Embedded Files
Skin+Me is the UK’s leading personalised prescription skincare company, founded to improve access to pharmaceutical-strength dermatological products. With NHS wait times up to three months and private care prohibitively expensive, Skin+Me delivers affordable, effective treatments directly to consumers through online dermatologist consultations and monthly personalised prescriptions. Since its founding in 2020, the company has consistently outperformed competitors in both growth and retention metrics.
I joined Skin+Me in the early stages of its journey, when everything needed to be designed and built from scratch - packaging, bespoke machines, the factory floor, and even the early marketing strategy. Initially, my role focused on mechanical engineering: designing, assembling, commissioning, and maintaining custom machinery to support production. Due to an NDA, this work cannot be shared publicly, but can be demonstrated privately.
From the outset, I was in the deep end. Late nights flowing into early mornings and regular weekends were the accepted norm. It was all-hands-on-deck to get the factory up and running at capacity. Countless changes in packaging formats, company strategy, and product formulation were required, often on the fly, in symbiosis with machine design, commissioning, and maintenance. The first year and a half was a whirlwind of creative engineering solutions, factory operations, and an accelerated education in what it means to run a start-up.
As Skin+Me’s "hero" product grew stable, we began launching more products. My responsibilities expanded from purely technical to include project management, supply chain, and product formulation. I embraced the opportunity to have a greater impact on the company’s success.
I took ownership of new product development, coordinating every stage of each launch. This included:
Raw ingredient sourcing and supplier negotiations
Formulation iterations and user trials
Laboratory testing and quality control
Packaging format sourcing and bespoke packaging development
Packaging artwork design and regulatory compliance
Operational system integration for new product lines
Training factory operators
Supporting website UAT
Developing launch marketing strategies
Monitoring post-launch performance metrics
Through these parallel processes, I delivered nine product launches within an average of three months each, increasing annual recurring revenue by more than £10 million.
My largest project was leading Skin+Me’s entry into UK retail – Boots, John Lewis, and other premium outlets. Transitioning from a direct-to-consumer model to retail required overcoming unique challenges: no direct customer personalisation, no opportunity for post-launch iteration, and strict compliance with retail operational standards.
I managed the entire project end-to-end, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, setting goals and timelines, and liaising with external stakeholders. Within six months, I oversaw the development of 21 new formulations tailored to different skin types and goals – a level of in-store personalisation no competitor had previously achieved. I also led packaging development, modified the production line and machines, and adapted the factory operational system to meet retailer requirements.
The launch was a major success, driving more than £40 million in new annual recurring revenue and solidifying Skin+Me as the market leader in personalised skincare.
Skin+Me taught me how to bridge engineering and business, combining technical rigour with commercial awareness. I learned to thrive in fast-paced startup conditions where strategy, formulation, packaging, and operations had to move in lockstep. My ability to integrate engineering, supply chain, and commercial functions enabled Skin+Me to deliver rapid, high-quality, and innovative product launches that transformed its growth trajectory.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse