December 2024 Amber Grant Awarded to Melanbrand Skin

We’re excited to announce the December $10,000 Amber Amber Grant recipient. Congratulations to Patrice Chappelle, owner of MelanBrand Skin. She is the first qualifier for the 2025 year-end Amber Grant ($25,000).

Video Transcript

WomensNet: Welcome to our Women’s Net Winner video series. We are so excited to today to introduce to you our Amber Grant winner for the month of December. As you know, we offer three grants each month. The first one being our Amber Grant, the second one being a business category grant, and then the third being a startup grant. We’re excited to talk to the winners for this month. We have Patrice with us from MelanBrand Skin, and she’s our Amber Grant winner. Can you tell us a little bit about your business and then share with us a little bit about who or what inspired your business?

Patrice: I’m Patrice Chappelle. I am the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of MelanBrand Skin, LLC, along with my now 14-year-old son, Bron Echols. We launched MelanBrand Skin in May of 2023, so we’ll be coming up on two years. We are a vegan, gluten-free and cruelty-free and non-toxic skincare company for black and brown children. And one of the reasons, or the main reason why we started this company is because when Bron was a lot younger, I could not find skincare products that were clean products for children that were school age. It went from babies when you went to stores like Target, Walmart, Walgreens, to the adult category. And he was literally using my products at that young age. And then he was using soap, water and lotion to clean his face. So it’s very important for us to talk to our children, not just about hygiene, you know, washing, taking a shower, washing yourselves and doing all the things, but also taking care of your skin too.

WomensNet: Absolutely. Especially because there’s so much out there. I had a 14-year-old niece that was asking me about anti-wrinkle stuff- just stuff that’s not appropriate for her at her age. And so I love, love, love the education that you’re providing for our young ones, so thank you.

We know that there are similar businesses doing some of the same things. What makes your business unique from the other skincare businesses that are out there?

Patrice: We focus primarily on children starting around the age of seven and up. We have a starter kit that has a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer. And then we also have products for skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis for babies and up. So that particular collection can be used by babies, toddlers, children, and adults. So the parents too. And we’ve gotten a lot of great reviews on all of our products. Like I said earlier, we’re vegan, so it’s very clean. And we also help to promote self-love and loving the skin that you’re in. So that’s something that’s very important to us. And then we also want the parents to work with their children with creating that skincare routine. It’s also a bonding time for parents to do this with their children in the mornings and at night. So we’re creating community around this, and wanting it to become a family style event.

WomensNet: That’s wonderful. It really is because as a teenagers I don’t remember learning it in health class or anything, you just kind of figure it out! And I always go back to my niece- I took her to get a facial and had the aesthetician show her how to wash her face. And I know that on your website you even have these tutorials there! This is great because we may think, just do it- but there’s a technique to this. You can rub too hard or not rinse it all off, or whatever. And so that’s a nice resource that you’re offering. Thank you so much.

Patrice: Thank you.

WomensNet: Thank you for sharing a little bit about what you’re doing. We can’t wait to hear what you’re going to be doing throughout the year. Thank you and congratulations!