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The Beauty Sessions

Sophie Blowfield

Welcome to The Beauty Sessions - Beauty's new strategic authority.

Insider conversations with the industry's most influential leaders, hosted by Sophie Blowfield, a world-class brand strategist and beauty consultant.

From breakout founders to global executives, Sophie takes you behind the velvet rope for unfiltered conversations about building, scaling, and disrupting in today's beauty landscape. Discover the strategic decisions and hard-won insights that shaped the brands you love.

The Beauty Sessions: Your insider access to beauty's most strategic minds.

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  • 26 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 44 min
  • English

Episodes 26

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  • S3 · E40
    Wednesday · 37 min

    Ep 40: Matilda Djerf — Fashion, Beauty & the Djerf Avenue Empire

    Few people have built an empire quite like Matilda Djerf. In this episode, Sophie Blowfield sits down with the Swedish-born creative behind Djerf Avenue, the global fashion, beauty and lifestyle brand she co-founded that grew from a travel blog and a devoted online community into a phenomenon — complete with that signature effortless blowout everyone now asks their hairdresser for. Matilda opens up about why her community has always been the face of the brand — modelling the campaigns, filling an empty chair in every meeting — the fierce commitment to showing every size on the website, and the story behind the Djerf Avenue name. They also get into the part of the business Sophie thinks is criminally underrated — Djerf Avenue Beauty. They also talk about the brand’s new permanent store in New York, and what’s next. A masterclass in community, intuition and building a brand entirely on your own terms. I hope you enjoy! Follow The Beauty Sessions on Instagram Follow Sophie Blowfield on Instagram Follow Matilda Djerf on Instagram Follow Djerf Avenue on Instagram

  • S3 · E39
    October 14 · 57 min

    Ep 39: Sarah Creal — The Woman Behind Beauty's Most Iconic Products

    Some people spend a career making other people's visions iconic. Sarah Creal is one of them — and now she's done it for herself. In this episode, Sophie Blowfield sits down with the product developer and brand architect behind some of the most legendary names in luxury beauty: Tom Ford Beauty, Bobbi Brown, and Victoria Beckham Beauty, where she was co-founder and CEO. With over 30 years of expertise — from the Clinique counter to Estée Lauder boardrooms — Sarah launched her own brand, Sarah Creal Beauty, in 2024: a first-of-its-kind luxury line created specifically for women 40+. It's already won global awards and sits in Sephora stores across the US. A genuine masterclass in product, storytelling and conviction. I hope you enjoy! Follow The Beauty Sessions on InstagramFollow Sophie Blowfield on InstagramFollow Sarah Creal on Instagram

  • S3 · E38
    October 7 · 42 min

    Ep 38: Julianne Goldmark — Building the World of Emi Jay: The Hair Brand Taking Over Sephora

    Some brands you wear. Emi Jay is one you feel genuinely attached to. In this episode, Sophie Blowfield sits down with founder Julianne Goldmark — who, let's be honest, redefined the claw clip for an entire generation. Julianne started Emi Jay back in 2009, at just 15. More than 15 years later it's a bona fide that-girl staple — worn by Hailey Bieber, Sofia Richie and Kendall Jenner. It's now expanded into cult hairstyling products, and since launching in Sephora in 2025 has become one of the best-selling brands at Sephora, full stop. She and Sophie get into building a brand world with a story around every product, the reality of the Sephora era, and why, after 15 years, her biggest lesson is simply to be patient. I hope you enjoy! Follow The Beauty Sessions on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Sophie Blowfield on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Emi Jay on ⁠⁠Instagram

  • S3 · E37
    September 23 · 41 min

    Ep 37: Luke Hersheson — Great British Hair, from Keira Knightley to Victoria Beckham

    Few people have shaped British hair like Luke Hersheson. In this episode, Sophie Blowfield sits down with the stylist, entrepreneur and CEO behind Hershesons — the cult brand he built alongside his father, Daniel, from a single King's Road salon into a world of game-changing tools, cult products and reinvented spaces. He's the man behind some of the most iconic cuts of the last few decades, from Keira Knightley and Dua Lipa to Sienna Miller and Victoria Beckham. He and Sophie get into revolutionising the straightening iron, inventing the world's first blow-dry bar out of a business crisis and why he refuses to make products for the sake of newness. A masterclass in restraint, reinvention and building a brand with a genuine point of view. I hope you enjoy! Follow The Beauty Sessions on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Sophie Blowfield on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Luke Hersheson on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ Follow Hershesons on ⁠⁠Instagram

  • S3 · E36
    September 16 · 31 min

    Ep 36: Bella Falk on Why Luxury Skincare Shouldn't Cost a Fortune

    What if luxury skincare was never meant to cost a fortune? That's the question that started Strange Luxury. In this episode, Sophie Blowfield sits down with founder, Bella Falk — the 28-year-old Australian building one of the most quietly covetable beauty and loungewear worlds around. Determined to recreate the formulas she loved without the luxury price tag, she taught herself the entire supply chain — manufacturers, formulations, trade shows, margins — and built Strange Luxury from the ground up. A masterclass in accessible luxury, intentional building, and knowing your customer because you are your customer. I hope you enjoy! Follow The Beauty Sessions on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Sophie Blowfield on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Bella Falk on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ Follow Strange Luxury on ⁠⁠Instagram

  • S3 · E34
    August 26 · 53 min

    Ep 35: Kira Mackenzie Jackson Enters the Beauty Chat as CMO at m.ph Beauty

    Some people spend a career mastering one lane. Kira Mackenzie Jackson has made a superpower out of refusing to. In this episode, Sophie Blowfield sits down with one of the sharpest minds in consumer brand building — and, as of this August, the new CMO of mph Beauty, Mary Phillips' cult-favourite makeup brand. Kira's path has been anything but linear: a career spanning PR, partnerships and private equity, board and angel-investing roles, and years as Chief Brand Officer at SET Active, the LA activewear brand that turned the drop model into an art form. Now she's channelling all of it into beauty. I hope you enjoy! Follow The Beauty Sessions on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Sophie Blowfield on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Kira Jackson on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ Follow mph on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram

  • S3 · E34
    August 19 · 48 min

    Ep 34: Erin Kleinberg, The Serial Founder Behind SIDIA, Coveteur & Métier Creative

    Some people build one great brand in a lifetime. Erin Kleinberg has built several. In this episode — Sophie sits down with the serial founder behind SIDIA, the modern fragrance house rooted in ancestral ritual, self-care, and the legacy of Erin's late grandmother, the brand's namesake. But SIDIA is just one chapter. Erin is also co-founder of Coveteur, the fashion and beauty platform that became a cultural phenomenon by photographing the world's tastemakers inside their own closets, and founder of Métier Creative, the agency behind some of the most exciting brand launches around. Everything she touches carries the same editorial, intentional quality. Erin opens up about a career that began with a clothing line, the loss that inspired SIDIA and a piece of advice from Karl Lagerfeld she's never forgotten. A masterclass in intuition, legacy, and building with a genuine reason to exist. I hope you enjoy! Follow The Beauty Sessions on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Sophie Blowfield on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Erin Kleinberg on Instagram Follow SIDIA on ⁠⁠Instagram

  • S3 · E33
    July 22 · 17 min

    Ep 33: Solo Episode - Sophie Blowfield On: The 10 Things I'd Do Before Launching a Beauty Brand

    This week I'm doing a solo episode with the question I get asked more than any other, and I wanted to sit down and answer it properly — The 10 Things I'd Do Before Launching a Beauty Brand. I've spent over 16 years in rooms with beauty founders — some right at the very beginning, some three years in and quietly wondering why a beautiful product isn't selling. So this is my difficult-question list — the ten things I'd do, in the order I'd actually do them. It's the top-level version of the work I'm usually paid to sit and solve. I hope you enjoy! Follow The Beauty Sessions on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Sophie Blowfield on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Sophie Blowfield on Substack

  • S3 · E32
    July 15 · 1 hr 6 min

    Ep 32: Sam McKnight — The Hairstylist Behind Fashion's Most Iconic Looks

    In this episode, Sophie Blowfield sits down with Sam McKnight MBE — the hairstylist behind some of the most iconic personalities, fashion houses and images in fashion history, and one of the most influential names the industry has ever known. Over five decades, Sam has created hundreds of Vogue covers, styled the runways of Chanel, Vivienne Westwood and Balmain, spent twelve years alongside Karl Lagerfeld, and defined the supermodel era with the likes of Linda, Naomi, Christy and Cindy. He spent seven years as Princess Diana's stylist — the hands behind her famous crop — and today creates red-carpet looks for some of the most famous women in the world — Cate Blanchett, Kate Moss, Margot Robbie and Bella Hadid — while running his cult brand, Hair by Sam McKnight. Sophie and Sam talk about his journey from a Scottish mining village to the heart of fashion, the spontaneity and creative freedom of the early years, why he's fighting for beauty teams to be credited and properly protected, and why, after five decades at the very top, success now simply means still being here and enjoying every minute. I hope you enjoy! Follow The Beauty Sessions on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Sophie Blowfield on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Hair By Sam McKnight on ⁠Instagram

  • S3 · E31
    July 1 · 51 min

    Ep 31: How Jenny Lei Built Handbag Brand Freja into an 8-Figure Business

    What does it take to build a brand that lasts? In this episode, Sophie Blowfield sits down with Jenny Lei, founder of Freja — the cult handbag label that's quietly become one of the most considered names in accessories. Jenny started Freja in 2020 with no design background, no industry connections, and no outside investment. What she had was a genuine problem to solve: she couldn't find a sleek, functional, understated bag for a job interview. Six years and a few earlier ventures later, Freja is an eight-figure brand worn by Hailey Bieber, built on vegan materials, full price transparency, and bags designed from the inside out to move with your life. Jenny opens up about the early years when nothing happened, why she turns inward rather than outward for every brand decision, the real story behind the Hailey Bieber moment, and why "ask yourself why" is the only advice she gives aspiring founders. A masterclass in patience, intentionality, and building something that deserves to exist. I hope you enjoy! Follow The Beauty Sessions on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Sophie Blowfield on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Freja New York on⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ Follow Jenny Lei on Instagram

  • S2 · E30
    June 17 · 38 min

    Ep 30: Carol Han on Building Fragrance Through Poetry with Nette

    What if a fragrance could begin as a poem? In this episode, Sophie Blowfield sits down with Carol Han, founder and CEO of Nette — the New York-based fragrance and candle brand redefining what luxury scent can be. Born in San Francisco, raised in Hawaii, and shaped by years as a fashion editor at Elle, Carol traces Nette back to the candle store her mother ran when she was a little girl, and the carefree childhood she's spent her career trying to bottle. The result is a brand where every scent starts as a poem, each fragrance is built around a fictional character living in Carol's head, and the mood-boosting benefits are backed by neuroscience. This episode is a masterclass in storytelling, intention, and building something people actually want to keep. I hope you enjoy! Follow The Beauty Sessions on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Sophie Blowfield on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Nette NYC on⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠

  • S2 · E29
    May 13 · 58 min

    Ep. 29: Dr Natazia zu Stolberg: Why All the Cool Girls Are Drinking Rest + Digest

    Dr. Natazia zu Stolberg is a doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, licensed acupuncturist based in Los Angeles, and founder of Dr. Stolberg — the brand behind the iconic Rest + Digest tea. She's also the co-founder of Space 314, a wellness space offering acupuncture, sports recovery, and personal training. In this episode, Dr. Stolberg shares the deeply personal health journey that led her to Chinese medicine — why she was on the path to becoming a Western medical doctor before everything changed, her philosophy that less is more when it comes to health, and why your smoothies and salads might actually be making your bloating worse. She breaks down the science behind Rest + Digest tea, to simple food recipes for people on-the-go and why slowing down is the most underrated health hack — this is the wellness conversation everyone needs to hear. Our listeners can purchase Rest + Digest Tea with 10% OFF a one-time purchase at DOCTORSTOLBERG.COM using code THEBEAUTYSESSIONS. I hope you enjoy! Follow The Beauty Sessions on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Sophie Blowfield on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Dr. Natazia zu Stolberg on ⁠Instagram

  • S2 · E28
    April 29 · 51 min

    Ep. 28: Frances Shoemack on Challenging the Status Quo with Abel Fragrance

    Frances Shoemack is the founder of Abel Fragrance, a brand proving that natural fragrances don't have to compromise on performance or sophistication. A former winemaker from New Zealand, Frances left the wine trade after moving to Amsterdam, fell in love with the world of niche perfumery, and quickly realised that nobody was making luxury fragrance from natural, fossil fuel-free ingredients. So she built it herself. In this episode, Frances shares why Abel's new packaging took over three years to develop and why her philosophy of radical fragrance means never putting something into the world that doesn't have a reason for existing. This is a conversation about craft, courage, and building a brand that walks to its own beat. I hope you enjoy! Follow The Beauty Sessions on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Sophie Blowfield on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Frances Shoemack on Instagram Follow Abel Fragrance on ⁠Instagram

  • S2 · E27
    April 15 · 38 min

    Ep 27: Krystle Wilson on Modeling, Motherhood & Why Organization Is Self-Care

    Krystle Wilson is a model signed to Elite Model Management and the founder of Everything Clear, a luxury home organization service based in New York City. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Krystle's career has taken her from studying fashion design in Miami to modelling in Paris — including a go-see with Azzedine Alaïa himself that she booked because of her genuine appreciation for the craft of design. In this episode, Krystle opens up about her early years growing up in Brooklyn, teaching herself to sew at 14, being discovered at a party in Miami and signing with Elite the following week. She shares why organisation is a form of self-care, how her fashion design background makes her approach to spaces completely different, and the products she swears by. This is a conversation about reinvention, intentionality, and finding beauty in every corner of your life. I hope you enjoy! Follow The Beauty Sessions on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Sophie Blowfield on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Krystle Wilson on ⁠Instagram⁠

  • S2 · E26
    April 1 · 57 min

    Ep 26: Inside Luxury Beauty with Sean Garrette: From Fenty Skin to Dior Beauty

    Sean Garrette has held some of the most prestigious roles in beauty — first global ambassador for Fenty Skin then official skincare expert for Dior Beauty — but this episode goes far beyond the accolades. He shares the full story of how he was personally chosen to work for Fenty, what it was really like walking into the world of Dior as a man who didn't feel like he belonged, and why the diversity gains the industry made after BLM have quietly disappeared. He's candid about the loneliness of building a career that no one from his community has had before, and he's putting his next dream out into the universe on this episode. If you care about the future of beauty, representation, and what it actually looks like behind the curtain of luxury brands — this is essential listening. I hope you enjoy! Follow The Beauty Sessions on⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Sophie Blowfield on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Sean Garrette on Instagram

  • S1 · E25
    March 25 · 40 min

    Ep 25: Katini Yamaoka on the Art of Building Katini Skin

    Katini Yamaoka is a musical artist and founder of Katini Skin, a luxury facial oil brand stocked at Bergdorf Goodman and Sephora. In this episode, Katini shares how her mother's natural beauty rituals planted the seed for the brand, what it was like building a luxury skincare line during the stillness of 2020, and the moment a Sephora buyer discovered Katini Skin. She talks about why she chose to focus exclusively on oils, how she created audio rituals that pair original music with her skincare products, and why beauty and music are both forms of self-care— this is a founder story about heritage, intuition, and building something that means something. I hope you enjoy! Follow The Beauty Sessions on⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠ Follow Sophie Blowfield on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ Follow Katini Yamaoka on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠ Follow Katini Skin on ⁠Instagram

  • S2 · E24
    March 18 · 49 min

    Ep 24: Bec Wilson on the Power of PR & Launching Beauty's Biggest Names

    Bec Wilson is a beauty PR expert and the founder of Eleven Consultancy, a brand building company based in New York specialising in strategic PR communications and events. With nearly 20 years in the industry spanning Sydney, London, and New York, she has launched and shaped some of beauty's most iconic brands — including Charlotte Tilbury, Victoria Beckham Beauty, Glossier, and Ariana Grande's REM Beauty. In this episode, Bec takes us back to the early days of Charlotte Tilbury when the eyeshadow quads were still in plastic lab containers and the founding team could fit around one table. She shares the lessons from Charlotte that still guide her today, what it was really like launching Victoria Beckham Beauty in the US, how beauty PR has fundamentally evolved over the past decade, and why she finally stepped out from behind the scenes to launch her own consultancy after years of building other people's brands. From the power of delusional self-belief to why hard work and self-advocacy still matter — this is an insider's look at what it actually takes to build beauty brands that break through. I hope you enjoy! Follow The Beauty Sessions on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ Follow Sophie Blowfield on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ Follow Bec Wilson on ⁠⁠Instagram Follow Eleven Consultancy on Instagram

  • S2 · E23
    March 4 · 46 min

    Ep 23: Dr. Ewoma on Radical Honesty in Beauty

    From early skin struggles to becoming one of the most trusted voices in aesthetics, Dr. Ewoma Ukeleghe has built her brand SKNDOCTOR on a foundation of radical honesty. As an award-winning medical and cosmetic doctor, Contributing Editor for ELLE UK, she's collaborated with some of the world's most coveted brands including—Dior Beauty, Estée Lauder, Charlotte Tilbury, and Glossier — all while cultivating one of the most engaged communities in the beauty space. In this episode, Dr. Ewoma opens up about her pivot from traditional medicine to cosmetic medicine, why transparency about treatments and practitioners matters more than ever in aesthetics, and the exact skincare routine behind the glowiest skin on Instagram. She also shares why she believes beauty and fashion are inseparable, her approach to delegation as a CEO and content creator, and the self-care rituals that keep her grounded. This is a conversation about building trust, embracing imperfection, and why radical honesty is the most powerful tool in beauty. I hope you enjoy! Follow The Beauty Sessions on⁠ Instagram⁠ Follow Sophie Blowfield on ⁠Instagram⁠ Follow Dr. Ewoma on ⁠Instagram

  • S2 · E22
    February 18 · 51 min

    Ep 22: The Making of Merit Beauty with CMO Aila Morin

    Merit Beauty didn't just redefine minimalist beauty—it redefined what modern luxury cosmetics could be. And behind that evolution is Aila Morin, CMO, whose approach to marketing prioritizes emotional connection over fleeting trends. In this episode, Aila shares her journey from working on beauty counters at a young age to leading marketing at one of the industry's most intentional brands. We discuss Merit's longevity in a saturated market, the strategic thinking behind launching Retrospect fragrance, and why understanding the consumer experience matters more than chasing virality. This is a conversation about building brands that resonate beyond the algorithm, why rejection is protection, and what it takes to create products that are both functional and emotionally significant. I hope you enjoy! Follow The Beauty Sessions on Instagram Follow Sophie Blowfield on Instagram Follow Merit Beauty on Instagram

  • S2 · E21
    February 11 · 36 min

    Ep 21: Jordan Risa on Finding Inner Beauty with Seen Library

    After a decade working with some of beauty and fashion's most beloved brands—Rose Inc., MERIT, Sofia Richie, Rhode, Gucci Beauty—Jordan Risa felt the shift. Social media had moved from genuine connection to relentless self-promotion. So she did something radical: she cut back on work and created Seen Library—a community for readers to connect in person through meaningful and inclusive storytelling. In this episode, Jordan shares her journey from influencer marketing pioneer to founder of a global book community hosting events in LA, New York, London, and Paris. We discuss the cultural obsession with appearance, why she focuses on historically excluded voices, and what it means to build community in an increasingly digital world. This is a conversation about intuition over metrics, quality over quantity, and what happens when you trust your unique point of view—even when it means walking away from what's expected. I hope you enjoy! Follow The Beauty Sessions on Instagram Follow Sophie Blowfield on Instagram Follow Seen Library on Instagram Follow Jordan Risa on Instagram

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