In Conversation: Elemis, Ruby Hammer, Weleda and more...
August brought conversations with leaders across skincare, haircare and retail - from the stories behind two of beauty’s most iconic products and the career of a trailblazing make-up artist to career reflections from two beauty powerhouses.
Elemis co-founder Noella Gabriel on the enduring success of its Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
"The Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm has earned its place because it consistently delivers. We sell one cleansing balm globally every 10 seconds! It’s unlike anything else on the market."
Having taken home the Product Icon: Skincare award at TheIndustry.beauty Innovators Awards 2026, Elemis co-founder and CEO Noella Gabriel explores why the Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm is so loved. She attributes its longevity to the combination of clinically proven results and a sensorial ritual, while highlighting the recent Pro-Collagen Body Cleansing Balm as an example of how the brand can extend the range without changing the core formula.
Weleda UK boss Jayn Sterland on 100 years of Skin Food, growth and sustainable beauty
"Earlier this year, Bella Hadid posted about buying eight tubes of Skin Food a month! You cannot buy this kind of love."
Another well-loved product, Weleda Skin Food, first formulated in 1926, celebrates its centenary this year. In this interview with TheIndustry.beauty, UK boss Jayn Sterland reflects on its enduring success and celebrity support. She also discusses the challenges of building a genuinely sustainable beauty business and what the future holds for natural beauty.
Neal's Yard Remedies co-owner Anabel Kindersley on staying true to values and leading with purpose
"Staying true to our values is non-negotiable. Neal’s Yard Remedies was founded on the belief that the health of people and the health of the planet are closely connected."
Keeping on the topic of natural beauty, Anabel Kindersley, who was honoured with the Hall of Fame Award at TheIndustry.beauty Innovators Awards, speaks about combining sustainability with commercial success, as well as the importance of perseverance, organic innovation and her Stand By Bees campaign. Kindersley also shares advice for her younger self: trust your instincts and don’t let self-doubt hold you back.
Inside Dermalux's consumer debut as it brings professional LED expertise into the home
"It’s been a very considered decision. We have a very strong brand reputation that we need to uphold, so we have to make sure that it meets those standards."
Dermalux, the British brand specialising in LED phototherapy, is making its consumer debut with a £449 face mask launching on 1 September. Co-founder Louise Taylor explains the off-the-skin LED design and the three-wavelength approach behind the mask, while Managing Director Niall Young positions education as the biggest opportunity in a saturated category.
Clara Managing Director Simon Smith on disrupting hair tools and care through innovation and value
"We've created more than a collection of products - we've built a brand with a clear purpose, a cohesive vision and a genuine commitment to helping people achieve healthier hair."
Saudi-born brand Clara won Best New Brand at TheIndustry.beauty Innovators Awards for bringing electrical styling tools together with vegan haircare in one brand. Managing Director Simon Smith discusses the brand's root-to-tip ecosystem, its first retail space at Westfield White City and plans for retail partnerships and international growth.
TGIN CEO Aris Singleton on legacy, leadership and the future of textured haircare
"True success will be when textured hair is no longer viewed as a specialty, but as an essential part of the broader beauty industry."
TGIN CEO Aris Singleton discusses her leadership of the textured-haircare company founded by her late aunt, Chris-Tia Donaldson, its Boots UK launch and why representation must be embedded rather than treated as an afterthought. She also explores navigating grief while leading the business, as well as the opportunities she sees in the UK market.
Ruby Hammer on being an accidental trailblazer in beauty
"Honestly, at the time, we didn't think of it as a 'statement' at all. We were just two women who respected each other's work ethic, shared a vision, and wanted to build something incredible together."
Long before inclusive shade ranges entered the mainstream conversation, Ruby Hammer was mixing custom foundations for models of colour and, with Millie Kendall OBE (now British Beauty Council CEO), bringing inclusive beauty to Boots through Ruby & Millie. Looking back on her career, Hammer traces her journey from the Harrods shop floor to make-up artistry, television and her own brand, Ruby Hammer Beauty, while calling for fairer funding and retail pathways for independent, female-led brands.
How I started in beauty: Lucy McPhail, Beauty Buying & Merchandising Director at Harvey Nichols
"I often say there's a formula for building a great beauty brand, but the final ingredient is always a sprinkle of magic - something that genuinely resonates with customers."
Lucy McPhail also began her beauty buying career at Harrods, before roles at Liberty, Threads Styling and Space NK and joining Harvey Nichols in June last year. McPhail discusses her focus on discovery and curation over convenience, alongside her advice to be patient and trust your judgement.
Gisou CCO Emma Bunyard on navigating growth, change and leadership in beauty
"Great businesses need experts who provide depth and consistency, as well as entrepreneurial leaders who drive growth and transformation. The key is creating an environment where both can thrive and where individuals are able to pursue the path that best aligns with their strengths, ambitions and values."
Career lessons also ran through our CEW partnership interview with Gisou Chief Commercial Officer Emma Bunyard, who moved to the honey-infused beauty company after spending almost seven years at Charlotte Tilbury. Bunyard shares her views on empathy and clarity in leadership, the impact of AI on consumer engagement and why the UK's diverse retail landscape sets it apart.
indu co-founder Aaron Chatterley on building a community-first brand
"We genuinely see our community as an extension of the indu team. We now have around 80 highly engaged community members, some of whom have been with us from the beginning, who actively help shape our plans through real-life and digital workshops, polls, testing and feedback."
Teen skincare brand indu has built its brand through community, an approach that won it the Engagement award at TheIndustry.beauty Innovators Awards. Co-founder Aaron Chatterley explores the 1,000-teen research project that shaped the brand, its teen advisory board and plans for expansion.
