Walk into any cosmetics store—or scroll through an online beauty aisle—and you’ll likely be overwhelmed by options. Every brand claims to have the most effective, the cleanest, the most sustainable product on the market. When Evelyn Sprigg launched JustUS Skincare in 2020, her mission was to cut through the noise, eliminating decision fatigue and making skincare shopping as smooth as the results her products delivered.
Drawing on her background in advertising and PR—and years of personal research as a self-proclaimed “skincare junkie”—Evelyn joined forces with scientists and industry experts to develop a line of climate-resilient products designed specifically for peri- and post-menopausal skin.
We caught up with Evelyn to learn more about her founder journey—and the advice she has for other ambitious women looking to turn big ideas into bold realities.
What sets your company apart in a crowded market? What do you believe is your unique contribution to your industry?
The beauty industry—skincare, in particular—is known for its plethora of choices. Despite this, so many women still cannot find skincare that makes them happy. Why is this? The industry has lost its way, with major brands prioritizing margins and marketing over product. The solution may not be a complex one, but it’s something that not many are doing.
JustUs Skincare uses the maximum recommended amount of every ingredient. The top-grossing anti-aging brands often have their so-called “active” ingredient as less than 1% of their total formula—and the rest of the ingredients are either added to fill the jar or to create a smooth, glide-y feeling. We stand out by cutting out the fillers, focusing on more active ingredients and using the maximum percentage of each.
In short, our product works! Is that novel? Maybe not. Is it rare? Absolutely, yes.
How do you personally define success? In what ways does this definition guide both your business and personal life?
My personal definition of success is being able to live the life I want to live and maintain a balance between passion for my work, personal passions, wellness, and friends and family. If you had asked me this twenty years ago, the answer would have been different—but as I have grown in my career, made pivots, and taken on new challenges (and as life has thrown its own elements in my direction), I have opened myself up to what is important, what is optional, and what is unnecessary or draining. This shift has been a guiding factor in my business for a couple of reasons. First, as a brand, our North star is creating a product we are proud of for customers we love and respect. On the personal side, I have found that I can blend areas I am passionate about with my career so they don’t need to live in separate buckets. Being able to blend all of these ingredients together is what feels like success every day.
“If you have a passion or a spark inside of you, listen to it and explore how you can bring it to life.”
Can you share a time when you struggled with burnout or stress? What steps or practices helped you regain your balance and well-being?
My story is far too familiar for a career-driven woman in New York City. The energy and opportunity in this city are fantastic, but inherently, there is an undercurrent of speed, intensity, and a singular focus on career that bleeds into everything. As I gained seniority and responsibility in my career, I found that the perceived sense of urgency was endemic in everything—and I fell into a routine of waking up, immediately checking my phone, doing calls on the walk into the office, working all day with barely a moment for lunch, running late to a dinner or going home, logging back on, and going to bed. When I turned forty, I realized that while I was proud of the work I did, I wasn’t happy. I realized that if I needed to make space for something in the office (for example, if an urgent client request popped up), I could do it, so why couldn’t I do that with my personal life? I focused on carving out space for personal, non-work wellness activities. Yoga became a non-negotiable appointment in my calendar. I incorporated more travel. Setting firm personal boundaries was my first step in regaining the balance in my life.
How do you balance the demands of entrepreneurship with your physical and emotional health? What specific tools or practices have you integrated into your daily routine to maintain mental well-being?
I totally changed how I make my to-do lists. I used to divide tasks between personal and work, and the work section was divided out by project or activity.
Now, I make a priority list: high priority needs to happen today, medium priority could happen today, and ongoing tasks are evergreen items that I can tackle in my down moments. The key is that my personal and work elements are blended, so high-priority could include finishing the 2026 forecast but also going to the store to stock up on fresh, healthy food.
I have found that this helps in two ways. The first is that work is not placed at a higher importance than other parts of life. The second is that I focus on the elements that are imperative for the growth of my business and myself. In the past, it was easy to procrastinate and check off the little things to make myself feel productive—but that wasn’t the best use of my time. Now, my system forces me to take on and focus on the most important elements for the day.
How have your experiences as a parent or in other significant roles influenced your leadership style? What life lessons have you applied to your professional journey?
Looking back on my years as a competitive figure skater has driven my approach! Watching competitive figure skating is beautiful, but watching a practice session is an entirely different experience. At that stage, most skaters are practicing things they have not yet mastered. You fall a lot! It’s expected, and if you aren’t falling, you aren’t trying something new and pushing yourself. Only by doing something thousands of times do you get your body to understand the correct way and then build muscle memory. Our coaches (and leaders!) understood this and never expected perfection in practice. Instead, they looked for hard work, resilience, and the ability to stand up again and again after falling. They encouraged us to take leaps, knowing that they were there to support us through it all. This always resonated with me and now connects so naturally to the working world. My experience with having coaches early on helps me to challenge the teams around me while being there when they fall.
What advice would you give to other women wanting to start or grow businesses in an intentional way?
Do it. If you have a passion or a spark inside of you, listen to it and explore how you can bring it to life. If you are not sure where or how to start, there are many amazing organizations that are filled with women supporting women that can be that starting point. Meet with other women who have pivoted in their career. Ask questions. Hear stories. Meet more women. The more you listen, the more you get inspired and the easier it is to begin building a path. Remember that whatever you start, you can change, grow, and pivot. The most important part is taking action. Any action. If you commit to that each day, you will make progress.
Evelyn is a member of Dreamers & Doers, an award-winning community that amplifies extraordinary women entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders by securing PR, forging authentic connections, and curating high-impact resources. Learn more about Dreamers & Doers and get involved here.