Reveka Skincare: Interview with CEO Darlene Markeson

CEO Darlene Markeson was raised on Long Island, NY. Her first career was in Special Education until she retired to be a stay-at-home mom. Whilst working out at a gym, she met a triple-crown body builder who subsequently co-wrote a book about the mechanics of how the body works. Years later, she used this knowledge to developed truly clean and healthy skincare products and discovered the benefits of topical magnesium.

Darlene recently discussed her business via an exclusive interview.

Meagan Meehan (MM): How much did going to the gym impact your interest in health and wellness?

Darlene Markeson (DM): I had the astounding opportunity to meet and work with fitness legends. To be a “fly on the wall” and listen to conversations between body building hall of famers gave me an incredible education in body mechanics and the importance of healthy food and supplements. I learned the importance of maintaining healthy levels of minerals in our body and the negative consequences an imbalanced system could have on overall health and well-being. It was explained to me that time spent in the gym was useless, if not harmful to the body, if you didn’t have the elements required for recovery. These simple concepts were revolutionary to me. It was exciting to feel empowered by this knowledge and in control of my physical being.

MM: What gave you the idea to enter into the skincare field?

DM: Growing up in New York, I was introduced to the importance of skincare early on and took it seriously. I experimented with nearly every product on the market. At nearly 50 years old, I realized I was spending an inordinate amount of money on products that were made of lies and empty promises. Utilizing the knowledge I gleaned from the fitness industry, I realized the same concepts could be applied to skincare. In fact, they SHOULD be applied to skincare! I was appalled by the negligent industry standard that allowed sulfates and toxic chemicals to be applied to the body and potentially into our bodies. I became determined to do better. Nearly a decade later, I perfected my Reveka Skincare magnesium line.

MM: What made you decide to launch your own company and how did you choose the name Reveka?

DM: Initially, I had no intention to create a business with my products. They were for my own personal use with the hope of relieving my RLS…which it did. However, after sharing it with friends and family and discovering how beneficial it was to a plethora of skin issues and bodily ailments, I felt the need to share it with the public and Reveka Skincare was born. The name Reveka is a derivative of Rebeka and describes something “absolutely captivating.” This sounded perfect to me!

MM: How difficult is it to get products such as yours approved on the market?

DM: Actually, since we are simply using ingredients provided by Mother Nature, there were no hurdles to overcome. The benefits of magnesium are becoming well known and we make no medical claims. Our testimonials say it all!

MM: Do you have any favorite product?

DM: From my line? I’d have to say no. The beauty of our products is that they work cohesively together to support health and wellness. Therefore, it’s hard to separate one from the other. I also appreciate the luxurious experience skincare products provide and I strived to achieve that with each of my products. It thrills me when customers describe our products as spa-like. I agree.

MM: How have you gotten your products into big-box stores and raised awareness about them?

DM: Currently, we are providing our magnesium cream through professional clinics across the country. Our soap is available at our website, RevekaSkincare.com, and through Amazon. We have a wonderful marketing team helping us raise brand awareness, and our customers are some of our best salespeople!

MM: Given that your company is focused on wellness, how did the pandemic affect business?

DM: We were fortunate to not take a hit during the pandemic. Our hope is that our products will be able to provide support for our customers health and well-being and maybe even allow them to enjoy a daily spa experience at home!

MM: What has been the highlight of your career so far?

DM: Quite frankly, I can’t believe I get to provide products that are bringing relief to so many people for so many issues. It’s thrilling to hear back from customers who have struggled with skin conditions that steroids couldn’t relieve, and our products work for them. Or someone who suffers from anxiety and sleep issues finding relief as well. I’ve had cancer patients tell me how the medications they were given for burning feet were of no use, but our products worked! I feel completely blessed to have been entrusted with these wonderful products and I hope I can do them justice!

MM: What are your ultimate goals for the future? For example, how would you like to see the Reveka line evolve in the future?

DM: Since we’ve moved out of “kitchen production” and into manufacturing, we’ve had to limit our line to a soap and a cream. I have additional soaps that are out of this world and a complete line of anti-aging skincare products that I’m very proud of. I hope to be able to bring them to market soon.

MM: What is coming up next for you and is there anything else that you would like to mention?

DM: Looking back, Reveka was an unplanned evolution that happened one day at a time. I truly believe that if you want to make God laugh…make plans! I intend to continue this journey one day at a time and see where it takes me. So far, it’s been an exciting ride! Thank you for letting me share it with you!

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To learn more, visit the official website.