Lizzy Pike began her career as a Qantas flight attendant and worked as a yoga instructor before becoming an accomplished business coach. Having three children under the age of three fueled a desire to find easier and safer cleaning solutions. This led her into the microfiber industry where – for the past 15 years – Pike has been working and exploring ranges of fiber technology for multiple purposes. This experience equipped her with the skillset to develop Face Halo.
The Face Halo Story
Co-Founders Rebecca Williamson and Lizzy Pike met in the 80s in Sydney during a heavy lip liner and eyeliner craze. After they both married actors, had kids, moved around the world, and settled in Los Angeles just a few minutes from one other, they became closer friends. With seven young children between them, including a set of twins each, they bonded over their Aussie roots, lack of sleep, and busy lives. When Lizzy moved back to Australia a few years later, they both cried.
In a watershed moment a decade later, late one evening, following a few good wines on Bec’s couch in LA, she revealed to Lizzy that she rarely took her makeup off before bed. Lizzy was shocked – and it started the conversation that ultimately led to Face Halo’s creation.
Lizzy’s 15-year background in microfibers steered the conversation toward a solution – a makeup remover that ticked all the boxes: safe, easy to use, environmentally friendly, and cost-efficient. For the next year, they tested different variations of microfibers and spent hours on end discussing size, shape, look, and feel. After settling on a soft, plush, and pretty round pad with silky satin edges, they were ecstatic at how quickly and effectively it removed their makeup. They knew they had their final product – Face Halo, a perfect angel for their faces.
What ignited the spark in you to start this business venture?
There wasn’t anything in the beauty category that ticked all the boxes for me when it came to makeup removal.
When my friend said to me that she was too lazy to take her makeup off at night, I realized there was an opportunity to create the “lazy girls dream” when it came to taking makeup off with a microfiber makeup remover. Having worked in the textile/microfiber industry for many years it made sense to create something that was effective, simple and easier to use that looked good, felt good and was good for the environment to boot! Et Voila! – Hello Face Halo!!
Was there a significant turning point when you decided to become an entrepreneur?
Being an entrepreneur is in by blood, my Father was an entrepreneur for most of his life and he instilled courage in me and taught me to be brave and bold and to take risks. It’s not always smooth sailing however I believe there is no such thing as failure, only feedback, learn from the good and the bad and keep moving forward.
What was your initial marketing strategy, and how has it changed?
Living in a digital world, it was a conscious decision to start online and grow from there. The strategy has evolved with customer feedback and commercial demand. The addition of Retail and E-tail stores much quicker than we thought, our customer engagement is amazing, and our golden rule is always listen to your customer!
What do you believe was the best decision you made in business?
Surround yourself with a team of amazing people.
Who do you look up to in business? Who inspires you?
I look up to people in business that never give up, people who keep believing in themselves no matter what happens in their life, people who don’t let ego get in the way, who treat their employees and the people around them with respect – these are the kind of people that inspire me
What was the best advice that you have been given?
“Know that you can achieve anything you set your mind to” – my Mother
What do you think your key to success has been?
Hardwork, persistence, and a lot of love and laughter along the way.
How have you personally measured your success?
The amount of love, laughter and light in my life J ..coupled with regular doses of retail therapy J
How do you make the most of your day?
To fit everything in, I have to get up super early. I feel like I have done half a day already by the time the rest of my family wakes up. I have three children and the youngest (twins) are in their final year of high school, so I still have my ‘Mum’ hat on to get them off to school and make sure they are feeling confident and as stress free as they can be. I like to go to bed early so I can get up early and fit everything in, but my family are trying to boycott this and tell me I am not allowed to go to bed at 8.30pm because apparently “it’s just weird”
Describe/outline your typical day?
Wake up at 5.30am for my morning exercise, get the children off to school, put washing on, tidy the house.
Arrive at the office at 8.30am – love working at our office with a great team.
Head home at 6pm cook dinner and enjoy some family time – we still eat together every night. Try and stay up past 8.30pm J)))
When you think of your journey, what is the thing you are most proud of?
Forever and always – my family! 3 beautiful children and a wonderful husband
What is your favourite thing to do in your downtime?
Apart from watching ‘Handmaids Tale’ which I am totally addicted to and now bitterly disappointed that the next series is not until 2019 my favourite things are to hang out with my family and when I want ‘me’ time I love doing my yoga.
What motivates you?
To find a way to be the best version of me that I can be – it’s a work in progress and one that I am committed to
I want my children to know that the world is their oyster and they can do anything they set their minds to.
Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
There is some really good Aussie brands that are making their mark in the International market and I love that:
Bondi Sands, Blaq, Sand and Sky to name just a few.
Where you see yourself and your business in 10 years?
In 10 years I would love for at least 20% of the women and men in the world use Face Halo – The Best Makeup Remover in the world – #biased #notsorry
For me – I will still be loving and laughing with good people around me and my family, I will still be striving for the best version of me (there is always so much to learn) AND I will be going to bed at 8pm – LOL
Here’s where to find Face Halo
https://www.instagram.com/facehalo/
https://www.facebook.com/Face-Halo-219525018492842/
Face Halo is a plush, reusable pad that simplifies the process of removing makeup and creates a one-step alternative without the chemicals and additives. It’s ultra-fine ‘HaloTech Fibers’ are 100 times finer than a strand of human hair and are engineered specifically to lift makeup and impurities from the skin, trapping them in the fiber network, a process which simultaneously provides a gentle but invigorating exfoliation. Face Halo pads are unmatched for absorbency and durability, suitable for all skin types, and require no solvent other than water, leaving skin clean and completely makeup free.
Face Halo launched into China on the 9th July with a super unique event in Sydney. Over 50 guests, spanning Australian media and influencers, and Chinese KOL’s and VIP guests were in attendance. In addition, hundreds of thousands of consumers tuned in during their lunch breaks, via the live-stream T-Mall platform, to find out about the brand, purchasing products on the spot!
We Are Emersyn uses an inclusive definition “female” and “women” and we welcome trans people, women, genderqueer women, and non-binary people who identify, have identified, or have been identified as female, women, or non-binary.