From Eczema Stains to Mango Velvet:
The forty A.F. Story
The 80s Struggle: The Burn Before the Beauty
Hey Pretty! I'm Felicia, Licensed Esthetician of 16 years, Esthetics Instructor & Founder, of Femme Jolie Columbus & The Forty A.F. Lab.
Long before I was an esthetics instructor or the "Master Brow & Lash Artist" of Columbus, I was a little girl in the 80s just trying to survive an Ohio winter. For the first 14 years of my life, severe eczema was my shadow. It covered my hands and the lower half of my body like a map of irritation.
Back then, the "solutions" were anything but soft. I remember the heavy, medicinal creams that felt like they were setting my skin on fire. Then came the era of thick, comedogenic Cocoa Butters—the kind that smelled like a chocolate bar but sat on my skin like a lead weight, never actually healing the fire underneath.
The "Greasy A.F." Problem
Fast forward to 2020. I was two months shy of forty, closing my studio doors during a global pandemic, and my skin decided to take me back to the 80s. I was dry, I was itchy, and I was frustrated.
I tried the modern "luxury" butters, but I ran into the same old wall. To keep my skin from literally cracking, I had to slather on products that left me Greasy A.F. I’m talking oil stains on my favorite silk pajamas, residue on the furniture, and that heavy, "coated" feeling that makes you want to take a second shower.
I was tired of choosing between skin that was hydrated and skin that felt clean. I knew there had to be a way to feel Soft & Sexy without feeling like a grease slick.
The Mango Epiphany: Science Meets Soul
This is where the 16 years of expertise kicked in. I went into the lab to find a better way, and I found it in Mango Butter.
Most people use Shea because it’s cheap and famous. I walked away from it. Why? Because of the Melting Point.
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The Science: Mango Butter has a higher concentration of fatty acids (like oleic and stearic) than Shea, yet it absorbs significantly faster.
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The Magic: Its melting point is much closer to human body temperature. The moment it touches your skin, it doesn’t just sit there—it liquefies and dives into the lipid barrier.
It provided the intense moisture my eczema demanded but left behind a finish I call "The Velvet Lesson." No chemicals, no grease—just Forty A.F. confidence.
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Ready to learn the Velvet Lesson?
The Forty A.F. Manifesto: Our House Rules
We aren't just selling "pretty smells." We are solving the midlife skin paradox. Here’s what we stand for:
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1. Perimenopause is Not a Dirty Word. Hormonal shifts aren't a "problem" to be fixed; they’re a phase to be managed with better science. If your skin is acting out because your hormones are checking out, you’re in the right place.
2. We are "Shea-Free" for a Reason. Cheap, heavy butters belong on a bagel, not your body. We use Mango Butter because it actually absorbs into your skin instead of staining your favorite silk pajamas. We choose high-performance over high-grease every single time.
3. Stop Fighting the Paradox. If you’re 45 and still dealing with "oily but dry" skin, stop using products made for teenagers. We treat the nuance of mature skin—balancing the oil while hammering the dehydration.
4. Small Pours, Big Results. We don't do fillers. Our products are potent, dermatologist-tested, and chemical-free. A little goes a long way because luxury should last longer than a week.
5. Normalizing "Soft and Sexy" After 40. Society might want to make you invisible once the hot flashes hit, but we’re here to make sure you stay Soft & Sexy. Dry skin is a choice; we choose velvet.
Contact
I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.
614-768-2991