When registered nurse Tiphanie Smith-McLinch couldn’t find a gentle remedy for her toddler’s relentless eczema, she didn’t reach for another prescription—she opened her pantry. That single decision, made in 2018, has since blossomed into “Self-Care at Tiphanie’s,” a rapidly scaling Jamaican brand now supplying pharmacies, spas, and hotels with organically derived skincare.
From Mixing Bowl to Micro-Lab
The inaugural formula—a fluffy, moringa-rich body butter—was whipped by hand in her Junction, St Elizabeth kitchen. Within a year, pandemic downtime and a vacant family-owned building gave Smith-McLinch the chance to retrofit a small laboratory; by 2019 the brand was formally registered and fully licensed.
Pandemic Pivot, Islandwide Lift
While much of the world paused, Self-Care at Tiphanie’s accelerated. One of the first Bureau of Standards-approved hand sanitizers to hit local shelves carried her logo, catapulting the company into prime retail spots: Fontana Pharmacy, Gateway (Mandeville), St Bess Pharmacy, and the JBDC’s Things Jamaican outlets at Devon House, Camp Road, and Norman Manley International Airport.
Portfolio Power
What began as a single butter has multiplied into more than 30 SKUs—bar and liquid soaps, shampoos, conditioners, toners, serums, body butters, aromatherapy candles, and room sprays—each free of sulfates, parabens, and artificial dyes.
Hospitality on the Horizon
Smith-McLinch is now formulating a bespoke amenities line for a new Treasure Beach resort, complete with refill stations to curb waste. “Hotels rely heavily on imports,” she says. “Local, plant-forward solutions can meet luxury standards and keep money circulating in Jamaica.”
Price negotiations remain tough, she admits: “Premium ingredients cost more, and not every property is ready to pay. Still, sustainability is winning converts.”
Teaching the Next Wave
Beyond manufacturing, the entrepreneur hosts soap-making and formulation workshops, equipping budding makers to launch brands of their own.
Eyes on Export
Online orders already trickle in from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The next formal move: a Florida distribution foothold, a stepping-stone toward full Caribbean and North American penetration.
A Holistic Vision
Smith-McLinch’s endgame extends beyond shelves. She envisions a wellness centre marrying skincare, nutrition, and mindfulness under one roof. “Products are just the doorway,” she says. “We’re cultivating a culture of intentional, clean living.”
