Caroline Hirons Review Creates International Demand for the JustBe Botanicals Cleansing Balm
A glowing review from leading skincare expert Caroline Hirons sparked something entirely unexpected: international demand for the JustBe Cleansing Balm from Ireland, mainland Europe and Australia.
The story of how it happened is one of my favourites. As a fan of Bobbi Brown, I was in their Edinburgh store one afternoon for a mini makeup session and we got talking about what I did. When one of the team suggested sending a jar of my favourite JustBe product to Caroline I did, with absolutely no expectations. This was before her appearances on This Morning, but was still a highly regarded skincare expert with a following to match.
As it was August, I happened to be at a show at the Edinburgh Festival when my Twitter account started 'blowing up'. Caroline had tagged JustBe in her review and by the time I got home, orders had started piling in from across the UK and beyond.
"One of the nicest cleansing balms I have ever used. It's that good. It easily and effortlessly removes all makeup and leaves no residue, eye makeup is no problem. I've been double cleansing with this when I have a full face of makeup, but I would happily use it for both my morning cleanse and evening skin cleanse. A little goes a long way. Suitable for all skin types, and the essential oils are not at a ridiculously high strength, so you should be fine if you have sensitivities. The smell is extremely subtle. Highly recommended."
What makes this story even more full-circle is what happened the next time that I visited the Bobbi Brown store - they had a copy of the Ultimate Natural Beauty Bible, which included my first two skincare awards, one of which was for the Cleansing Balm. It was the Bobbi Brown same store and the same team and Caroline's endorsement had given me the confidence to believe that what I was making was genuinely award-winning.
The Cleansing Balm has continued to earn recognition ever since, including a feature in Vogue's All Star Glamour issue and remains one of our most regular purchased and most gifted products.
JustBe Hydrating Serum in YOU Beauty Discovery Box Sold Out in Three Hours
When the JustBe Hydrating Serum was selected for inclusion in the YOU Beauty Discovery Box, it was an extraordinary moment of recognition from one of the UK's most trusted beauty publications. What happened next was even more extraordinary.
The entire stock of JustBe Hydrating Serum sold out in just three hours on the very first day.
The Mail on Sunday's Beauty Editor described it perfectly:
"I was overwhelmed with the results, this all-natural formula immediately quenched my skin, without leaving it greasy, and worked miracles on my décolletage. It smells amazing and feels super nourishing."
Two Great Taste Awards: JustBe Happy and JustBe Active Herbal Teas
And then came the Great Taste Awards. Not one, but two.
With over 10,000 entries judged by more than 400 chefs, food critics and food writers, the Great Taste Awards are among the most rigorous and respected food accreditations in the UK. Being recognised at all is a significant achievement. Being recognised twice in the same year, with a two-star award among them, was beyond what we had dared hope.
JustBe Happy Herbal Tea, Two Gold Great Taste Stars
A lemon balm and hibiscus blend that the judges described as having a "clean, original flavour", uplifting, vibrant and genuinely distinctive.
JustBe Active Herbal Tea, One Gold Great Taste Star
A spearmint and clove blend praised for its "cleverly managed" balance and striking combination. The judges noted how the two botanicals worked together rather than competing.
These were JustBe's first ever Great Taste Awards and the beginning of an ongoing relationship with one of food's most credible recognition programmes.
The BBC Good Food Show, Launch of JustBe Aromatherapy Chocolate Range
That same autumn brought another first: the launch of the JustBe aromatherapy chocolate range at the BBC Good Food Show in Glasgow. The response was incredible: tasting sessions, conversations and the kind of engagement you can only get when someone experiences something genuinely new for the first time was a sign of things to come.
My favourite part was the emails and phone calls that followed from those who had bought JustBe chocolate at the show for Christmas gifts but had eaten them all and wanted to know where they could buy more!
An Exciting Month That Felt Like The Start of Something
YOU Beauty Discovery Box sell-out. Caroline Hirons and international demand. Two Great Taste Awards. A BBC Good Food Show debut.
August 2014 was one of the most significant months in the JustBe story. The foundation of an awards journey that has since grown to 40+ accolades across skincare, food and wellbeing.
With gratitude for every judge, reviewer and customer who made that month possible, Gail