Welcome to this week’s ‘My Beauty and Wellbeing’ story… this week we’re sharing our interview with Nnenna Onuba, ex-investment banker, now beauty entrepreneur and founder of skincare and wellbeing brand LBB Skincare (life is beautiful in balance).

We’re all about holistic beauty and wellbeing and we love hearing about how other people are managing there’s – for this series we’re reaching out to some inspiring women and men to find out about their favourite products and practices- you know …the things that enable them to be their best selves.

There’s a new story every Wednesday so watch this space and don’t be shy to comment or volunteer to share your stories!

Nnenna, first of all tell us a little bit about yourself

I am a recovering product junkie, it started at university when I had a Saturday job at Boots. I became obsessed with the latest skincare products and launches. Fast forward to my city career, I worked on high pressure, high profile corporate transactions and it came with many late nights.  Managing the effects of stress on my skin, mood and energy became a focus – my mantra was that burnout and wrinkles should not be the price of my hustle! I was also learning about the toxic effects of some of the ingredients used in the products I was using, and in trying to avoid them, I developed a keen interest in holistic skincare.

Given my lifestyle, I also wanted to declutter my routine and that’s how LBB was born. I founded LBB (short for Life is Beautiful in Balance), a British independent vegan and skincare and wellness brand to harness the power of high performing clean and natural ingredients to treat the effects of stress on skin and mood. Each product is designed to multi-task, free up space and soothe mind and body. My end goal is leave our users feeling confident, calm and in control.

You pivoted from Investment banking to beauty entrepreneurship: Why is clean beauty so important to you?

Clean beauty is products made without ingredients that are shown or suspected to harm our health – I can’t see why anyone would want anything else. Especially as clean technology is now so advanced and there’s absolutely no need to compromise on performance.nnenna

What are your favourite skincare ingredients?

That’s like asking a parent to choose their favourite child. My African heritage introduced me to many fantastic skincare ingredients like shea and cocoa butter that will always be special. As a result, it made me keen to hero lesser known superfood ingredients & botanics, many of which feature in our LBB products. E.g. Retinol, THE anti-ageing ingredient is naturally found in high amounts in Kahai seed oil. Or Moringa seed Oil, which has plant growth hormones that’s clinically shown to improve the skins ability to renew and heal itself. The other is Hyaluronic Acid – probably the most popular skin care ingredient on earth. It provides lasting hydration, plumps and makes the skin glow. However, you’ll notice you only ever see water based HA. In A-Game, our hydration balm, we combine an oil soluble HA with some seriously nourishing superfood oils to get a product that hydrates, smooths skin, is anti-aging and full of the protective antioxidants and omegas the skin needs to stay healthy and youthful.

Apart from your own fab products, what are your must have skincare products? What is the last product that you purchased that you’re loving?

Must haves: SPF. I recently bought Super Goop’s clear sunscreen its awesome.

As you know Wow Beauty is committed to encouraging self care, what are some of your non negotiable self care rituals?

selfcareLoving myself and seeing me as deserving of the care I give so freely to others. Product wise, my Flight Mode Mood rescue roll-on helps me to fit in multiple micro moments in my day. It’s a blend of essential oils that manages to both pick me up and calm me down. I use it first thing with my quiet time in the morning, when I work out, sitting at my desk, to sleep – it’s never far and helps me get through the day.

What difference has lock down life made to how you practise self care?

It’s made me reassess my definition of “essential” vs “luxury” – especially helping me realise that many of the things I did and thought were luxuries actually played a much more important role in my emotional happiness. This has removed some of the guilt attached with more indulgent forms of selfcare.

 What item has become your lockdown must haves?

My Mood Rescue was LIFE! I was practically drinking it throughout lockdown.

What is your typical morning skin care routine like?

I like to keep it simple. I cleanse, tone, moisturise and SPF and at night double cleanse to take off makeup.

  1. I rotate between two cleansers: Tata Harpers regenerating cleanser and  acne.org and been trying out Pai’s cleansing oil – I love the smell and colour.
  2. Acid Toner: Currently using Pixi Glycolic glow acid toner
  3. Moisturise: I use LBB’s A-Game hydration balm – it combines my serum, oil and moisturiser step into one. I also use it on my lips and under eye
  4. SPF: I rotate between Super Goop & Tatcha’s SPF

And your night time routine?

Same as above, only I double cleanse, using an oil cleanser to take off my makeup before using my rinse off cleanser to take off make up and spf. When I’m tired, on-the-go or travelling, I use LBBs Take Off-Touch Down Cloths which has willow Bark, a natural form of salicylic acid to tone and deep cleanse, hydrating alages and skin balancing probiotics. I bring in extra glycolic acid, mists and essences depending on what my skin is doing especially when I get hormonal breakouts or when I’m travelling a lot. I also try to go for a facial every 6 weeks – its my skin MOT.

Has anything changed since lockdown?

I’m cooking much more.

What changes would you like to see and the beauty industry over the next year or so?

More inclusivity and government funding support for innovative challenger brands.Nnenna

Thank you, Nnenna

Find out more about LBB Skincare here

Inspired? Read more stories from our series…