Michelle Mone OBE, co-owner of Ultimo Brands International and creator of Ultimo, one of the UK’s leading designer lingerie brands has built a whole career around the concept of helping women to make the most of what they’ve got and feel the best they can about themselves.
Always the entrepreneur, Michelle decided to add more products to the Ultimo brand and after three years and £1million on develpment, she launched two new beauty ranges, Utan and Usculpt. You can find out more and buy from www.utanshop.com.
Utan is one of the best self-tans to hit the market and Michelle has worked hard to keep the brand moving forward with additional products in the range. Here she gives us some insight into how she works and her own tips for being beautiful.
What has kept you driven over the past 18 months to get the brand back out into the market?
Definitely innovation, launching UTan’s 40 minute Turbo Tan and Nourishing Night Creme has been so exciting. Having noticed that women are getting busier and busier (be it career women or mums) we need things that can be of a great quality, quick and provide the best results.
What products in the range are you most excited about getting feedback on?
The 40 minute Turbo Tan & Nourishing Night Cream as they are the newest products in the UTan range.
Body Confidence is in the news today, with the girl in the bikini poster getting a backlash. What do you think about how women are portrayed in advertising?
There is a variety of good and bad advertising, the advertising I am most receptive to are those of women who are healthy and confident.
Which brands do you think represent and celebrate women in the best way?
Dove and Always have had some fantastic campaigns recently that are very effective and easy for women to relate to.
Who did you get to source your ingredients for the products?
When developing UTan I worked closely with two chemists, who have both worked with some of the biggest beauty brands in the world.
What motivates you to be successful and juggle a busy life?
I am extremely driven to continue being an inspiration to the next generation. I work continuously with this in mind – mentoring 105 people, speaking globally and showing my children that anything is possible.
How do you maintain your beauty and fitness routine to suit your lifestyle?
I believe you should always make 1 hour for yourself every single day, be that a walk, going to the gym or pampering yourself. I always make time to top up my tan and moisturise my body to help keep it maintained. I also juice, eat healthily and drink water constantly to ensure my body is nourished and working to the best of its ability.
Any tips/products you’d like to pass on that you can’t live without?
My secret to a flawless tan is to make sure you exfoliate first with UTan’s before exfoliating polish and then I always use Utan Tan remover for any tanning mistakes. It’s perfect when you have a last minute event to go to. When I have events I make sure I use bronzer to contour around my boobs to make my cleveave pop!