Suad Abdel-Rahman
Suad Abdel-Rahman considers herself the opposite of a gatekeeper - when she is stirred by something that works, she spreads the word. It is this philosophy that inspired Suad to create and share Lustre Labs Wellness, a clean beauty brand she founded while still in law school. "People were always asking what I used for my skin and hair," she recalls of her entrepreneurial journey. "Most of my first customers were my law school classmates." Her friends were also among her first and greatest supporters, chipping in to pay for supplies and encouraging her to sell at pop-up events. Suad's insistence on sharing the good things she has learned eventually led her to expand her business to include teaching wellness to women in Accra. After learning to pole dance, she invested in the equipment and convinced other women they were stronger than they thought. "There's nothing you can't do if you try," she says.
JUST THE STATS PLEASE
WHERE DO YOU LIVE? Accra, Ghana
WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Accra, Ghana
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FOOD? Plantain and Beans aka Red Red
INSTAGRAM: lustrelabs
FACEBOOK: Lustre Labs
TIKTOK: lustrelabswellness
MINDING YOUR BUSINESS
WHEN DID YOU START YOUR BUSINESS?
I started my business in 2017 while I was still in law school. What began as a personal passion quickly evolved into something much bigger.
WHY DID YOU START?
I started because I wanted to share the products behind my own skin success. In high school, I became very conscious of what I was putting on my skin. We wore thick pinafores that made us sweat constantly, and finding a lotion that truly worked for me consistently was always a struggle.
When I transitioned to wearing my hair natural, I became even more intentional about ingredients. I began opting for simpler, more natural formulations. Shea butter, cocoa butter, and various essential oils eventually became a part of my overall routine. Over time, creating products wasn’t just about solving my own challenges; it became about helping others do the same.
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO KEEP GOING?
When I first decided to start my operations, a few of my classmates stepped in without hesitation. One paid for my labels, another sourced my containers, and they became my first customers. That kind of belief, offered freely and without being asked, meant everything to me. Since then, the positive feedback from customers who genuinely enjoy and benefit from my products has kept me going. Even in uncertain times, I always find myself drawn back to creation and formulation. It feels natural.
WHAT DO YOU WISH PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS?
I am the first line of testing. Quality assurance is incredibly important to me, and I would never release anything I wouldn’t confidently use on my own skin. My motivation has always been simple: to help people achieve real results safely and intentionally.
SELF-CARE IS SELF-LOVE
WHAT MAKES YOU AWESOME?
I’d say adaptability. I trust my intuition, and I’m creative and resourceful when navigating uncertainty. I don’t panic easily, I recalibrate and move forward.
WHAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU DO WHEN YOU WAKE UP?
I drink water. I’m trying to build the habit of stretching in the morning, just a few minutes to wake up my body and ease into the day rather than rushing into it.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DETOXING REGIMEN?
A simple 14 hour fast. It’s not extreme, just giving my body time to rest and reset between meals.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST GRATEFUL FOR?
I’m most grateful for good health. I’ve learned to slow down and move with more ease, and that shift has made me appreciate the simple things we often take for granted; breathing clearly, walking unassisted, waking up with energy. Even when things aren’t going exactly my way, I make a conscious effort to count my blessings. Health makes everything else possible.
WHAT'S THE LAST THING YOU DO BEFORE YOU GO TO SLEEP?
I drink water and then I daydream intentionally. I visualize the life I want and replay happy moments or future wins in my mind. I like falling asleep with hope and excitement on my mind.
RANDOM NOTES AND GOODNESS
HOW DO YOU LIKE TO HAVE FUN?
I like learning new skills and practicing old ones. I tend to gravitate towards creative and movement-based activities like crotchet, yoga, pottery, pole dance.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE QUOTE OR CORE BELIEF?
If you ask the answer might be no, if you don’t ask the answer is definitely a no. Ask for what you want and let them say no if they must. At least you gave yourself a chance.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
You don’t have to have the whole future figured out, just focus on what you can now. One step at a time, the path will unfold. The journey is the reward.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT AFRICA?
I love how colorful and dramatic our cultures are, each country expresses itself differently, yet there’s similar underlying themes that connect us all.
WHAT FRUSTRATES YOU MOST ABOUT AFRICA?
It frustrates me that we’re not more integrated. It can be easier and cheaper to travel to another continent than to move between African countries. For a region with so much shared history and potential, we should be collaborating more seamlessly.