Startup Story
Dr Juanri Jonck and Bernadette Kruger are co-founders of Twenty 4 Skin, a unique South African medical-grade skincare brand. Juanri is a medical doctor with a special interest in regenerative medicine, so you could say she is a holistic regenerative GP, and Bernadette is a somatologist. The brand focuses on hormone optimization, aesthetic medicine, as well as skincare formulations.
LoA spoke to co-founder Dr Juanri Jonck about Twenty 4 Skin’s innovative science-based skincare approach and the vision for the business and brand's future.
When did you start your business?
We started with the formulations in 2020. The business was started by myself and my co-founder, Bernadette, a highly respected and very well-qualified somatologist.
“We are not selling cosmetics but rather science. We are not simply hoping for the best when patients start on treatments, but rather we base our treatments on well-researched actives. This saves patients time and money.”
What does your company do
We formulate medical-grade skincare based on clinical evidence. Our range, called Twenty 4, is the FIRST serum-only skincare range in the South African market.
What inspired you to start your company?
For many years we had to convince our patients to pay premium prices because the best formulations generally come at a very high cost as well. This also meant they could not achieve the results they aimed for, because most people could afford only one serum at a time. And we know that combination therapy is key. Bernadette and I decided to make the key ingredients using the most clinical evidence available to our patients at an affordable price. This way, beautiful skin is not limited to those with a beautiful budget.
“My dream is to change the skincare industry to effective skincare routines rather than getting people’s skin hooked on ingredients that make their skin lazy and impair intercellular communication.”
What makes your business, service, or product special?
I think the fact that we are not selling cosmetics but rather science. We are not simply hoping for the best when patients start on treatments, but rather we base our treatments on well-researched actives. This saves patients time and money.
Tell us a little about your team
Our tiny team of two consists of myself, Dr Juanri Jonck and my co-founder, somatologist, Bernadette Kruger.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
Since I stopped working in the EU (which I also loved) I have been an entrepreneur. Unfortunately, in our degrees we are not taught anything about business. So it was a lot of trial and error. I started lifeLAB medical practice after the birth of my first daughter so she basically grew up in the practice. Something that is very special to me. Luckily, my mother who was not an engineer but rather a business process engineer, accepted the fact that her daughter was a dreamer, and she immediately forced me to start excel spreadsheets and appoint the right people for the long list of administrative tasks which the dreamer is not good with. Within the practice, Bernadette and I started with Twenty 4, and we never looked back because our patients can get proper results without breaking the bank.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
My dream is to change the skincare industry to effective skincare routines rather than getting people’s skin hooked on ingredients that make their skin lazy and impair intercellular communication. True skincare available to all!
“For me, the best part is getting to create my own story, containing my beliefs, and not having to subscribe to an ethos or industry that I don’t buy into.”
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
For me, the best part is getting to create my own story, containing my beliefs, and not having to subscribe to an ethos or industry that I don’t buy into. It is definitely a magical bubble where one can truly make a change. Educate your co-workers on the struggles of others. And truly support and guide people the way I feel is true to myself.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Just Do It! The initial fear of making the plunge is, without a doubt, the hardest part. If it is something you truly believe in, the rest will come easily. People will recognise your passion and they will feel your authenticity if it comes from a place of truth.
Find out more
Website: www.twenty4skin.co.za
Why LoA loves it…
It is always good to see a ‘first-to-market’ brand launching on the African continent, particularly in the highly competitive skincare market where innovation is key to success. Dr Juanri Jonck and Bernadette Kruger, co-founders of Twenty 4 Skin, a unique South African medical-grade skincare brand, are bringing their extensive knowledge and experience to customers who are looking for both effective skincare treatments and affordability. This is an exciting brand in growth-mode and one on our radar to watch over the next few years. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa