Melissa Bitan never planned to become a skincare entrepreneur. But when her son contracted hand-foot-mouth disease and doctors offered no solutions beyond "it's just a virus," her maternal instinct kicked into high gear. Drawing on her lifelong interest in natural remedies, she created a cream (Creme de Mekkai) that cleared her son's symptoms in just three days, a moment that would eventually birth the “Little Naturalz” child product line from her health-conscious advanced skincare line called “belle_lisse_beauty”.

Throughout our conversation, Melissa pulls back the curtain on the beauty industry's historical neglect of melanated skin. "When you make a product for melanated skin, everything has to be several steps above," she explains, detailing how standard ingredients like talc and mineral oil create ashy appearances and dryness on darker complexions. Her mission goes beyond selling products; she's elevating the entire conversation around aging, hormonal changes, and skincare for women who've been overlooked for too long.

What truly shines in this episode is Melissa's candid take on balancing entrepreneurship with motherhood. As a mother of three juggling a full-time career in textile sales and interior design alongside her skincare venture, she offers practical wisdom without sugar-coating the challenges. From setting boundaries with children (her top parenting struggle) to finding your "mommy village" and knowing when to seek professional help, Melissa's approach is refreshingly honest. Her mantra: "You can do anything, but you can't do everything at once", serves as both permission and caution for parent-entrepreneurs everywhere.

Whether you're interested in clean beauty, contemplating your own business venture, or simply navigating the daily complexities of parenting, Melissa's journey offers valuable insights on creating something meaningful while raising little humans. Check out her products on Instagram @ belle_lisse_beauty and watch for her website launch in Fall 2025.

⏰ Chapter Markers ⏰

0:00 - Show Introduction

2:15 - Meet Melissa Baton: Mother and Entrepreneur

6:10 - Creating Homemade Remedies for Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease

15:00 - Melanin-Aware Skincare and Industry Challenges

30:43 - Motherhood Style and Setting Boundaries

51:22 - Building a Parenting Village

1:11:11 - Teaching Kids Self-Value and Advocacy

1:31:55 - Navigating Child Development and Racial Dynamics

1:41:00 - Final Advice and Contact Information

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