Back to blog

Partner Spotlight: Linda Wang of Karuna Skin

Karuna Skin, Skincare, Beauty, CEO, Founder, AAPI, Linda Wang, Female Founder, AAPI Leader, Interview
Lauren Nolan
|
May 15, 2023

To celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, we are recognizing the contributions and impact of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. At Snappy, we’re proud to partner with a number of incredible AAPI-founded and owned brands to include their products in some of our most-loved gift collections. While you can always find AAPI and other minority-owned brands in any of our gift collections, within the Snappy Rising Voices Gift Collection, you’ll exclusively find minority-owned businesses and products.

Linda Wang is the founder and CEO of Karuna Skin, the skincare brand on a mission to simplify and streamline beauty regimens, and we are sharing the story behind her business, brand, culture, and achievements.

If you live in the United States and you’ve ever used a sheet face mask, you can thank Linda Wang. In 2009, Linda Wang launched Karuna Skin, which is credited with being the first brand to bring Asian sheet masks to the US market. Armed with years of professional experience as a successful retail buyer, complemented by her own personal skincare struggles and journey, Wang was confident Asian sheet masks would offer beauty fans in the US a solution for everyday skin care at accessible prices.

Products from Karuna Skin can be found for enterprise gifting in the Rising Voices gift collection, Snappy’s Picks, and Care gift collection. And for personal gifting, you can find Karuna Skin products in Snappy’s Beauty collection, Health & Wellness collection, Get Well gifts collection, and Snappy’s collection, Celebrating Diversity.

Linda Wang’s interest in skincare started from an early age as she struggled with allergies, rashes, and eczema since childhood. “My treatment plan consisted of blending Eastern and Western (skincare and wellness) practices, which inspired me to create a sheet mask line.”

“I believe in taking a wellness approach in skincare so skin can achieve a state of balance by addressing issues at the source,” says Wang. Karuna Skin products are formulated with clean ingredients, packaged in sustainable post-consumer recycled packaging (PCR), and are made using premium ingredients at affordable prices.

At Snappy, we curate products for inclusion in each of our gift collections based on a number of important factors, including quality, sustainability, and price. It’s important that we can offer premium products in gift collections at every budget, so when a gift recipient receives a collection, they have a number of great options to choose from, every time on every occasion.

We spoke with Wang about her experience as a woman and Asian entrepreneur and business owner. In 2022, only 1.9% of total venture capital funding was granted to U.S. companies founded by females. That percentage is even lower among minority-owned companies.

“As an underrepresented minority business owner, one unique challenge I have faced is raising money for my business. To overcome this challenge, I have had to be creative and resourceful in my approach to fundraising. I have also had to be strategic and intentional in the way I position and pitch my business, highlighting its unique value proposition and the potential for long-term growth and profitability. While raising money as a woman of color business owner can be challenging, I believe that it is possible to succeed with persistence, perseverance, and a willingness to think outside the box,” says Wang.

Wang wants to remind other founders and aspiring entrepreneurs that “starting a business is a marathon, not a sprint, it requires sustained effort and dedication over the long term.” She advises other entrepreneurs to stay focused on their goals, choose a business idea they’re passionate about, and keep working hard to achieve their dreams. 

“Starting a business takes a lot of hard work and dedication, and it's easy to get discouraged if you don't truly enjoy what you're doing. If you're truly passionate about your business, that passion will shine through in everything you do, and it will help carry you through the inevitable ups and downs,” says Wang.

You can send Karuna Skin products and other amazing gift options using Snappy’s personal gifting platform as well as our award-winning enterprise gifting platform.

Recognition and Appreciation Are Not Synonymous
Read more ➔
Employee Recognition, Employee Appreciation, Employee Appreciation Day, Employee Engagement, Gift Ideas, HR Solutions, Work, Snappy, Snappy Gifts, Diverse Team, DEI
2024 Workforce Study
Read more ➔
Snappy Gifts Are The Gifts That Keep Giving This Holiday Season
Read more ➔