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8 Malaysian Beauty Brands Creating Local and Global Buzz
In a saturated beauty market, Malaysian beauty brands are proving that homegrown talent can compete with international companies. In the heart of Kuala Lumpur, the headquarters of buzzy beauty brands like Chuck’s, Olumes and Lumi Beauty are churning out a host of high-quality makeup and skincare products, decking out storefronts with captivating pop-ups, and changing the game with creative campaigns. With a blend of local culture and a keen eye for global trends, these beauty brands have experienced immense success throughout Malaysia, setting the standard for what it means to be at the forefront of one of the most lucrative retail industries in the world.
Chuck’s
Since its inception in 2019, Chuck’s has become more than a skincare brand, it has become a representation of a lifestyle. As the creation of Malaysian influencer and entrepreneur Jane Chuck, the brand has an innate ability to fascinate self-care enthusiasts with its captivating brand storytelling, which only complements its range of high-quality products. The brand was inspired by Korean skincare philosophies, initially launching with its now-signature Self-Love Face Masks. Since then, they have expanded to include soothing honey creams, oat cleansers and the aptly named Very Important Sunscreen.
What is most impressive about Chuck’s is its strong, intentional brand identity. From the beginning, the brand has strived to go beyond skincare products — it is about creating a persona and a community. In 2023, Mandy Gioh, Chuck’s creative director helped oversee the opening of the brand’s first physical store at The Gardens Mall in Kuala Lumpur, which features exclusive in-store promotions and merchandise. As Gioh once observed, the beauty industry is a competitive landscape, and the key to differentiation is by investing as much into brand messaging as it is about effective products.
The brand’s campaigns are a prime example of how it successfully blends creativity with commerce. In September 2024, Chuck’s launched a campaign in collaboration with Samsung. The ad recreated a K-mart style scene, where a shopper used the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6’s latest AI translator to browse the Korean-labelled products of the convenience store. Looking at the colourful cartons along the shelves, Samsung’s AI translator revealed that the products are not actually food items, but skincare products instead. In conjunction, Chuck’s created a K-mart experience at their store, designing their storefront to look like the mini-mart, complete with Korean convenience store packaging on their popular skincare collections.
Cuura
Founded by Sarah Shah Nor, Cuura is a natural skincare brand with a simple approach: effective skincare solutions sourced from organic ingredients. The idea for Cuura’s creation stemmed from a deeply personal experience. In 2017, Nor was diagnosed with postpartum eczema, which subsequently inspired her to explore gentle skincare options. At the time, she gradually realised that there was a gap in the market for skincare products tailored to sensitive skin in Malaysia.
Cuura’s first product, the Pure Beauty Oil was designed for those suffering from dry skin, eczema or psoriasis. Dubbed the “Miracle Oil Serum” by Cuura’s loyal customers, the formula contains essential oils like moringa, sweet almond and Japanese knotweed extract to seal in moisture and reduce fine lines. Continuing on from the beauty oil’s success, Nor has since expanded her holistic skincare line, with bestsellers like the calendula-infused Dew Drops essence and the Glo Nectar health drink, blended with vitamin C, rice bran and pomegranate.
In line with their mission to create products that are as ethical as they are effective, the brand ensures that over 80 percent of its ingredients are natural or plant-derived. Nor also emphasises Cuura’s commitment to halal standards, sourcing locally whenever possible. As she said in an interview for the New Straits Times, “Cuura is just pure labour of love and ethics.” In addition to their boutiques at The Exchange TRX and KL East Mall, Cuura also has a lush standalone skin spa in Bandar Baru Bangi. The spa promises a relaxing retreat with their Basic Glow or VIP Glow treatments, complete with hydrodermabrasion pore cleansing and collagen boost therapy.
READ MORE: An Intentional Return to Beauty
Kittie Yiyi Beauty
Launched in 2021, Kittie Yiyi Beauty is the eponymous makeup line by Malaysian influencer and designer, Kittie Yiyi. Known for her whimsical and expressive fashion designs, the beauty brand also reflects the same creativity and vibrancy she is known for in the fashion world. The brand’s defining feature is its embrace of unconventional colours that cater to the bold and expressive, often experimenting with statement shades of yellow, pink and blue.
Originally from Puchong, Malaysia, the young creative told Vulcan Post that she had always dreamed of becoming a fashion designer. Her off-kilter style quickly led her to debut on the runways of Nanjing Fashion Week in 2015, and Vancouver Fashion Week in 2016. It was the pandemic, however, that caused Kittie to pivot from fashion to beauty. “Clothes had become so unnecessary during the pandemic,” she told Vulcan Post. Her first collection, the Cross The Line Eyeliner was a nod to the striking winged eyeliner look she often dons. Inspired by children’s stationery, the eyeliner comes in a bubblegum pink colouring pencil component, and features unconventional hues like a bold magenta and a glittering silver.
In the same interview, Kittie shared her vision for the brand’s identity. “I want to encourage people to be who they want to be,” she said. “I want people to feel joy just like how kids draw and paint freely without any worries on how people judge their artwork.”
This childlike wonder is imbued in her other beauty releases. Their latest release is the Puffy Flush Blusher, a range of two-toned pink shades which come in a distinct pastel palette lined with soft fluff and stamped with the brand’s quirky bee mascot.
Lumi Beauty
With the K-wave showing no sign of slowing in Malaysia, it is no surprise that Lumi Beauty has become a fan favourite in the Malaysian skincare industry. Founded by Chryseis Tan, Lumi Beauty started as a project during the pandemic and quickly blossomed into one of the country’s most popular beauty and skincare brands. According to theSun, the Vitamin Glow Super Serum (the brand’s first-ever product) sold out within 10 days of its pre-order launch in September 2020.
To develop some of Lumi’s most-loved products, Tan told theSun that she works closely with a skincare lab in Korea to develop unique, patented formulations, often revising them until they meet her standards. “At the end of the day, these are products that my family and I use,” she said in the interview. “It’s critical that they live up to my vision of using botanical-driven ingredients and creating a luminous glow.”
Tan’s dedication has paid off, with bestsellers like the Rose Set Glow Hydrating Mist and Bakuchiol Skydew Cloud Moisturizer claiming top spots at Beauty Insider’s 2024 Awards.
For Tan, innovation is the key to Lumi Beauty’s continued success. The brand set a precedent for the skincare industry in Malaysia when they introduced skincare vending machines filled with an array of sunscreens and skincare bundles to select malls and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. In early 2023, Tan launched The GlowHouse KL along with founder Kim May Chee blow dry salon Cocodry, and founder Tan Boon Yao of fitness studio Babel. The all-encompassing wellness lounge is home to Lumi Cafe, a sherbet-coloured casual spot serving delicious coffees and small bites. Dedicated skincare lovers can also shop Lumi Beauty’s products at their in-house vending machine.
Olumes
The origins of skincare brand Olumes is a tale as old as time — during a visit to her grandparents’ home in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, co-founder Aerin Gabor noticed that her elderly relatives had remarkably flawless skin. Gabor soon found the source of the skin-saving effect: the Kalalit tree. Native to the Bornean rainforests, the tree is believed to have revitalising effects on the skin, and has been used by the indigenous Kadazan-Dusun people of Sabah for centuries.
After more experimentation and research, Gabor established Olumes in late 2019, with the launch of The Refining Lotion and Satin Cream, both containing Kalalit water extracted from sappanwood. As Gabor once shared to Vulcan Post, Olumes’ products represent “Borneo in a bottle,” blending the island’s natural remedies with plant-based ingredients like plant stem cells, ceramides and phytosterols. The efficacy was evident — the brand’s Satin Cream moisturiser took home Beauty Insider’s 2021 Award for Best Pore-refiner. In recent years, Olumes has invested in formulating their patented FCS Complex, a potent mixture of polypeptides and hand-harvested marine botanicals from the Celebes Sea in Semporna, Sabah. The FCS Complex is a key component in their Celebes Serum, designed to lighten sun spots and refine uneven texture.
Also essential to Olumes’ cultural and natural roots is their commitment to sustainability. Their Kalalit water is only extracted from small branches so that the trees can regenerate in the future. According to theSun, Olumes co-founder Ika Yahiya also heads the brand’s Save the Rainforest initiative, which donates a portion of their sales to rainforest conservation organisations. “We believe that we don’t only play the part of improving complexions, but also to better the treatment of our planet too,” she said.
The company’s growth, coupled with its dedication to sustainability and ethical sourcing, makes Olumes a brand to watch in the global beauty market.
READ MORE: Clé de Peau Beauté Unveils a New Gold Standard of Radiance
Syedewa Cosmetics
Makeup artist-turned-entrepreneur Syed Mohamed Fahmi Syed Shabthar founded his cosmetics company on the notion that all humans instinctively want to be beautiful. This belief is what has created success for Syedewa Cosmetics, since their launch over a decade ago. Their product formulations, packaging and collection range are all carefully designed to ensure that customers do not just look their best, but feel their best as well.
Most notably, Syedewa Cosmetics is known for their impressive array of lip products. Their Matte Lip Lacquer range boasts 60 different shades, and comes in either a full 50ml or a 2ml mini-version for easy on-the-go use. Although most famous for their lip lines, the brand has also ventured into other aspects of the makeup routine. Syedewa offers versatile Artist Finish Blush palettes fit with two powder and two cream formulas, inspired by colour schemes from iconic cities. Their Artist Finish Sculpt is a two-in-one bronzer and highlighter palette that features a small strip of muted brown colour to serve as a specialised nose contour shade.
With such a wide selection of products, Syedewa Cosmetics experienced a natural progression towards becoming an inclusive and authentic brand. At the time of its founding, Shabthar noticed that many Malaysian beauty brands only catered towards fairer skintones. Although diversity was not his main motivator in starting the company, his belief that makeup should be accessible to everyone allowed the brand to fervently produce effective products. Shabthar still considers himself an MUA to this day, posting tutorials and new releases on his YouTube channel to go back to his core philosophy — that everyone deserves to have fun with makeup.
Tatagaltier
Skincare brand Tatagaltier burst onto the scene in 2020, and quickly made a name for itself through their buzzy beauty serums and aesthetic “clean girl” packaging. Their debut product — the Bulaney Treatment Essence — was a power-packed blend of soothing centella asiatica, hydrating fungi filtrate and healing royal jelly protein from honeybees. Upon its launch, the essence became a crowd favourite and garnered rave reviews across social media, cementing Tatagaltier as a force to be reckoned within the skincare world.
The brand has only grown more successful with its subsequent releases — reminiscent of haircare brand Gisou, which also uses bee byproducts as a basis for their products. Tatagaltier’s Peach Plump Hydrating Toner contains fermented honey — known for its hydrating and antibacterial properties — leaving the face protected and moist. Similarly, their Bertine Moisturising Gel Cream uses hydrolised royal jelly protein to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Behind the brand’s meteoric rise lies the vision of its founder, Aush Milby, whose passion for both design and skincare led to the creation of Tatagaltier. As he explained, aesthetics creates a strong first impression among consumers, but it is the formulation and effectiveness that seals the deal. For Milby, the secret to the brand’s success is their constant investment in the research and development stage.
This process has led Tatagaltier to greater heights, including beloved limited-edition releases. Most recently, the brand collaborated with Malaysian pop singer Yuna in December. The partnership saw the creation of an exclusive Tatagaltier x Yuna advent calendar, featuring a limited-edition designed bottle of Bulaney Essence, Sunny Seamless Sun Shield, Poppy Acne Patches, and 30ml samples of their “Teh” formulations which will feature in future essence treatments.
Velvet Vanity
For almost a decade, Velvet Vanity is a cosmetics company that has been ahead of the beauty game. Starting with a passion to fill a gap in the Malaysian market for ethical beauty products, Adlina Nadirah dreamt up the vegan and cruelty-free makeup brand in 2016. In line with the trends of the time, Nadirah first launched with a collection of soft matte liquid lipsticks, which helped her rake in RM 20,000 in monthly sales in 2017. From there, the brand experienced a rapid rise to fame, getting a glowing endorsement from former beauty YouTuber Tati Westbrook and landing at stockists like Singapore’s Tangs VivoCity and online retailer Zalora.
Today, Velvet Vanity has a similar-but-different approach. Sticking to its core consumers of eco-conscious beauty lovers, the brand also strives to tap into the pulse of youth culture with new releases. While Velvet Vanity still offers its cult-favourite smooth-finish liquid lipsticks, it has rebranded to a “fuss-free makeup skin care hybrid” principle, in line with some of the most popular trends in today’s beauty industry. Their liquid blushes are designed in colours of dusty rose and flamingo pinks for a natural flush, infused with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid. Following in the footsteps of popular products from Clarins, Kosas and Rhode, Velvet Vanity has also created the Peptide Glo Lip Oil, a balm-gloss formula packed with the skin-loving ingredient.
Looking ahead, Nadirah is focused on continuing to grow her loyal customer base. The brand regularly goes through its social feeds to examine what products their customers desire — a strategy that has worked for them considering their longevity in the business. Velvet Vanity also hosts charming events in an effort to foster community, like their 2024 “Pretty in Pink” bruncheon in celebration of their new liquid lipstick colours.
For more on the latest in beauty and wellness, click here.
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Worried Your Retirement Savings Won’t Last? Consider This Alternative
I call it the “desert island dilemma” — a reference to being stranded alone with a single barrel of water, having to decide how long it might last and how much you can afford to drink every day.
In personal finance terms, rather than water, imagine the barrel is filled with the savings you’ve accumulated to live on in retirement, and you must determine how long you can survive on those proceeds and at what rate you can afford to spend them.
The answers vary by individual, of course, but they have led to the creation of a one-size-fits-all solution known as the 4% rule. It’s the traditional idea that you can safely withdraw that percentage — plus a little extra for inflation — of your savings each year and still make it through up to 30 years of retirement without running out of money.
But there are issues to this approach. Notably, many would-be retirees haven’t accumulated a large-enough nest egg for 4% of it — even with Social Security income added in — to be enough to live on. With the 4% rule, withdrawing $50,000 annually in retirement means you’d need to have saved more than $1.25 million. That’s roughly twice the average savings of about $600,000 that retirees now have, according to the Federal Reserve.
The sizable requirement is among the reasons to consider a retirement alternative that’s rooted in the era when pensions, rather than 401(k)s, were the cornerstone of retirement security. As a retirement planner, I call the approach Pension 2.0. While it flies in the face of what some other retirement experts advise, this strategy might be the ticket to a less stressful, more bountiful retirement for some people.
A pension-like strategy
Once upon a time, more workers had access to pensions that offered retirees steady, reliable life long income. Couples often had two options: opt for a reduced pension that continued for a surviving spouse or choose a higher payout that ceased upon the pensioner’s death.
Pension 2.0 starts by replacing what a pension used to do with the purchase of an annuity — specifically a single premium immediate annuity (SPIA). This one-time purchase (usually at retirement) provides a high guaranteed lifetime payout because the life-only option does not offer survivor benefits – and so delivers more in income. Today, SPIAs can provide payouts of 7–8% annually, which is double, or nearly so, the amount that people draw from their retirement accounts under the 4% rule.
For $50,000 in annual income, you’d need an SPIA with just $625,000 — still a hefty sum, but about half what you’d need in a retirement account to yield that same income if following the 4% rule.
If a couple secures an SPIA to guarantee a certain income, any remaining funds can be allocated for other purposes, and perhaps with a willingness to be a little less conservative with investments than people tend to be under the 4% rule. But upon the death of the annuitant, the annuity income stops. That’s where the second component of Pension 2.0 — life insurance — comes into play.
Life insurance as a backstop
To protect the surviving spouse and ensure that the funds used to purchase the SPIA are eventually returned to the family, Pension 2.0 incorporates a permanent life insurance policy, which can come in several forms – whole life, indexed life or variable.
Unlike term life insurance, which risks expiring before the annuitant’s death, a properly maintained permanent policy is guaranteed to provide a death benefit whenever the insured annuitant passes away. This ensures the refunding of the SPIA amount for the benefit of the survivor or children — closing the loop elegantly for the family.
There’s also a cash accumulation component to permanent life insurance policies. That cash value can accumulate over time, eventually delivering an additional cash value that can increase the policy’s death benefit or be used to pay the policy’s premiums.
The cons to the approach
No retirement strategy is perfect. While the permanent life insurance required under Pension 2.0 delivers security to the surviving spouse, it requires understanding the benefit and being comfortable with the higher cost of such a policy compared with term coverage; for example, the average monthly premium for a $500,000 policy of the whole life type can be at least $400 a month, according to Policygenius.
Buying life insurance later in life is costly and risky because you could be denied coverage due to health issues. So it’s ideal to secure a policy early and have it fully funded before retirement.
Additionally, permanent life insurance is a conservative growth vehicle, with returns that are closer to those of bonds than of a typical retirement account based on stock market returns. That said, any retirement portfolio usefully contains less risky investments, and the insurance policy can contribute to creating that balance.
Another reason some retirement advisors steer clients away from annuities is that, once you’ve purchased one, it can’t be reversed; it’s already destined to deliver monthly income to you for as long as you live. (You can, however, opt for a more flexible annuity, but these have smaller payouts than the life-only SPIA type. It’s important to review your annuity options, perhaps with an advisor)
How this strategy can work
It’s not for everyone, but Pension 2.0 can deliver well, and not only to those who lack the savings to weather retirement in good financial shape. Admittedly, its appeal might be greatest to retirees who might otherwise be unable to create a viable income from their modest retirement nest egg.
But the approach has advantages even for those who are comparatively well-prepared for their retirements. By combining the stability of an SPIA with the certainty of permanent life insurance, this strategy all but relieves retirees of having to worry about the unpredictabilities and inherent volatility of the stock market.
Depending on your risk tolerance and financial goals, the funds remaining after purchasing an annuity and insurance policy could be invested a little more aggressively in the market through Pension 2.0.
Pension 2.0 is not a one-size-fits-all strategy. Rather, it provides an additional option as families work to create a secure retirement. Work with a financial planner or professional to evaluate your unique needs to ensure that this strategy aligns with your retirement goals.
This hybrid solution might not fit every retiree, but for those seeking security and simplicity, it could redefine financial freedom in retirement.
Walter C. Young, MBA and RICP, is a Seattle-based financial planner and the author of The 5th Option: Why Your Retirement Plan Won’t Work the Way You Think It Will. Advice from guest contributors like Walter does not necessarily reflect that of Money and its staff.
Here’s Money’s list of America’s best financial planners.
How to Set Your Rolex Lady-Datejust
Synonymous with excellence and reliability, Rolex watches are designed for everyday wear, and depending on the model, perfectly suited for a wide range of sports and other activities. Built to last, these timepieces are characterised by their distinctive and timeless aesthetics. The Oyster Perpetual Lady-Datejust is Rolex’s classic feminine watch par excellence.
Learn more about its features and how to set the date and time by watching the video.
The post How to Set Your Rolex Lady-Datejust appeared first on LUXUO.
Emirates New Premium Economy Class Doesn’t Skim On Premium Experiences
Whenever a discussion of which airline has the best business class surfaces, the same names have long dominated the conversation. Emirates, the Middle East’s largest airline, undoubtedly comes to mind. With luxurious, lie-flat seats offered even on the airline’s shortest routes, an onboard bar experience on the Airbus A380, and culinary experiences that compete toe-to-toe with its competitors, it’s easy to see just why.
For most travellers, these premium experiences are reserved only for the top-end of airline classes. But what if there was an option that emanates a premium experience without needing to splurge on a business class ticket? With the introduction of premium economy onboard Emirates’ refurbished Airbus A380s and now Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, travelling in a class beyond standard economy is no longer too far-fetched of an idea — especially when it costs just a fraction of business for the upgrade.
Emirates hopes to offer something different with its take on premium economy. It promises a whole new cabin class that borrows — and even mirrors — several business class touch points instead of delivering an “economy-plus” product, as most airlines are inclined toward.
This might reassure anyone booked in this travel class, but I had my initial doubts. In fact, I quickly adjusted my expectations before embarking on a 20-hour journey (with a short layover in Dubai) to New York City from Singapore, worried that I may very well be sat in a seat that doesn’t differ that much from that of economy’s.
However, the airline got it right from the start, before I had even boarded the plane. Premium economy passengers are entitled to either 35kg of checked baggage or two pieces of checked baggage on flights to the United States and other destinations that follow the per-piece concept. With an allowance just 5kg shy of what most airlines would offer to their business class passengers, that alone allayed any pre-flight packing stresses.
Most Emirates flight routes, especially those where the A380s are deployed, would naturally incur long lines at the airport for check-in and baggage drop. Thankfully, there were dedicated counters catered for premium economy passengers, and it wasn’t long before my bags were checked in worry-free. The same priority was also offered during the boarding phase. Premium economy class passengers are allowed to board the plane before economy class passengers using the forward door of the aircraft. With shorter queues and fewer passengers to hurdle over, this is another win for the books.
Yet, it’s onboard where the real magic happens. White leather recliners greet premium economy class passengers in the 2-4-2 configuration on the A380. They spark uncanny resemblances to the airline’s new business class seats, measuring 20 inches in width and featuring 42 inches of pitch. These extra inches may not sound like a lot of difference if you’re of a smaller frame like me, but I assure you that you’d immediately notice the excess space in person. I could slumber lazily on my back and stretch out my legs without my knees touching the seat in front of me.
While the seats aren’t flatbed style, the added space allows for a calf and footrest that extends almost 90 degrees. Couple that with a seat that reclines 10cm more than an economy seat; there was no issue getting comfortable in the seats, which, frankly, feels a lot softer than it looks. There is also a soft, six-way adjustable headrest that cushions your head while seated and acts as a decently firm pillow during sleep. Between each seat is a divider cum console where you’d find storage for a bottle of water and a woodgrain tray table that folds in half.
It wasn’t long after I settled into my seat that the crew greeted me and offered a welcome drink and a hot towel. This time, I noticed woodgrain panels on the plane’s walls surrounding the electronic shade windows. The premium economy section on the A380 is located in the forward cabin of the plane’s lower deck, which makes a real difference considering the large aisle space that eases any feeling of constriction. Being at the front of the plane also makes for a quieter travelling experience. Three lavatories are generously made available for the 56 premium economy seats on the A380, and the decently-sized cabin also means more than adequate storage space for each passenger. All of which add to, and don’t replace, the in-flight experience.
In addition to upgraded seats, premium economy passengers can take advantage of an equally upgraded menu of food and beverage options throughout the flight. They’re both very noticeable — I hadn’t seen a menu card for premium economy as extensive as this before, with multiple pages folding out.
Most premium economy flights on Emirates offer three choices of mains, complete with appetisers and desserts, along with an array of snacks, liquors and chocolates on offer anytime you’d like. Some wines are even identical to the vintage on Emirates’ business class, and expect larger portion sizes than you would if you were in economy. Meals are served on Royal Doulton china tableware with stainless steel cutlery wrapped in linen, just as you would find in business class. Even if the flight was full, the crew didn’t take long to serve and clear all 56 meals during service. At this point, it was clear that there was nothing “economy” about this at all.
For now, key long-haul cities like Singapore, London, Sydney, Auckland, Los Angeles, New York, Tokyo, and Sao Paolo all feature one or more flights with an aircraft equipped with Emirates’ new premium economy offering.
However, the litmus test for the upgrade from economy class is whether the seats were comfortable enough, as it is in business class, to clock in some snooze. It’s certainly subjective for most, but I did manage to sleep from Dubai to New York (I even missed a meal service) and landed without feeling queasy or disoriented.
The seat reclined well enough to evoke a sense of being cradled. I didn’t experience as much of a constant need to adjust my position as I would in economy class; plus, the leg rest helps with that. It’s important to note where you’re seated: as the leg rest adjusts all the way out, coupled with a recline that’s deeper than average, chances are your sleep might be disturbed by your in-flight neighbours. With that said, having spent 20 hours in a truly comfortable seat, and with all the extra luxuries, makes for, in my opinion, a perfect flight.
Is premium economy on Emirates worth it? Yes, if one knows not to expect to be in business class. Having experienced business class on my return trip from New York, the onboard bar and lounge, airport lounge access and complimentary chauffeur services that make up for the allure of Emirates’ business class are add-ons that can’t be replaced. Yet, this is perfect for those seeking a premium experience who can’t swing business. And it’s well worth the upgrade — I wouldn’t be surprised if other airlines have set their eyes on offering similar configurations and amenities.
This article first appeared in Men’s Folio.
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Internet Shopping Cheat Sheet: Avoid These Common Mistakes
Learn how to pick the best internet plan in your area with the speeds you actually need.
6 Misconceptions About Digital Products That Are Costing You Time and Money
You’ve probably seen or heard someone talking about how selling online products and digital courses is as easy as 1, 2, 3 and you’re making $10,000 in your sleep overnight.
Well, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but they’re only half right.
The part they are right about is that yes, you actually can create something you love that helps people and, with the right systems in place, you can make money in your sleep!
The concept of making money at any given moment of the day on autopilot was enough to send me down the rabbit hole of learning how to create online products for one simple reason: to no longer trade time for money, which gives me all the time in the world to do more of what I love—creating.
What they don’t tell you is all the things that go into creating something online so it actually works. So, I’m here to spill the tea on why I agree that you should learn how to create products because it does create time and financial freedom!
But not until you know the six misconceptions to avoid when creating an online store and digital products.
Misconception #1: All You Need is a Product
This is the most common misconception.
Not only do you need a product, but you need a product that offers immense value to your customers!
If you don’t know how to create a product that people actually want, everything else is completely uphill.
Trust me, I’ve created many products that didn’t sell because I thought they were brilliant, but they weren’t what my audience needed. So, they flopped.
Misconception #2: All You Need is Tons of Followers
When working with my influencer client who has 1.1 million followers, I, like many others, assumed that because she had so many followers, all we had to do was create a store, a product, launch it and we’d be swimming in champagne.
Not quite.
It was actually much more difficult than even my smaller creator clients. Why? Back to misconception #1: We didn’t know what her audience wanted from her or what they’d buy.
Here’s the good news: this means you don’t need a million followers to get started.
Misconception #3: Creating a Digital Product is Quick & Easy
Here’s what ChatGPT told me about why that doesn’t work:
“Crafting high-quality digital products takes time, from ideation to testing, and rushing the process often leads to subpar results.” – ChatGPT
Straight from the horse’s mouth.
Taking my time to get feedback from my ideal customers, testing colors, prices, and branding strategies has been the difference between a successful product and a flop.
Does it take longer? Yep. Is it more successful in the long run? Totally.
Misconception #4: I Need to Be a “Creative“
Let me tell you about my client Teresa.
Teresa is an expert in diversity and inclusion. She’s worked with fancy government agencies, training them on how to create inclusive work environments.
Not your traditional singer, writer, dancer creative type, right? But like I always say, we’re all creatives—especially educators!
Teresa came to me yearning for more. We realized all the PowerPoint presentations, resources, and toolkits she’d developed over the years were perfect digital products!
Maybe you’re thinking, “Well, I’m not a traditional creative. How can I apply this to what I do?”
If you’ve poured yourself into something—whether it’s business, education, automotives, or woodworking—you have a digital product waiting to be created.
Hell, if you’re a plumber you have a digital product!
Focus on your expertise. What do you love and do well that you could teach others? That’s your digital product.
Misconception #5: Having a Brilliant Idea is Enough
Having a brilliant, magnetic, creative idea is cool, but it’s not enough.
Why? Because while you think it’s a great idea, it’s not about what you think. It’s about what other people need.
Before you dive into spending hours on a product nobody needs, do some market research.
In 2021, I bought a program from someone who had made $20 million online with her course about…creating courses. While her program had great information, it lacked one crucial piece: teaching how to create a course that your audience wants.
This will be the difference between a successful product and one that’s only good for you and your dog.
Misconception #6: You Can Learn Everything on YouTube
This is the most underrated misconception to avoid.
There are three main reasons learning only on YouTube doesn’t work:
- Time-Wasting: You’ll spend countless hours sifting through clickbait videos that teach you nothing. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misinformation out there.
- Lack of Customization: Your creative magic is yours for a reason. While you might find useful information on YouTube, it’s not tailored to your unique expertise, experiences, and needs.
- Mindset Shifts: YouTube can’t teach you how to break through limiting beliefs that block your success. Shifting your mindset is vital to taking your creative magic to the next level.
Invest in yourself. A one on one mentor is your best option to get REAL results, but if that’s a little outside of your budget at least invest in a program that gives you the step by step of it so you can shave off valuable time you might otherwise spend on doom scrolling just to find something that works.
The Truth
The opportunity to make passive income online by creating something you love that serves others is the trifecta of happiness and success!
Take your time, do it right, invest in yourself, and play the long game. One day, you’ll wake up to a $2,000 deposit, an impact on countless lives, and a full day ahead to create whatever you’re dreaming of.
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Google Brings Circle to Search to iPhone in the Google and Chrome Apps
The AI-powered feature, which quickly lets you search for whatever is on your screen, is no longer exclusive to Android devices.