Factory Tours
Purple Duchess Skincare
In Crown Heights, Nicole McDuffie, the sole owner and maker of Purple Duchess Skincare, is redefining beauty one handcrafted product at a time. Strong family ties and a leap of faith have led Nicole to where she stands today, working for herself fulltime—and then some.
Reflecting on her beginnings, Nicole shares how her passion for skincare started. “I found myself going to different stores and different skincare shops, testing things out and buying them. I was like, you know what, I can do that,” Nicole says. With this realization, she started experimenting at home, blending essential oils, coconut butter, shea butter, and dried herbs to craft her own natural creations. “Of course, my family were test dummies. They still are,” she says.
The path to establishing Purple Duchess Skincare was not without its challenges. Nicole balanced her passion project with a full-time job, often working late into the night. “I would come from work, take a shower, eat, put my daughters to sleep, and then about midnight, I’m cooking till like four or five o’clock in the morning to get things in order,” she recalls. Her dedication paid off when she seized the opportunity to pursue her skincare business full-time, supported by her family and the unique energy and opportunities in New York City, where diversity creates access to many different ingredients to explore and use.
Nicole’s entrepreneurial spirit was initially kindled by helping her mother run their family’s West Indian restaurant on Utica Avenue. “My mother wanted to take over that restaurant and she had no one to run it. She was the cook. I was an account executive at the time, and she was like, ‘Nicole, I need some help,’” she says. Despite her lack of experience, Nicole resigned from her job and went all in with her mother. “I took that leap of faith,” she says. “It’s all about taking that leap of faith.”
Although the restaurant eventually closed, the experience solidified Nicole’s desire to be her own boss. “I want to do my own thing,” she says.
Purple Duchess Skincare stands out in the crowded beauty industry with a simple yet powerful mission: Your skin is your best outfit. “My intention when I make my skincare is to feel like you can go outside without makeup,” Nicole explains. She aims to create products that make women feel confident and beautiful in their natural skin. “Women have a lot of pressure to be beautiful. It’s a daily thing. And the makeup—it’s nothing wrong with makeup, but what if you don’t want to put makeup on? I want to make sure that the skin is smooth, hydrated, and as flawless as possible,” she says.
Nicole’s connection to her community and culture is evident in her work. She sources ingredients from local stores and incorporates ingredients of her Jamaican heritage into her products, like papaya. Looking ahead, she envisions expanding Purple Duchess Skincare through wholesale at stores like Whole Foods and boutique shops. “I want to be in stores. I don’t think I really want my own brick-and-mortar right now, but I want to walk into a store and see my products there,” she says.
Beyond becoming a solo entrepreneur and her own boss, Nicole’s path is about personal growth and resilience. “This journey through my business has really helped me grow as an individual. It has shown me my strengths,” she says, her voice filled with emotion. “I didn’t know I could do it. To be where I am and to know that I can go even further—it’s amazing.”