In our ‘Inspiring small businesses’ series, we share and celebrate great stories from small business owners who started and run their own business. By bringing you closer to these inspiring businesses we hope that you find motivation, tips, and ideas for building yours. Next up, we interviewed Julia Vearncombe, Director and Co-Founder of skin:genius®, an award winning, natural skincare company.

Julia Vearncombe has produced the award-winning skin:genius® range of 100% natural, organic skincare solutions that tackle spots, breakouts and blemishes. The Cleansing Face Wash, Leave-on Purifying Gel and Soothing Moisturiser provide an all-natural solution for troubled skin that works with your skin’s natural genius, not against it. Packed with anti-bacterial ingredients, the range tackles the bacteria that commonly cause acne to help eliminate and prevent spots. Calming ingredients full of essential antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, reduce inflammation and redness while the products’ soothing properties aid with recovery and soften the affected area.

What's the story behind your business?

As a beautician and mum-of-two, I was seeing too many people in my salon and at the school gates who were on medication for skin conditions, struggling daily with oily skin, breakouts, flushed complexions and the anxiety that goes with it all.  Many clients and mums at the school gate asked what natural products I’d recommend for spots and acne.  I did a lot of research to find suitable solutions but could find none.  There was a definite gap in the market for natural skincare for people struggling to combat acne and troublesome skin.

I’m passionate about the power of natural ingredients to restore harmony not only to the skin but also to our happiness and wellbeing.  The fact is, there was nothing I would be happy using on my son’s skin so I turned to my friend and homeopath, Hilery Dorrian. Together we created skin:genius in order to offer an accessible, affordable range.  We have enjoyed great success, including winning 13 awards for natural skincare and beauty.  We have recently rebranded so we’re not just targeting teenagers: we were finding many parents of teenagers – in the 40s and 50s – who were suffering from hormonal and menopausal skincare breakout problems, were having great results with skin:genius too.  We have a brand new product out last month and with the new-look brand as well we’re very encouraged about our future growth.

 What inspired you to start your own business?

I suffered from spots and acne throughout my teens and early 20s and know exactly what it’s like to suffer with 'bad skin' as a teenager and breakouts as an adult. As a mother of two pre-teen boys, I’m worried they may experience the bullying and upset that I did was a youngster.  As I started to think about creating skin:genius I was determined to create products that could be used preventatively – not treatment products to use when the problem was already there and affecting your life.  Early trials of skin:genius were successful and as more and more people told me that the products were working, I took a leap of faith, stopped my salon and hairdressing work and threw myself 100% into skin:genius.

What is the most difficult aspect of running your own business?

Skincare is a highly competitive market place and I’m up against some really big beauty brands with really big marketing budgets surrounded by experienced and expert teams.  I’m essentially  working from home with the support of some very dedicated and loyal people but progress is slow.  We’re waiting for that ‘lightbulb’ moment, that one rave review or celebrity customer whose comments put us on the map. 

I’m a member of a few business networks and had had some excellent support and advice.  But I’ve also had  a few people want to take advantage of my inexperience and / or good nature.  I’m toughening up but haven’t lost my enthusiasm for this market nor my brand.  It’s not always easy defying convention – me in creating these products and my customers in trying them.  But when they work so well and people show me their skin has cleared I know, 100%, that I’m doing the right thing.

What is the best thing about running your own business?

Knowing you’ve created something that really  helps other people is hugely rewarding.  The positive results we have seen has restored people’s skin confidence and I’m delighted to say it’s not unusual for people to tell me our products have ‘changed their life’. The feedback from customers aged 10 to 60 has been incredible. Running my  own business has taught me a huge amount about the production process, the marketing, the consumers and everything in between.  I’m really close to all aspects of the process and have managed to keep skin:genius very personal. I have daily contact with customers some of whom are vulnerable and have had skin problems for years: knowing I’m helping them the way I wish someone could have helped me drives me on. Running my own business means I can make changes as required and pivot when needed.  We are fleet of foot and able to adapt to what our customers are asking for.  Not only have we created a range that is really helping people but, on a personal level, I’m confident my boys won’t suffer as I did.  And that means the world to me. 

To find out more about skin:genius visit their website or follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.