Maelove: The Secret Behind their Viral Success with Founder, Jackie Kim

Holiday Special: Join THE networking community for women business owners over forty, The Dear FoundHer... Forum. From now until the end of the year, save 30% on your annual membership and lock in the rate forever.  Jackie Kim shares how a personal obsession with sensitive skin turned into Maelove, a science led skincare brand whose viral vitamin C serum built loyalty before it made headlines. Joining Lindsay Pinchuk in this episode, Jackie traces the shift from New York attorney and startup investor to founder, driven by years of dry, reactive skin and frustration with clinical products that either caused irritation or came with a painful price tag.  What do you build when every “solution” stings your face or empties your wallet? Jackie answers that question with Maelove’s approach to extra strength yet gentle formulas, a fully bootstrapped business, deep investment in R&D and long form educational content that customers and dermatologists now treat as a trusted guide. Along the way, she shares advice on knowing your strengths, hiring for your gaps and staying clear on who your skincare brand really serves, and she shows how viral growth can follow when you let the product, the science and your customers do the talking. Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Why Building A Business Is A Marathon And Why Founder Community Matters 02:23 Dear FoundHer Host Intro And Setting Up The Maelove Skincare Story 04:35 Meet Jackie Kim And The Origins Of Maelove Skincare 08:11 Solving Sensitive Skin Problems And Defining The Maelove Mission 10:24 Bootstrapping Maelove And Building A Customer Obsessed Science Led Skincare Team 14:25 Creating Glowmaker And How A Vitamin C Serum Became A Viral Skincare Hero 20:15 How Glowmaker Went Viral Through Editors Influencers And Dermatologists 24:27 Keeping Skincare Affordable With A Lean Direct To Consumer Business Model 26:05 Becoming A Customer Obsessed Brand Through Deep Skincare Education And Content 32:16 Staying Competitive Without Funding And Growing Maelove Through Word Of Mouth 36:08 Jackie Kim’s Three Actionable Steps For Female Founders In Skincare And Beyond Connect with Jackie Kim: Follow Maelove on Instagram Links: Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram Check out the Dear FoundHer... Female Founded Gift Guide! Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.