Lisa Franklin is a seasoned skincare expert, product developer, nutritionist, and clinic owner based in London. As the driving force behind the Lisa Franklin Clinic and a multi award-winning product line, Lisa has established herself as an ambitious British beauty CEO who is highly respected within the UK skincare space. Here, she exclusively shares her passion for formulating premium skincare services and products, as well as what it takes to run a beauty business the Lisa Franklin way.
My skincare journey began with a deep passion for enhancing natural beauty and an enduring fascination with rose quartz. Childhood struggles with rosacea, resulted in intense redness which caused me discomfort in my own skin. Fortunately, my mother's medical expertise steered me clear of harsh steroid treatments, helping to preserve my skin's integrity, she acted as my first mentor when it came to healthy skincare. Traveling across Europe during my upbringing exposed me to cutting-edge skincare available in pharmacies. Rose quartz was also an influential childhood memory as I fondly remember a bowl brimming with rose quartz in my mother's home. Though purely decorative, the crystal's shifting pink hues captivated me as a child, and I carried a piece with me which I cherished.
Fast forward to my teenage years and I went on to qualify as a makeup artist after leaving high school. Subconsciously, I knew that training as a makeup artist would help me tackle my own insecurities and camouflage the way I felt about my own skin. So, once I qualified as a makeup artist, I went on to put this passion into practice by working in the TV & film industry for many years. One day, I was on set working on a beautiful model who had a very severe case of acne and I was against time. As I was applying the makeup onto her skin to camouflage the acne as much as I could, it started to get more and more inflamed, which naturally reminded me of my own skincare concerns. Right there and then, I felt an energy and I had a lightbulb moment. Something was telling me that I needed to make my own skincare product and put rose quartz in it. I then said this out loud in a buzzing room full of people from the beauty industry. That’s when I knew that I had found my calling.
To understand my fascination of rose quartz on a deeper level, I travelled across the world to find the answers I was looking for. One of the most profound things that I discovered during this journey of exploration was that the ancient Egyptians used rose quartz as face masks to promote radiance, luminosity and reap the endless beauty benefits of this natural antioxidant. I also learnt that the ultimate beauty icon of the time—Cleopatra—used to bathe in rose quartz to help heal and treat her psoriasis. Today, I am very proud to say that Lisa Franklin is the first skincare brand in the world to put rose quartz into a product. From the very start of my journey, I was committed to creating a multifunctional product powered by rose quartz that bridges the gap between makeup and skincare. I wanted to create a product that could act as an anti-aging serum, as well as an anti-inflammatory makeup primer that significantly reduces redness. I took several skincare courses and surrounded myself with incredible mentors who shared their knowledge with me. The goal was to create a lightweight, luxury and genderless product for all that allows your skin to breathe—and that is exactly what I did. The first-ever Lisa Franklin skincare product I released was the Luminescent Skin Base—a mattifying serum that illuminates, protects and creates a perfect base for makeup, which is now a cult favourite. Through creating this hero skincare product, I wanted to gift people from all backgrounds with the skin confidence that they truly deserved.
It all started with my passion for treating skin condition in the right way. With over 25 years in the industry, it’s my expertise that goes into all my product formulations and I make sure all our ingredients are sustainably sourced. But it didn’t stop there. My fascination with rose quartz then led me to opening my first Lisa Franklin skin clinic in London in 2019 and creating an all-encompassing, multi award-winning skincare range, which I am so grateful for. This year, we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Lisa Franklin London and we’ve truly become the heritage brand that I've always dreamt of.
Here at the Lisa Franklin Clinic, we’re proud to be the home of healthy aging, where scientific innovation meets the latest technology to enhance your natural beauty. We are exceptional at looking after people and encouraging them to embrace a positive and sustainable skincare journey. We tend to lead with education to make sure the aftercare is sustainable for our customers so they are well informed about every step in their skincare treatment plan. To me, innovation in premium skincare involves staying ahead of industry trends through education and networking. We don't follow trends as a company but, instead, we innovate based on the science of ingredients that we choose and that’s what really excites me. One of the key trends in the beauty industry right now is the personalisation of skincare with a 360 approach. So, that means personalised skincare routines and products with the inclusion of advanced technology that enables clinics to tailor smart solutions based on a person’s genetics or DNA. Now that the wellness industry is more recognised and respected, it gives us the opportunity to bring something out that's really cutting-edge. Currently, we're launching a whole new concept, something that is absolutely at the forefront of skincare and wellness, which is exactly what our customers deserve. So, watch this space!
The cost-of-living crisis and inflation has impacted the premium beauty industry by influencing consumer spending patterns. The way we navigate this is offering memberships to a customer to give them more value for their money and help them invest in their wellness. We believe investing in high-quality skincare should be a part of your holistic healthcare routine, so having a membership at a clinic can ensure you stay committed to your overall wellness goals. We also believe that customer service and comfortability is integral to a premium beauty business, so we make it our number-one priority.
We always make sure that our customers are well informed about the services and products they will be experiencing at our clinic, as well as aftercare, so they have a seamless journey from start to finish. We want our customers to understand exactly what they’re investing in, and we pride ourselves in following up after appointments to be sure they are satisfied with our service. It really is a team effort, and we are proud that our positive customer reviews reflect the hard work that we put in as a collective, day in & day out.
Having a strong digital presence is crucial for business visibility, brand building, reaching a wider audience and establishing credibility. As a business owner, being visible online is an incredible opportunity to stand out from the crowd, especially since the British beauty industry is quite a competitive landscape. For us, social media has had an extremely positive impact on our brand and gives us a platform to engage with our customers and the wider beauty industry on a more personal level. Since social media wasn’t around when I first launched my beauty business, I am still amazed by the opportunity that it gives us to showcase skincare products and connect with global audiences. As a sustainable brand, being digital and using technology to help automate the Lisa Franklin Clinic has always been at the forefront of everything we do. Utilising beauty software and technology streamlines all our business operations, giving us more time to focus on delivering an exceptional customer experience. Having the right beauty software, has helped us enhance our efficiency and ensured a seamless client experience.
The exciting thing about working in the beauty industry is that is ever evolving, so there is always something new and innovative to develop. The future of premium beauty and skincare services is shifting to holistic healthcare with personalisation being at the core of innovation. As we move towards a wellness-first industry, innovation is happening at every stage of the development process - from the science behind the ingredients to the advancement of technology. Wellness programs will educate patients on the importance of having a consistent skincare routine, making healthier lifestyle choices and incorporating preventative measures for maintenance. At the Lisa Franklin HQ, we are currently working on developing new skincare that will feature breakthrough product specs - backed by the latest scientific data and advancements in wellness ingredients - to address specific concerns from a clinical perspective. The main mission behind this wellness innovation is to prove that everyone can have great skin if you invest in personalised products, services and a lifestyle plan that sets you up for success. Ultimately, taking care of your skin is a journey, and if you have access to the right expert or clinic for support, then the sky’s the limit.
As a Beauty CEO, it’s important that I practice what I preach, so I do my best to take care of myself first and foremost. I have regular morning rituals that I like to stick to, such as doing yoga followed by skincare and a lovely cup of Earl Grey tea. I am naturally quite energetic, so I am always ready to give my all to any task, at any time, but it is equally as important to slow down from time to time. When it comes to managing your workload, I would recommend setting clear goals to stay motivated and consistently challenged.
Over the last 25 years in business, I have learnt to value the power of always embracing your authenticity and only working on projects that you are truly passionate about. You will experience highs and some lows as a business owner, which is why you must be committed, resilient and dedicated to continuous learning as you embrace the challenges head-on.
In business, you are only as successful as your team, so make sure you choose individuals who are not only talented but also want to be part of something positive. I am a firm believer that you should hire people who are better than you in different areas because it adds so much value and diversity to your business. Being a business owner means you have an opportunity to empower your team to share, be heard and celebrated along the way. No matter what your role is, it’s always great to listen to feedback and find ways to improve the business as a team.
Mentorship and paying it forward is something that I am super passionate about, which is why I am actively involved with many initiatives across the beauty industry. Through the work that I do for the Princess Trust, I mentor young people on how to become successful in the beauty industry by sharing business strategies to help them craft an achievable action plan and roadmap. For me, this is a very authentic partnership because what I care about deeply is people, the planet and making a positive impact in this world. So, my advice would be to find a cause that you are passionate about and figure out ways to give back as much as possible.
Lisa Franklin Skin Clinic London
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