Ever wondered the reality of running some of the beauty industry’s biggest businesses? Well, our new series, Down to Business with CB, may hold the answers.
Cosmetics Business’ new quickfire Q&A series with top beauty leaders gives insight into what really goes on behind-the-scenes, from the most challenging aspects of different job roles, to the products that have secured permanent spots in the routines of some of the hardest people to please.
With interviewees ranging from JVN Hair founder and Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness, to skin care legend Caroline Hirons and Master Perfumier Olivier Cresp, the series gives an insight into their day-to-day as we ask four key questions.
These are: what is the hardest part of your job? What is the most surprising part of your job? What is the biggest lesson you have learned in your career? And what are the three beauty products you could not function without?
Read on to hear from beauty giants Trinny Woodall, Simi and Haze Khadra, Susie Ma, Touker Suleyman, Pippa O’Connor Ormond, Mitchell Halliday and more.
Down to Business with CB… featuring Lipstick London’s Touker Suleyman
Having recently departed from BBC television show Dragons’ Den to step into the world of beauty through newly launched brand Lipstick London, Touker Suleyman took to the mini microphone to share insight into how hands on he is, and the importance of always doing your business homework.
Down to Business with CB… featuring Poco Beauty’s Pippa O’Connor Ormond
Poco Beauty founder Pippa O’Connor Ormond told us what happens when the cameras are off, how to reset and move on when things go wrong, and the duality of being front-facing when there is stress behind the scenes.
Down to Business with CB… featuring Skin Rocks’ Caroline Hirons
Caroline Hirons is a legend in the skin care industry and no stranger to saying it how it is.
The Skin Rocks founder and UK beauty authority spoke about the reality of her role being more admin-heavy than people expect and why she wishes she could clone herself.
Down to Business with CB… featuring Sculpted by Aimee’s Aimee Connolly
Aimee Connolly, MUA and founder of Sculpted by Aimee, shares why she leads with her gut and instinct, and the misconception of how much she really does behind-the-scenes.
Connolly also shares the harsh reality of when things go wrong.
Down to Business with CB… featuring Glow For It’s Daisy Kelly
Glow For It founder Daisy Kelly founded her business at just 21 years old, and shared with Cosmetics Business the realities of launching a brand so young with no prior experience in the working world.
Down to Business with CB… featuring Trinny London’s Trinny Woodall
Trinny London founder and beauty industry legend Trinny Woodall took to the mini mic for the first-ever installment of Down to Business with CB, sharing insight into how she organises her stacked weekly schedule at Trinny London and which red light therapy mask has become a staple in her routine.
Down to Business with CB… featuring JVN Hair’s Jonathan Van Ness
Jonathan Van Ness, founder of hair care brand JVN Hair, shares the difficulties of launching a business with a creative-first brain, and how to separate yourself from other people’s opinions.
Down to Business with CB… featuring Essie’s SVP and Global Head, Melanie Ioanna
Essie’s SVP and Global Head, Melanie Ioanna, sat down with Cosmetics Business to share why she feels the need to be “chronically online” and the importance of constant evolution.
Down to Business with CB… featuring SimiHaze Beauty’s Simi and Haze Khadra
Sisters and co-founders of SimiHaze Beauty, Simi and Haze Khadra, gave insight into how their disagreements help build a better brand, as well as finding balance between creativity and logistics.
Down to Business with CB… featuring Tropic Skincare’s Susie Ma
Tropic Skincare’s Susie Ma grew her brand from a stall in Greenwich market, London, UK, to a multimillion-pound business, but not without some life lessons along the way.
Ma shared why she finds it hard to switch off her business brain and the upcoming product launch she cannot live without.
Down to Business with CB… featuring Made by Mitchell’s Mitchell Halliday
Running a business as big as make-up brand Made by Mitchell, you may think its founder takes a step back from social media, but not for Halliday.
He shared insight into why he will never hand over creative control of the brand’s accounts, and why finding balance is often the hardest part of his work life.
Down to Business with CB… featuring Master Perfumer Olivier Cresp
The nose behind a number of notable fragrances, including Mugler's Angel, Dolce & Gabbana's Light Blue and YSL Beauty’s Black Opium, is legendary perfumer Olivier Cresp.
He shared with Cosmetics Business the importance of passion, how it feels to get a ‘no’ and the fragrance creations he is proudest of.
Related content:
- Legendary perfumer Olivier Cresp talks creativity, favourite scents and growing his own fragrance brand Akro
- How Tropic founder Susie Ma grew from a market stall to multi-million-pound beauty powerhouse
- How DJ twins Simi and Haze Khadra are building an empire with SimiHaze Beauty
- Essie enters its ‘cheeky luxury’ era in a bid to target new consumers
- Mitchell Halliday on Made by Mitchell’s global expansion plans beyond TikTok Shop
