About Us

YMI International LLC was founded in July 2021 in Dallas, TX by Yolanda Kirksey and Maria McCracklin. The premise of the company was started as an outcome of Yolanda’s breast cancer survival history and Maria’s family history of cancer. A need for natural skin recovery product for those that were challenged going through oncology treatments, skin irritations, and aesthetic skin recovery needs was born. Skin Deep is a line of multi-purpose natural restorative skin products that aid healing journeys.

What happened as a chance meeting in the elevator of Futrall Hall at the University of Arkansas (woo pig sooooie) turned into gaining a bestie and a sister to share laughs, cries, successes and disappointments with.  Twenty-seven years later Yolanda and I are still laughing, learning an uplifting each other. By the grace of God our college days were not all spent partying, and we earned degrees.  I have a respiratory therapy degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (all thanks to a praying grandmother). I currently work as a registered nurse in neonatal ICU. 

My earliest memory of cancer happened when I was five years old while sitting on the foot of my grandmother’s bed watching her insert prosthetics from her double mastectomy.  Since then, I watched four of my aunts and a cousin succumb to cancer.  The past and present experiences I have had with watching multiple family members battle cancer gave me a personal view into how devastating cancer can be.  

Fast forward to present day, Yolanda and I decided to join forces in creating and developing a skin care radiation recovery line called Skin Deep. Developing Skin Deep feels like turning a lifetime of devastating losses into something I know my grandmother and aunts would be so proud of.  Skin Deep has been a labor of love for both Yolanda and I, and we are excited to share it with the world.

In 2021, Yolanda found herself on journey that she never imagined. She was diagnosed with breast cancer. As an avid competitive in her 40s, she was in disbelief, but quickly knew that a plan of action had to be put in place. Fortunately, avoiding chemotherapy she chose the route of intense radiation. During that journey, she realized that caring for her skin had to be unique as her lifestyle and quickly realized that others shared the same need which spawned the creation of products that run skin deep.