Meet Zeenat Sheikh | Founder & CEO of L’Zur Skincare & Cosmetics

We had the good fortune of connecting with Zeenat Sheikh and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zeenat, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?

My passion is to help women.  I want to give them confidence, knowledge and the ability to speak their voices.   My brand, L’Zur Skincare, and Cosmetics didn’t start as a skincare and cosmetics company. It started as a non-profit organization, The Voices of L’Zur, which caters to women in distress, and also women who feel as though they are physically/emotionally abused.

We aim to help women to learn, grow and build a better future for them and their children. We also want to help women from third-world countries, who need opportunities to grow irrespective of the distress of physical and mental abuse they endure daily. We believe many of these distressed & abused women are so talented and deserve an opportunity to grow, but they have been suppressed for so long, they are in fear of speaking up for themselves. This is why L’Zur wants to be the voice of many women around the globe.

After years in the beauty and skincare industry, I took my knowledge and sourced the finest natural, organic, non-toxic ingredients from around the world to give women a simple, yet effective way to care for their skin while addressing major skin concerns such as aging, hyperpigmentation, rosacea, psoriasis, dryness, acne, uneven skin tone, wrinkles and collagen loss, all with ingredients that are non-toxic. L’Zur’s skincare line gives women the healthy, hydrated skin they deserve while giving back and building a better tomorrow for women everywhere.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My love for the beauty industry started at a very young age. As a child, I assisted my mother with the sales of make-up products such as Avon and Mary Kay. Which was what built my passion for the beauty industry in the first place. Through that, I discovered what my true passion is, which is to make a long and lasting impact.

During my college days, I worked at a retail store as a make-up artist, at the NARS counter. This further fueled my passion for make-up and made me fall in love with the cosmetics world. I went on to become an Executive and District Manager for luxury brands around the the try-state area. I took my experience with cosmetology school and got my license and certificates, leading her to thrive in the beauty industry for the last 18 plus years.

My life hasn’t been without trials and tribulations. After multiple surgeries, starting at a very young age, I was in a very dark place both mentally and physically. I found myself losing all will and hope to live. Those who know me, also know that I am overcomer. I do all to persevere through trials, and do so with full-force. But at this particular point in time around, life was really weighing significantly heavier on me, resulting coming close to just wanting to give up.

While battling for my life in the hospital, all I could do was pray to God to spare my life and so I could see another day and make things right. But just when she thought all hope was lost, she woke up the morning after an accidental overdose while in the hospital and almost lost my life, I was surrounded by 15 doctors and nurses, all clapping their hands and saying, “You are an absolute MIRACLE, Zeenat! You are still here because you were meant to live for something so much bigger!” A statement that I will remember for the rest of my life, and that stands as the foundation of my non-profit, The Voices of L’Zur.

Following this life-changing experience, I made it my life’s mission to help other people who need to overcome their very own struggles. Therefore, I have made it my utmost priority to serve others, starting with L’Zur, a Skincare and Cosmetics. I started with skincare because I wanted to give women a self-care skin regimen that was organic, non-toxic, natural, as well as being anchored on the ideals of simplicity and hydration, while providing real results they can see!

I am passionate about giving women the best in skincare and cosmetics, knowing they can trust our ingredients and also knowing that our mission is much bigger than skin deep! Many women worldwide, especially women from third-world countries, need opportunities to grow irrespective of the distress of physical and mental abuse they endure daily, making them feel a lack of confidence and so much more. Many of these women are so talented and they have so much potential to grow but they have been suppressed for so long that the fear of speaking up feels unfamiliar to most and even impossible to some. That’s why L’Zur Skincare & Cosmetics wants to be the voice of many women around the world through our non-profit, The Voices of L’Zur. We want to give women and their children the ability to learn and grow, providing them with a better, brighter tomorrow. A percentage of all our sales go to our non-profit, and this is what drives me! Our plan is to open fully funded learning centers worldwide.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Definitely some fun nightclubs near Wynward Walls! I love how artsy the area is. As far as dining, I would take them to one of the restaurants in the Espanola Way area which has some great options with awesome vibes! Love Strawberry Moon for drinks & pool, as well as for their brunch! Of course lots of shopping and beach time as well!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have been encouraged by many people in my life but most of all my husband, son, parents and siblings. Every time things got hard and I was feeling discouraged, my husband would lift me up and tell me to never give up. My family as a whole has been so encouraging. I also want to thank Luciana Pampalone, Tracy Brank and Jennifer Forte for their encouragement and for cheering me on.  I feel it’s so important that we as women support one another and these women have certainly done that for me. God is, and has always been my guide and I thank him every day for giving me a second chance at life and being able to help women look and feel beautiful inside and out.

Website: www.lzur.com

Instagram: @lzurskincare

Facebook: lzurskincare

Image Credits
Photo of Zeenat Sheikh: by Luciana Pampalone