Jessica Gomes is the definition of a powerhouse. Not only is the 34-year-old model, actress and David Jones ambassador at the top of her career game, she’s also founded a successful beauty brand. Equal Beauty is a fragrance-free line which focuses above all on hydration and protection and takes things back to the basics.
marie claire sat down with Jess ahead of the David Jones Spring Collection Launch to chat all things Equal beauty, what it takes to build a brand and her advice to women looking to do the same.
Let’s talk about Equal Beauty. What inspired you to create your own skincare line?
I obviously travel a lot for my career and I also spent a lot of time in Korea as well, so I think discovering all the Korean beauty and then also travelling kind of made me decide to create Equal Beauty. I wanted to do something that was easy to travel with. I also wanted to create something that Australians could have products with Korean beauty behind it, and so that’s what inspired me to start. I wanted to bring back the Korean technology that I had discovered to Australia, with Australian ingredients too.
The brand is obviously incredibly successful, but what has been the biggest challenge behind-the-scenes?
Well, there are lots of challenges, I have challenges with my business on the daily. The hustles and just dealing with, you know, it’s pretty much always problem solving – you’re constantly problem-solving on how to keep moving forward. So it’s been a lot of blood, sweat and tears but I love it and I’m so proud of my brand. I have a great team of people working with me and it’s been super satisfying and you’re just constantly learning every day on how to deal with people. You’re constantly talking about numbers, budgeting, ingredients. There’s also all the fun creative stuff like the technology and the creativity side of it is really exciting, but then obviously there is a business side as well, which can be quite difficult sometimes.
What would be your advice to other women out there wanting to start their own company?
I think just go for it. At the end of the day, you may as well just give it a shot because the worst thing that can happen is you fail but then you’ll be wondering if I should have done it or not. So I just think go for it, start it. If its something that drives you and you’re passionate about it – do it, and have fun with it. I think that you just keep learning every day and Equal Beauty for me has been the biggest lesson for me, for my life, because it’s really taught me a lot about strength and being resourceful and I’ve learnt so much about business and technology and brands and product and all of that and marketing and I’ve met so many great people, so I think it really is about the journey and not too much looking at the end goal. I know that it’s good to look at the end goal but it’s also good to just live in the present moment and enjoy the process of it all.
Growing up in Australia, you understand how iconic David Jones is. How does it feel to have Equal Beauty backed by such an iconic store?
It’s amazing, I can’t believe it. It’s an incredible feat for me and I just feel so honoured that David Jones is supporting my brand and supporting my business and it’s been a huge dream of mine to have my own products in-store, so it’s been really wonderful.
You advocate a minimalist beauty routine – what are your crucial steps?
Exfoliating, cleansing and hydrating the skin in a proper way. I just love my cleansing cloth so much because I think it’s so important to exfoliate and cleanse the skin, but also hydrating. I really love hyaluronic acid and Vitamin C. I love serums because they really penetrate the skin and hydrate and I think they’re really important to any skincare regime. And then obviously an SPF, so protecting your skin, protecting your skin from the sun, from pollution. I have a super mist spray which protects you from pollution and the outside environment.
What are the steps you don’t follow?
I think, especially in Asia, it used to be about the thirteen-step routine, which was a lot of layers. But I think now women do want to have something a bit more minimal, pulled back and easier and also not too time-consuming, so I think less is more when it comes to skincare. I’m not a fan of heavily fragranced products and heavily fragranced rich creams I’m not so in to.
What is the most essential item in your beauty bag?
I would say my Equal Beauty cleansing cloths for sure, and I would also say the Chanel hand cream, it’s called La Creme Main. It’s not too perfume-y but I just like it. Sometimes my hands get dry and it’s really nice and you can travel with it, it’s like a little round thing and it’s great.
