Paula Hoss: The Founder of CLN&DRTY

Paula Hoss: The Founder of CLN&DRTY

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your brand.

My name is Paula Hoss and I'm the founder of CLN&DRTY. We are a small batch skincare company that is committed to m

aking completely natural but also radically effective skincare solutions. We are based out of Kingston, Massachusetts and we are best known for our acne care products.

 

What inspired you to start your brand or craft?

I started CLN&DRTY 5 years ago while I was struggling with painful, full face cystic acne. I had tried everything from prestige level products to drugstore solutions and nothing worked to help my acne. I began researching ingredients that not only helped reduce acne, but would also help heal my skin from hyperpigmentation and scarring. I was shocked how simple formulations with great quality ingredients quickly made a positive impact on my skin and I was inspired to share the resulting products with our community.

How did you come up with the name of your company?

I actually have a huge stomach tattoo that says "Kill 'em Dirty" (hellooooo super responsible decisions in my early 20s) - which was basically an inside joke with some friends. When I was trying to think up the name of the company, I was 6 months pregnant with my 2nd daughter and was staring at my big belly and was inspired to name the company "CLN&DRTY" as a nod to my pregnancy and my questionable tattoo choices.

What does an average day look like?

I totally agree that there is no such thing as an average day as a mom of 2 and small business owner! But it can look something like this: Wake up, morning skincare routine, coffee, journaling, workout and meditation while my husband gets the girls ready and takes them to school. I head into the office and have a check-in meeting with my team. We talk about what our priorities are, what projects we're working on and how we can support each other through the day. At 2pm, I pick up my daughters from school (they'll be in Kindergarten and 2nd grade this upcoming year) and get them a snack. They usually come up to my office and play on their tablets for a while and at 4:30 I close up work and start making dinner. My husband and I juggle getting the girls to after school activities (they're both in Karate 3x a week). We always try to eat dinner as a family and we talk about our days and what was "sweet" and what was "sour." My husband gets the girls ready for bed while I clean up and we all do prayers and tuck-ins together. I'm early to bed, so I do my evening skincare routine, jump in the shower and am in bed reading a book by 9pm.

What’s your favorite part of the job?
I really love leadership. Whether it's equipping my team to grow in their position or in their own life goals, or chatting with customers about how they have felt more confident with clearer skin.

When you’re creating do you have a person in mind?

Absolutely. We create for the woman who is busy, who is usually taking care of dozens of people before she worries about herself. Our products are crafted for her to take a few minutes in her day to pause and treat herself in the moment but also with products that will have a lasting impact on how she feels in her skin.

When was your business founded and how has it evolved over time?

CLN&DRTY was founded in 2016 as a small handmade business on Etsy and since then we've been blessed to grow tremendously. We now have a small production facility, a team of 4 and dozens of Brand Ambassadors. We've won awards, have had impactful press features and have made countless community connections.

Are there any challenges that you’ve had to overcome?

I'm very open about the fact that I've struggled with mental health issues and also chronic migraines - which can be even more challenging to navigate when you're trying to run a business and a household. However, by sharing about my challenges publicly, I've connected with so many people who have a similar story and have created a community about working through life even with challenges.

What is one piece of advice you have for a female entrepreneur just starting out?

Seek advice from people who are further along in the process than you rather than people who are in the same spot or even newer than you.

Let us know where we can follow you. Feel free to share any news on upcoming projects.

We love to hang out on Instagram at@CLNandDRTY and you can shop us online at http://CLNandDRTY.com

Don't miss CLN & DRTY's pop up at Wyllo on Sunday August 1st 11:30-3pm!

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