The Beauty Sessions
The Beauty Sessions is a podcast hosted by Sophie Blowfield, a brand strategist and beauty consultant. It features insider conversations with influential leaders in the beauty industry, including founders and executives. The show explores strategic decisions and insights behind building and scaling beauty brands. It offers unfiltered discussions about disruption and growth in the beauty landscape.
Episodes
Ep 39: Sarah Creal — The Woman Behind Beauty's Most Iconic Products
Some people spend a career making other people's visions iconic. Sarah Creal is one of them — and now she's done it for herself. In this episode, Sophie Blowfield sits down with the product developer and brand architect behind some of the most legendary names in luxury beauty: Tom Ford Beauty, Bobby Brown, and Victoria Beckham Beauty, where she was co-founder and CEO.With over 30 years of
Ep 38: Julianne Goldmark — Building the World of Emi Jay: The Hair Brand Taking Over Sephora
Some brands you wear. Emi Jay is one you feel genuinely attached to. In this episode, Sophie Blowfield sits down with founder Julianne Goldmark — who, let's be honest, redefined the claw clip for an entire generation.Julianne started Emi Jay back in 2009, at just 15. More than 15 years later it's a bona fide that-girl staple — worn by Hailey Bieber, Sofia Richie and Kendall Jenner.It's
Ep 37: Luke Hersheson — Great British Hair, from Keira Knightley to Victoria Beckham
Few people have shaped British hair like Luke Hersheson. In this episode, Sophie Blowfield sits down with the stylist, entrepreneur and CEO behind Hershesons — the cult brand he built alongside his father, Daniel, from a single King's Road salon into a world of game-changing tools, cult products and reinvented spaces.He's the man behind some of the most iconic cuts of the last few decades,
Ep 36: Bella Falk on Why Luxury Skincare Shouldn't Cost a Fortune
What if luxury skincare was never meant to cost a fortune? That's the question that started Strange Luxury. In this episode, Sophie Blowfield sits down with founder, Bella Falk — the 28-year-old Australian building one of the most quietly covetable beauty and loungewear worlds around.Determined to recreate the formulas she loved without the luxury price tag, she taught herself the entire suppl
Ep 35: Kira Mackenzie Jackson Enters the Beauty Chat as CMO at m.ph Beauty
Some people spend a career mastering one lane. Kira Mackenzie Jackson has made a superpower out of refusing to. In this episode, Sophie Blowfield sits down with one of the sharpest minds in consumer brand building — and, as of this August, the new CMO of mph Beauty, Mary Phillips' cult-favourite makeup brand.Kira's path has been anything but linear: a career spanning PR, partnerships and p
Ep 34: Erin Kleinberg, The Serial Founder Behind SIDIA, Coveteur & Métier Creative
Some people build one great brand in a lifetime. Erin Kleinberg has built several. In this episode — Sophie sits down with the serial founder behind SIDIA, the modern fragrance house rooted in ancestral ritual, self-care, and the legacy of Erin's late grandmother, the brand's namesake.But SIDIA is just one chapter. Erin is also co-founder of Coveteur, the fashion and beauty platform that b
Ep 33: Solo Episode - Sophie Blowfield On: The 10 Things I'd Do Before Launching a Beauty Brand
This week I'm doing a solo episode with the question I get asked more than any other, and I wanted to sit down and answer it properly — The 10 Things I'd Do Before Launching a Beauty Brand.I've spent over 16 years in rooms with beauty founders — some right at the very beginning, some three years in and quietly wondering why a beautiful product isn't selling. So this is my difficult
Ep 32: Sam McKnight — The Hairstylist Behind Fashion's Most Iconic Looks
In this episode, Sophie Blowfield sits down with Sam McKnight MBE — the hairstylist behind some of the most iconic personalities, fashion houses and images in fashion history, and one of the most influential names the industry has ever known.Over five decades, Sam has created hundreds of Vogue covers, styled the runways of Chanel, Vivienne Westwood and Balmain, spent twelve years alongside Karl La
Ep 31: How Jenny Lei Built Handbag Brand Freja into an 8-Figure Business
What does it take to build a brand that lasts? In this episode, Sophie Blowfield sits down with Jenny Lei, founder of Freja — the cult handbag label that's quietly become one of the most considered names in accessories.Jenny started Freja in 2020 with no design background, no industry connections, and no outside investment. What she had was a genuine problem to solve: she couldn't find a sleek, fu
Ep 30: Carol Han on Building Fragrance Through Poetry with Nette
What if a fragrance could begin as a poem? In this episode, Sophie Blowfield sits down with Carol Han, founder and CEO of Nette — the New York-based fragrance and candle brand redefining what luxury scent can be.Born in San Francisco, raised in Hawaii, and shaped by years as a fashion editor at Elle, Carol traces Nette back to the candle store her mother ran when she was a little girl, and the car
Ep. 29: Dr Natazia zu Stolberg: Why All the Cool Girls Are Drinking Rest + Digest
Dr. Natazia zu Stolberg is a doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, licensed acupuncturist based in Los Angeles, and founder of Dr. Stolberg — the brand behind the iconic Rest + Digest tea. She's also the co-founder of Space 314, a wellness space offering acupuncture, sports recovery, and personal training.In this episode, Dr. Stolberg shares the deeply personal health journey that led he
Ep. 28: Frances Shoemack on Challenging the Status Quo with Abel Fragrance
Frances Shoemack is the founder of Abel Fragrance, a brand proving that natural fragrances don't have to compromise on performance or sophistication. A former winemaker from New Zealand, Frances left the wine trade after moving to Amsterdam, fell in love with the world of niche perfumery, and quickly realised that nobody was making luxury fragrance from natural, fossil fuel-free ingredients. S
Ep 27: Krystle Wilson on Modeling, Motherhood & Why Organization Is Self-Care
Krystle Wilson is a model signed to Elite Model Management and the founder of Everything Clear, a luxury home organization service based in New York City. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Krystle's career has taken her from studying fashion design in Miami to modelling in Paris — including a go-see with Azzedine Alaïa himself that she booked because of her genuine appreciation for the craft of design.
Ep 26: Inside Luxury Beauty with Sean Garrette: From Fenty Skin to Dior Beauty
Sean Garrette has held some of the most prestigious roles in beauty — first global ambassador for Fenty Skin then official skincare expert for Dior Beauty — but this episode goes far beyond the accolades. He shares the full story of how he was personally chosen to work for Fenty, what it was really like walking into the world of Dior as a man who didn't feel like he belonged, and why the diver
Ep 25: Katini Yamaoka on the Art of Building Katini Skin
Katini Yamaoka is a musical artist and founder of Katini Skin, a luxury facial oil brand stocked at Bergdorf Goodman and Sephora.In this episode, Katini shares how her mother's natural beauty rituals planted the seed for the brand, what it was like building a luxury skincare line during the stillness of 2020, and the moment a Sephora buyer discovered Katini Skin.She talks about why she chose to fo
Ep 24: Bec Wilson on the Power of PR & Launching Beauty's Biggest Names
Bec Wilson is a beauty PR expert and the founder of Eleven Consultancy, a brand building company based in New York specialising in strategic PR communications and events. With nearly 20 years in the industry spanning Sydney, London, and New York, she has launched and shaped some of beauty's most iconic brands — including Charlotte Tilbury, Victoria Beckham Beauty, Glossier, and Ariana Grande&#
Ep 23: Dr. Ewoma on Radical Honesty in Beauty
From early skin struggles to becoming one of the most trusted voices in aesthetics, Dr. Ewoma Ukeleghe has built her brand SKNDOCTOR on a foundation of radical honesty. As an award-winning medical and cosmetic doctor, Contributing Editor for ELLE UK, she's collaborated with some of the world's most coveted brands including—Dior Beauty, Estée Lauder, Charlotte Tilbury, and Glossier — all wh
Ep 22: The Making of Merit Beauty with CMO Aila Morin
Merit Beauty didn't just redefine minimalist beauty—it redefined what modern luxury cosmetics could be. And behind that evolution is Aila Morin, CMO, whose approach to marketing prioritizes emotional connection over fleeting trends.In this episode, Aila shares her journey from working on beauty counters at a young age to leading marketing at one of the industry's most intentional brands. W
Ep 21: Jordan Risa on Finding Inner Beauty with Seen Library
After a decade working with some of beauty and fashion's most beloved brands—Rose Inc., MERIT, Sofia Richie, Rhode, Gucci Beauty—Jordan Risa felt the shift. Social media had moved from genuine connection to relentless self-promotion. So she did something radical: she cut back on work and created Seen Library—a community for readers to connect in person through meaningful and inclusive storytel
Ep 20: Joanna Ellner: From Multi-Award Winning Beauty Editor to Brand Founder with REOME
After 16 years as an award-winning Beauty Director and Editor—including her roles as Beauty Director at Stylist Magazine and Beauty Editor at The Sunday Times Style Magazine—Joanna Ellner felt disillusioned. Even the most science-driven skincare wasn't delivering tangible results. The answer didn't come from another lab or ingredient innovation—it came from studying Traditional Chinese Medicine.In
Ep 19: Izzy Utterson on The Ultimate Glow Up Guide for 2026
Izzy Utterson has built a mini wellness empire teaching women how to level up and live their best lives. After leaving corporate marketing roles at brands including Charlotte Tilbury, the mindset coach and content creator has amassed almost 500K followers across Instagram and TikTok with her viral "Hot Girls Don't Gatekeep" series and practical glow-up advice.In this episode, Izzy breaks down why
Ep 18: Inside Pamela Anderson's Sonsie Skin: How CEO Kailey Bradt Is Driving Growth
Welcome to Season 2!In this episode, Sophie Blowfield goes inside Pamela Anderson's mindful beauty brand Sonsie with CEO Kailey Bradt—the chemical engineer turned founder turned leader driving the brand's most successful year yet. Kailey breaks down what it's really like working with Pamela, how they're building a plastic-negative brand without compromising performance, and why her
Ep 17: How Isan Elba is Reshaping The Beauty Industry: Turning PR Gifting Into Community Impact
Isan Elba is building something radically different in beauty. As founder of Beauty Access and Beauty Forward, she's created a scalable, tech-enabled system that turns the industry's excess of beauty PR packages into dignity for underserved communities. In this conversation, Isan shares how receiving 1-3 PR packages daily led her to build custom inventory technology, redistribute over 3,00
Ep 16: Solo Episode: How to Tell Your Brand Founder Story
Your founder story isn't just background information—it's one of the most powerful tools you have to build trust, attract press, and position yourself as a leader in the beauty and wellness industry.In this solo episode, Global Brand Builder, Sophie Blowfield breaks down exactly how to strategically tell your founder story in a way that actually drives results. She shares why most founders
Ep 15: How Michelle Hu Built Étoile Into a Multimillion-Dollar Beauty Accessories Brand
In this episode of The Beauty Sessions, Sophie Blowfield sits down with Michelle Hu, founder and CEO of Étoile - the beauty accessories brand that's brought calm to the chaos of our beauty routines. What started as a chaotic morning in 2016 - getting ready in the dark with shocking lighting and constantly misplaced items - sparked the idea for a business that would transform how we organize an
Ep 14: How Alex Goldney Built Brands for Modern Brides and Luxury Skiers
In this episode Sophie Blowfield sits down with Alex Goldney, founder of Née and Slope Siren, for a conversation about building modern luxury brands that solve real problems. After her own frustrating name-change experience following her wedding, Alex identified a major gap in the market and created Née - the elevated name-change brand that's become the go-to gift for modern brides. In the sam
Ep 13: How Neada Deters Created Lesse Skincare with Ritual Over Routine
In this episode of The Beauty Sessions, Sophie Blowfield sits down with Neada Deters, founder of LESSE - the simplified, elevated ritual of clinically advanced, active botanical skincare. Born and raised in Sydney by the ocean, Neada moved to New York after studying art history and theory, where she worked as a beauty editor before founding LESSE seven years ago. Neada reveals how her beauty edito
Ep 12: Launching a Luxury Fragrance Brand with Darcy Moore
In this episode, Sophie Blowfield sits down with Darcy Moore, founder of Belnu – the clean luxury fragrance brand redefining the industry through mood-enhancing scents, 100% ingredient transparency, and emotional connection. After years leading creative and art direction at Apple and running her own design studio, Darcy built Belnu – creating fine fragrances that don't just smell beautiful, but se
Ep 11: How Noel Capri went from Model to Beauty Founder with Nicoya Organics
In this episode of The Beauty Sessions, Sophie Blowfield sits down with Noel Capri, model and founder of Nicoya Organics - the 100% certified organic skincare brand proving clean beauty doesn't have to compromise on luxury. Noel unpacks how this brand was born from a deeply personal mission and her unique perspective on building a beauty brand while navigating two worlds as both model and foun
Ep 10: How Maeva Heim Built and Scaled Bread Beauty Supply
In this episode of The Beauty Sessions, Sophie Blowfield sits down with Maeva Heim, founder of Bread Beauty Supply - the Australian-born hair care brand that's redefining "lazy girl hair" for natural and textured hair. Growing up in Perth, Australia, Maeva found solace in her mother's braiding salon - the only place that catered to textured hair in her hometown. After years worki
Ep 9: How Casey James and Carla McGraw Made The Power Lip Go Viral with Réforme Beauty
In this episode of The Beauty Sessions, Sophie Blowfield sits down with Casey James and Carla McGraw, co-founders of Réforme Beauty - home to the viral Power Lip product that is making makeup artist lip contouring accessible to everyone. Known as the "Lip Contour Queen," with her loyal following, Casey built a devoted community before Power Lip even launched, while Carla brought her expe
Ep 8: How Olivia Boyd-Smith Made Skin Supplements Chic with Par Olive
In this episode of The Beauty Sessions, Sophie Blowfield sits down with Olivia Boyd-Smith, founder of Par Olive - the Australian-made ingestible beauty and wellness brand that's redefined the supplement space with dermatologist-developed marine collagen super powders. This is the collagen supplement that Victoria Beckham swears by, and what started as a law school side project built on communi
Ep 7: How Shiri Feldman Went from Beauty Corporate to Freelance Copywriting for Sephora Brands
In this episode of The Beauty Sessions, Sophie Blowfield sits down with Shiri Feldman, a beauty copywriting consultant and product marketer who's become the strategic voice behind compelling brand messaging for female-founded, eco-friendly beauty companies.Shiri unpacks the reality of transitioning from corporate to freelance life, the art of balancing business and creativity, and shares her b
Ep 6: How Bryony Deery Built a Wellness Empire from Pilates to Dior Beauty Partnerships
In this episode of The Beauty Sessions, Sophie Blowfield sits down with Bryony Basse (Deery), founder of Pilates by Bryony, Dior Beauty wellness expert, host of Beyond the Mat podcast, and co-founder of Cloudcha matcha - who has built an incredible wellness empire after discovering Pilates during rehabilitation from a serious road accident.Drawing from her insider perspective on breakthrough brand
Ep 5: Solo Episode: Your Brand is Either an Asset or a Liability
In this solo episode of The Beauty Sessions, Sophie Blowfield exposes the uncomfortable truth that most founders avoid facing: your brand is either working for you or slowly bleeding your business dry through hidden costs you don't even realize you're paying.Drawing from over 15 years as the go-to marketing and social strategist behind explosive brand growth for some of the world's most coveted be
Ep 4: How Carrie Barber went from Sephora and Glossier to redefining MAKE Beauty
In this episode of The Beauty Sessions, Sophie Blowfield sits down with Carrie Barber, Owner and Creative Director of MAKE Beauty, who made the bold transition from leading creative direction at beauty powerhouses like Violet Grey, Sephora, and Glossier to resetting MAKE Beauty in 2021.Drawing from her insider perspective on breakthrough brand strategies, Sophie explores Carrie's unique approa
Ep 3: How Melissa Alfer brought Korean Beauty and Melanin-Rich Skincare together with K-BROWN
In this episode of The Beauty Sessions, Sophie Blowfield sits down with Melissa Alfer, founder of K-BROWN - the first Korean skincare brand formulated specifically for darker skin tones, who's revolutionizing beauty by merging Korean innovation with melanin-safe formulations.Melissa unpacks the biggest myths about melanin skincare, the reality of bridging Korean beauty traditions with inclusive in
Ep 2: Solo Episode: Stop Storytelling, Start Strategizing
In this solo episode of The Beauty Sessions, Sophie Blowfield gets real about the power of strategy and the key difference she sees between brands that breakthrough and those that struggle - and why it's creating millions in missed opportunities. Drawing from over 15 years as the go-to marketing and social strategist behind explosive brand growth, Sophie opens up about why strategy is your bra
Ep 1: Solo Episode: Stop Building Audiences, Start Building Movements
In this debut solo episode of The Beauty Sessions, Sophie Blowfield gets real about the #1 mistake every beauty brand is making right now - and why it's costing them millions in missed opportunities. Drawing from over 15 years as the go-to marketing and social strategist behind explosive growth for brands including: Charlotte Tilbury, 111SKIN, and Hourglass, Sophie opens up about the fundament
Trailer: Welcome to The Beauty Sessions
Welcome to The Beauty Sessions - the definitive podcast for insider conversations with the industry's most influential leaders, hosted by Sophie Blowfield, a world-class brand strategist and beauty industry consultant.From breakout indie founders to global beauty executives, Sophie takes you behind the velvet rope for unfiltered conversations about what it really takes to build, scale, and dis
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