The Beauty Sessions

Merit Beauty didn't just redefine minimalist beauty—it redefined what modern luxury cosmetics could be. And behind that evolution is Aila Morin, CMO, whose approach to marketing prioritizes emotional connection over fleeting trends.
In this episode, Aila shares her journey from working on beauty counters at a young age to leading marketing at one of the industry's most intentional brands. We discuss Merit's longevity in a saturated market, the strategic thinking behind launching Retrospect fragrance, and why understanding the consumer experience matters more than chasing virality.
This is a conversation about building brands that resonate beyond the algorithm, why rejection is protection, and what it takes to create products that are both functional and emotionally significant.

I hope you enjoy!

Follow The Beauty Sessions on Instagram
Follow Sophie Blowfield on Instagram
Follow Merit Beauty on Instagram

After a decade working with some of beauty and fashion's most beloved brands—Rose Inc., MERIT, Sofia Richie, Rhode, Gucci Beauty—Jordan Risa felt the shift. Social media had moved from genuine connection to relentless self-promotion. So she did something radical: she cut back on work and created Seen Library—a community for readers to connect in person through meaningful and inclusive storytelling.

In this episode, Jordan shares her journey from influencer marketing pioneer to founder of a global book community hosting events in LA, New York, London, and Paris. We discuss the cultural obsession with appearance, why she focuses on historically excluded voices, and what it means to build community in an increasingly digital world.

This is a conversation about intuition over metrics, quality over quantity, and what happens when you trust your unique point of view—even when it means walking away from what's expected.

I hope you enjoy!

Follow The Beauty Sessions on Instagram
Follow Sophie Blowfield on Instagram
Follow Seen Library on Instagram
Follow Jordan Risa on Instagram

After 16 years as an award-winning Beauty Director and Editor—including her roles as Beauty Director at Stylist Magazine and Beauty Editor at The Sunday Times Style Magazine—Joanna Ellner felt disillusioned. Even the most science-driven skincare wasn't delivering tangible results. The answer didn't come from another lab or ingredient innovation—it came from studying Traditional Chinese Medicine.
In this episode, Joanna shares how decades of conceptualizing formula ideas finally materialized into REOME in 2023—an elevated skincare brand that exists at the intersection of advanced biotechnology and grounding practice.
This is a conversation about patience, expertise, and what happens when you refuse to compromise on either results or ritual.

I hope you enjoy!

Follow The Beauty Sessions on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Follow Sophie Blowfield on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Follow REOME on⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Follow Joanna Ellner on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Izzy Utterson has built a mini wellness empire teaching women how to level up and live their best lives. After leaving corporate marketing roles at brands including Charlotte Tilbury, the mindset coach and content creator has amassed almost 500K followers across Instagram and TikTok with her viral "Hot Girls Don't Gatekeep" series and practical glow-up advice.
In this episode, Izzy breaks down why glowing up isn't just about aesthetics—it's about mindset, wellness, and showing up as your best self. She shares her journey from corporate life to full-time content creation, her approach to skincare, and why her glow-up tips have gone viral.
Izzy walks through her complete AM and PM routines, reveals her best life hacks for staying organized without burning out, and shares the five most important things you can do to glow up your 2026.

This is the conversation you need to start the year right.

I hope you enjoy!

Follow The Beauty Sessions on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Follow Sophie Blowfield on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Follow Izzy Utterson on⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Welcome to Season 2!
In this episode, Sophie Blowfield goes inside Pamela Anderson's mindful beauty brand Sonsie with CEO Kailey Bradt—the chemical engineer turned founder turned leader driving the brand's most successful year yet.
Kailey breaks down what it's really like working with Pamela, how they're building a plastic-negative brand without compromising performance, and why her product obsession is the secret weapon behind Sonsie's growth. From sustainability practices every brand should adopt to her biggest life hacks as a woman in business, this conversation reveals what happens when purpose-driven leadership meets serious formulation expertise.
If you want the real story behind one of beauty's most authentic brands, this is it.

I hope you enjoy!

Follow The Beauty Sessions on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Follow Sophie Blowfield on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Follow Sonsie Skin on Instagram