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.
Quickfire
Coffee Order
Long 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 Brand
Mimétique. 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!
