Our History — is about discovery 

Darrell and I (Kimberley) met nearly two decades ago while working for the same Fortune 100 company in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We became good friends who viewed the world in similar ways. We also happened to view business in similar ways and dreamed of one day creating our own brand together. Although, as it often does, things in life happen and situations change which can cause dreams to fade into the background. The dreams don't disappear, just fade a bit until they can be filled with color and life again.

As time passed, such things as jobs, moving, going back to school, a different business endeavor, marriage and divorce, good times, some not-so-good times, and everything in between also came and passed. Suffice it to say, you all know what basically happens over a 20-year period especially when starting at age 22 and moving forward. Throughout it all, we both believe we've been extremely fortunate and are greatly thankful for the opportunities, family and friends we have. So very thankful! Over the years, Darrell and I ended up in many different states before settling down once again in the midwest. He made it full circle back to Minneapolis, and I'm living near Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

At one point, Darrell began creating skincare for a friend who was getting married. As time went on, the proverbial light bulb lit over Darrell's head, and he started to view skincare as the business we could pursue together. So, in 2004, the business of starting a business began and our dream of building our own company was filled with color and life again.

As we began work on YBF, we posed the question, "just how great can we make our products?" Trial and error of formulations ensued over 18 months, and throughout the learning curve more light bulbs arose for us both. It was exciting, but highly challenging. We made the leap from working with ingredients costing tens of dollars to those costing us thousands. We'd throw out batch after batch until our formulas became something we knew future customers would love. Darrell: I remember putting a months pay into one test batch, getting it almost right except for a single, troublesome, ingredient — then watching it collapse into a watery mess. In the end it was worth it, but those were incredibly trying times, especially for everyone around me.

By the summer of 2006, we had our first four products, and we went to press with our first labels and later that year we celebrated the holiday season with the addition of the launch of our website. Since our brand and products were completely new to the world, it was hard finding anyone who would believe in us. Then along came Lisa LaPrade who was the first to review our products in March, 2007. It was exciting to see, for the first time, someone else writing online about YBF and our products! A few months later, in May, Patti at The Skin Care Shop believed in us and our products enough to be the first to put YBF on her shelves and follow with selling YBF online shortly after that. She has been the perfect partner for us, and we enjoy working with her so very much.

Currently, we have thirteen core consumer products, special seasonal products and a pro-series. We have more in the works and expect to see our line continue to expand throughout 2011. Many of our product ideas and formulation updates originated from feedback from those who use YBF. Our sincere thanks to everyone! With the help and support of so many wonderful people (customers, writers, retailers, estheticians, photographers, family, friends and many others), we have been growing and developing professionally and personally since Darrell's first skincare experiment, and we're looking forward to what the future brings.

We still ask ourselves that question — just how great can we make our products? It's a question that keeps pushing us ahead. YBF is a journey for us to produce products that not only feel great, but also protect and benefit the skin in ways other products just can't. As feedback rolls in from all around us, each day we feel good knowing that we really are making the products people think of first when asked, "what's your favorite brand of skincare?"

We hope you too will try our skincare products and find they're a joy to use!
Darrell & Kimberley,
Founding Partners, Your Best Face Skincare LLC 

 
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Check out YBFSkincare on our Formspring page (external link) and see our answers to questions from readers starting mid-May!  

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