7 brands created by beauty editors

With countless products continually crossing their desks and an unrivalled wealth of beauty knowledge and know-how, it’s no wonder a slew of beauty editors from some of the best magazines and websites across the globe have rolled up their sleeves and got to work creating their very own beauty brands.

And when those beauty mavens launch their own beauty lines, you can be sure their products have been specifically formulated to address either a gap in the market or a specific beauty concern that is yet to be resolved. Here, we detail seven of the best brands created by the beauty insiders who know best.

Go-To Skin Care

While she might be more widely-known as being one half of Australia’s most loved (and hilarious) couples, Zoe Foster Blake is also a former beauty editor. After working as Beauty Director at Australian Harper’s Bazaar and Cosmopolitan, Zoe expanded her beauty repertoire, writing two of her very own beauty bible’s Amazing Face and Amazinger Face.

As if that wasn’t enough, ZFB then established her very own beauty brand, Go-To Skin Care, with the goal of creating a range of skin care basics every woman needs to achieve and maintain healthy, happy and glowing skin minus any nasties. 

In a post to her own blog, ZOTHEYSAY, Zoe explained that in addition to creating formulas that are effective, she “went to great (some might say ‘annoying’) lengths to ensure each product was perfectly natural. Zero nasties. No palm oil, (obviously) no petrochemicals, PEGs, mineral oils, parabens, sulfates, silicones, GMOs, synthetic colours or fragrances. There has been no animal testing of any kind, except on me.” 

Since its launch in 2014, Go-To Skin Care has grown its collection of everyday essentials from a lip balm and hand cream to a sheet mask and an equally exciting men’s range, Bro-To. 

If you’re itching to try Zoe’s cult brand, we suggest giving Face Hero, Transformazing Sheet Mask and Exfoliating Swipeys a go.

Votary

Former beauty editor and in-demand makeup artist Arabella Preston is the definition of a beauty insider (she’s even been credited as the woman who taught Kate Middleton how to do her makeup on her wedding day back in 2011). And while she still boasts high-profile clients such as Lily James and The Duchess of Cambridge, the skin care enthusiast embarked on another beauty venture in 2015, co-founding Votary – a natural range of skin care products derived from vegetables, fruits, seeds and flowers.

What makes Votary different is how each formula (that’s been blended by Arabella personally) absorbs and penetrates the skin, nourishing and hydrating the complexion in their wake. Many skin care products that claim to achieve similar results simply sit on the surface of the skin rather than reaching deep down into lower skin layers. 

Want to try Votary for yourself? We suggest starting with the Intense Night Oil, Super Seed Facial Oil and Cleansing Oil.

The Beauty Chef

Launched by Carla Oates, natural beauty columnist at Wellbeing magazine, author of Feeding Your Skin and The Beauty Chef Cookbook, and beauty columnist at The Sunday Telegraph, The Beauty Chef was created after Carla saw how a probiotic-rich, lacto-fermented diet positively impacted her daughter’s battle with problematic skin.

GLOW, The Beauty Chef’s first inner beauty product, is formulated with a combination of 24 skin-loving superfoods, which all work to improve gut health and enhance the skin from the inside out. These days, The Beauty Chef range also features liquid boosters, nourishing balms and skin refiners.

Ellis Brooklyn

There’s no doubt about it – natural beauty is having a serious moment. But one area that seemed to miss the green beauty memo is fragrance. Until now, that is.

After working as a beauty columnist for The New York Times and as a beauty contributor for Vogue, Vanity Fair, InStyle, Glamour and many more leading publications, Bee Shapiro teamed up with Byredo perfurmer Jerome Epinette to launch Ellis Brooklyn, a high-quality perfume range that doesn’t contain any nasties.

With a focus on superior ingredients and a commitment to sustainability, this brand (which is available at Mecca) is certainly one to watch.

Three of our top picks from the brand include Myth EDP, Raven Excellent Body Milk and Fable Terrific Scented Candle.

Glossier

Perhaps one of the most well-known and successful magazine editors, Emily Weiss first launched her own beauty website, Into The Gloss, in 2010. Flash forward a few years and the hugely successful website has spawned an equally successful beauty brand, Glossier. 

While still only readily available in the US and UK, Glossier has amassed a cult-like following worldwide with thousands of millennials clambering to get their hands on the oh-so-chic pink and white products. 

From brow products to face mists, body washes and eyeshadows, Glossier is a force to be reckoned with in the beauty world. Here’s hoping it makes its way to Australian shores in the near future.

This Works!

When you’ve had roles that include Beauty Director at Condé Nast Asia Pacific and Health and Beauty Director for British Vogue for over a decade, it’s fair to say you know a thing or two about beauty products; from the ones that work to the ones that are all marketing fluff.

After becoming tired of too many products falling into the latter category, Kathy Phillips launched her own brand, This Works!, which is hinged on understanding the link between your lifestyle and skin health. This aromatherapy-based and science-backed brand features the best-selling Deep Sleep Pillow Spray, which has been clinically proven to work with your natural circadian rhythm to help you fall asleep faster and wake up feeling more refreshed.

Other top picks from the brand include the Skin Deep Golden Elixir and Perfect Legs Skin Miracle.

The Buff

After suffering a bout of chronic acne, Australian expat and beauty journalist (who is now based in New York), Jasmine Garnsworthy launched The Buff in 2017, a natural skin care brand for adult acne sufferers who were finding their skin care products were either not improving their skin condition or in some cases even making it worse.

What makes The Buff stand out from the crowded face and body oil category is that each oil can be customised to the individual based on their skin type and major concerns (acne, fine lines, pigmentation, scarring, dullness and dryness). Additionally, each bottle can be monogrammed and customised further to feature one of five coloured backgrounds (pink, blue, green, yellow and white). How’s that for personalisation?

Want to stay ahead of the beauty curve? Then discover the nine beauty brands you need to know about.

Have you tried any of these beauty editor brands before? Share your thoughts and experienced with us in the comments below.

Main image credit: @zotheysay