Women, Wisdom & Why Experience Matters in Business

Author: Curated Beauty Founders

Three women over fifty share how they built Curated Beauty London with their own money and experience, and why women often run smarter, stronger businesses.

Starting CURATED BEAUTY Our Way: Experience First, Hype Last

At Curated Beauty, we didn’t launch on a whim or with a ready-made cheque from investors. We came to this with decades of experience, hard work, lessons learned across beauty and retail, and our own money on the line.  We started the way many women do, with determination, experience, and our own savings.

 

As three female founders over fifty, we’ve seen what works, what fails, and what truly matters in beauty. We know the difference between a passing fad and a product that delivers real results. We also know how easy it is to get distracted by quick wins instead of focusing on what lasts. That’s why we chose independence. By funding ourselves, we kept control, took our time, and created products we genuinely believe in. 

Why Women Run Great Businesses

It isn’t just our story. A Boston Consulting Group study found that women-led startups generate more revenue per pound invested than those founded by men. Research also shows women are often better at stretching budgets, listening to Customers, and building loyal communities.

 

In beauty, that rings true. It’s not about hype; it’s about results. Women are used to testing, adjusting, and responding. We build for real people, not theoretical markets. That instinct is one of our strengths.

Curated Beauty London

The Reality: Women Still Get Less Support

Here’s the frustrating part: even though women often run more efficient and successful businesses, we still receive far less financial backing.

  • In 2023, less than 3% of global venture capital went to female-only founding teams.
  • In the UK, women-led businesses make up only a small share of funding deals, and the actual money invested is even smaller.

Why? Old habits and bias. Studies show the gap exists because:

  • Investors tend to back people who look like them (and most investors are men)
  • Women are asked different questions during pitches
  • Success is judged by stricter, more conservative standards

The result? Women consistently out perform, but remain underfunded. So many, like us, simply choose to go it alone.

Why That’s Not Always a Bad Thing

Here’s the upside: self-funding makes you sharper. You watch your costs, you listen more closely to your Customers, and you make decisions that strengthen your business for the long term.

 

For us at Curated Beauty, that independence means every decision, from formulation to packaging, is made with our customers in mind, not investors. It also means we can focus on longevity, not just trends.

 

One day, we may choose investment, but if we do, it will be with female-led funders, or men who get it.

Read Our Story

Our Belief: Experience Is Everything

At Curated Beauty, we’ve learned that being over fifty, self-funded, and female isn’t a weakness. It’s our edge.

 

Experience gives us clarity. Independence gives us freedom.

 

To every woman running her own business, whether it’s behind the chair, in a treatment room, or like us, launching a brand, we see you. We know what it takes.

 

We believe women over fifty bring something unique: experience, resilience, and perspective. Our journey proves that with independence and focus, you can create something enduring.

 

At Curated Beauty, we’ll continue to invest in what matters most: effective products, honest communication, and a community that values women’s wisdom. Simply, it’s our No Faff strategy.

 

Because women don’t just deserve more of the investment pie, we are often the better choice.

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