Smart Beauty

In this episode we're joined by Amanda Carr, founder of the Barnes Fragrance Fair, trend forecaster, and co-founder of We Wear Perfume. Amanda shares how her "accidental" creation has become a key event in the UK fragrance calendar, providing a platform for independent British perfume brands. We discuss the fair's village fête atmosphere that contrasts with traditional retail experiences, current...

Today we're delighted to be joined by beauty pioneer Poppy King, founder of multiple iconic lipstick brands including Poppy and Lipstick Queen. Starting her first company at just 18, Poppy shares her remarkable 32-year journey through the beauty industry and her philosophy that lipstick is more than cosmetic, it's transformative. Poppy reveals why Willy Wonka became her unlikely business muse, dis...

In this episode of Smart Beauty, we sit down with Lizzie Carter, founder of the beloved curly hair brand Only Curls. Starting with just £500 in savings and a vision to celebrate rather than "tame" curly hair, Lizzie has built a thriving business that recently launched in 390 Boots stores nationwide. Lizzie shares her journey from hand-sewing product labels in front of the TV to creating a passiona...

Going back to her writer roots, Viola speaks with her long-time industry colleague and beauty journalist Louise Whitbread about her journey into cosmetic science education. Going beyond typical beauty reporting, Louise reveals how her scientific training has equipped her to challenge dubious marketing claims and provide readers with evidence-based beauty insights. The conversation cuts through ind...

In this episode, we sit down with Roshanne Dorsett, founder of The Glowcery, a whole food superfood skincare brand founded on the belief that what you put on your body should be as nutritious as what you put into it. Roshanne shares her remarkable journey from working in criminal and human rights law to becoming a natural skincare formulator and entrepreneur. Burned out from the emotional toll of...

In this episode of Smart Beauty, host Viola speaks with Anna Vale, a powerhouse independent consultant specialising in scaling indie beauty brands through strategic marketing leadership. With more than two decades of experience spanning executive roles across the US, UK, and Middle East, Anna shares her expertise on navigating the complex beauty landscape. Based in New York, Anna has collaborated...

In this episode, we sit down with Kate Kaye, founder of Wild Source - a holistic skincare brand born at her kitchen table that now graces the shelves of Liberty London. Based in Bristol, Kate shares her entrepreneurial journey from creating beauty products at age eight to building a brand that fuses skincare with spiritual wellness. She candidly discusses the challenges of launching without prior...

In this special "bottle episode" of the Smart Beauty Podcast, host Viola Levy answers the question on every beauty entrepreneur's mind: "If I spend money on branding, when will I actually see a return?" Cutting through the fluff, Viola breaks down exactly how branding investments pay off across three key timeframes: immediate positioning benefits, mid-term pricing power, and long-term customer loy...

In this episode, we sit down with beauty mogul Agnes Cazin, the visionary force behind branding and communications agency Haiti73 she is about to launch the inaugural Buzz of Beauty Festival “for the girls who shop at Selfridges and get their hair done in Peckham” which takes place at London's Africa Centre, Saturday 29th-Sunday 30th March 2025. With a career spanning global beauty giants like L’O...

In this episode, we chat with Francesca Cherruault, founder of Filthy Brands, about shaking up the fragrance industry and championing independent brands. From her early days at Escentric Molecules to launching her own distribution agency, Francesca shares insights on how consumer buying habits have evolved, the power of brand storytelling, and what it takes to get a niche fragrance onto the shelve...

In this episode, we sit down with Fizah Pasha, founder of Brulée Beauty, to discuss her journey in tackling colourism within the beauty industry. With over 15 years of experience as a makeup artist, Fizah saw a gap in the market for makeup that truly caters to South Asian and other under-represented skin tones. Reflecting on her own experiences with colourism growing up, she created a brand that g...

In this episode, Viola chats to the renowned Azzi Glasser, who has spent over three decades designing bespoke fragrances for Hollywood's elite. Azzi shares the story of how she first entered the fragrance world, her journey from creating iconic scents for names like Kylie Minogue and Helena Bonham Carter to becoming a sought-after creator for top celebrities. We discuss the powerful role fragrance...

Today, we’re thrilled to welcome the brilliant Rebecca Jaquest, founder of Nyita, a brand that’s redefining luxury beauty with its unwavering commitment to ethical and sustainable practices. Sustainability is often seen as a non-negotiable in today’s beauty market, but Nyita takes it to a level we rarely encounter. From rethinking extraction methods to developing their patent-pending sunflower wax...

In this mini episode of the Smart Beauty Podcast , host Viola Levy tackles a challenge many beauty brands face: crafting a brand story that truly stands out. Viola discusses the pitfalls of relying on overused narratives, like the familiar “I couldn’t find anything on the shelves, so I made my own,” and explores how to dig deeper to create a compelling, emotionally resonant story that captures the...

What does "luxury" really mean in the beauty industry today? In this episode, host Viola Levy sits down with long-time industry friend and beauty PR powerhouse, Deborah Johnson. With over 17 years of experience in the beauty industry, Deborah shares insights into her journey from agency life to running her own consultancy. The conversation dives deep into the evolving role of Black consumers in lu...

In this special episode, we speak to Millie Kendall OBE, serial entrepreneur, founder of British Beauty Week and CEO of the British Beauty Council, to discuss one of the most critical shifts in the beauty industry today: pro-ageing messaging and representation. With over three decades of experience, Millie is a leading voice advocating for inclusivity, transparency, and empowering beauty standards...

Today, we're chatting with the inspiring Estée Lalonde. From her early days as a beloved content creator to becoming the founder of the wellness-focused brand Mirror Water , the Canadian-born Londoner had a truly inspiring journey. In this episode, Estée is honest about the ups and downs of living life online, how she stays true to herself in an ever-evolving digital landscape, and what it’s reall...

Today, we’re diving back into the second part of my conversation with the brilliant Rhea Cartwright. If you missed part one, I highly recommend going back to listen, as we explored Rhea’s fascinating career journey and her advice for navigating the beauty industry. In this episode, we take a closer look at her time as Head of Beauty Buying at Liberty London. Rhea shares her invaluable perspective...

In this episode, I’m joined by the brilliant Rhea Cartwright, a trailblazer in the beauty industry whose career spans everything from sales and training roles on the shop floor to becoming the first—and only—Black Head of Beauty Buying in the UK at Liberty. Rhea’s career is as diverse as it is impressive. She began working in beauty during her university days, gaining invaluable experience on the...

In this episode, we dive into the remarkable journey of Alexia Inge, co-founder of Cult Beauty, one of the first purely digital beauty retailers that reshaped the online beauty landscape. From the early days of 2008, when the internet was still uncharted territory for many in the beauty world—one brand memorably responded to Alexia’s pitch by asking, “The internet, that’s eBay, right?”—to becoming...

In our latest episode, we’re joined by the industry veteran Kelly Marks, co-founder of Pure PR, an agency that has been shaping the beauty landscape for 25 years. From growing up surrounded by the industry, thanks to her father’s pioneering beauty business, to working alongside PR legend Jenny Halpern, Kelly’s career has been a journey of innovation, passion, and strategic brilliance. With Pure PR...

We dive into the burgeoning world of doctor-led skincare with Dr Sabrina Shah, a distinguished UK-trained oculoplastic surgeon and aesthetic practitioner. With decades of experience and a remarkable array of accolades, Dr Sabrina recognised a crucial gap in effective, science-backed solutions for the delicate eye area. She shares her journey of creating her eponymous skincare brand, designed to ta...

Joining us once again is Sarah McCartney, founder and perfumer of 4160Tuesdays, who shares her insider perspective on the ongoing tension between LUSH and The Body Shop—intensified by LUSH’s latest collection, "The LUSH Version." This range has sparked controversy for putting LUSH's own twist on some of The Body Shop’s most iconic products. For context, LUSH founder Mark Constantine (pronounced "t...

In this special episode for National Eczema Week, we’re excited to feature Lauren Bell, the innovative founder of Cosi Care. Lauren’s mission to address eczema began with a deeply personal challenge: finding a safe, steroid-free solution for her brother’s severe eczema and topical steroid withdrawal. What started as a university project has transformed into Cosi Care, a celebrated global brand kno...

Today, we're joined by the incredibly talented Becky Symes, a visionary designer and digital storyteller who helps women with personal brands bring their bold, bright ideas to life. Becky was also the artistic mastermind behind the beautiful visuals here at Smart Beauty Creative, so she truly knows her stuff. We’d highly recommend her to anyone looking to build a personal brand and website—you’ll...