Hello and welcome to my first Happy Skin Journal article!

Thank you so much for stopping by. I thought I’d kick things off with a little introduction to me, and how BAO Skincarecame to life. Over the coming months, I’ll be sharing more articles about starting a brand, running a business, living with a chronic illness, eating for happy skin, and so much more.

So, for those of you who don’t know me — hi! My name is Beth, and I’m the founder and creator of BAO Skincare.

People are my passion. I genuinely love connecting with others, hearing their stories, making them feel good, inspiring and motivating them — and above all, I love that my skincare products can lift your energy, calm your mind, and bring happiness to your skin.

I have over 10 years of experience in the beauty industry, and I’ve been in love with natural skincare for even longer. As a teenager, I used to make face masks and scrubs with ingredients from the kitchen (my mum was never that impressed!). So you can imagine my delight when I eventually made that dream come true by launching my own organic, vegan, natural skincare brand.

I chose the name BAO because I wanted the products to reflect me and what I stand for. It stands for Beth’s Aromatherapy Organic — a perfect snapshot of what I believe in.

When I was living in Australia in the early 2000s, I completed a Diploma in Natural Beauty Therapy and Nutrition. Back then, natural skincare was still considered a bit "niche" — you could only find it at hippy markets or health food stores. But I was hooked.

Australia changed my life. I moved there in 2004 after falling in love with surfing (yep, I was that “pommy” teaching surf lessons to backpackers all day long!). Weekends were spent at hippy markets and music festivals where I discovered whipped shea body butters, floral oils, handmade soaps and clay masks. I had found my world — and I knew then that holistic beauty was my calling.

Fast forward over a decade: after returning home to Sandbanks, Dorset, I started my own beauty business from home — beginning with just three clients. Within six months, I was fully booked, offering facials, waxing, and massages full-time. In 2012, I studied even more in London, taking courses in natural skincare formulation, and by 2014, I opened a high-end beauty salon.

It was a dream — and a success. But behind the scenes, my health was rapidly declining.

I’ve lived with Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease for many years. After being on strong medications for so long, my skin became painfully sensitive. I knew I had to slow down — so in 2018, I closed the salon, stepped back, and focused all my energy on building a skincare brand people would truly fall in love with.

Launching BAO Skincare at the end of 2017 was the best thing I’ve ever done. My beauty clients were obsessed, and new customers started coming in every day — from across the country.

But then came 2019. I spent nearly 80% of the year in hospital battling severe illness from IBD. Two major surgeries followed, and now I live with a permanent stoma. And honestly? It gave me my life back.

So here we are — and I’m finally launching my Happy Skin Journal, something I’ve dreamed of doing for years! I’ve always loved sharing my secrets for glowing skin, good nutrition, and wellness with anyone who’ll listen. (Just ask my friends — I could talk for hours!)

Over the years I’ve worked in so many industries — from waitressing and cleaning a B&B, to working in advertising sales and managing a gym. But this — BAO, skincare, and helping others — this is what I was meant to do.

Right now, BAO is still a small, heart-led brand. With the help of my beautiful dog Walter (you’ll see him all over our Instagram 🐾), I hand-make all the products, label each jar, create the content, and manage our social media. If you contact us — you’re talking to me.

Now that my health has improved, I’m full steam ahead. We have new products in development, refillable packaging on the way, and I’ve worked hard to achieve certifications from COSMOS Soil Association and The Vegan Society. We're also pushing forward on our sustainability journey, and I’m always open to your ideas and feedback.

I just want to say — from the bottom of my heart — thank you. For the love, the support, the energy, and the belief. You’ve helped make my dream a reality. I can't wait to keep making your skin happy for many more years to come.

Here’s to happy, healthy skin… and to this next chapter together.

With love,
Beth xx