CIRCULAR BEAUTY JOURNAL 6: Starting A Solid Skincare Brand

I was beyond excited. After months of research and concept development, I had a solution that would solve both problems - in one go. Solid skincare can remove both water and plastic - the two biggest environmental problems in the beauty industry. I couldn't believe I had conceived this genius idea, in an industry renowned for its constant innovation.

Was I... the next Estee Lauder?? 

I compiled an extensive list of all the contract manufacturers in Australia. If you are one, you are likely to have heard from me in 2020. I briefed them on the idea of a solid moisturiser, confident they would all jump at the opportunity to revolutionise the industry.

Then, silence.. 

One rejection after another.

I was utterly confused. 

One kind contract manufacturer explained to me why she couldn't take on my project. Solid products like the one I envisioned require a hot-pour method, which not many manufacturers are set up to do. 

That's when truth hit me. I had left the industry some time back and was clearly out of touch. 

This is a hundred-year-old, soon-to-be-a-trillion-dollar, global industry founded on liquids.* 

They are set up to fill water in plastic containers--the two most cost-effective resources--and selling them as elixirs. Why would they want to revolutionise this gold mine?!?

Solid wasn't a genius idea. 

It was stupid.

I sat on it for days..

Then, I questioned myself.   

How could it be stupid when it solves the two biggest problems in the industry with such simplicity? How could it be stupid when it would stop me from leaving behind kilograms of plastic for my children to pick up? 

I rolled up my sleeves again and got back to work. 

I looked across the ocean to New Zealand. New Zealand has produced some of the world's most beautiful skincare brands. 

I was eventually led to Stacey. She is "the driving force" behind some of the most innovative brands in New Zealand.** She was perfect. 

I told her about ReMI. The problems I wanted to solve. The solid products I wanted to develop. 

And.. she said yes. 

As strange as this may sound, finding Stacey affirmed my belief that I was doing what I was meant to do, and I had to trust the process. I would be led to the right path. 

We were back in action. 

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Find last week's Circular Beauty Journal: Solid Formulation here. 

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Based on AUD. The global beauty industry is projected to become a trillion dollar industry in 1-2 years, based on review of projections made by a multiple research firms: Euromonitor, Grand View, Research & Markets, Mordor, Precedence Research * NZ Herald "Meet Stacey Fraser, The Driving Force Behind New Zealand's Most Popular Beauty Brands" June 21, 2024