The Story Behind The Glowcery with Roshanne Dorsett

If you are looking for effective, vegan, and sustainable skincare and wellness products then you need The Glowcery in your life and bathroom cabinet.  The Glowcery, is an award-winning, female-founded and cruelty-free skincare brand that was launched in 2020 by Roshanne Dorsett and inspired by her plant-based lifestyle.

The Glowcery  believes that skincare shouldn't cost the Earth and should be as healthy and nutritious as the fruit and vegetables we eat. From serums, cleansers and body care products, all glowceries are made to feed your skin the vital vitamins it needs to look and feel, healthy, balanced and glowing and I am delighted that Roshanne goes into her journey here on YOMU, today.

What inspired you to start a company in the health and wellness sector and what do you offer? 
I launched The Glowcery in March 2020 after turning Vegan. I had felt the holistic benefits of wholefoods and was keen to replicate it in my skincare routine.  We are a skincare brand committed to supporting and transforming how people feel about their skin and natural ingredients.  We offer innovation, low intervention formulas with high impact results.

I worked alongside the campaign group JENGbA in the historic Supreme Court appeal R v Jogee (Law of Joint Enterprise). We worked on over 250 cases and naturally I experienced burnout and high levels of stress. After quitting that career path and deciding to live my life more aligned with nature, I switched to a vegan diet and made changes for a more holistic lifestyle. I founded The Glowcery with the same principles, using minimally processed, cold-pressed ingredients, upcycling ingredients wherever possible, and producing small batches.  I’m very proud of our naturally nourishing and award-winning options.

What influenced your services or product design?
I knew I wanted The Glowcery to represent as close to a grocery for your skin as was practically possible.  The nutritious colourful fruits and vegetables that can be as effective on our skin in the right formula, as they are in our diets.  I took inspiration from this into the product names, fonts, and packaging: fun, colourful and nourishing. Each product is easily identifiable with a straight line from ingredient to the visual with primary colours that match the superfood ingredients in the formulas.

How does your company uniquely address the health and wellness needs of its customers?
The Glowcery recognises that the conventional skincare industry can often lean on wasteful practices and can encourage excessive product consumption with overwhelming product lines.  It can be confusing to know what ingredients suit your skin type,  which may irritate the skin and what might suit specific skin sensitivities.  We believe there's a simpler (and healthier) way.

At The Glowcery we encourage you to return to basics and natural solutions.  We use cold-pressed, vegan, and minimally processed ingredients to create effective skincare solutions that nourish your skin and promote a healthy glow, as well as benefitting your wellbeing and the health of the planet.  Our focus is on formulating targeted products that address your specific needs, not bombarding you with unnecessary choices. Additionally, by using sustainable practices, such as AI personalisation and recyclable packaging, we help take care of the planet along with your skin. 

What major health and wellness trends have impacted your business strategy?
Due to the nature of the brand I look to see what happening in the food and drink industry. People are increasingly interested in foods that are perceived to be healthier and more sustainable. This has led to a rise in demand for fresh and natural products. The continued interest in health-tech apps and wearable technologies such as Zoe and Whoop have led to a growing interest in personalised nutrition that consider people’s individual needs and health goals.

Additionally, there is a growing awareness of the advantages of going vegan for both ethical and environmental reasons.

Could you describe a pivotal moment or decision in your company's development? How did it influence your path forward?
Winning Best Facial Oil in the Women's Health Beauty Awards during our launch year was a game-changer for The Glowcery. As a new brand going up against established names, this award provided incredible validation that our approach addressed a need. This win solidified our focus on innovation in the natural skincare space, and we're now committed to developing high-quality, efficacious  products that nourish, balance, and protect your skin, naturally.

How do you measure success in terms of health and wellness outcomes for your clients or customers?
At The Glowcery, we measure success by focusing on a combination of factors that reflect the overall well-being and satisfaction of our customers.

Customer feedback: We love reading product reviews (we have over 300 five-star reviews!) and customer testimonials to understand how our products are impacting their skin's health and confidence.

Before and after photos: Visual results are powerful. We encourage customers to share their before-and-after photos showcasing the transformative power of our natural skincare solutions.

Repeat purchases: Seeing customers come back for more is a strong indicator of satisfaction and effectiveness. Repeat purchases demonstrate that our products are delivering positive results.

Engagement with educational content: We offer a wealth of educational resources on natural skincare and holistic wellness. Tracking engagement across social and digital shows us that interest in self-care is on the rise,  and there is a  real desire to learn more about achieving a healthy glow naturally.

What role does technology play in your business, especially in relation to enhancing health and wellness?
At The Glowcery I am using AI enabled technology to drive responsible consumption and to develop effective, vegan, and sustainable skincare and wellness products. Now when shopping on www.theglowceryshop.com on all the individual product pages you’ll find a ‘Find Your Personalised Matches’ tab where a face photo can be taken with one click, allowing Yuty’s AI technology to scan for a skin analysis arriving at a product edit of The Glowcery products best suited for your skin needs and concerns. I’m really excited about further developing the conversations we can have with our customers in this space.

I’m proud of this partnership as I believe that AI can help the beauty industry become more sustainable. As personalisation driven by AI-technology helps to reduce the often-frustrating product trial and error process, the number of unsuitable products purchased and ultimately not used. 

What are the biggest challenges you face in maintaining the integrity and efficacy of your wellness products/services in a rapidly growing industry?

The biggest challenge we face lies in challenging the misconception that natural skincare is ineffective. Often dismissed as "goop," natural ingredients are frequently underestimated. While some brands might make exaggerated claims, The Glowcery harnesses the power of plants and nature to formulate products that really work.

How do you stay informed and continue to innovate within the health and wellness field?

I subscribe to leading industry newsletters such as The Industry Beauty, The Beauty Independent and The Business of Beauty. Podcasts wise I listen to The Glossy Podcast, The Business of Fashion, Wellness with Ella (Founder of Deliciously Ella)

I am also a member of CEW UK, Buy Women Built as well as an Alumuni of Formula Botanica.

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to enter the health and wellness industry?

Prioritise your health and wellbeing before anyone else. As a founder, leading by example on your own values is key. Believe in yourself and your vision, even when the path is challenging.

The recent court decision regarding the Fearless Fund highlights the hurdles underrepresented founders can face. While it's important to be aware of these challenges, don't let them deter you.

Focus on your strengths, your unique background can shape a valuable product or service that addresses unmet needs. You've likely navigated challenges before, and this strength will serve you well. For the tougher days, build a strong support system. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who understand your journey and seek guidance from experienced entrepreneurs, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds.

Remember, success takes time and perseverance. Stay focused, celebrate your wins, and learn from challenges.

Do check out The Glowcery and let me know what you think!

Natalie