For skincare creator Bryan Kezie, relocating to Canada meant figuring out how to build one brand across two countries. While pursuing a PhD in Pharmacy at the University of Saskatchewan, he continues working with Nigerian skincare brands while growing a new audience in Canada.
We spoke with Bryan about his creator journey, relocating, and what it takes to keep opportunities alive across borders.
At the beginning, I bought products with my own money, reviewed them, tagged brands, and even borrowed my sister's tripod because I didn't have one. Three years later, 2025 became my breakthrough year. I landed lots of collaborations from foreign brands, indigenous brands La Roche-Posay, CeraVe, Nectar Beauty, Medik 5.5 Advanced Clinicals, I became the face of Beauty in the MotherLand 2025 campaign, It was surreal to drive around Lagos and see my face on billboards plus the see the campaign appear in New York's Times Square. At one point, I actually had to decline some collaborations because the delivery timelines would have clashed.
Before moving, I informed some of the brands I was working with about my relocation plans. Thankfully, they were happy to continue our collaborations even after I moved to Canada. The transition was much easier because I didn't have to abandon relationships I'd already built.
Definitely breaking into the influencer market here.
It takes time to understand a new environment, and I was really worried about starting all over again. A large percentage of my following are Nigerians, moving here meant I had to build a Canadian audience from scratch.
I wondered if I'd have to start buying products with my own money again and reviewing them, just like I did when I first started in Nigeria.
But I've been steadily building my Canadian audience and interacting with creators here. My mindset is that it definitely won't be easy, but I'm willing to do the hard work.
On top of that, I'm also balancing a PhD, which is another huge commitment. It was scary, thinking about it, but look at me, I'm doing it anyway.
When I got to the University of Saskatchewan, I realized there wasn't an association specifically for Black graduate students. I felt there should be one, so I started the Pan- African Black Graduate Students Association at the university, I'm also part of the University's Students Council. Through serving in these dimensions, I've met people from different nationalities, backgrounds, and communities.
Contributing to society through service and leadership creates opportunities for others to know me and the cause I serve, trust me when opportunities come up, they definitely will think of me.
Your work now exists across Nigeria and Canada. Has receiving payments across borders been a challenge?
Personally, no.
I haven't really experienced any issues receiving payments. I already have a banking setup that works for me, so receiving money from Nigerian brands hasn't been a challenge.
Lend your voice to a cause.
I had said earlier I had severe acne from secondary school, and when my skin eventually cleared up, people kept asking me what I did. I realized I had a story people genuinely wanted to hear.
When I started, there were very few skincare creators, and even fewer men talking about skincare. I wondered if people would even take me seriously because skincare was mostly seen as something for women.
But I knew I had something to say. I wanted people to know that skincare is for everyone, including men. I wanted to encourage people to feel confident in their skin.
So don't just create content for the sake of creating. Lend your voice to something you genuinely care about.