Building a beauty brand takes drive, determination, and a lot of hard work. From industry icons to rising stars, we caught up with six leading ladies at the helm of a thriving beauty business to take a peek behind the scenes and learn the secrets of their “beautiful” success.
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Bobbi Brown, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics
BobbiBrownCosmetics.com
About my brand …
“I really believe a woman is most beautiful when she looks like herself. Since the beginning, my philosophy has remained unchanged – to bring out the individual beauty in every woman. Rather than offering one definition of beauty, we offer an all-inclusive definition that’s relevant to women of all ages and ethnicities. We offer makeup looks that are fresh and modern and are both timeless and of-the-moment.”
Secret to my success…
“Passion: if you really believe in your idea, you’ll put in the hard work it takes to be successful. When I set out to make the perfect pinky-brown shade of lipstick for myself, I had no idea it would turn into this. I saw a major void in the cosmetics industry that I knew I could help address, that of natural-looking makeup. When I first shopped around my lipsticks to various department stores, some didn’t see the potential, but I refused to take no for an answer. Perseverance and passion for my products and their point of difference kept me going. Bergdorf Goodman ended up carrying my line and then four years later the company was acquired by Estee Lauder Companies.”
I’m excited about…
“My new Intensive Skin Serum Foundation – the perfect fusion of skincare and makeup that beautifies skin from the inside out with super-charged serum ingredients, including Cordyceps Mushroom, a powerful tonic used in traditional Chinese medicine, along with my signature skin-tone-correct pigments.”
RitaHazan.com
About my brand…
“As a colorist, I wanted to create a line that addressed the needs for women with colored treated hair – everything from touching up roots to repairing damaged hair. I create problem-solution products that are fast and easy to use.”
Most rewarding…
“I get to create products I believe in and am constantly inspired by not only my celebrity clients, but my salon clientele as well. They are a huge source of my inspiration as I hear what is missing from the market and what women with colored hair really need.”
Secret to my success …
“I will not take no for an answer, and I will always find a way to get something done, from a hair color I envision to a new product that is non-existent. My Root Concealer is a prime example of this. It took three years and multiple chemists to truly bring my vision to life.”
Jennifer Walsh, Founder and Creative Director of Pride & Glory
PrideAndGloryUSA.com
About my brand…
“Pride & Glory is the country’s first collegiate beauty brand and one on a mission to change lives through inspiration, empowerment, and college pride! I wanted to ultimately change lives through beauty.
Most rewarding…
“I founded my first beauty brand (The Beauty Bar ) in 1998 and grew the company until I sold it in 2010. In 2014, I founded Pride & Glory and just like starting my first beauty brand, it is very exciting. What I cherish most is changing the landscape in the field and making people think differently. I really love building great teams around me with whom I can work and learn.”
Secret to my success…
“Perseverance. I have spent the past 18 years in the beauty industry growing, learning, and educating others. When I first started out, I was told no a lot and that my ideas would never work. If I didn’t have passion, determination, and sheer perseverance, I wouldn’t have forged forward in all I truly believed in, and I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Nancy Twine, Founder and CEO of Briogeo Hair Care
BriogeoHair.com
About my brand…
Briogeo is a premium natural hair care product line focused on delivering real results that can be seen and felt for a diverse array of hair textures and types (whether curly, thin, or damaged). We are a “6-free” hair care line – all of our products are formulated without sulfates, silicones, parabens, phthalates, artificial fragrances, or dyes. We believe beautiful hair shouldn’t be compromised by harsh or harmful chemicals, and the most nourishing hair ingredients exist naturally in nature.
Secret to my success…
“Perseverance. Running a startup can be extremely challenging and setbacks can arise constantly.”
Most rewarding…
“Being able to collaborate with a talented team of individuals to develop, create, and design hair care product concepts from start to finish is a highly rewarding aspect of what I do each day. The creative process of building a beauty brand from idea phase to conception is a very exciting, yet challenging part of what I love about my business.”
Liz and Rachel Edlich, Founders of Radical Skincare
RadicalSkincare.com
About our brand…
“Radical Skincare is strong skincare designed for sensitive skin. We approach skincare and life the same way – radically – and we encourage consumers to do the same. We are sisters on a mission, daughters of world-renown reconstructive surgeon Dr. Richard F. Edlich, MD Ph.D., and are committed to deliver life-changing skincare that delivers radical results –nothing less. Driven by our own personal 911 in aging and skin sensitivity, we created a technology with top chemists worldwide to provide the best products to defend, repair, and heal breakouts and redness.”
Secret of our success…
“Passion and purpose, which allow us to tap into that energy that gets us through challenging times, intense times of pressure, sleepless nights, and ultimately allows us to overcome fear and doubt as we persevere tenaciously in this competitive environment.”
Most rewarding…
“Making a ‘radical’ difference has been part of our DNA since we were kids. Working side-by-side and seeing people who we touch choosing to transform their skin and their lives because of what we have shared with them is immensely rewarding. As entrepreneurial women, age 47 and 51, we feel free to be and to create the best multi-action products by putting the money in the bottle, not around it.”