March 4, 2023
Entrepreneurs, Female Founder Spotlight, Latest Articles

Inspiring Female Founder Spotlight: Rachael Robertson

The idea of a dream skincare range started in 2018 when founder Rachael Robertson began formulating products to treat her own acne, which had been unmanageable since her early teens. Still struggling in her late twenties and after trying what felt like everything, Rachael trained as a skincare specialist and opened her own business as a facialist alongside her daytime job as a clinical research analyst in wound care. Using all this knowledge and experience she began mixing and testing ingredients to create a homecare routine with real results. After working hard to get it just right, she was ecstatic to have control of her acne and to have the glow she’d longed for. When others tried them, they too saw amazing results. This inspired the creation of Bedew Skin in 2021 with the goal of helping as many people as possible to love their skin.

Can you tell us a little about your background and the company?

My passion for skincare started when I began my career in Healthcare as a GP Liaison. Arranging & attending educational seminars with consultants and GPs was part of my job and often they were around dermatology. I have had acne and congestion since the age of 12 and was never able to manage it, so the topics fascinated me. I learnt a lot about the structure of the skin and various skin concerns and started to reflect on my own skin journey and where I was going wrong. I loved learning so much that I trained in facials, IPL, laser, chemical peels and micro needling and opened a small skin clinic in my converted garage. I spoke to a lot of my clients who felt they couldn’t manage their skin at home and regularly product hopped. When I moved jobs and started to work as a clinical research analyst in wound care, I started looking at the ingredients in the products I had been using over the years which were ‘acne’ specific. I realised the products targeted at me were extremely drying and contained quite a lot of exfoliating actives which I was using daily and as a result, damaging my skins natural barrier leading to more problems. It seemed like it was impossible to find a simple step by step routine that was able to heal breakouts but also keep skin hydrated and glowing.

How did the idea come to you for the company?

From here I stopped thinking about my acne as the issue and thought about what I wanted my skin to look & feel like as an end goal, which was clear & soft with a healthy glow. Putting my breakouts aside was the key in formulating the first Bedew products as instead of dwelling on the spots and clogged pores, I focused on repairing the skins natural barrier and creating an enjoyable routine that was realistic for a busy working mum to keep up with. It took about two years to get my formulations perfect but once I did I saw amazing results which just kept getting better. I was always warned to avoid oily products and not to moisturise which thinking back now was crazy!

How did you achieve awareness?

My facial clients, friends and family noticed how dramatically my skin had changed and asked if they could try it. They had all different skin types and concerns so I was really excited to share. When they saw results too this gave me the nudge to put them through testing properly so that I could bring them to market. From there, my customer base grew and grew through word-of-mouth and customers sharing their results on social media.

How have you been able to gain funding and grow?

My partner and I had a small amount of savings which we put into the start-up which included testing, buying ingredients and our first product packaging which was plastic jars. Our first year was great which allowed us to maintain this and then when it was time to grow, I searched around and found an amazing company called ‘First Enterprise – Enterprise Loans’ I worked business manager Nabeel, who supported me though writing a thorough business plan, forecasting advice and funding which has been invaluable to the business’s growth.

What are the key successes?

A key success was when we were able to upgrade our packaging to its current design. From the beginning I had a vision in my mind of how I wanted the brand to look to showcase the product quality, feel and performance. This wasn’t doable at the beginning on our limited budget, but I always hoped I could bring that to life and when they arrived it was a pinch me moment.

What were/are the challenges and how have you overcome these?

The biggest challenge for me is accepting help with the growth of the business. The products and my customers are so personal to me that I struggled with delegating and handing over the reins when the time came to hire employees. I have however started to build an amazing team around me who are doing an incredible job which has helped me get better at this.

What are your plans now/for the future?

We have just secured our new premises which will not only allow us to facilitate bigger orders for stockists, but we will have our first retail shop front and treatment rooms so that we can bring back facials/skin treatments which is very exciting.

What would you like to share with others to encourage them to start their own entrepreneurship journey?

At the beginning it feels scary and overwhelming and while that never really goes away, once you find your feet, you’ll turn those feelings into motivation for your next win. The scariest part is starting – so grab a notepad!

Can you share your top tips for entrepreneurial success?

Passion is key – you are the driver of your business and if you don’t live and breathe it, you can only go so far.

Who are the 5 people who inspire you the most and why?

Viola Davis – If you ever feel down or uninspired, watching Viola Davis in anything is enough to motivate you to get up and win. She is the definition of passion and commitment to her craft. Her Instagram is a haven of self-love, motivation and positive affirmations.
Adam Frisby – I have followed Adam on Instagram for a long time and his journey from redundancy to creating ‘The Style’ shows what you can achieve if you run with your idea and put everything into your business.
Jordan Boyle – My Fiancé. He is the most hardworking and supportive person I have ever met, and he motivates and inspires me every day with his work ethic and passion for what he loves – its contagious!
Karen Brady – An icon and a huge advocate for women in business, she has broken down so many barriers as a woman in her chosen projects. Im always in awe of her when she’s giving an interview!
Ru Paul – Not only because of his journey, achievements and how he’s paved the way for others, but before I started my business if I was on the way to an interview, I would play Ru Pauls songs in the car to hype myself up and get rid of any imposter syndrome! Listening to Ru songs or interviews is inspirational, motivational and the ultimate way to feel unstoppable and worthy.

What are your favourite inspirational /motivational quotes?