For thirty-five years, Trish Winchester has been the driving force behind clinical skincare in Australia. Trish has created some of the most successful skincare businesses and brands in Australia.
Tell us about Change Skincare.
Change Skincare is the newest clinical skincare brand out in the market that is built on 30+ years experience and knowledge.
Change Skincare is Australia’s latest and greatest biomimetic cosmeceutical skincare range. Born out of passion and a wealth of experience from my many years in the industry, I wanted to focus that knowledge and love for reaching out to people struggling with their skin to create Change.
The range is redefining anti-ageing skincare by focusing on helping to reverse the accelerated signs of ageing while also encouraging the use of the range by young people as a preventative measure – Change is for everyone.
What inspired you to start Change Skincare?
I’ve been in the skincare industry for 35 years and so much in our world has changed since I started Aspect, my first skin care product. Our skin has changed, the environment, technology, ingredients – practically everything! After some time off when existing my business, I still felt there was a place in the market for a high quality cosmeceutical brand. I honed our focus on active ingredients that work without compromising quality and with that – I created Change Skincare.
Personally as a 60 year old women who is still very active physically and professionally, my desire to live a long fulfilled life and provide people with the ability to have great skin health at any age further motivated me to create Change Skincare
Change is especially designed for women – as women we are working longer days, we in high profile positions and I believe it is really important to maintain our skin health and texture across all ages and stages of life. As women we juggle many hats and are busy carving out our careers, and or looking after our family and we need an effective and uncomplicated skin care regime that works.
I am also motivated by creating a brand that uses the newest, latest and most clinically effective ingredients out there today. Since I created Aspect, Change is now the latest Australian owned, formulated and manufactured brand. As with anything, new technology and ingredients are constantly offering innovations and Change encompasses the latest technology in skincare and ingredients to be at the forefront. We are constantly changing ingredients and formulating our products based on the latest and most effective ingredients available. It’s my longevity and loyalty to the industry that allows me to be at the forefront of cutting edge ingredients, technology and industry innovations.
Most important, I am passionate about skin care and women today are experiencing the changing climate and going through hormonal changes. From this, women need good skincare to keep balanced and healthy that is nurturing the skin.
I have been in the skincare industry for 35 years and have undeniable knowledge and expertise that I want to continue imparting with other women through my products. I have just turned 60, I have great skin and there is no age limit to what you can achieve. Age should not define what you do nor should it limit your success.
Tell us about your career and background.
I began my career working with some of the world’s leading cosmetic houses, including Chanel and Clinique. In 1994, I founded Advanced Skin Technology (AST) a company formed with the vision of capitalising on the emerging anti-ageing skincare market. My first product with AST was a medical grade glycolic range which was the first of its kind in Australia. AST soon established a reputation for developing & supplying cutting edge clinical grade skincare products from their own ranges Aspect and Aspect DR as well as being the first national distributor of other various cosmeceutical brands like Cosmedix. All of this action helped me quickly solidify my position as a major player in the Australian skincare industry.
For many years, under my guidance AST flourished as one of the world’s leading skincare distributors as I led both the domestic and international arm of the company and the subsequent international extensions of the brand – Aspect Dr & Aspect. After my resignation from the company in 2016 & creating a reputation as a strategic business entrepreneur, I established TW Business Solutions – a one on one business coaching venture. From 2017 to 2019 alongside managing TW Business Solutions, I was the female chair of Coraggio, another high-end business coaching company. Both offered advisory services to a broad range of companies, with a particular focus on strategy, innovation, and growth.
In 2021, I launched Change Skincare – Australia’s latest and greatest biomimetic cosmeceutical skincare range. Combining my wealth of experience, knowledge and passion for reaching out to people struggling with their skin to create Change. Backed by the intention of redefining anti-ageing skincare, Change focuses on helping to reverse the accelerated signs of ageing while also encouraging the use of the range by young people as a preventative measure.
Describe a typical work day for you.
Every day is different. Truly! There are the usual tasks of checking in with the team, making sure we’re all on track in our different departments. Working from home through the pandemic has been a massive switch up compared to many years in a huge office with lots of staff, but apart from that even all this time later, the excitement and constant busy pace is absolutely still present.
Has COVID-19 affected how you operate your business? How?
It has been a real challenge for so many of us, especially as a small business. In this particular industry with the combination of running e-commerce as well as stocking in clinic, it’s been very up and down. At the core of how we operate is support and understanding. Whether that is focused on our internal team or our stockists, we’re asking the question “How can we support you?” all the time because as the pandemic changes, so do our response strategies.
What advice do you have for those wanting to start a business?
Experience and efficacy are everything. Whatever your chosen industry, become an expert in that. For me personally in the skin care industry, I became a skin care expert both in the product and how the industry runs. Its important to know every aspect of your business – from ingredient knowledge, formulations and the business side. I know how to do every aspect of the business and for anything I don’t, I will hire someone with the relevant expertise.
Honesty and integrity goes a long way. Having been in the skin care industry for 35 years, my integrity in this industry has served me well. It has kept doors open from stepping down in one company to creating a new one. The industry knows that whatever I create, I will do with the utmost integrity and efficacy and therefore one should never compromise their beliefs to make a quick buck or increase your bottom line if it could jeopardise the quality of your product and your brands integrity.
What’s next for you, and Change Skincare?
Already we’ve seen so much growth. Our team is expanding as well our office & warehouse spaces. We have some very exciting announcements coming over the next 12 months, new products in development and launches in the works, so really just watch this space!
For more info on Change Skincare, please visit www.changeskincare.com