I was fired from my retail job for not lying to shoppers – it sparked my £1.5bn skincare line that you likely know of
WHEN Paula Begoun was sacked from her retail job, she had no idea it would be the most profitable moment of her life.
It inspired the 71-year-old to launch her eponymous brand – Paula’s Choice – which is now worth an estimated £1.5 BILLION.
Paula was fired from her cosmetic counter job in 1975 for “telling customers the truth” about what certain products could and couldn’t do for skin.
“I got caught telling a customer that astringents can’t close pores among other facts,” she told news.com.au.
“I wasn’t willing to bend the truth to make a sale — a principle I carried into building Paula’s Choice.”
Paula’s Choice is a no-BS skincare brand that uses scientifically backed ingredients to ensure your complexion woes are targeted at the source.
And Paula’s principles have ensured the brand stays profitable, with her selling the company to Unilever in a deal rumoured to be worth close to US$2 billion in 2021.
“My skin issues started very young,” she explained.
“Eczema flared up in childhood, then puberty brought the unwelcome addition of acne.
“It was a nightmare.
“Frustrated, I delved into scientific research on skin and ingredients.
“Eventually, my constant discomfort and disappointment fuelled my passion to write books about what I learned, and then eventually led me to create my Paula’s Choice products.”
Paula was able to launch her brand after gaining notoriety as The Cosmetic Cop.
In 1985, she self-published her first best-selling book, Blue Eyeshadow Should Be Illegal.
She went on to appear on The Oprah Winfrey Show where she was given the enduring nickname.
“I didn’t want to write any more books on skincare and make-up, and I knew I could take everything I learned and put it into creating truly effective formulas that could live up to their claims,” she said.
Paula's Choice Bestsellers
- Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant – £35
- 10% Azelaic Acid Booster – £41
- Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment – £61
- Clinical Pro Retinaldehyde Dual-Retinoid Treatment – £63
- Clear Cleanser – £22
- Resist Anti-Aging Moisturiser SPF 50 – £39
- Skin Balancing Toner – £27
“I didn’t want other women to go through the same frustrations I went through in my skincare journey.
“I needed to do something more about it.
“So I did, by creating Paula’s Choice Skincare.”
Paula’s Choice’s best selling product is the £35 SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, which fights breakouts and blackheads.
It is also famed for its £61 Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment which improves skin texture, while also softening fine lines and wrinkles.