Behind the Scenes: Our Last 60 Days Since Launch - Q2 2025

Why I’m Documenting This Journey: Wins, Struggles and All

When I first came up with the idea for Bareborn in December 2023, people thought I was nuts.

Build a skincare brand for men? Most men don’t even use face wash. And I wasn’t a skincare expert. I wasn’t a chemist. I was just a guy with a problem I wanted to solve, and a belief that skincare didn’t have to be complicated.

Before launch, I had one fear that kept playing in my head on loop:

"What if no one buys it?"

What if I spent 15 months creating a product that people didn’t want? What if I made something I personally loved… but nobody else cared?

Now, 60 days in, I want to document what’s happened. What worked. What didn’t. What I’ve learned. And where I’m headed next.

What I Set Out to Do

After 15 months of R&D and testing, I launched the Bareborn Multi-Purpose Face Solution on May 1, 2025. A one-step product built for men who want results, not routines.

I had ambitious plans. Work with creators and influencers. Launch an affiliate program. Grow awareness through content. Refine the site for conversions. Turn interest into real momentum.

That was the plan. And for a moment, it looked like it might just work.

What I Tried (And What Didn’t Work)

The first two weeks were encouraging. Orders came in from friends and family (thank you all). That early support helped me refine the site, messaging, and thank you notes. It gave me the confidence to start reaching out beyond my circle.

(Upgraded Thank You cards)

I posted daily on TikTok. Content about skincare, performance, and the founder journey. One video hit over 40,000 views, and a few orders came in with each post. Awareness was building.

Then it slowed.

I reached out to over 50 micro-influencers, UGC creators, and affiliates. Only 3 responded. Their posts had high engagement, but not a single conversion or follower. I paused that channel quickly.

I also tried using AI tools to generate content. Some images looked sharp. But most of it felt off. Too robotic. Not personal enough. There were more misses than hits. So, I went back to doing everything myself.

I set up automated review emails too. That didn’t convert. And TikTok Shop doesn’t allow reviews until 14 days post-purchase, which means most customers didn’t even see results before they were asked to leave feedback.

What I Doubled Down On

When nothing else worked, I turned to TikTok Live.

I started going live every weekend night. Two hours. Just me talking. Sometimes to one person. Sometimes to none. But it worked. Orders started coming in. I could answer questions in real time. I could show my face - the same face behind the brand.

That effort started solving my biggest problem: trust.

We now have 22 public reviews across TikTok and our website. Not from automated emails. From personally messaging every customer. Asking for feedback. Then asking again for a review. Slow? Yes. But it worked.

What surprised me was although the brand is built for men, women started buying it too. Some were buying it for the men in their lives. But others were buying it for themselves. What I built was resonating beyond the intended niche.

Then something else happened.

As more sales came in through TikTok Shop, new customers became more comfortable buying. There was a snowball effect. More sold equals more trust. So, I decided to double down on live selling, even though it’s the least scalable thing to do.

And here’s the unexpected win. As I kept showing up, a small but steady fan base started forming. Viewers who tune in every time I go live. From single-digit viewers to now a steady double-digit crowd.

Then more people started reaching out. Content creators. Affiliates. Agencies. Some even offered to promote Bareborn for free. Not because I asked, but because they saw the story behind the brand and wanted to be part of it.

That’s when I realized. People aren’t just buying a product. They’re buying into the journey. And they’re buying into me.                                          

What I Paused or Dropped

Here’s what I tried and paused for now:

• Influencer and affiliate outreach. Poor response, zero results.
• AI-generated content. Lacked the human touch I needed.
• Passive content formats. Didn’t engage or drive action.
• Automated flows. Didn’t fit the timing and experience of the product.

These might come back later. But right now, I need to focus only on what works.

What I’m Doing Next

Here’s what I’m working on this quarter:

• Elevating our mailer packaging to match the premium feel of what’s inside
  
• Tightening SEO to get discovered by the right people
• Testing small-budget ads to find new angles
• Getting more reviews and testimonials, even if it means chasing them manually
• Staying consistent with TikTok Lives and refining our social media content

Final Thoughts: My Face Is the Brand Now

I’m a solo founder. I bootstrap every part of this brand. I pack every order. I film every video. I respond to every DM. I drop off every parcel myself.

It’s not scalable. It’s not polished. But it’s authentic.

And now, I’ve come to accept something. My face, my name, and Bareborn are becoming one and the same. That wasn’t the plan. But it’s what people connect with. So I’ll keep showing up.

If you’ve bought from Bareborn, shared it, or just silently supported from a distance - thank you. You’re part of something that’s just beginning.

Let’s see what the next 90 days bring

Stay unconquerable,

Jozua - Founder