A career detour is daunting for many of us, but Glen Stichbury is brimming with potential. A registered nurse who runs her own company specialising in medical recruitment, Stichbury is now embarking on a new chapter by launching her own skincare line.
At 75, her experience has given her a deep understanding around how skin reflects overall health and wellbeing, and how caring for both can be deeply beneficial in the long run. She set out to create straightforward products that used trusted ingredients in concentrations chosen for powerful results.
With AI reshaping the market for recruitment, the Auckland-based entrepreneur also knew she had the energy and ambition to channel her experience into building a new business.
Simply named ‘The Serum’, Stichbury’s new range includes three targeted formulations, Hyaluronic Acid 25%, Vitamin C 15%, and Vitamin A 0.25% with Ascorbic Acid. Each aiming to address common complaints, such as loss of hydration and ‘bounce’, skin aging and pigmentation.
“I’ve always been really interested in skincare, and I think the foundation of all good skincare really are the serums,” she says. Beyond skincare basics like cleansing and SPF, the serum step is where concentrated active ingredients are effectively delivered.
“I wanted something simple, just three products that can work together,” she says.
The serums are made in an Auckland lab with specialised pharmaceutical experience, Stichbury working with them to meet her goals for each product. She was particularly keen to achieve a serum with a high percentage of hyaluronic acid (HA) to restore skin hydration, and that each serum’s concentrations of desirable key ingredients is clearly stated.
“Most Hyaluronic Acids are 1-5%, or you don’t have the ability to know what’s in it at all. My Hyaluronic is 25%,” she points out of conventional skincare, where ingredient volumes are rarely disclosed. “Hyaluronic acid is a potent hydrating, anti-aging, and skin her barrier-strengthening ingredient, it holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water,” she explains, saying it helps skin hold on to crucial moisture.
“If you’ve only got 1% hyaluronic acid in your formula, you flatten out [moisture levels in skin] during the day. So, 25% is quite high.”
She points out even makeup won’t last well through the day without lasting skin hydration beneath, resulting in looking cakey and dry which is where the use of an HA serum can help. “My ultimate aim was really to have something that gave you that nice soft, healthy and dewy look to skin [makeup or not].”
Since launching through dedicated online retail she says she’s had welcome feedback from people across a wide range of age groups. “Most of the women are in their 50s-75s but the men ranged from 28 to 78 and they also loved it.”
Stichbury is relishing delving into the beauty world, sharing her passion for skin and finding deep fulfilment in undertaking an unfamiliar challenge.
“I wanted to get my identity back,” she says of finding time on her hands following the evolution of the demands of her other roles in recruitment and aged care. “I wanted to feel like I had something to contribute.”
Now, she’s feeling reinvigorated and says retirement isn’t on her radar. “I have no interest in being bored.”
