CEO CHATS
A new interview series spotlighting female founders that inspire us. Each interview offers a glimpse into the vision, strategy and habits that help these women build their businesses.
Interviews With CEO Women That Inspire Us
CEO CHATS: Vanita Parti, Blink Brow Bar Founder
Founded in 2004 by Vanita Parti MBE, Blink Brow Bar has become a pioneer in bringing the art of eyebrow threading to the UK beauty scene. With over 15 locations and an award-winning product line, the brand is dedicated to empowering confidence through expert brow and lash care. Inspired by her Indian heritage and driven by a vision to fill a gap in the market, Vanita has transformed Blink into a leading name in beauty while championing female entrepreneurship and innovation. Define your brand A female led brand that shapes confidence one brow at a time, leaving you feeling a better version of yourself. What is your USP? We ensure that all therapists deliver our promise to our customers ‘fabulous brows and lashes, lifting not only brows and lashes, but spirits too’. Twenty million brows later, customers know that they are in the trusted hands of a blink therapist or a BBB product. To what do you attribute your brand's success? Staying focused on one thing and delivering it to the highest standard. It has been so tempting to delve into so many other treatments, but it only ends up serving as a distraction. We invest in training, interiors and a sensory experience. We continuously work to deliver the brand promise, which has not changed since Day 1. What is your key role in the business today? How has it evolved with time? I am very involved but more strategically so and less in the day to day. I set out the vision and creatively move the brand forward so that we remain as relevant and as exciting as twenty years ago. What is your Brand mantra? Never take your eye off customer needs, or competition and keep evolving to stay ahead. Why has your brand made headway in such a competitive market? We were the first to bring threading in a trusted way, to the UK, so we all need to ensure that we remain the market leaders. We invest in training, to ensure an elevated service, consistently across all our brow bars. A wonderful customer experience is vital, and eyebrow shaping should be seen as time out, a respite from the world for a few moments. We have weaved heritage through everything we do so that the sixty second massage is almost as important as the shaping itself. Eyebrows can be overwhelming, so it is important that we build our customer’s confidence. We then also arm our customers with the best advice and products so that they continue to feel supported when doing brows at home. It is the laser focus, expertise that remains consistently good and therefore trusted that makes us stand out. We have weaved heritage through everything we do so that the sixty second massage is almost as important as the shaping itself. What advice would you give to someone wanting to start their own business in the beauty arena?Make sure you are fulfilling a need that doesn’t exist and if it already does, repackage it or deliver it differently to make it compelling. Simplicity is key, you should be able to explain your customer proposition in a couple of sentences. How do you stay ahead and keep your brand relevant in our digital world? We only have a second to grab digital attention so need to ensure we are constantly engaging our audience. Community is everything and are they are our best ambassadors; we are fortunate that they are always happy to share the love. We produce our own content and do many collaborations which are important in positioning the brand and bringing in new audiences. Educational content comes from our brow stylists and Founder content to ensure we are seen as the true experts in our arena. Community is everything and are they are our best ambassadors; we are fortunate that they are always happy to share the love. What can we look forward to seeing next from you, and the brand? To be the global go-to brand for everything brows and lashes. Development is about service innovation and products to have the same impact at home. We have a new tubing Mascara which gives you a Lash Lift at home. We have just launched a lash serum that has no nasties and promises longer and stronger lashes. In terms of services, the Korean Lash Lift is spectacular, lifted lashes with a kinder solution and I urge everyone to give it a go. We are also looking to open globally and Dubai is the next hot spot. CEO QUICKFIRE Coffee OrderFlat white. Simple but crucial. What’s inspiring you?The way people are being driven back to bricks and mortar, services and restaurants bringing communities back to life. Favourite business quote "Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning" - Bill Gates Groundbreaking Brand you loveVinted – so great to see kids recycle clothes rather than buy fast fashion. It also gives them the experience of running a business, negotiating and making money. Product you admire/wish you’d created! Aesop are truly delivering brand success and a great case study for any brand trying to scale up while staying true to values. Such a sensory brand that also looks consistently beautiful, iconic. I wonder why I am prepared to spend so much on a shower gel, time after time. But I do. Find Blink Brow Bar online and @blinkbrowbar & Vanita @vanitaparti
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CEO CHATS: Amy Liu, Tower 28 Founder
Tower 28 is the first beauty brand 100% dedicated to sensitive skin, but made for all. The brand was founded by Amy Liu, a beauty industry veteran with over 15 years of experience working with some of the most iconic names in cosmetics. Amy’s vision goes beyond products, she built Tower 28 to be a community. The name itself comes from a lifeguard tower in Santa Monica, a gathering spot where people of all backgrounds come together. In the same spirit, Tower 28 is about inclusivity, accessibility, and breaking down the barriers in beauty. Define your brandTower 28 is the first beauty brand 100% dedicated to sensitive skin, but made for all. Everything we do is rooted in safety, community, and fun. Our mission is to prove that “clean” can actually mean safe for sensitive skin - without compromising on joy, color, or creativity. What is your USP? / What sets your brand apart?We’re the only beauty brand that follows the National Eczema Association’s ingredient guidelines across our entire line. From day one, I wanted people to trust Tower 28 without hesitation, knowing our products are dermatologist-tested, non-irritating, and safe for even the most sensitive skin. And the fact that everything is under $34 makes it more accessible, which is so important to me. To what do you attribute your brand's success?Our community. Every win we’ve had - from going viral on TikTok to launching in Sephora - has been because people genuinely connect with our products and our story. I’ve had eczema my whole adult life, so when customers tell me SOS Rescue Spray changed their skin, it feels personal. That authenticity and trust is what drives our success. What is your key role in the business today? How has it evolved with time?In the beginning, I wore every hat. Today, my role is much more about vision, leadership, and community-building. What is your Brand mantra?Collaboration over competition. It’s a reminder to lift others up and to always lead with kindness and community. Why has your brand made headway in such a competitive market?We created something that didn’t exist before: dermatologist-tested, clinically vetted, sensitive skin–friendly products that are also fun, affordable, and inclusive. People trust us because we put skin health first, and they stick with us because our products perform. What advice would you give to someone wanting to start their own business in the beauty arena?Invest in your community and be curious. Ask questions, learn from others, and don’t be afraid to reach out for help. When I started Tower 28, I leaned heavily on my network, which is why I later launched Clean Beauty Summer School to support other minority founders. And remember: be nice and work hard. Your reputation is everything. Ask questions, learn from others, and don’t be afraid to reach out for help. How do you stay ahead and keep your brand relevant in our digital world?We listen to our customers, our community, and our team. So many of our launches have come directly from feedback. We also embrace platforms like TikTok and lean into storytelling,which keeps us connected and nimble. At the end of the day, relevance comes from being authentic and responsive to what people actually want and need. What can we look forward to seeing next from you, and the brand?We’re continuing to grow globally, which is such an exciting milestone! And of course, we have some really fun new launches planned for 2026...but those are still under wraps for now! All I can say is they’re products our community has been asking for, and I can’t wait for everyone to see what we’ve been working on. CEO QUICKFIRE Coffee Order?Iced latte with oat milk - always. What’s inspiring you?Our community. Every DM or message I get from someone who says SOS Spray saved their skin (or their baby’s!) keeps me inspired. Favourite business quote?“You can have it all, but not all at once.” It reminds me to give myself grace as a founder and a mom. Groundbreaking brand you love?Hanahana Beauty. Not only are their products beautiful and effective, but the brand is truly committed to fair-trade sourcing and uplifting their community. They’ve set such a strong example of how a beauty brand can lead with purpose and impact. Product you admire / wish you’d created?MARA’s Algae + Moringa Universal Face Oil. It’s one of those products that feels indulgent and effective at the same time - my skin just drinks it up. It’s simple, elegant, and delivers results in a way that feels like a daily ritual. You can find Tower28 online and @tower28beauty & Amy @amyliu_t28
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CEO CHATS: Katey Mandy, RAAIE Founder
Founded by Katey Mandy, skincare brand RAAIE is driven by her vision to harness the rare strength of New Zealand botanicals and pair it with cutting-edge skin science, creating products that are as effective as they are thoughtful. Define your brand RAAIE is a high performance skincare brand born in New Zealand, where botanicals have adapted to survive the world’s strongest UV. By fusing this natural resilience with advanced cosmeceutical science, our formulations deliver powerful results that work in harmony with the skin’s circadian rhythm. What is your USP? / What sets your brand apart? Our strength lies in provenance and philosophy. We harness New Zealand’s UV resilient botanicals and combine them with advanced actives, aligned with the skin’s natural rhythm for maximum efficacy. Our packaging also sets us apart. It was designed to look like enigmatic stone-like vessels inspired by river pebbles, designed to be kept and cherished. To what do you attribute your brand's success?Trust and authenticity. Customers are often drawn in by design, but what keeps them returning is the performance. Our pared back but powerful regime delivers real results. Customers are often drawn in by design, but what keeps them returning is the performance. What is your key role in the business today? How has it evolved with time? In the beginning I was doing everything, from formulating to packing orders. I still wish I could spend all day in the lab, but now my role is creative direction, storytelling, and building global retail partnerships. My job is to hold the vision while my team brings it to life. What is your brand mantra?The wisdom of nature, the precision of science. Why has your brand made headway in such a competitive market? Our unique design is often what first captures attention, but it is results that make people loyal. Our customer return rate is exceptionally high, which tells us that the formulas speak for themselves. A modern philosophy of circadian aligned routines and science backed botanicals has also struck a chord with today’s consumer. What advice would you give to someone wanting to start their own business in the beauty arena? Have clarity of vision and know your point of difference. Be prepared to work harder than you thought possible, and surround yourself with mentors who believe in you. Start small and allow yourself to learn and adapt along the way. Don’t be in a rush or compare yourself to others. Stay true to your unique point of difference and build with patience, integrity, and purpose, and the right customers and opportunities will find you. Have clarity of vision and know your point of difference. How do you stay ahead and keep your brand relevant in our digital world? Through storytelling. The pace of digital is fast, but authenticity lasts. By weaving together New Zealand provenance, sustainability, and science, we create a narrative that feels enduring. Collaborations with artists, editors, and scientists also keep the brand evolving. What can we look forward to seeing next from you, and the brand? We are about to launch the Tranquillity Water Activating Mist. It is the future of intelligent hydration, powered by volcanic thermal water, infused with peptides and electrolytes, and delivered through our Aqua Dermal Encapsulation technology. Light as air but potent as a serum, it locks in 72 hour hydration and supercharges the daily routine. CEO QUICKFIRE Coffee orderOat flat white What’s inspiring you? Nature, always. And specifically, the incredible resilience of New Zealand nature Favourite business quoteBe so good they cannot ignore you Groundbreaking brand you loveAesop - a masterclass in storytelling and sensory identity Product you admire / wish you had createdBiologique Recherche Lotion P50 – radical, disruptive, and still iconic Find RAAIE online and @raaieskincare & Katey @kateyellenmandy
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CEO CHATS: Irene Forte, IRENE FORTE Founder
Irene Forte Skincare is Italian luxury powered by scientific craftsmanship – nutrient-rich Mediterranean botanicals, many sourced from our organic farm in Sicily. At the heart of it all is the founder, Irene Forte, whose passion for wellness, sustainability and a deep connection to her Sicilian heritage shaped every detail of the brand. Irene’s vision was to create skincare that not only delivers exceptional results, but also feels nurturing, honest, and in harmony with nature - an expression of her belief that true beauty begins with well-being. Define your brand Irene Forte Skincare is Italian luxury powered by scientific craftsmanship - nutrient-rich Mediterranean botanicals, many sourced from our organic farm in Sicily, combined with cutting-edge actives and clinically proven results. We’re backed by over 40 years of dermatological research thanks to our Scientific Director, Dr. Francesca Ferri. What is your USP? / What sets your brand apart? Farm-to-lab: Sicilian ingredients combined with patented biotech extracts. Sensorial + sensitive: Sensorial, indulgent textures with unique allergen-screened fragrances, allowing us to be certified for sensitive skin. Clinically proven naturals: Natural formulations that score “Excellent on Yuka” with measurable results. Sustainable luxury: B Corp certified and rooted in craftsmanship, while still maintaining a luxury feel. To what do you attribute your brand’s success? Authenticity, obsession with quality, and relentless focus on results. Everything is rooted in our Italian heritage and Mediterranean philosophy, yet elevated through science and craftsmanship. Every detail is considered - from formulations to textures - and underpinned by rigorous clinical testing. "Authenticity, obsession with quality, and relentless focus on results." What is your key role in the business today? How has it evolved with time? I’m CEO, but I always say as a business grows you move from being an orchestra player to being the conductor. In the early days I had no team and did everything myself. Today, my role is about leading brand vision and R&D direction while empowering brilliant, experienced people to drive key areas of the business. I’m still very hands-on, but the focus is now on managing, guiding, and getting the very best out of my team I’m CEO, but I always say as a business grows you move from being an orchestra player to being the conductor. What is your brand mantra? A luxury ritual that’s as good for your skin as it is for your senses - rooted in nature, backed by science. Why has your brand made headway in such a competitive market? We have a clear point of view and a true story, visible results, and credibility: real actives, real testing, and a luxury experience that feels good and does good. What advice would you give to someone starting a beauty business? Have a true, authentic story - a reason for being. Obsess over your proof points: test, measure, iterate. Start narrow with a hero and earn the right to expand (I made the big mistake of launching many products at once). Margins matter - don’t assume they’ll improve with time. Be open to evolve, take criticism, and stay resilient. Resilience is fundamental. How do you stay ahead and keep the brand relevant digitally? We didn’t begin digitally - I started in spas, without a D2C channel - so I’ve had to learn fast (and still have a lot to learn). We have an incredible Head of Digital who teaches me daily. For us, it’s continual testing, automation and subscription to secure recurring revenue, and quick pivots from what we learn. What’s next for you and the brand? In September 2025, we’re launching Irene’s Regenerating Night Routine, a clinically proven duo featuring the Phytomelatonin Rejuvenating Serum and Hibiscus Night Cream. Together, they’re proven to target seven signs of ageing, with 100% of trialists showing measurable improvements in wrinkle depth, volume, redness, elasticity, and compactness in just eight weeks. In October, we debut our Bio-Peptide Lip Treatment with Lipo-HA Complex to hydrate and smooth the lips - flavoured like a refreshing Limone e Menta sorbetto. At the same time, we continue to expand our spa portfolio with the openings of Irene Forte Spa, The Balmoral in Edinburgh and Irene Forte Spa, Hotel de Russie in Rome. CEO QUICKFIRE Coffee order Latte with almond milk. What’s inspiring you? Sicily is a constant source of inspiration - its nature, food, and traditions inform everything I do. Favourite business quote “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” - Seneca Groundbreaking brand you love Merit Beauty - their creative is incredible. Even without a luxury price point, they’ve made the brand feel aspirational, and every piece of content and campaign is spot on. I’m also obsessed with the branding and creative behind Loewe perfumes and Hermès beauty; both are so well executed. Product you admire / wish you’d created I always take cues from brands that create entire worlds rather than just products. Flamingo Estate has built a truly distinctive universe - immersive, sensorial, and fun. Find Irene Forte online and @Ireneforte & Irene @Ireneforte
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CEO CHATS: Gaëlle Lebrat-Personnaz, MANUCURIST Founder
Gaëlle Lebrat-Personnaz is the founder of Manucurist, a French clean beauty brand revolutionising nail care. Manucurist began as a mother-daughter venture and has since evolved into a thriving, female-led business. Gaëlle’s leadership also leans into values like feminism, motherhood, and selfcare. Managing five children while heading a beauty brand, she speaks openly about mental load and empowerment through work. We spoke with Gaëlle Lebrat-Personnaz about launching the world’s first LED polish that removes in a minute, to building a brand rooted in joy, self-expression, and sustainability, Gaëlle shares how she’s carved out a new category in beauty. In this interview, she opens up about persistence, purpose, and what’s coming next for Manucurist. Define your brand Manucurist is about colour, care and conscience. We’re a Paris-based beauty brand reinventing nail care with formulas that are clean, plant-based and kind to your health and the planet. But more than that, we’re a joyful brand, about self-expression, creativity and that little moment of well-being you steal for yourself. What is your USP? / What sets your brand apart? We’re the first to create an LED polish, Green Flash, that wears like gel but removes in 1 minute with no acetone, no damage, no allergens. It’s a category of its own! We also keep one foot in the professional world and one in everyday life. We know how to speak to salons and busy women at home. What do you attribute your brand's success to? Persistence! And a deep belief that beauty shouldn’t compromise your health. I saw the damage done by gels in salons, I knew we could do better. We were among the first to bring clean innovation to nails. It was a slow build, lots of resistance at first, but we stuck to our vision. I think people can feel that authenticity. What is your key role today in the business? How has it evolved with time? I’m still very involved in product development and branding, it’s the creative side that drives me. But I’ve learned to let go and surround myself with brilliant people. At the beginning, I was doing everything from packing boxes to finalising formulas. Now I can focus on the vision and the future. What is your brand mantra? “No compromise.” We don’t believe you should have to choose between colour and care, fun and responsibility. Beauty should be joyful, safe, and sustainable. Why has your brand made headway in such a competitive market? We’re bold. We’re not afraid to challenge established norms, especially in a category like nails that had been stagnant for years. We’ve also stayed true to our values, Made in France, biosourced formulas, real efficacy. And we know how to talk to women: honestly, with optimism. What advice would you give to someone wanting to start their own business in the beauty arena? Start with a problem worth solving. Don’t just launch a product, have a mission. Surround yourself with people smarter than you. And be patient: overnight success is rarely that. How do you stay ahead and keep your brand relevant in our digital world? Curiosity! I’m always observing, through fashion, art, street culture, and my daughters' social feeds. We co-create with our community, we listen constantly. I also admire what brands like Aime and Typology are doing: modern, real and intelligent beauty that resonates with today’s consumers. What can we look forward to seeing next from you, and the brand? We’re taking nail care to a whole new level, more targeted treatments, even smarter routines. And new colour collections, of course! Always tied to fashion and emotion. Think joyful, skin-loving, and beautiful inside and out. CEO QUICKFIRE Coffee OrderLong black - no milk. What’s inspiring you?The rise of quiet confidence. I love how brands and women are embracing softness and strength at the same time. Also, founders like Garance Doré who speak from the heart, it’s so refreshing. Favourite business quote“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Groundbreaking BrandMimétique. I’m fascinated by their approach to skincare rooted in biomimetism, formulas that imitate the skin’s own biology to restore balance and health. It’s the future of beauty: intelligent, respectful, and radically effective. There’s something so elegant about working with the skin rather than against it. Product you admire/wish you’d created!The LED face mask! I use it religiously. It’s the perfect blend of tech and self-care, so simple, yet incredibly effective. Red light therapy helps boost collagen, reduce inflammation, and bring that natural glow back to your skin. It’s a treatment that fits beautifully into a clean and conscious beauty routine. I love how it empowers women to take care of their skin at home, just like we do with nails! Find Manucurist online and @Manucurist & Gaelle @GaëlleLebratPersonnaz
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CEO CHATS: Pauline Laurent & Flore des Robert, founders of La Bonne Brosse
La Bonne Brosse, founded by Pauline Laurent and Flore des Robert, reimagines the everyday hairbrush as a timeless symbol of care and design - where French craftsmanship meets hair health, aesthetics, and emotional well-being. CAIR complements this vision with science-led, intelligent haircare that treats the hair and scalp with the same precision and care as skincare. Active, refillable, and rooted in one core promise: healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp. What is your USP? / What sets your brand apart? We’re not just another beauty brand. We’re redefining categories that had been forgotten - the brush, the scalp, and turning them into must-haves. What sets us apart is our obsession with craftsmanship (La Bonne Brosse) and scientific & clean-grade formulas (CAIR), all wrapped in a sensory, beautiful experience. Every product has a soul and a purpose. What do you attribute your brand's success to? We like to say: one of us dreams in colour (Pauline), the other in spreadsheets (Flore). That balance has been our secret weapon. But beyond that, we built brands with real depth: true functionality, real results, and beauty that’s anything but superficial. People can feel that. What is your key role today in the business? How has it evolved with time? Pauline is the creative mind, she oversees product creation, brand identity, and everything visual. Flore is the business mind, managing operations, growth, and global expansion. At first, we did absolutely everything together, from labeling boxes to customer service. Today, we lead distinct but intertwined roles, trusting each other’s instincts 100%. What is your Brand mantra? “The beauty of your hair is in your hands.” Beauty isn't just about results - it's about how something makes you feel, how it becomes part of your everyday life. We create products that turn daily gestures into meaningful moments. Why has your brand made headway in such a competitive market? Because we don’t chase trends, we create relevance. We took a forgotten tool, the brush, and made it covetable. We took scalp care, once clinical, and made it luxurious. Our products speak to both emotion and performance, and that’s rare. What advice would you give to someone wanting to start their own business in the beauty arena? Make sure you’re solving a real problem, not just launching a product. Be obsessed with quality - formula, design, texture, all of it. And most importantly: be ready to fight for your idea every single day, with passion, precision, and a sense of humour. How do you stay ahead and keep your brand relevant in our digital world? We listen, we learn, we share. Our community is incredibly engaged, and we respond. We’re also obsessed with beauty culture worldwide, not just France, so we constantly draw inspiration from global rituals, science, and visual cues. And we never outsource our voice, what you see online, it’s really us. What can we look forward to seeing next from you, and the brand? With CAIR, we’re building a full hair health ecosystem - innovative treatments, refillable formats, and next-gen ingredients. With La Bonne Brosse, we’re continuing to expand internationally, and launching new tools and new collabs that elevate haircare routines even further. CEO QUICKFIRE Coffee OrderHerbal tea for Pauline. Iced latte for Flore (with oat milk, always). What’s inspiring you?The return to slowness - in beauty, food, fashion. People want meaning again. That’s deeply motivating. Favourite business quote“Done is better than perfect.” - because perfection is often the enemy of progress. We’ve learned that getting things out into the world, listening, improving, that’s where real momentum lives. Groundbreaking BrandAesop - for making formulas and storytelling equally sacred. Product you admire/wish you’d created!The Dyson Airwrap - pure technical genius meets beauty ritual. A brush-obsessed duo like us can’t help but admire it! Find La Bonne Brosse online and @La Bonne Brosse
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CEO CHATS: Sarah Chapman, Founder & Product Formulator of Sarah Chapman London
Sarah Chapman is the visionary founder and lead product formulator behind Sarah Chapman London, a luxury skincare range and clinic based in Chelsea, London. With over 20 years of experience and advanced training in cosmetic science, Chapman has established herself as one of the industry’s most respected experts, known for her unique blend of scientific rigor and hands‑on massage techniques. I had the pleasure of speaking with Sarah about the power of a trusted, long-standing team, the importance of cultivating authentic relationships, the value of staying open to conversations (though discerning with opportunities), and the lessons she’s learned from over two decades at the forefront of the skincare industry. Define your brand‘Sensorial science’ – we look after YOU and YOUR SKIN, considering the physiological and psychological aspects of skin care through our advanced clinical treatments and unique products. My brand is uniquely positioned at the intersection of performance-driven science, sensorial luxury, and holistic wellbeing to focus on skin health longevity and empowering confidence and wellbeing from the outside in. What is your USP? / What sets your brand apart?My Face to Formula™ approach. Every product and treatment is born from in-clinic insight — we perform over 15,000 treatments a year, which serves as the flywheel for our innovation. We translate these real client needs into formulas that deliver measurable results, using the latest advances in science — often looking beyond traditional skincare. What further sets us apart is that we never compromise: science, efficacy, and sensorial experience are treated with equal importance. It’s rare to find a brand that delivers all three — we never sacrifice one for the other. What do you attribute your brand’s success to?Success, for me, comes down to discipline, clarity of purpose, and listening to the skin – not the noise. From day one, I’ve stayed focused on what skin truly needs, rather than being distracted by trends or hype. The clinic and clients have always been my foundation. We now perform over 15,000 treatments a year in my clinic, and every one of those informs our understanding of skin in the real world. That depth of insight is our superpower. It means our products aren’t created in isolation — they’re developed in response to real skin challenges; with the same level of care and precision we bring to every treatment. We innovate with purpose and intelligence, not for show. That’s why my very first product, Overnight Facial, remains our global bestseller to this day: it delivers. And trust like that is built slowly, through results. Success, for me, comes down to discipline, clarity of purpose, and listening to the skin – not the noise. What is your key role today in the business? How has it evolved with time?I’m still at the heart of everything — from vision and clinical direction to product formulation and brand voice. But today, my focus is broader with also guiding global expansion and long-term legacy and scale. What is your Brand mantra?Inspired by skin. Delivered by science with no compromise. Why has your brand made headway in such a competitive market?Because we’ve never deviated from our core purpose. We don’t follow fads. We deliver measurable results, wrapped in an experience that feels truly luxurious and personal. That integrity resonates — whether it's with editors, dermatologists, or clients. The one word I hear time and time again is TRUST- this is something you earn. What advice would you give to someone wanting to start their own business in the beauty arena?Start with purpose, not product. Know who you’re serving and why — emotionally and physiologically. Build something that solves a real problem, not just fills a shelf. Integrity, efficacy and authenticity will always outlast hype. How do you stay ahead and keep your brand relevant in our digital world?We aim to keep our voice consistent and trustworthy while taking a helicopter view of the beauty space around us to keep relevant in a world full of noise. While digital tools help us engage and educate our community, it’s the depth of our expertise and relentless pursuit of excellence that truly sets us apart and keeps us at the forefront of skincare innovation. What can we look forward to seeing next from you, and the brand?We’re entering the next chapter of skin health longevity — where science becomes more intelligent, targeted, and integrated into every touchpoint of skincare. We are investing in next-generation treatments that continue to push boundaries in personalised skin regeneration and recovery expanding on our medical and facial services. At the same time, we’re advancing delivery systems, biotech-driven actives, and precision formulations that bring the results of the clinic into people’s homes. The future of skincare is personalised and highly intelligent — and we’re leading that evolution from both sides: in-clinic and at-home, to be your trusted skincare partner of choice. For life. We’re entering the next chapter of skin health longevity — where science becomes more intelligent, targeted, and integrated into every touchpoint of skincare. CEO QUICKFIRE Coffee Order I don’t do coffee. I’m a breakfast tea person. The strong kind! What’s inspiring you? The evolving science of longevity and its connection to skin regeneration and well-being. Favourite business quote I have two quotes that really resonate with me, both capture the ethos behind everything I do. “The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.” – Jimmy Johnson Subtle but powerful – nods to the sensorial details and scientific depth that elevate our formulas. “Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.” – Henry Ford This speaks to ingredient integrity, trust, and the long-term loyalty we’ve built – a foundation of the Sarah Chapman brand. Groundbreaking Brand Apple. As Steve Jobs once said “People don’t know what they want until you show it to them.” and he changed the landscape and delivered on that. Find Sarah Chapman online and @raaieskincare
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CEO CHATS: Claire Aggarwal, Bio Sculpture CEO
Claire Aggarwal is the CEO of RE:NEW Beauty, the exclusive UK distributor of Bio Sculpture—a pioneering, health-focused gel nail brand known for its vegan, non-toxic formulations and professional-only approach. A former beauty entrepreneur, Claire now drives the brand’s strategic growth, salon partnerships, and premium positioning in the UK market. Define your brand Bio Sculpture is the original healthy builder gel manicure, offering unrivalled strength while caring for your natural nails. For over 37 years, we’ve been perfecting a fully prescriptive system that prioritises nail health without compromising on results. What is your USP? / What sets your brand apart? We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Every Bio Sculpture base and builder gel is tailored to your unique nail type, ensuring a finish that’s not only flawless but supports longer, stronger and healthier nails, even after the first manicure. This prescriptive approach means we guarantee over three weeks wear, with zero chipping or lifting - just high performance nail care that prioritises nail health and lasting results. "We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach." What do you attribute your brand's success to? One of our core values is education. Every Bio Sculpture nail technician receives award-winning training before they can purchase our products, meaning they know exactly how to use them and can deliver consistent, lasting results. We’re always looking for new ways to evolve manicurists’ skills, whether that be through a commitment to come back and retrain with us at any time, or by providing masterclasses to keep them up-to-date with the latest tips, techniques and trends. We genuinely want our technicians to be the very best in the industry and, because of this, we’ve built a loyal community of skilled professionals and devoted clients who trust in the Bio Sculpture standard. What is your key role today in the business? How has it evolved with time? I’m the CEO, driving growth and seeking new opportunities to ensure scale as well as diversity in our offering. What is your Brand mantra? The Prescriptive Path to Healthy Nails - it’s the foundation of everything we do! Why has your brand made headway in such a competitive market? We’ve always stayed true to our purpose, which is improving nail health through incredible products, expert education and a fully personalised approach. Every Bio Sculpture gel is developed and produced in our South African factory, which gives us full control over the formulation, quality and consistency. This level of transparency is absolutely essential for us and we’re invested in every stage of the journey, from how our products are made to how our technicians are trained to use them. Our commitment to education means every Bio Sculpture professional is equipped to deliver the healthy, long-lasting results we’re known for. In a saturated market, it’s this combination of transparency, expertise and trust that truly sets us apart. What advice would you give to someone wanting to start their own business in the beauty arena? The beauty industry is dynamic, interesting and ever changing. For anyone wanting to start their own business, passion is absolutely essential. The brands that become overnight successes are led by passionate founders who are never happy with the first iteration - they have a clear vision for their product or service and want to bring it to the market without compromising on quality or purpose. Like many others, the beauty industry is saturated, meaning you have to create something genuinely unique that your customers not only love, but want to buy time and time again. But, that alone is not enough, you also need to be able to tell your brand story in a way that feels compelling, creative and relevant. When product innovation and storytelling align, it’s a dreamy combination. "The brands that become overnight successes are led by passionate founders who are never happy with the first iteration - they have a clear vision for their product or service and want to bring it to the market without compromising on quality or purpose." How do you stay ahead and keep your brand relevant in our digital world? We stay ahead by staying connected, not just to our community, but to the culture of beauty itself. Strategic brand partnerships and collaborations are key and we’re constantly curating meaningful, brand specific experiences that resonate with our audience and values. Our social channels also keep us at the forefront of what’s trending and it’s where we share fun, relevant and inspiring content that celebrates creativity. Another way is by consistently updating our training, both online and in-person. Our online training portal and free masterclasses, led by influential manicurists and industry experts mean that whether you’re starting out as a nail technician or growing your salon, we can ensure every professional feels empowered, supported and confident with the most up-to-date techniques and tools. What can we look forward to seeing next from you, and the brand? In September, we’ll be launching our first ever Bio Sculpture nail salon in Selfridges, a huge milestone for the brand in London. This will be the first of its kind: a one-stop destination for the ultimate manicure experience that not only looks incredible, but is completely tailored to the individual's nail type, improves nail health and lasts for over three weeks. CEO QUICKFIRE Coffee Order A long black. Favourite business quote I’m a true believer in “you think what you become”. Whether that’s for your personal self or business. I think Victoria Beckham’s statement - I want to be more famous than Persil epitomises this incredibly well. It should give all brands and start ups the belief that if you can ‘see it’ and ‘believe it’ others will. Of course this belief has to be coupled with an awful lot of hardwork and unbreakable tenacity. Groundbreaking Brand Aesop - it doesn’t feel groundbreaking because it has become our everyday…. But how extraordinary is it that in just 37 years they have over 300 stores and only sell their own brand. There aren’t many beauty brands like that. I love their ethos, products, scents and store concepts, their brand shines through everything they do, and I think that’s one of the main reasons they are a huge success Product you admire/wish you’d created! Merit Cheek Cream - a tricky product category to win at. However, innovative packaging and a very clever story has made sure this product is in everyone’s make up bag and it will be for a long time. I love the fact that you don’t need to reinvent the wheel to have success, sometimes it’s clever tweaks and the correct strategy and story that cause the biggest industry disruption Find Bio Sculpture online and @biosculpture
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CEO CHATS: Shamini Rajarethnam, Rationale CEO
Shamini Rajarethnam is the CEO of Australian luxury skincare company, RATIONALE - a position she has held since 2017. Under her leadership, RATIONALE has achieved significant commercial growth and success, expanding from a medical agency-only channel to a network of 14 Flagship locations across Australia and 100+ medical and aesthetic clinic stockists globally. In 2020, Rajarethnam led the RATIONALE business into an industry partnership with international beauty conglomerate, Amorepacific Corporation. What is your USP? / What sets your brand apart? I think it’s that we deeply care about what we do and that process is imbued across every touchpoint. It’s been the constant for over three decades. The exacting standards and elevated experience we want to deliver filters into every single aspect of the brand—including research, development, and product manufacturing. It’s led us to do things like vertically integrate and bring our manufacturing in house. It might not be the most commercial decision, but it is the best experience for our clients. "It’s led us to do things like vertically integrate and bring our manufacturing in house. It might not be the most commercial decision, but it is the best experience for our clients." In terms of product offering, we’ve maintained a very clear vision of ‘protect and repair’. This hasn’t wavered from the very first products Richard [Parker, Founder] formulated all those years ago: three steps in the morning reflect the skin’s innate needs for immune health support via fortified barrier function, antioxidant protection against oxidative stress and SPF protection against solar and environmental stressors. At night, three steps for barrier function repair, pH maintenance, and skin renewal support. What do you attribute your brand's success to? And why has your brand made headway in such a competitive market? We’ve always remained focused on who we are, what we stand for and who we are doing this for. We’re quite open about the fact that we’re not one to follow trends; our Research and Development faculties have been guardrails for us in many respects, focusing on their guiding light of healthy skin and what we need to do to maintain that standard. Over the years, we’ve made the difficult decision to say no to many things, where other brands might say yes, because it wouldn’t be true to who we are. That has translated into standing the test of time, over three decades in a competitive market. What is your key role today in the business? How has it evolved with time? My role is Chief Executive Officer, working closely with our Founder, Richard Parker, and our Executive Team. I first joined the company as the Digital Marketing Coordinator in 2011, and worked across various roles and departments, including the role of GM before stepping into my current role in 2016. Over the past nine years as CEO, my role has evolved and grown in tandem with the size of the business. In the beginning, being quite hands-on and operational. As the team has grown, it’s afforded me the opportunity to pull back a little bit more from the hands-on day-to-day, and dig into the more strategic, longer-term planning and vision for the brand and business. There are areas of the business where I still enjoy drilling down into the detail, but we now have a trusted team owning it. What is your Brand mantra? Luminous Skin for Life. This is true of what we promise (and deliver) in terms of visible results, but how we support our clients through various life stages and ages. We have Skin Therapists in our Flagship that have clients who first came to them in the dating stage of life, then as they prepped for weddings, and then had shifted skin concerns throughout pregnancy, postpartum, and even menopause. What advice would you give to someone wanting to start their own business in the beauty arena? Not specific to the beauty arena, but any business really…know your own weaknesses and blindspots, and don’t be afraid to articulate that - then hire experts in those areas. You need those systems or people in place to support and complement your own expertise, so you’re not getting bogged down in the areas that aren’t necessarily your native genius! How do you stay ahead and keep your brand relevant in our digital world? We’ve never claimed to be a digital-native brand, but digital continues to be our largest growth channel globally, so remaining nimble and evolving our platforms and offerings in line with client insights and behaviours is certainly a priority. There's so much opportunity in the digital space, but with that comes a lot of noise and competitor distraction, so it's a balance of elevating each interaction and touchpoint (whether that's ecomm functionality, client journey or aftercare), while ensuring easy discoverability and connection to our research and education cornerstones are maintained. Equally, our digital presence is just as much about how we complement the bricks-and-mortar experiences delivered in our Flaghips or via our agency partners. For our clients, they deserve a seamless, 360 experience that reflects and enhances their own lifestyles. Whether that’s as simple as a click-and-collect service, or same-day delivery to your next destination, or purely understanding what our client is seeking at different touchpoints—and meeting them there. It’s an integrated world, so we are constantly evolving, updating and elevating to assure that experience for them. "There's so much opportunity in the digital space, but with that comes a lot of noise and competitor distraction, so it's a balance of elevating each interaction and touchpoint" What can we look forward to seeing next from you, and the brand? We’re continuing to push innovation in our formulations, and looking forward to introducing a few new updates in the coming months, including introducing a new category. Outside of product, we’re excited to connect with new partners to reach our clients in more places, such as Equinox Hotels in NYC. CEO QUICKFIRE Coffee Order A long black. What’s inspiring you? Currently, it’s the book ‘Unreasonable Hospitality’ by Will Guidara, the former owner of Eleven Madison Park. In context of work, there are so many relevant lessons and insights that really resonated with me in terms of how we can continue to level up our own client experience, whether that’s from the formulations we create, the services we offer, or the high-touch moments with our clients. Elsewhere, I am almost always drawn to the creative work from Loewe and Bottega Veneta. And I also follow a lot of interior design accounts for home life. Favourite business quote There are no sacred cows! I repeat this to my leadership team, reminding them we need to challenge ourselves and how we’ve always done things to balance remaining true to our ethos and staying relevant. Groundbreaking Brand I think Dyson is an incredible brand that has redefined several categories by essentially reinventing ordinary objects using extraordinary engineering, coupled with design to create desirable, aspirational products. How many brands do you know have created status symbol home appliances like their vacuums and fans to cult beauty products like their hair tools? Product you admire/wish you’d created! I’ve always said that I wish I created the zipper! I think it every time I see that ‘YKK’! Find Rationale online and @rationale & Shamini @shaminirejarethnam
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