With over 12 years of experience in the beauty industry under his belt, Kelvin Tan, who is the founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of UB Cosmetics has proven that no one is too young to be successful following his impressive business portfolio spread across diverse industries.

In a recent interview with Entrepreneur Insight, the young businessman reminisces his entrepreneurship journey and how the journey has brought him to where he is right now.

Kelvin said he first started developing his own brand when the beauty subscription box trend was booming in the market.

“My first brand, UB Cosmetics was distributed globally by Bellabox Australia and the #1 Beauty Subscription Company, Glossy Box. Back in 2015, the brand was voted The Most Popular Product in Australia by Bellabox. I was extremely delighted with the achievement. As a lean startup, I have learned that through strategic collaborations, I was able to overcome difficult challenges.

“At this moment, we are in the midst of restricting and pivoting the business model as part of our effort to thrive during unprecedented times. Hence, do anticipate the launch of my new Skincare line known as The Caim somewhere in June. For this new business, I have formed strategic partnerships and collaborations with other parties while upholding our ethos,” he said.

According to the young CEO, his business goes beyond a brand. Despite the ongoing initiative to find the balance of bridging sustainability and profitability, it is part of his work purpose to translate his passion into empathy and kindness.

“My company is the extension of my purpose and since change is constant, we should remain true to our values in making the world a better place through beauty and convey our values through works.  

“The biggest lesson I have encountered while doing business was not knowing when to take a step back when I needed to have the mental clarity. I had experienced a major burn out which led to severe health issues. There are two important lessons that I have learned from this experience. The first one is to find the balance in being able to give and receive my energy and time. Secondly, having the awareness to take a break and continue to evolve and grow despite external changes,” he added.

According to Kelvin, as an entrepreneur, you are often required to react to unforeseen challenges which require hard decisions to be made.

“During such circumstances, allow your purpose to lead you while identifying your boundaries so that you can continue to adapt to change. Stay tenacious and allow your work to speak for itself.  

“As for myself, I grow through the culmination of my personal experiences. I would not limit myself to any particular individual as I try to learn from every interaction I have come across. However, my greatest mentor would be my own life experience,” he said.

When asked about his goals for the next three years, Kelvin said he would like to continue engaging in meaningful collaboration at an international level.

“Aside from that, I want to develop my products with a few more notable personalities which I believe could bring more exposure to my business. At this moment, we remain steadfast in affiliating and connecting with our international partners while identifying the gaps in the market and introducing innovative methods in my creation,” he concluded.