Sarah Ov is the founder of newly launched skincare label Above Skin. Sarah is a skin expert and qualified Dermal Clinician of fifteen years.
Tell us about Above Skin.
Above Skin is a newly launched Australian skincare brand that is all about achieving clinical results by treating your skin with kindness. I’ve always believed in targeting all of the major skin concerns like ageing, pigmentation and inflammation with a gentle and repairing approach. Our skincare products use only the most gentle active ingredients for the skin. Our first product that we launched in 2022 – Pure Marula Oil, is a powerhouse oil that has served as one of the best kept secrets for ultimate skin protection, healing and nourishment for centuries. Its composition is naturally high in essential fatty acids, amino acids, vitamin C and more. These come together to facilitate barrier repair, reduced inflammation, improved skin texture, collagen protection and formation (when paired with AHA’s to promote cellular turnover), damage-associated age prevention and overall improvement in skin health.
With a Diploma of Beauty Therapy and Bachelor of Health Science in Dermal Therapies behind me, I teamed up with one of Australia’s leading cosmetic chemists to develop the product range. I strategically formulated our products to incorporate years of industry-informed learnings, extensive studies, hands-on experience, and scientific research.
What inspired you to start Above Skin?
This is a hard one, as I’ve been inspired by so many aspects and so many people along the way. But I’d have to say the initial inspiration was my desire to have a product that would “fix” my eczema. Eczema is something I’ll always battle with, and getting on top of it started with this endless mission to find the right topical treatment. I always needed to use products that were gentle, soothing and repairing for my skin, and I always needed to look for products that didn’t make my face itch. It also had to tie in with my love and passion for beauty. I had a major interest and passion in education and training of skincare products and formulations. One of my final subjects at Uni was Cosmetic Chemistry. Last but not least, my friends and my clients inspired and encouraged me to create my very own products one day, and here we are.
Tell us about your career and background.
My background is spa, beauty and dermal therapies. I have now created my very own skincare brand, Above Skin. I also run a waterproofing business with my partner Sam, called Hitch Property Constructions (which has been niched down to waterproofing only) – so very different to dermal and beauty I know!
Prior to this I was a Dermal Clinician and had been training and working in the beauty industry for over fifteen years. Before I left my life in spas and clinics, I became a contractor clinician. I needed to dictate my own time to work on what I really loved (my own skincare products), at the same time as running a waterproofing business with my partner. It sounds like a lot and it absolutely was and still is. But doing this has taught me so much about being independent and managing the adversity that comes with a business each day.
Describe a typical work day for you.
When my alarm goes off at 5am (sometimes earlier) I try not to look at the time and I have my morning coffee while reading a couple of pages of a book that inspires my creativity to kick start my day. I then hit the gym, and walk my two Border Collies while listening to an audio book. My work day begins and with Hitch, a big part of my role is quality control. I visit each job site after a job is completed and I ensure installation is compliant. I liaise with estimators, builders, send out quotes, and manage the entire backend of the business, being the main support for my partner, Sam.
With Above Skin I am always behind the scenes working with my design manager, social media manager, suppliers and manufacturers, testing and trialing product samples, planning what’s next to optimise Above Skin as a brand, and of course fulfilling orders.
I try not to overwhelm myself with getting everything done in the one day. There’s always going to be something to do, so giving myself a time limit to each business, and not being hard on myself if something doesn’t get done has been a mental life saver for me.
What advice do you have for those wanting to start a business?
Pursue something that brings you joy and set your purpose and intentions. Having your own business means constant dedication, planning and work, morning, noon and night. It’s a never ending journey and it takes work to maintain what’s been built. Also, surround yourself with positive like minded people who genuinely support you and cheer you on. Have conversations with people who inspire you. There is no room for negativity in business, so work on your mindset. Read and learn from as many experts as you can. It only needs to be a couple of pages or even a paragraph makes a difference to your day and the way you think. I learnt to compound, take my time, stopped comparing to where others are, and be kind to myself to get to where I want. “”Some people get there fast, some people get there slowly, but everyone gets there eventually as long as you don’t give up.” These are wise words by Alex Hormozi, another inspiration of mine. The hard work will make you want to give up A LOT, so remembering your purpose, intentions, and the like minded people around you will save you and allow you to keep going!
What’s next for you, and Above Skin?
Later this year I will be launching our Abundant C Cleanser and Abundant C Serum. They are formulated with only the most gentle and repairing vitamin C and AHA’s. I’m really excited about these next two products because the brand will finally come together with a full set of products.
For more on Above Skin, please visit www.aboveskin.com.au.
