S5, Ep1 – In conversation with Adeela Crown
30 August 2024
Welcome to our fifth season of Life & Smile. For our first episode, we are delighted to welcome to the Harley Street recording studio an iconic industry insider whom many of you will instantly recognise as The Skin Engineer. As a globally renowned A-List and Hollywood facialist, join host Dr Reena in the conversation with one of the most recognised authorities in beauty and skincare—it is, of course, Adeela Crown.
Conversation Show Notes – The Recap
Dr Reena takes things back to the beginning, welcoming Adeela to Harley Street, where it’s already been a global month. Her Red Carpet Skin Suite pop-ups have made appearances at some of the world’s most high-profile events — the Met Gala, the Oscars, the Cannes Film Festival, and various international fashion weeks — all guided by her motto:
“Prevention is smarter than cure.”
When Adeela first entered the industry, the term “facialist” didn’t even exist. Much of what she learned was entirely self-taught. Coming originally from a background in finance, she brings a scientific mindset to skincare, evaluating ingredients and techniques with analytical precision.
There has been a significant shift in public awareness – especially post-pandemic – with consumers now far more conscious of the ingredients in their skincare products and holding much higher expectations of what those products should deliver.
As a Contributing Beauty Editor at Financial Times HTSI, Adeela uniquely blends her roles as a facialist and journalist. She describes this dual identity as offering her the freedom to explore global beauty trends, with insights drawn from her personal experience treating clients in London, New York, LA, and beyond.
Looking back, Adeela reflects on the dramatic transformation the industry has undergone in just the past ten years, largely due to the rise of the Internet and new technologies. These advances have spawned a variety of new career paths and roles.
Her advice? Adaptability is key. In such a rapidly changing environment, you need to stay informed, connected, and ahead of the curve.
To keep her energy high and her focus sharp — both critical for earning and keeping her clients’ trust — Adeela describes herself as a ferocious reader. Much of her reading and research happens in-flight, where she chooses books over movies almost every time. Audiobooks help her maintain focus and keep up with her demanding schedule.
Adeela operates in different modes throughout the month. She rotates between her various roles — as a facialist, editor, mother, and wife — giving each 100% of her focus. This intentional segmentation allows her to thrive professionally while maintaining a healthy personal life.
She splits her time primarily between the UK and Germany, building her calendar in a way that reflects her priorities and values.
When travelling, Adeela always carries three essentials:
- SPF, which she deems crucial — especially during flights
- An eye mask, which helps her zone out and enjoy her audiobooks
- A skincare bag with at least four to five must-have products inside
Episode Key Takeaways – The Best ideas
The link between finance and skin is that everything needs to balance, which can be applied to all things in life.
It’s all about maintenance and developing a discipline – start to take care of your skin from a very young age and look at both genetics and environmental factors. Apply a fitness mindset to your skin.
Whatever industry you are a part of, be prepared to adapt to that changing environment and needs.
Stay one step ahead and adapt to the changing needs of your environment. Keep your finger on the pulse – you have to be reading, expanding your horizons, speaking to the right people and attending global seminars where possible.
Write those emails!
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Previous episodes
S5, Ep8 – In conversation with Sonia Haria
Joining Dr Reena in our latest episode of Life & Smile is Sonia Haria. As an industry great, Sonia is an award-winning journalist, brand consultant and author with over fifteen years of experience in the beauty industry. Sonia has been the Beauty Director of Telegraph Media Group since 2016 and works closely with the British Beauty Council, sitting on the Council’s Advisory Board and Policy Committee.
S1, Ep8 – In conversation with Rishi Nanavati
If there’s ever going to be one episode to listen to whilst you’re eating, it’s this one.
