You're Never Too Broken to Be Beautiful: N2B4B Founder Francelys Infante Brings Holistic Wellness to the Beauty Industry

Francelys Infante—mother, entrepreneur, and founder of N2B4B (Not Too Broke For Beauty)—is all too familiar with the phrase, "Put your own oxygen mask on first before helping others." This popular self-help adage is well-intentioned, reminding us (especially women, who shoulder motherhood, careers, and invisible labor) to take care of our own physical and mental health before helping others. However, like many women, Infante often pushed her personal needs aside to be there for her family.

Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Queens, she is now a mother of three, wife to Latin global icon Romeo Santos, and a beautypreneur carving out her own lane. In 2017, Infante first conceived the idea for N2B4B as a makeup brand, but she ultimately placed the vision on hold to prioritize her family.

“I was taking care of everyone but myself,” she says. “When you’re raising children and showing up for your family, you naturally pour into everyone else—sometimes at the expense of yourself.”

It wasn't until Infante suffered a serious health scare in November 2023 that she began to see how important self-care is to self-preservation. "I had a really severe, bad headache," she says. "I couldn't see from my left eye, and I had really bad neck pain." After two brain scans, Francelys learned she had a brain aneurysm that was pushing on her nerves, causing her to feel like she was going blind.

"I had to switch my whole life in a matter of 32 hours," she says. She left her children with her mother in New York and flew back home for emergency surgery, where she was diagnosed with three brain aneurysms.

"When I came out of the surgery room, the doctor said, 'You know you're a walking miracle, these things don't really happen, and a lot of people don't make it because they ignore these symptoms as a headache or stress or tension.'"

From that day on, Infante put her oxygen mask on first. She recalls thinking, "I need to focus on myself and my health and then my children, and then everybody else, because I'm here making sure that's everybody's good, and [if] I'm not good, it's not going to work."

Her experience fundamentally reshaped her relationship to wellness and self-care, inspiring her to return to N2B4B with a new purpose rooted in resilience, intention, and self-worth. Now, it doesn't just mean affordable beauty for all; it means that no one is too far beyond repair to return to themselves.

"You're not too broken to be beautiful," Infante says. "Whatever you go through in life, you can always put yourself back together."

Instead of focusing on makeup, Infante launched her first product, the Glow Fuel Liquid Collagen, this past January. When asked why she landed on a collagen supplement, she said, "After my kids, my hips and joints are on fire, and I had read that collagen was really good for repairing your skin and joints, so I wanted to do something that covered your interior."

Through her research, she found mentorship with an industry pioneer whose scientific studies helped her understand the effects of collagen on healing. The scientific benefits of collagen resonated with her, so she decided to create her own unique formula.

Inspired by Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, the Glow Fuel Liquid Collagen is housed in a gorgeous white and gold package. Unlike other collagens on the market, the Glow Fuel Liquid Collagen contains a unique blend of premium collagen peptides, biotin, protein, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid to support the skin, hair, and joints.

"I also have a little secret ingredient," she reveals. "L-sertraline. It opens up your blood streams, so when you're taking the collagen, it absorbs well inside your body."

Meant to be a nightly ritual—collagen is best taken before bed, when your body is already repairing itself—Glow Fuel Liquid Collagen can be taken on its own (it has a lovely sweet mango taste) or added to a mocktail or wellness shot.

"I wanted to create something that was flavorful and good and doesn't taste like medicine," adds Infante.

In an eight-week consumer perception study, the majority of participants noticed shinier hair, plumper and more hydrated skin, and stronger nails—but some customers have also seen results in as little as three weeks. She also says an unexpected but welcomed side effect is a more restful night's sleep, something her brother particularly called out.

"This is not just for women," she adds. "This is for everyone."

Today, Infante is focused on taking care of herself and expanding her business to help others care for themselves from the inside out. Next up, she envisions serums, moisturizers, lip balms, and even activewear. "I'm giving you who I am," she says about her brand. "This is who Fran is and what she loves."

When asked if she had any advice for other women who are currently pushing off self-care, she pauses.

"Just because you're alive doesn't mean you're living," she concludes. "Put yourself first. Take care of you, don't settle, and keep moving forward."