Podcast monologue by Lorraine Dallmeyer arguing that starting an indie skincare/haircare brand can transform lives by providing flexibility, supplementary income, confidence and purpose. Cites interviews with graduates (Naz Bashir, Leslie of Bella Botanicals, Lune Martins of Sunday Muse), reports a specific sales example (500 eye oils sold in three months), and promotes a free Formula Botanica masterclass running Oct 3–12 that teaches how to formulate an organic eye cream and build a standout brand (daily 10-minute episodes).
Questions this video answers
October 3–12 (daily 10-minute episodes released each day).
500 eye oils in the last three months.
Chapters
Indie beauty has boomed over the last decade, with more people than ever learning how to formulate and then starting their own skincare or hair care brands. And the barrier to entry to get started as a beauty entrepreneur is now really low. And it means that someone with a great idea can make waves without needing mountains of investment or a big team behind them. But then we all get distracted with the idea of making millions. Because firstly, our society dictates that a successful business is one that grows to an incredible size. And secondly, we get starstruck by the handful of indie brands who make it all the way to the top and then get bought out for megabucks. And in doing this, we lose sight of the reason that many indie beauty entrepreneurs get started in the first place. We lose sight of the fact that they want to change their lives. Last week here on the Green Beauty Conversations podcast, I interviewed Naz Bashir, Formula Botanica graduate and indie beauty entrepreneur extraordinaire. As I said last week, Naz is an inspiration and someone who we can all learn from. And I specifically wanted to interview Naz on the podcast because I know that she hasn't been through series A, B or C funding and she hasn't stocked in the world's biggest retailers. But I also know that none of that matters because she's created something that's so powerful that it's changed her life. And that's what I want to explore today. Because how can indie beauty change your life too? Hi, it's Lorraine Dallmeyer, chartered environmentalist, biologist and CEO of award winning online organic cosmetic formulation school Formula Botanica. I host the Green Beauty Conversations podcast and these are my green beauty opinions in which I share my takeaways from the podcast interview we released last week and challenge you to join me in making the green beauty sector a better place. Place. If you want to be the first to hear all of my latest episodes, make sure you subscribe to this podcast. Many indie beauty entrepreneurs, when they first start out, feel that imposter syndrome. They think, who am I to get started as a formulator and make products to sell. That's why so many people say that they can't formulate because they're not a chemist. We've internalized this message of needing prestigious qualifications to do something that everyone can do. But the point is that if you have a big dream and a great idea, then you are exactly the right person to start your indie beauty brand. You've just got to take that first step and just start. You heard Naz say it last week. I have spoken to so many beauty entrepreneurs over the years who were just waiting for someone to give them permission to start. They just wanted me or my team at Formula Botanica to tell them, like, it sounded like they were ready and that they should just do it. And sometimes that's all people needed to hear to get going. The main point I took from last week's interview is that just getting started can change everything for you. You heard Naz tell me how starting Solo Skin London gave her the opportunity to spend time with her baby as well as her brand. What other jobs do this? When I went back to work after maternity leave, I didn't see my babies between 8am and 6pm every day. I had to sit in an empty conference room and express milk for them. I couldn't cuddle them when they needed me because I was at work. And then on top of that, I constantly felt guilty. Guilty for not being with my children and guilty for not being at the office as much as I used to. But having this job as an indie beauty entrepreneur allows you to be with your children if you want to. And I recently did a live interview with one of our graduates called Leslie, who runs Bella Botanicals in Wisconsin in the States, and she said exactly the same. She quit her job to run a beauty brand and as a result, spent more time at home with her kids. She feels incredibly empowered. Creating a skincare range to make and sell can do that for you. And then you heard Naz tell me how she generated a second income stream for her family. That was a complete game changer. I loved it when she told me that she'd sold 500 eye oils in the last three months. That's amazing. It feels ambitious to think about that number, but it doesn't feel unattainable, does it? And in the current economic climate, the idea of generating your own income alongside your day job as a side hustle must feel pretty tempting right now. That's how I started with Formula Botanica 2. It was my side hustle to generate a supplementary income for me while I was on maternity leave. So many people do this with all sorts of businesses all around the world, and a beauty brand is a fantastic option. And then finally, most importantly, and I've heard this from so many of our graduates over the years, becoming a formulator and selling your products can give you confidence that you didn't even know you needed or had in you. It can make you feel like you've achieved your purpose in life. It can make you feel like you're the person you were meant to be. I mean, that is a big realization to come to. You don't have to start a business that makes millions to feel empowered. You just have to feel in control. Most people don't think about this enough because they get sidetracked by the dollar signs. But creating a business that you own, that you shape, that you dictate, that makes money to contribute to your life, that in itself is incredibly empowering. And I think it's worth remembering that of all the millions you could make, that first one is always the most important. And for some people, just that first sale will feel unbelievable. It feel incredible. You don't forget your first sale. I will never forget my first sale at Formula Botanica. I remember the person's name. I know exactly how much they spent enrolling with the school. I know exactly what they enrolled for. I can tell you the exact date it happened on. It was so exciting. I celebrated that evening because it was such a big deal. Making your first sale brings a whole new dimension to your life. And it's worth remembering that there aren't many people in a position who have created something and then empowered themselves with that feeling. I recently interviewed our graduate, Lune Martins of Sunday muse live on YouTube. You can still catch the replay there. And she said exactly the same thing. Starting her own skincare brand gave her purpose and meaning. Some people go their entire lives searching for that meaning. They go from job to job, from place to place, and they don't really know where they're going with any of it. And I so frequently hear the complete opposite from our graduates. They feel a contentment that they didn't even know existed. Becoming an indie beauty entrepreneur can do that for you. And the only reason I say this with such confidence is because I've seen it over and over with my own eyes. So my challenge to you for this week is to join our free masterclass. It starts on October 3rd and it will show you exactly how you could change your life too. To become an organic skincare entrepreneur and maybe even start your own brand. You're going to learn how to formulate your own organic eye cream. You're going to learn how to create a brand that stands out in the market. You're going to learn how to be an organic skincare entrepreneur. This is a life changing course and it's all free. Between October 3rd and October 12th, we're releasing one 10 minute episode every single day. And it even looks like a mini Netflix series. It's so cool. Almost all of the graduate brands that have come out of Formula Botanica started with a masterclass like this, which is why I encourage you to head over to formula botanica.com right now. Come and sign up. Thank you for listening to my Green Beauty opinions this week. If you haven't subscribed yet to the Green Beauty Conversations podcast, please make sure you do so in your favorite podcast app. Leave me a five star review if you enjoy the conversations I host and I'll be back soon with my next episode. Sa.
