me the truth when I needed to hear it, and that kind of honesty is rare.
Then there’s my small circle of closest friends. They are my truest supporters: the ones who tested products, shared my posts, talked me off the ledge on the hard days, and celebrated every tiny win like it was a grand opening. They never let me shrink my dream to make it more comfortable.

I credit my driven and ambitious nature to my Caribbean, cultured background. Where I come from, you work hard, you carry yourself with pride, and you don’t wait for permission to build something. That spirit is in everything I create.
I also have to credit my faith. Every step of this business was bathed in prayer, and I truly believe God ordered each connection, each lesson, each open door.

No one builds anything alone. I’m standing on the love and honesty of the people who refused to let me quit.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DestinedSkinnLLC?etsrc=sdt
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/destinedskinnllc
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/destined-skinn-llc-0b65aa253/
• Other: https://linktr.ee/destinedskinn