Shows
Glow JournalCici Stefanova | Founder of Supernova BodyIn episode 151 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks to the founder of Supernova Body, Cici Stefanova.By virtue of my job, I’m asked pretty often which beauty brands I’m genuinely excited by or who I think both the industry and consumers should be keeping an eye on, and for the last 18 months my first answer has been Supernova Body without a second of hesitation. This brand is everything I love in a new brand- the products are genuinely innovative and fill a legitimate market gap, it’s making beauty...
2025-12-161h 00Glow JournalNatassia Nicolao (Returns) | Founder & CEO of Conserving BeautyIn episode 150 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks once again to the founder and CEO of Conserving Beauty, Natassia Nicolao. I mentioned earlier this season that, given we’re now 7 seasons in, I wanted to go back and revisit some of my favourite beauty brand stories- I wanted to bring back previous guests from earlier seasons and look at how their brands and the beauty industry at large has evolved since we last recorded. For the uninitiated, Conserving Beauty is Australia’s first ever waterless beauty brand, the first beauty brand...
2025-12-0252 minGlow JournalSusan Yara | Founder of NaturiumIn episode 149 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks to the Naturium, Susan Yara.Two years before Hailey Bieber sold Rhode to e.l.f. Beauty, Susan Yara and her team sold Naturium to the beauty juggernaut for $355 million USD. The Naturium growth story is the kind of story you hear and think “This could be a Netflix doco.” Susan, naturally, tells it better than I do, but this may be one of the biggest beauty comebacks in recent history. Susan Yara, then a popular YouTuber, joined Naturium in a f...
2025-10-1446 minGlow JournalEleanor Pendleton | Founder of HaléauIn episode 148 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks to the founder of Haléau Beauty, Eleanor Pendleton.Eleanor Pendleton knows beauty. She was the youngest Beauty Editor in Australia, taking the title at FAMOUS magazine when she was only 20 years old and has spent the better part of the last two decades in beauty publishing, largely at the helm of her own publication, Gritty Pretty. Eleanor is an unbelievable example of a journalist who has been able to not just adapt to but embrace the changing face of the media la...
2025-09-3046 minGlow JournalLucy Vincent | Founder of sans [ceuticals]In episode 146 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks to the founder of sans [ceuticals], Lucy Vincent. We’re increasingly seeing brands bring new sustainability initiatives to the table, but the reality is that the most sustainable thing you can do is to stop producing more things. Now that’s never going to happen, is it, so the challenge here is for beauty brands to figure out how we as consumers can still experience beauty in the way we want, without compromise, but with as minimal a footprint as is possible. I use...
2025-09-0946 minGlow JournalRachael Wilde | Founder of Bouf HaircareIn episode 145 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks once again to Rachael Wilde- the founder of both Bouf Haircare and tbh Skincare. Rach has been on the show before, back in April 2022, to talk about tbh, but this is the first time a founder has joined me for a second time to talk about an entirely new brand. I wanted to talk predominantly about Bouf today, so if you do want to hear about the tbh launch and Rach’s story as a founder, you can find that episode back in season 4....
2025-08-2657 minGlow JournalFelicity Evans | Founder of ImbibeIn episode 144 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks to the founder of Imbibe, Felicity Evans. Felicity’s founder story is really different to my usual guests in that she never really set out to create a “brand.” I thought this was a wonderful opportunity to show you how many different shapes the startup journey, so to speak, can take.The short version- Felicity wanted to overhaul her health, so she started making probiotic drinks in her kitchen. Her friends and family saw a change in her skin, her hair, her energy...
2025-08-1259 minGlow JournalBree Johnson (Returns) | Co Founder of Frank BodyIn episode 143 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks once again to the co founder of Frank Body, Bree Johnson. This is something I’d been thinking about doing for a while and, for whatever reason, season 7 feels like the right time to do it. I had Bree and her Frank co founder, Jess Hatzis, on the podcast back in 2018, season 1- back when I thought this would just be a miniseries on the business of beauty. What I’d been wanting to do is bring back previous guests from the first...
2025-07-2945 minGlow JournalSophie Marcoux | Founder of Ficifolia FragrancesIn episode 142 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks to the founder of Ficifolia Fragrances, Sophie Marcoux. Ficifolia Fragrances is only two and a half years old, in which time Sophie has launched 6 individual perfumes as well as the fragrance Flight Deck- a first-to-market offering that I consider one of the most a beautiful examples of thinking outside the box when it comes to converting customers, regardless of industry, that I’ve come across.I had some questions for Soph about brand building, as that’s really the cornerstone of her profe...
2025-07-1548 minGlow JournalMaddison Brown | Co Founder of Outside Beauty & SkincareIn episode 141 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks to the co founder of Outside Beauty & Skincare, Maddison Brown. Outside Beauty & Skincare is not your average celebrity beauty brand. I already knew this, but it just becomes more and more clear the longer you speak to Maddison for. Given how impressive her career has been thus far (acting opposite Nicole Kidman when she was still a teenager, then spending 4 seasons in the role of Kirby Anders in Dynasty on The CW), you’d be forgiven for assuming this is another private labe...
2024-11-1240 minGlow JournalFrances van der Velden | Founder of AirydayIn episode 140 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks to the founder of Airyday, Frances van der Velden. I knew this was going to be a great storytelling episode, because I was already reasonably versed in the Airyday backstory, but what blew me away in this conversation was how much actual tangible business advice Frances so openly shared. Frances was diagnosed with a Basal Cell Carcinoma, which led to her trying more or less every sunscreen on the market to find a formula she loved and would be happy to wear ev...
2024-10-2948 minGlow JournalAugustinus Bader | Co Founder of Augustinus Bader SkincareIn episode 138 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks to the co founder of Augustinus Bader, Professor Augustinus Bader. The Augustinus Bader brand turned over $7 million USD in 2018, the year it launched. Within 2 years that figure had grown to $70 million, and this year it’s reported that sales will have topped $130 million. That is the power of Augustinus Bader, both the man and the brand, the latter having won over 120 beauty industry awards since launch, including being named The Greatest Skincare of All Time by WWD. Professor Bader, however, never intended to e...
2024-10-0148 minGlow JournalJose Bryce Smith | Founder of O&MIn episode 137 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks to the founder of O&M, Jose Bryce Smith. When we talk about a founder being “ahead of their time,” Jose Bryce Smith may well be the very best example. Jose co-founded Australia’s first ammonia-free hair salon and launched one of the first ever ammonia and PPD free hair colours, but beyond being a pioneer (something Jose tells me she’s not so sure she’d ever want to do again), Jose’s story is really just one of the best I have ever heard.
2024-09-1753 minGlow JournalCarla Oates | The Beauty Chef Founder Returns!20% off sitewide at thebeautychef.com with code GLOWJOURNALIn episode 136 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks once again to the founder of The Beauty Chef, Carla Oates. Something of an unintentional theme over the last couple of months of the podcast has been founders who’ve truly been first to market with something- not just saying they identified a gap for something, actually identifying a gap (easier said than done in the beauty space). I last had Carla on the show in season 1, almost 6 years ago, but we’v...
2024-09-0343 minGlow JournalHolly Holub, Donna Chan & Lori Pirozzi | Founders of Glow CultureIn episode 135 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks to the founders of Glow Culture, Holly Holub, Donna Chan and Lori Pirozzi.Holly, Donna and Lori have a number of things in common- two of those things being an early wish to run a business and create something of their own, and a deep seated love of beauty. The three women met years ago, working on the corporate side of beauty, and over long conversations during lockdown they realised just how much their stories and interests overlapped. A few years ago, a...
2024-08-2045 minGlow JournalDr Jacqueline Beltz | Founder of OKKIYOIn episode 134 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks to the OKKIYO, Dr Jacqueline Beltz. I’ve talked a lot recently about how my favourite brand stories to share are the ones that really are offering a solution to a problem; founders who genuinely have identified a gap for something no one else is doing. The fact that we’re now six years into this show and I’m still able to meet people like Jacqui, who truly are doing something new, feels really special.Dr Jacqueline Beltz is a Melbourne based o...
2024-08-0639 minGlow JournalWende Zomnir | Founder of Urban Decay & CalirayIn episode 133 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks to the co-founder of Urban Decay and Caliray, Wende Zomnir. Wende Zomnir is beauty industry royalty. This is the woman behind the Naked Palette, Urban Decay’s now-iconic 2010 launch that ensured this already wildly successful brand would go down in beauty history. Wende, alongside the tech mastermind that is Sandy Lerner, founded Urban Decay in 1996 with a distinctly grunge, “punk” if you will aesthetic. That in and of itself was revolutionary, when you consider that the most popular brands at the time were the...
2024-07-1651 minGlow JournalRebecca Harding & Ingrid Kesa | Co Founders of LUIIn episode 132 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks to the co founder of LUI, Rebecca Harding and Ingrid Kesa.This is my favourite genre, so to speak, of founder conversation to have for a number of reasons: the first being I know both Bec and Ingrid personally, and how often in life are you given an opportunity to just ask your friends questions about their job for an hour? Never; the second reason being that LUI was developed out of a very real gap in the market; and the third is one that...
2024-07-0253 minGlow JournalShamini Rajarethnam | CEO of RationaleIn episode 131 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks to the CEO of Rationale, Shamini Rajarethnam.Despite Rationale having been founded in 1992, Shamini and I agreed that it does still feel like an insider’s brand to an extent. Those of you have heard of Rationale likely first heard of it in 2011 and beyond, which is not a coincidence as this is when Shamini was brought on as the brand’s Marketing & Digital Coordinator. By September 2014, Shamini was Rationale’s General Manager, and by 2017 she was CEO. I’d met Shamini before an...
2024-06-1844 minGlow JournalLindy Klim | Founder of Fig FemmeIn episode 130 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks to the founder of Fig Femme, Lindy Klim.I don’t really think Lindy Klim needs an introduction, however I can say fairly confidently that this interview does show a side to Lindy that I’m not so sure the general public will have seen before, despite her having spent over 25 years in the public eye. Lindy has founded not one but two beauty brands (Milk & Co with her ex husband Michael back in 2008, and Fig Femme in 2020), but her own relationship with...
2024-06-0435 minGlow JournalJessica Sepel | Founder of JSHealth VitaminsIn episode 129 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks to the founder of JSHealth Vitamins, Jessica Sepel.Top level- at age 27 or 28, Jess Sepel and her now-husband Dean bootstrapped JSHealth Vitamins, which they launched in 2018, and it is now worth a reported $600 million, is available in 1800 retail stores in Australia, over 1000 in the UK, and has experienced 300% year-on-year growth in US. If that’s not interesting to you, I’m not sure what will be.More interesting than that, however, is Jess’ story from childhood to now- I was a bit floore...
2024-05-2147 minGlow JournalJames Vivian | Founder of ViviologyIn episode 127 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks to the founder of Viviology, James Vivian.When I connect with someone over a love of beauty, whether it’s on this podcast or away from it, the thread or the through line always comes back to a feeling. I think it’s that feeling that separates people who truly love this industry from the people who do view it as solely superficial, and it’s also the feeling that you get from James when you listen to or sit down with him.What...
2024-04-231h 08Glow JournalAshli Templer | Founder of Yours OnlyIn episode 126 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks to the founder of Yours Only, Ashli Templer.We obviously talk a lot on this podcast about identifying a gap for a product and developing out of a really genuine need, and I think the Yours Only story is probably one of the best examples of that that we’ve covered across all 6 seasons.Ash grew up, in her words, “not being able to eat any cake at birthday parties.” She’s always had many, many food allergies, and things were only heighten...
2024-04-0945 minGlow JournalAdrian Norris | Founder of IKKARIIn episode 125 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks to the founder of IKKARI, Adrian Norris.I have thought Adrian Norris to be one of the most interesting brand founders in the country for many, many years now, since he co founded fashion house Aje in 2008, and I have loved watching him enter the beauty space upon founding skincare and wellness brand IKKARI last year.There’s so much about this brand and Adrian’s story that I love but one thing in particular that I found so interesting, and I thin...
2024-03-2651 minGlow JournalJordan Mylius | Founder of HairificationIn episode 124 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks to the founder of Hairification, Jordan Mylius.You’ve heard of Hairification- from a distribution standpoint, they’re the fastest growing haircare brand in Australia having launched into 840 Coles stores in 2023 (that’s 840 retail locations from day one) and, as of last month, hitting the shelves of all 470 Priceline stores. Quick maths- Hairification is available in over 1300 retail locations in less than a year post launch. Jordan has entered the beauty founder space with a really interesting skill set and perspective. He bought...
2024-03-1252 minGlow JournalThibaud Crivelli | Founder of Maison CrivelliIn episode 123 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks to the founder of Maison Crivelli, Thibaud Crivelli.I’ve made no secret of the fact that fragrance is probably my favourite category to talk about, particularly from a storytelling perspective. Thibaud talks about fragrance in a way that is unlike anything I’ve ever heard before and that is, again, why I’m so fascinated by this category. I love asking people how they either construct a fragrance or brief it into their perfumer, and this particular answer went so far beyond anything I could’...
2024-02-2741 minGlow JournalAlessia & Marco Angele | Founders of Sunset DazeIn episode 122 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks to the founders of Sunset Daze, Alessia and Marco Angele.What I love about talking to founders at this stage in their brand’s development (for context, Sunset Daze launched their first product, Liquid Rays, in December of 2022) is that all the really tactile bits that come with a launch are still so fresh in their minds- they’re not looking back on their launch through a wistful lens, there’s no revisionist history, the advice they can share feels as current as it is practi...
2024-02-1354 minGlow JournalLev Glazman & Alina Roytberg | Founders of FreshIn episode 121 of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Dimond talks to the founders of Fresh, Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg.This is one of the best founder stories I’ve heard in over 5 years of hosting this podcast. I don’t want to give anything away, but there’s just so much gold in here- particularly a story Lev towards the start of our chat. I could have sat and listened to Lev and Alina talk for a full day, with ease. It was honestly a joy to just facilitate this conversation.
2024-01-301h 22Glow JournalWe're Back! Season 6 Begins on January 31We're back- and with a whole new surname!Gemma Dimond (fka Gemma Watts) returns to host Season 6 of the Glow Journal podcast from January 31. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2024-01-2800 min
Glow JournalBONUS | Scents and Sustainability with Floral Street's Michelle FeeneyIn the final episode of Season 4, host Gemma Watts talks to the founder and CEO of Floral Street, Michelle Feeney. Michelle is, quite literally, a beauty industry icon. Headhunted by Estée Lauder Companies in 1993, Michelle is largely responsible for turning Crème de la Mer into a cult product before becoming Vice President, Global Communications of MAC Cosmetics, helping to increase the company’s net worth from $65 million to $1 billion in less than 7 years bringing mainstream awareness to the MAC AIDS Fund, and then spending 4 years as the CEO of St Tropez and tr...
2022-11-1524 minGlow JournalJaye Edwards | Founder of Edwards And Co and Jaye HaircareIn episode sixty three of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts talks to the founder of Edwards And Co and Jaye Haircare, Jaye Edwards. I knew Jaye Edwards as a brand founder and the man behind some of this country’s most renowned, and easily its most recognisable, hair salons, but admittedly I hadn’t realised just how far he’d come to get where he is now. Jaye grew up in a really small town, and knowing he didn’t quite fit in there or in the schooling system, he left home at on...
2021-03-3042 minGlow JournalBONUS | "Anti-Ageing" Myth Busting with Nicola KropachIn this special bonus Ask An Expert episode I’m joined by beauty industry stalwart and General Manager of Aesthetics RX, Nicola Kropach. Nicola has 20 years of senior management experience within some of Australia, and the world’s, biggest beauty brands. I personally started trialling the Aesthetics RX product portfolio in December of last year and have been really, really impressed by the range (and you know I always trial for at least a month before I even start talking to a brand about working with them), so when the opportunity to chat with Nicola one on one arose, I to...
2021-03-2338 minGlow JournalAerin Lauder | Style & Image Director of Estée Lauder, Founder & Creative Director of AERINIn episode sixty two (an Australian Exclusive) of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts talks to the Founder & Creative Director of AERIN and Style & Image Director of Estée Lauder.Aerin Lauder needs no introduction and no words can really do this woman justice- but I’ll try my best. Aerin Lauder is, of course, the granddaughter of the late Estée Lauder. She is the Founder and Creative Director of her eponymous brand AERIN, and the former Senior Vice-President and Creative Director, now Style and Image Director, of Estée Lauder.
2021-03-1632 minGlow JournalIndie Lee | Founder and CEO of Indie LeeIn episode sixty one of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts talks to the founder and CEO of Indie Lee, Indie Lee.Indie Lee grew up with a clear vision, a literal checklist, of how she wanted her life to look- two children, two yellow labradors, a beautiful home and fast-paced corporate job. She had ticked every one of those boxes before realising that she was, in her own words, “a passenger of her own life,” checking boxes rather than living. Indie decided to take a step back and leave work to spend...
2021-03-0254 minGlow JournalAmanda Chantal Bacon | Founder and CEO of Moon JuiceIn episode sixty of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts talks to the founder and CEO of Moon Juice, Amanda Chantal Bacon. Amanda Chantal Bacon has known she had purpose since she was a child- it just took her some time to really hone in on what, exactly, that purpose was. She’s lived a few different lives. She grew up around fashion, something she felt disillusioned by, and was diagnosed with a chronic illness around the age of 5- the repercussions of which she was still feeling well into her 20s. She...
2021-02-161h 04Glow JournalCharlotte Knight | Founder and CEO of Ciaté LondonIn episode fifty nine of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts talks to the founder and CEO of Ciaté London, Charlotte Knight. At 21, Charlotte Knight moved from London to Dublin and, with little experience in nails and no experience in business ownership, opened Dublin’s first ever nail bar- she went into a hair salon for a blow dry, mentioned her idea to the owner, and came out with a business plan. People travelled across the country just to see Charlotte, with the young entrepreneur and manicurist soon finding herself in demand backs...
2021-02-021h 11Glow JournalMaeva Heim | Founder and CEO of Bread Beauty SupplyIn episode fifty eight of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts talks to the founder and CEO of Bread Beauty Supply, Maeva Heim. “Visibility” is a word that came up a few times during this particular conversation with Maeva. Maeva explains that her relationship with her own hair was largely influenced by visibility. Maeva had spent the bulk of 20 years using a chemical hair relaxer to straighten out the natural texture of her hair, explaining that the bulk of the hair education we receive in mainstream culture is designed for straight hair. It wasn’t until a...
2021-01-1959 min
Glow JournalEre Perez | Founder of Ere PerezIn episode fifty seven of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts talks to Ere Perez, founder of her namesake brand.Ere was born in Mexico and grew up watching her mother and grandparents mix lotions and potions in their kitchen. Ere is passionate about healing, and after studying nutrition she fell in love and moved to Australia in 1999 to be with her now husband. Ere had always loved mascara, as she explains to me the only real difference between Mickey and Minnie is eyelashes, but quickly noticed a gap for a great natural mascara, or...
2020-12-081h 35
Glow JournalJan Ahlgren | Founder of Vilhelm ParfumerieIn episode fifty six of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts talks to the founder of Vilhelm Parfumerie, Jan Ahlgren. Born just outside of Stockholm, Jan shirked very early ambitions to play either tennis or gold professionally in favour of more artistic pursuits, moving Paris to model- during which time he secured a contract with Chanel.From there, Jan became an interior designer, fashion designer and leather accessories designer, respectively. It was during his time designing leather handbags that Jan truly fell in love with the art of parfumerie. Inspired by the w...
2020-11-2427 min
Glow JournalNancy Twine | Founder and CEO of BriogeoIn episode fifty five of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts talks to the founder and CEO of Biogeo, Nancy Twine. Nancy, a former vice president at Goldman Sachs, tells me her very earliest memories of beauty all take place in the kitchen with her mother and grandmother, mixing their own beauty products using a KitchenAid. Nancy tells me that, even as a child, she was aware that there were very few options in the beauty sphere for women of colour like herself, so mixing her own formulas allowed her to have some control, rather t...
2020-11-1034 min
Glow JournalEmma Lewisham | Founder and CEO of Emma LewishamIn episode fifty four of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts talks to the founder and CEO of Emma Lewisham skincare, Emma Lewisham.Emma Lewisham skincare was, in a sense, born from grief. Following the passing of her mother, Emma tells me that she realised that, in her words, “no one is invincible,” which prompted her to examine her own health which, after a visit to her doctor, led to her taking a close look at her topical skincare. Emma had grown accustomed to high performance, clinical grade skincare, and couldn’t find an...
2020-10-2745 min
Glow JournalBONUS | Sensitive Skin, Allergies and Mask-ne with Dr Leona YipIf our skin is sensitive and flaring up- how do we know what’s causing it? Is there a difference between sensitive and allergy-prone skin? What’s the link between rosacea and sensitive skin? Is mask-ne a real thing- and how do we get rid of it?! In this Bonus Episode of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts is joined by dermatologist Dr Leona Yip. So many listeners and glowjournal.com readers have reached out to me of late with questions about heightened skin sensitivities. As you know, I am an educated consumer and not an ex...
2020-10-2032 min
Glow JournalMichelle Feeney | Founder and CEO of Floral StreetIn episode fifty three of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts talks to the founder of Floral Street, Michelle Feeney.Michelle Feeney has been described as one of the most powerful women in global beauty- and rightly so. In 1993, Michelle was headhunted by the team at Estée Lauder and, after 10 interviews (including one with Leonard Lauder himself), was given a senior role with the company. Lauder had hired Michelle at a time when they were beginning to acquire other brands and, in 1994, they tasked Michelle with developing a launch strategy to tu...
2020-10-131h 11
Glow JournalJamie O'Banion | Founder and CEO of BeautyBioIn episode fifty two of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts talks to the founder and CEO of BeautyBio, Jamie O’Banion. I sincerely believe BeautyBio to be one of the most exciting beauty brands in the world right now, and one I watched closely for years ahead of their highly anticipated launch into Australia this week.Jamie is the daughter of a dermatologist, something she calls an “unfair advantage” and something that has shaped her entire beauty ethos. Jamie didn’t just receive an education in skin- she lived it. As she tells...
2020-09-291h 06
Glow JournalBONUS | MORE SPF Myth Busting with Dr Cara McDonaldWhat’s better- chemical or physical sunscreen? Do we really need to wear SPF every day? Should we apply sunscreen before or after our skincare?How do we reapply sunscreen over our makeup? Does SPF50+ foundation provide the same protection as SPF50+ sunscreen?In this Bonus Episode of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts is joined by dermatologist Dr Cara McDonald. We recorded an episode covering all things SPF, skin and sunscreen with Dr Cara late last year, and although that episode remains one of our most downloaded ever, as we inch closer to...
2020-09-2243 min
Glow JournalTaylor Frankel | Co-Founder of NudestixIn episode fifty one of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts talks to the co founder of Nudestix, Taylor Frankel. When Taylor Frankel was 17, the year was 2014 and she was launching Nudestix with her then 14 year old sister Ally and mother Jenny, a now multi million dollar beauty brand boasting Hilary Duff and Chelsea Handler amongst its celebrity investors. Taylor tells me that, given just how heavily saturated the cosmetics industry is, consumers are craving minimalism and simplicity. It’s a position she and her sister found themselves in as teenagers, scrolling thro...
2020-09-1553 min
Glow JournalJames Boehmer | Global Artistic Director of ShiseidoIn episode fifty of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts talks to the Global Artistic Director of Makeup for Shiseido, James Boehmer.Shiseido are, undisputedly, one of the largest and most influential heritage brands of all time. Founded in Japan in 1872, Shiseido has cultivated a reputation for innovation in beauty, celebrating the synergy between art and science. It was that very reputation that drew now Global Artistic Director, James Boehmer, to the brand.Having studied fine art and costume design prior to becoming a makeup artist, James has long worked best within...
2020-09-0159 min
Glow JournalBONUS | Your At-Home Hair Colour QuestionsHow can you cover greys at home? Is there a way to touch up regrowth in lockdown? How can we tone our hair between salon visits?In this special bonus Ask An Expert episode, beauty writer Gemma Watts is joined by award winning hairdresser Yoshi Su. Given that salons are currently closed in Victoria and, based on the influx of hair-related messages I’ve been receiving of late, it seems those in other states and countries also have reservations about heading back in so soon, so we’ve put together a bonus episode answering all of your...
2020-08-2536 min
Glow JournalAnastasia Soare | Founder and CEO of Anastasia Beverly HillsIn episode forty nine of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts talks to the founder and CEO of Anastasia Beverly Hills, Anastasia Soare.Anastasia Soare is a self-made billionaire in the truest sense- but her story is not just for beauty lovers, nor is it just for business lovers. It’s for everyone. I was granted this interview as an Australian podcast exclusive, an opportunity I’m so grateful for and one I can assure you I have not taken lightly. I had limited time with Anastasia but I really wanted to do he...
2020-08-1841 min
Glow JournalCheryl Yannotti Foland | Founder and CEO of lilah b.In episode forty eight of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts talks to the founder and CEO of lilah b., Cheryl Yannotti Foland. Having grown up on the East Coast of the United States, once self described “high strung, type A, fast talking New Yorker” Cheryl Yannotti Foland spent the first 20 years of her working life in private equity. Cheryl describes her attitude towards work, life and beauty during that time as “more, more, more,” but a move to California for work in 2006 saw the maximalist trade in her New York lifestyle for something a little sl...
2020-08-0452 min
Glow JournalAngela Caglia | Founder of Angela Caglia SkincareIn episode forty seven of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts talks to celebrity esthetician and founder of Angela Caglia Skincare, Angela Caglia. What do Barbra Streisand, Sting, Chrissy Teigen, Noami Watts and Helena Christensen have in common? Their esthetician, Angela Caglia. Even if you don’t have a vested interest in skin, or even in business, listening to Angela is so inspiring based on just how passionate she is about what she does. When she speaks of skin, it’s the vocal equivalent of someone’s eyes lighting up. Born in...
2020-07-211h 02
Glow JournalBee Shapiro | Founder of Ellis Brooklyn and New York Times Beauty ColumnistIn episode forty six of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts talks to New York Times beauty writer and founder of Ellis Brooklyn, Bee Shapiro.I consider Bee Shapiro to be something of a beauty oracle. Having covered style and beauty for the New York Times for over 12 years, Bee has interviewed countless CEOs and celebrities, been afforded unbridled access to the beauty cabinets and handbags of your favourite actors and actresses and trialled products that you and I haven’t even heard of- yet. I have long admired Bee and her work, not just fo...
2020-07-0759 min
Glow JournalKavi Ahuja and David Seth Moltz | Founders of D.S. & DurgaIn episode forty five of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down, remotely, with the founders of D.S. & Durga, Kavi Ahuja and David Seth Moltz.Working in beauty affords me the great privilege of trialling brands, both local and international, as they become available in Australia. Often a product lands on my desk that piques my interest beyond my already vested interest in beauty, and as I start to research the names behind it, it becomes apparent that this particular brand is quietly redefining the category in which it sits....
2020-06-231h 08
Glow JournalKaren Behnke | Founder and CEO of Juice BeautyHow privileged I am to be learning about racism, rather than experiencing it. Black lives matter. The resources I mentioned that I had found useful can be found here: https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17898196033499578/In episode forty four of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with the founder and CEO of Juice Beauty, Karen Behnke. Credited by Forbes as being the original pioneer of clean beauty, Karen Behnke’s career began as a health and wellness entrepreneur in the early 1980s. By the age of 25, Karen had founded two hig...
2020-06-091h 01
Glow JournalElsie Rutterford and Dominika Minarovic | Founders of BYBI BeautyIn episode forty three of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with the founders of BYBI Beauty, Elsie Rutterford and Dominika Minarovic.Elsie and Dominika are almost disarmingly open and honest about their beginnings in business, and everything they said, particularly surrounding funding for women in business and also around global attitude to sustainability, will be ingrained in my head for quite some time. After meeting in ad sales, London-based Elsie and Dominika bonded over a mutual interest in the wellness movement that was only just beginning to gain traction a...
2020-05-191h 18
Glow JournalVicki Engsall | Founder of The Jojoba CompanyIn episode forty two of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with the co-founder of The Jojoba Company, Vicki Engsall. As I record this, in 2020, just about everyone I know has an understanding of what jojoba is or, at the very least, has at least heard of it- but this wasn’t always the case. I sincerely believe that so much of what we know about jojoba is thanks to Vicki. Despite a long standing interest in the skin, Vicki Engsall grew up wanting to be a teacher- and so she...
2020-05-0547 min
Glow JournalKirsten Carriol | Founder and CEO of LanolipsIn episode forty one of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with the founder and CEO of Lano, Kirsten Carriol.Kirsten Carriol didn’t grow up around beauty in the traditional sense, however her upbringing was instrumental in the creation of her brand. Her father, a molecular scientist and her grandparents, sheep farmers, taught Kirsten the benefits of lanolin as a child. Lanolin was their cure for just about everything. Passionate about beauty, Kirsten grew to travel across the globe, trying just about every beauty product she passed along the way...
2020-04-2158 min
Glow JournalChristina Zilber | Founder and CEO of Jouer CosmeticsIn episode forty of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with the founder and CEO of Jouer Cosmetics, Christina Zilber.Christina Zilber has had an affinity for makeup for as long as she can remember. One of her earliest memories was playing with the makeup of her mother, a model, a career path Christina herself followed upon graduating from college. Christina hated modelling, and told me that it was in the makeup chair that she felt she had found “her people.” Watching and learning from makeup artists was her salvation, and i...
2020-04-0750 min
Glow JournalPhoebe Simmonds | Founder of The BlowIn episode thirty nine of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with the founder of The Blow, Phoebe Simmonds. Nobody knows branding, nor the intricacies of the global beauty industry, like Phoebe Simmonds. Phoebe’s career in beauty began the day she marched up to her local Body Shop store, resume in hand, aged 14 and 9 months. While at university, Phoebe began working at Melbourne’s Mecca headquarters and, on graduating, moved to London for a role at NUDE Skincare- a brand partially owned by Bono. NUDE was only in its infanc...
2020-03-241h 05
Glow JournalNicole Eckels | Founder of Glasshouse FragrancesIn episode thirty eight of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with the founder of Glasshouse Fragrances, Nicole Eckels.Born in New York and eternally fascinated by the transformative powers of beauty and fragrance, Nicole Eckels’ early experiences in makeup artistry, cosmetics sales and in corporate have given her a really unique and very powerful understanding of what women want. Nicole moved to Sydney in 2005, thinking she’d spend no more four years in Australia. On arrival, she visited a David Jones fragrance counter looking to replace a scented candle that...
2020-03-1054 min
Glow JournalPriscilla Hajiantoni | Founder of Bangn BodyIn episode thirty seven of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with the founder of Bangn Body, Priscilla Hajiantoni.Priscilla has one of those rare personality types that people are just drawn to. I first met Priscilla when I was hosting Meccaland last year and I was really instantly taken by her warmth, and I sincerely believe that, both content and product efficacy aside, Priscilla’s personality is largely to thank for her brand’s legion of followers. At the time of recording, Bangn Body is less than one year old b...
2020-02-251h 10
Glow JournalZoë Foster Blake | Founder of Go-ToIn episode thirty six of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Zoë Foster Blake, founder of Go-To, Bro-To and Gro-To. Any time I get to pick Zoë’s brain is an excellent time, but this occasion was particularly special as I’m able to share our conversation with all of you. Zoë Foster Blake is the most respected voice in beauty in this country, with legions of fans both locally and overseas. Having grown up in a creative and, in her words, “free range” household, Zoë has almost always known that she...
2020-02-111h 06
Glow JournalBONUS | Rosacea and Spider Veins With Associate Professor Philip BekhorIn this special bonus episode of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Associate Professor Philip Bekhor to ask him your questions on rosacea, spider and varicose veins and related vascular skin conditions. I (Gemma) am often asked really specific questions about the skin, and given that I’m an educated consumer and by absolutely no means an expert, I can’t ethically offer up any advice. I took the idea of an Ask The Expert series to the team at Candela Medical knowing that both the technology and the doctors they work with...
2020-02-0424 min
Glow JournalJeremy Muijs | Co-Founder and CEO of Grown AlchemistIn episode thirty five of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with co-founder and CEO of Grown Alchemist, Jeremy Muijs. Jeremy and his brother Keston grew up in something of a creative household- their father, a creative businessman and their mother, a fashion creative. Where Jeremy inherited his father’s passion for business, Keston had his mother’s creative eye and so the two grew up working on creative projects together, from building furniture to selling fish. Jeremy and Keston took on very different careers, in very different parts of the world, as young...
2020-01-281h 36
Glow JournalLottie Tomlinson and Lou Teasdale | Founder and Creative Director of TanologistIn episode thirty four of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Lottie Tomlinson, founder of Tanologist, and Lou Teasdale, the brand’s creative director. Lottie Tomlinson is the sister of One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson, and Lou Teasdale was the band’s hair and makeup artist from day one. Although Lou was reluctant, she hired Lottie to assist her on the band’s tour when Lottie was just 15, and so their friendship and working relationship was formed. Lottie and Lou have a really interesting take on fame and celebrity, given that their careers e...
2020-01-1444 min
Glow JournalLisa Patulny | Founder of Call Time On MelanomaIn episode thirty three of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Lisa Patulny, beauty writer and founder of Call Time On Melanoma. This is our last episode of Season 1 (Season 2 will begin on January 15), so I thought I would wrap up the year with what is objectively a really important interview in the hopes that the extra few weeks that this will spend at the top of the episode feed will afford it the time necessary for its message to truly sink in.Lisa Patulny is the founder of C...
2019-12-171h 08
Glow JournalShelley Sullivan | Founder and CEO of ModelCoIn episode thirty two of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Shelley Sullivan, founder and CEO of ModelCo and MCo Beauty. Shelley Sullivan has one of the sharpest business minds in Australia and, quite possibly, the world. Shelley grew up knowing she wanted to own and operate her own business, founding her own event management company at age 18 and a modelling agency aged 21. On founding that agency, Shelley represented 1 talent. On selling the business 10 years later, that number had grown to 18,000. Never one to rest on her...
2019-12-0330 min
Glow JournalTrinny Woodall | Founder of Trinny LondonIn episode thirty one of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Trinny Woodall, founder of Trinny London. Whether you’re familiar with Trinny Woodall’s work as a fashion columnist, host of one of television’s many iterations of Trinny and Susannah or as the founder of beauty brand Trinny London, there’s one constant- Trinny genuinely wants to make women feel amazing. Trinny’s media career began in 1994 after she was introduced to the woman who would become her best friend and collaborator, Susanna Constantine. The pair began writing thei...
2019-11-1956 min
Glow JournalAva Matthews | Co-Founder of Ultra VioletteIn episode thirty of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Ava Matthews, co-founder of Ultra Violette. Ava and her Ultra Violette co-founder Bec Jefferd have been widely credited with “making sunscreen sexy.” It’s no surprise that Ava has become an industry trendsetter, given her upbringing- her father was a fashion photographer and her mother a fashion editor, meaning Michael Hutchence was at her third birthday party and that her mother once left one of Ava’s slumber parties early as she needed to dress one Kylie Minogue for Mardi Gras. Ava...
2019-11-051h 08
Glow JournalRose-Marie Swift | Founder of RMS BeautyIn episode twenty eight of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Rose-Marie Swift, founder of RMS Beauty. Rose-Marie Swift fell into beauty. Once the front woman of a punk band, her start in beauty came as she did the makeup for strippers at a club in Vancouver. Her skills got better and better, she began getting booked for bigger and better jobs and, almost without realising it, the 90s saw Rose-Marie become one of the most in demand makeup artists on the planet. Rose-Marie’s signature was “natural beauty,” in every sense- strippe...
2019-10-0848 min
Glow JournalBONUS | SPF Myth Busting With Dr Cara McDonaldIn this special bonus episode of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with dermatologist Dr Cara McDonald to ask your SPF related questions. I (Gemma) am truly passionate about sun protection, and it’s the subject I’m quizzed on by Glow Journal readers and listeners most often. As passionate as I am, I am an educated consumer, not an expert- so I’ve sought the expertise of dermatologist Dr Cara McDonald. For transparency this episode is sponsored by La Roche Posay, however all of Dr McDonald’s views are her own an...
2019-09-2442 min
Glow JournalJames Hachem and Manny Barbas | Founders of Alya SkinIn episode twenty six of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Manny Barbas and James Hachem, co founders of Alya Skin.Within one week of launching Alya Skin, the brand had hit the $50,000 revenue mark. That figure grew to $1 million dollars in four months and, at the time of recording, the Alya Skin founders had made over $7 million dollars. James and Manny are both in their early 20s, and while they consider themselves to be yin and yang, what they have in common is an unbelievably advanced understanding of h...
2019-09-1037 min
Glow JournalDr Dennis Gross | Founder of Dr Dennis Gross SkincareIn episode twenty five of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Dr Dennis Gross, dermatologist and founder of Dr Dennis Gross Skincare.Every question you’ve ever had about peels and acids- answered, by the man who pioneered them. One of Dr Dennis’ first childhood memories involves him experimenting with topical ingredients and discovering the immediately visible, transformative powers of skincare- so it comes as no surprise that the product he’s most famous for developing, the Alpha Beta Peel, grew its cult following based on its instantly transformative results...
2019-08-2750 min
Glow JournalChristine Chang | Co-Founder of Glow RecipeIn episode twenty four of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Christine Chang, co founder of Glow Recipe.Christine Chang, and her Glow Recipe co founder Sarah Lee, are responsible for introducing K Beauty to the Western world. The now New York based duo met while working for L’Oréal Korea, during which time they underwent the strangest intern initiation process I have ever heard. From there, in Christine’s words, the pair were bound together for life. Both women eventually moved to L’Oréal’s New York headqu...
2019-08-1339 min
Glow JournalBlair James | Co-Founder of Bondi SandsIn episode twenty three of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Blair James, co founder of Bondi Sands.Bondi Sands are an Australian brand that have truly dominated the market- both locally and internationally. Blair James, the brand’s co founder, has always had an affinity for branding, with a fascination for the Nike effect forming one of his earliest childhood memories. His first dalliance with entrepreneurship came as a child, selling his dad’s stock at a local shopping centre to pay for a watch he had his eye o...
2019-07-3045 min
Glow JournalDr Yannis Alexandrides | Founder of 111SKINIn episode twenty two of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Dr Yannis Alexandrides, founder of 111SKIN and 111 Harley Street. Born in Athens and now based in London, Dr Yannis opened his skin clinic at 111 Harley Street in the year 2001 and, following demand from his clients, launched 111SKIN soon thereafter. Dr Yannis is truly ahead of the curve. He created his skin care brand in collaboration with scientists from the Soviet Space programme who aided in the development of a custom molecule, NAC Y², which sits at the core of...
2019-07-1633 min
Glow JournalDr Des Fernandes | Founder of Environ SkincareIn episode twenty one of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Dr Des Fernandes, founder of Environ Skincare. We’ve all heard of Vitamin A and, if you use any kind of topical skincare, chances are you’ve used it on your skin. Dr Des Fernandes is the man responsible for both pioneering and championing the use of Vitamin A in skincare- an idea that, in the early 1980s, what near unheard of. Dr Des’ career began as a surgeon at Cape Town’s Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, a...
2019-07-0255 min
Glow JournalSarah Hamilton | Co-Founder of Sand & SkyIn episode twenty of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Sarah Hamilton, co-founder of both Sand & Sky and Bellabox. Sarah and her twin sister Emily are serial entrepreneurs. They pair worked on a commerce assignment together in high school, which their parents then turned into a fully fledged business, and from there, their passion for startups was born. The year 2011 saw Sarah and Emily launch Bellabox, Australia’s first subscription beauty box, and through their subsequent deepdive into the beauty industry, the pair realised that there were very few beauty brands really cel...
2019-06-1836 min
Glow JournalLIVE FROM MECCALANDIn this very special live episode of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with four of the world’s biggest makeup artists; Uzo, NARS Global Artistry Director, Chanel Temple, Hourglass Global Makeup Artist, Elyse Renee, TooFaced Global Pro Artist, and Steve Kassajikian, Urban Decay Global Makeup Artist. Gemma here! I am so, so proud of this episode for a number of reasons. As some of you may know, I recently co-hosted MECCALAND (Australia’s biggest beauty festival- think 15,000 ticket holders, 40 odd beauty brands, lead artists from all over the world, and me on stage...
2019-06-0446 min
Glow JournalJules Von Hep | Founder of Isle of ParadiseIn episode eighteen of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Jules Von Hep, celebrity spray tanner and founder of Isle of Paradise, Jules Von Hep. Jules, born in the UK and with a background in fashion, has worked in the beauty industry for upwards of ten years spray tanning the likes of Kate Moss, Blake Lively, Kendall Jenner, Sienna Miller, and his tanning brand, Isle of Paradise, is the culmination of everything he’s learnt about what makes a beautiful tan over that decade.Arguably more impressive than the Isl...
2019-05-2148 min
Glow JournalDimitri Weber | Founder of Goldfield & BanksIn episode seventeen of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Dimitri Weber, master perfumer and founder of Goldfield & Banks.Dimitri Weber’s first job was at YSL when Yves Saint Laurent himself was still working in house on scent development, and he’s since worked with Narciso Rodriguez, Issey Miyake and THE Tom Ford as a consultant and spokesperson.Given his passion for scent, Dimitri has made a habit of adding locally produced fragrances to his arsenal whenever he travels which is why, upon relocating to Australia from France in 2...
2019-05-071h 04
Glow JournalElle Ferguson | Founder of Elle EffectIn episode sixteen of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Elle Ferguson, entrepreneur, influencer and founder of Elle Effect. Elle Ferguson is, quite literally, the original Aussie blogger. Her look has become something of a signature- long, tonged blonde hair, denim cutoffs and perpetually bronzed limbs. Having studied visual merchandising, interior design and architecture, Elle spent upwards of six years as National Womenswear Visual Merchandising Manager for General Pants, during which she became aware of that very signature- then dubbed the Wow Factor, now known as the Elle Effect. El...
2019-04-2355 min
Glow JournalCarla Oates | Founder of The Beauty ChefIn episode fifteen of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Carla Oates, author and founder of The Beauty Chef.Carla Oates was only 13 years old when she first recognised the link between health and beauty. While she now sits at the forefront of the global “inner beauty” movement, some twenty years ago you would have found Carla Oates working in magazines. It was during her time as a beauty editor that she really began to look at the ingredients in the skincare products she was writing about. Concerned by what she found, Carl...
2019-04-0957 min
Glow JournalMelanie Gleeson | Founder and CEO of Endota SpaIn episode fourteen of Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Melanie Gleeson, the founder and CEO of Endota Spa.When Melanie opened the first Endota Spa in 2000, spas did not exist- in fact there were so few day spas in Australia that upon applying for a business permit, the local government thought Melanie was applying to open a brothel. Today, however, it is safe to say the holistic wellness movement has well and truly made it to the mainstream. Having been instilled with the ethos that we should respect ourselves, o...
2019-03-2642 min
Glow JournalRhiannon Hall and Maddy Balderson | Founders of Luna BronzeIn episode thirteen of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Rhiannon Hall and Maddy Balderson, founders of Luna Bronze, founders of Summer Fridays.Interest in beauty or otherwise, I am of the belief that this is one of the most important conversations we’ve had on this podcast. Best friends Rhi and Maddy grew up on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula as avid tanners and sun worshippers. In 2014, Maddy started experiencing sporadic bleeding and changes in her skin and, over a year later, she was diagnosed with a form of skin cancer. After an i...
2019-03-121h 07
Glow JournalBONUS | Marianna Hewitt and Lauren Gores Answer YOUR QuestionsThis bonus episode of the Glow Journal podcast is the most emotional to date. In this special episode, host Gemma Watts sits down with Marianna Hewitt and Lauren Gores, founders of Summer Fridays, to ask them YOUR questions. If you are yet to listen to Part 1 of this conversation, we highly recommend doing so before listening to this particular episode.In this incredibly raw and refreshingly honest conversation, Marianna and Lauren share the realities of running a business, what the support of their community really means, the importance of sharing the real stuff a...
2019-03-0516 min
Glow JournalMarianna Hewitt and Lauren Gores | Founders of Summer FridaysIn episode twelve of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Marianna Hewitt and Lauren Gores, founders of Summer Fridays.Prior to launching their own brand, Marianna and Lauren spent years cultivating their own social media following and in fact Marianna was one of the very first people, globally, to champion the YouTube beauty tutorial movement. Having both studied Broadcast Journalism, Marianna and Lauren knew how to work to a deadline, self-produce and create content for a global audience. 2014 saw Marianna and Lauren launch their respective blogs and the years t...
2019-02-2649 min
Glow JournalBONUS | In Conversation with Gemma WattsIn this bonus episode of the Glow Journal podcast, I (Gemma Watts, your regular host) am getting candid about the state of the beauty industry. We’re eleven episodes in and, up until this point, I’ve managed to remain as objective as possible and have made a concerted effort not to insert myself into the interviews- however, following last week’s episode with Fluff founder Erika Geraerts, the tables were turned and I found myself on the receiving end of Erika’s question list. I strongly recommend listening to Erika’s episode before delving into this one as...
2019-02-1918 min
Glow JournalErika Geraerts | Founder of FluffIn episode eleven of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Erika Geraerts, founder of Fluff and one of the original co founders of Frank Body. A few years ago, Erika made the decision to walk away from the 20 million dollar business that she had helped to build. The reason? A wish for a cosmetics company that challenged every parameter previously set in place by the beauty industry. From there, Fluff was born. Fluff, which Erika describes as a “casual cosmetics company,” in both product and approach, has become something of a m...
2019-02-121h 15Glow JournalMukti | Founder of Mukti OrganicsIn episode ten of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Mukti, the founder of Mukti Organics.Mindful beauty, green chemistry, organic skincare- whatever term you favour, the move towards natural beauty and holistic health practises has boomed in recent years. Mukti, founder of Mukti Organics, was ahead of her time.For close to 20 years, Mukti has been at the very forefront of the organic beauty movement. Having grown up in country Australia and having lived within a permaculture community, Mukti’s appreciation for and fascination with the environment guided he...
2019-01-291h 07Glow JournalKate Morris | Founder and CEO of Adore BeautyIn episode nine of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Kate Morris, the founder of Adore Beauty.Regardless of whether or not you have a vested interested in beauty, there is something you can learn from listening to Kate. It was in 1999 that she launched Adore Beauty, an online beauty store, in a time when the internet itself still felt new, let alone e-commerce. Kate had to really work to convince brands that online shopping was the next big thing and used that as an opportunity to craft something she now believes...
2019-01-1547 minGlow JournalPippa Hallas | CEO of Ella BachéIn episode eight of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Pippa Hallas, the CEO of Ella Baché.Ella Baché is a household name in Australia. Founded in 1936, the brand came to be stocked in Australian stores following an incident involving leg wax and the foyer of a David Jones store- a story you’ll hear in this interview. Pippa Hallas, the now CEO of the brand, is the great niece of Madame Ella Bache and has sat at the helm of the company for the last 10 years. Pippa often speak...
2019-01-0127 minGlow JournalChristophe Robin | Founder of Christophe Robin ParisIn episode seven of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Christophe Robin, celebrity hair colourist and founder of his namesake hair care brand, Christophe Robin Paris. Christophe began his career during the Supermodel Era of the 90s, a time when actresses and singers could truly only dream of reaching the level of celebrity that the decade’s supermodels had attained. Christophe is responsible for the hair colour of Elle McPherson, Claudia Schiffer and Linda Evangelista and in fact Stephanie Seymour was one of Christophe’s first ever clients. Christophe secure...
2018-12-1835 minGlow JournalJames Read | Founder of James Read TanIn episode six of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with James Read, celebrity tanning expert and founder of his namesake brand, James Read Tan. Lady Gaga, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Kate Moss and Mariah Carey top James’ client list, and the man is quite literally responsible for turning a tan into a trend. Before James started working with global beauty powerhouses L’Oréal Paris and Saint Tropez, the idea of self tanning was yet to reach mainstream popularity. It wasn’t until James launched the world’s first standalone tanning salon that a tan became...
2018-12-0453 minGlow JournalJess Hatzis and Bree Johnson | Co-Founders of Frank BodyIn episode five of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Jess Hatzis and Bree Johnson, co-founders of beauty empire Frank Body and content creation agency Willow & Blake. Founded in 2013, what began as a humble brown paper bag of ground coffee beans has grown into a 20 million dollar global beauty brand. Frank was the first company of its kind to truly capitalise on social media marketing, and in just five years Jess and Bree have won a Veuve New Generation Award, been included in the Forbes 30 under 30 and have seen Frank sold in 141 c...
2018-11-2036 minGlow JournalNapoleon Perdis | Co-Founder of Napoleon PerdisIn episode four of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with Napoleon Perdis, co-founder of his namesake beauty empire. One of the most recognisable characters in Australia, Napoleon Perdis is a household name regardless of whether or not you have a vested interest in beauty.Within a mere two years, between 1993 and 1995, Napoleon Perdis managed to co-found his namesake cosmetics company, open his first store, start selling his first beauty products and launch the Napoleon Perdis Academy, all while still working as a makeup artist. Today, the Napoleon Perdis empire consists of countless...
2018-11-0648 minGlow JournalBONUS | Paula Begoun Answers Your QuestionsIn this special bonus episode of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts asks Paula’s Choice founder Paula Begoun YOUR most frequently asked skincare questions. Ahead of Part 2 of her conversation with Paula, Gemma took to Instagram to ask “What would you ask one of the most famous names in skincare if you had them at your disposal?” Your answers have guided this episode- the first Glow Journal rapid fire beauty Q&A.You can read this interview now at: glowjournal.com/paulas-choice-q-and-aYou can read and listen to Part 1 of this...
2018-10-3020 minGlow JournalPaula Begoun | Founder of Paula's ChoiceIn episode three of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with founder of Paula’s Choice, Paula Begoun. Dubbed by Oprah Winfrey as “The Cosmetics Cop,” Paula’s quest for “truth in beauty” has guided her entire career. Following an ongoing struggle with acne and a search for products that deliver on their products, Paula spent the early part of her career sharing her research across 21 books and countless television appearances.1995 saw Paula launch her eponymous skincare line, Paula’s Choice, exclusively online- a time when most didn’t have dial-up, let alone ambitions to run...
2018-10-2357 minGlow JournalRichard Parker | Founder and Director of RationaleIn episode two of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with founder and director of Rationale, Richard Parker. The creator of the world’s first AHA/BHA serum, the pioneer behind the world’s first Skin DNA test and the champion of Skin Identical ingredients, Richard’s formulations are recommended by upwards of 100 dermatologists, plastic surgeons and medical professions in Australia alone.Having launched Rationale in 1992, Richard remains at the helm of the business as the company’s Director of Research and Development, citing human skin as the inspiration behind each and every Rational...
2018-10-0934 minGlow JournalRae Morris | Makeup Artist, Author and Founder of Rae Morris BrushesIn episode one of the Glow Journal podcast, host Gemma Watts sits down with award winning makeup artist, author and brand founder Rae Morris. Having spent a record-breaking ten years as L’Oréal Paris’ Makeup Director, Rae’s influence in the beauty industry goes well beyond Australia- she’s a global leader.Having launched her eponymous brush collection in 2015, the best selling author continues to work both locally and internationally as a makeup artist while sitting at the helm of her globally recognised company.In this conversation, Gemma and Rae discuss the influence...
2018-09-2545 min