Melissa Medvedich: Turning Passion into a Successful Beauty Brand

Creative Director, designer, and founder, Melissa Medvedich embodies a unique consistency in her career, highlighted by her passion and innovative spirit. While many settle after achieving success, Medvedich's relentless curiosity drives her to pursue new challenges. She's just getting warmed up.

In an age where businesses can thrive with just a social media account, truly thoughtful products are often overlooked. Medvedich takes a different route. As the founder of Supernal, her botanically-focused skincare line merges her love for beauty with her design expertise. This creates not just an exquisite product line but a meaningful demonstration of how small-batch, sustainable skincare can benefit both our skin and the planet.

Her commitment to providing high-quality, supportive skincare options is clear. For beauty enthusiasts, it's not just about the products; it's about the rituals and routines. Raised in a Chinese household, Medvedich learned to respect her skin by observing her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother apply their products with care. This early inspiration ignited her passion, leading her to where she is today.

Intrigued by the lives of admired women, we chatted with Medvedich about her transition from design to launching a skincare brand, her grounding morning routines, and how she nurtures a life filled with presence, joy, and inspiration. Take notes!

Aligning Passion with Work

What inspired the creation of Supernal?

Reflecting on my journey before Supernal, I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked in design, a field I love. Before 2017, I had never freelanced or been self-employed. After years of dreaming about starting my own business, I decided it was the right moment. Initially, I thought my venture would center around design or creative direction, but deep down, I knew I wanted to create a beauty brand.

My curiosity about skincare began in childhood and evolved into a true passion. Once I committed to this career shift, I pursued studies in botanical beauty formulation and became a certified aromatherapist. After years of experimentation, I found that botanically-based products worked best for my skin. I envisioned Supernal as a carefully curated selection of daily essentials, reflecting my simplified skincare regimen.

Trust is fundamental in any business. In skincare, customers entrust you with their skin, and helping them care for it is a true privilege. I never take that trust lightly; it motivates me every day.

After two years of extensive research and development, and a lot of freelancing to support the startup, we launched Supernal in 2019 with our flagship product, Cosmic Glow Oil. Our second product, Illumine, debuted last summer.

Melissa Medvedich's Morning Routine

What's a typical day like for you?

When I was in media, my days followed a predictable publishing cycle. Now, with Supernal being a hands-on, family-run operation, each day brings something new. I shift between product production, R&D for future offerings, and managing administrative tasks. This includes everything from operations and supply chain to designing our newsletter or coordinating brand photoshoots with my husband.

What time do you wake up?

I usually rise between 7 and 7:15, aiming for eight hours of sleep. Anything over that feels heroic. After getting out of bed, I start my day with a refreshing shower to fully wake up.

What rituals help you start the day on a positive note?

My morning coffee is a cherished routine. I take time to gather my thoughts while enjoying it. I typically stick to one cup, savoring it for about 15-20 minutes. Although I sometimes struggle with consistency, I value meditation and breathwork. A few minutes of either can set a great tone for the day.

Recently, I had a virtual breathwork session with Nadia Josse, whose approach I admire. I'm also working on incorporating daily morning stretches into my routine.

Can you walk us through your morning beauty routine?

I thoroughly cleanse and massage my face in the evening. In the morning, I simply rinse my face in the shower. We use an Aquasana shower filter, and I feel it has positively affected my skin and hair dryness since we switched.

After cleansing, I apply a facial mist. Currently, I'm using Biologique Recherche L'Eauxygenante, but I also love Lesse Regeneration Mist and Pratima Ratrani Rose Replenishing Mist. Depending on my skin's needs, I might layer Illumine and Cosmic Glow Oil or use them separately, adjusting for the season.

If I'm spending extended time outdoors, I apply sunscreen as the final step. I'm still searching for the perfect one, but my friend Sofie Pavitt recommended iS Clinical Extreme Protect SPF 30, which I plan to try soon.

Aquasana Shower Filter

Aquasana Shower Filter, $64.99

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Biologique Recherche L'Eauxygenante

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Lesse Regeneration Mist

Lesse Regeneration Mist, $48

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Pratima Ratrani Rose Replenishing Mist

Pratima Ratrani Rose Replenishing Mist, $29

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Supernal Illumine Restorative Oil Serum

Supernal Illumine Restorative Oil Serum, $128

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iS Clinical Extreme Protect SPF 30

iS Clinical Extreme Protect SPF 30, $80

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What's your go-to breakfast?

My breakfast varies with the seasons, but I generally enjoy warming foods. Sometimes, my grandmother sends me home with jook, a comforting Chinese rice porridge. Recently, I've been savoring jammy eggs alongside dinner leftovers like roasted potatoes.

What's always in your fridge?

Habanero Tabasco sauce and mangos.

What are your favorite books?

I love books focused on color, especially those with diagrams or images. Interaction of Color by Josef Albers and An Atlas of Rare & Familiar Colour are top picks. My reading often shifts between light fiction and insightful nonfiction, like Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, which I recently enjoyed. Since starting my business, most of my reading has centered around Supernal, from ingredient research to learning facial Gua Sha techniques.