Meet Robin Doyle, Founder of Beautyologie

What are fair trade products? I see this phrase in online articles and on Instagram associated with food and beauty products. Fair-trading is a way of buying and selling products that make certain that the people who produce the goods are receiving a fair price. It also means, according to Beautyologie, that companies or brands are “treating their producers fairly, stomping out child labor, promoting gender equality and minimizing their mark on the planet.”

I’m always on the lookout for clean beauty products that are ethically sourced. So when I heard about the beauty website, Beautyologie, I was very intrigued. Please meet the latest Real Mom of the SFV – Robin Doyle, Owner and Founder of Beautyologie!

How/why did you begin your business?

Robin: After working in beauty as a writer and publicist for 25 years, I saw a white space in this saturated industry. Beauty products are everywhere, but I realized there wasn’t a marketplace focusing on beauty brands doing good in the world. For instance, brands that help the environment, employ women who have escaped human trafficking, help send children to school in developing countries, and empower their producers to have a better life.

During Covid, like so many of us who were stuck at home trying to remain hopeful, I focused a lot of my time on what brought me joy. Some of my favorite and most inspiring public relations projects were centered around fair trade beauty brands. The idea to create a fair trade and ethically sourced beauty marketplace just popped into my head one day so I ran the idea by some clients and friends and everyone was very encouraging. I then started researching brands from countries like Guatemala, India, Brazil and South Africa that also focused on fair trade and every one of them loved the idea, especially since it hadn’t been done before.

As a working mother, what is one tip or piece of advice that you would give to other female entrepreneurs?

Robin: If you can, create your work schedule around your kids’ schedules. It is easy to get caught up in the overwhelming business of being in business for yourself. However, when you carve out time to focus on your work when your kids are in school or busy with their extracurricular events, you will undoubtedly show up as the best version of yourself for everyone! However, keep in mind that life is chaotic, and it doesn’t always go according to plan. When your carved-out work schedule isn’t vibing, try not to get overwhelmed. Be kind to yourself and focus on your priorities. For me, my kids have always come first. That alone keeps me grounded when times get crazy.

What do you like best about having a business in the San Fernando Valley?

Robin: I’m a born and raised Valley girl so this is my stomping ground. I know it well. While Beautyologie is primarily online, I am fortunate to have a ‘shop within a shop’ at the Valley Salt Cave in Woodland Hills on Ventura Blvd. where customers can experience and learn about many of the products I retail on the site in person. It’s very rewarding to give back to my community and I hope to one day have a store of my own!

If there was one thing you wish you knew before you began your business, what would that be?

Robin: Mistakes are part of starting any business. Without them, you wouldn’t know what works and what doesn’t. I remember thinking when I first started Beautyologie that I was going to be super calculated, lean, and smart with every decision I made. That thinking didn’t last too long. Over the last two years, I’ve learned more about the business world by what I’ve done wrong than by what I’ve done right!

I am looking forward to visiting The Valley Salt Cave in the next few weeks and checking out Beautyologie’s fair trade, clean beauty products. Stay tuned for my review in the coming month!

For more information on Robin and Beautyologie, check out their website here. Select products are available at The Valley Salt Cave, 20929 Ventura Blvd., Unit 12, Woodland Hills, 91364. Also, don’t forget to follow their Instagram account and Facebook page to get the latest updates!

Disclosure: No monetary compensation was received for this post. The image shown in this post is used with permission. As always, my opinions are 100% my own.