After years of frustrating skin issues, Claire Gray founded Ermana Natural Skincare – a Glasgow-based, sustainable brand using organic ingredients

Reset

I used to have a stressful job where I travelled a lot. I’d always been interested in aromatherapy, and had started to make little potions with lavender oil to help me sleep. I learned how to make more blends, and started gifting them to friends. Ermana is named after my sister – ‘hermana’ being the translation in Spanish – as she encouraged me to start the brand. I was already working for high street brands as a retail buyer, so I thought – why not build my own?

Values

I ran Ermana alongside my full-time job for eight years. I was becoming more aware about sustainability, our impact on the planet, and consumerism. My values changed quite a bit, so on my 50th birthday, I decided to give up my full-time role and focus on the brand. I took the time to learn about everything that affects skincare health – not just topically, but also your hormones, gut and mental health. I wanted to share some of the lifestyle changes that can impact health – especially around perimenopause/menopause – so I started my own podcast, Skin & Within, where I interview different wellness experts. 

Eco-friendly

The advantage of being a small brand is that I can make small batches. It means there’s no waste, and with my products having no preservatives and a shelf life of 12 – 18 months, I can control the quality. We also have our sustainability scheme, where people can return their bottles and jars for a discount on their next purchase. We also only ship within the UK, so we’re limiting air miles. 

All-natural

My skin used to be hypersensitive. No matter what product I used, I was always getting flare-ups. I started looking into it, and there are three big ingredients that can be irritants. The first one is alcohol – it dries your skin out and disrupts its microbiome. The next is synthetic fragrance, but the main thing causing irritation is preservatives. With Ermana, I’ve gone down the route of water-free, plant oil-based products, so the whole range is nourishing and hydrating to the skin, rather than just smelling good.

Self-belief

For anyone taking the leap to set up their own brand: don’t lose faith. The biggest challenge for me, as a small business owner, was to keep going and not have imposter syndrome. When you’re up against bigger brands and you have a small budget, you can sometimes see yourself as inferior – but there are so many dynamic, amazing professionals out there with small businesses. I believe in every single ingredient in my products, and that has brought a lot of return customers.

Hero ingredients 

Essential oils. They’re fragrant, good for your skin and have therapeutic benefits. One of the main ingredients I use – and the star of the show – is jojoba oil. It works in harmony with your skin and balances it out, whether it’s dry or oily. 

Winter hydration

My biggest tip for winter would be to use a face oil, rather than overloading the skin with products. Exfoliate twice a week so any product can be properly absorbed. We have a sugar scrub with essential oils and vitamin C that keeps skin nourished and exfoliated.  

Skincare essential

Cleansing is the most important. There’s no point putting any product on your skin if your face isn’t clean. If I don’t have any of my own products, I use coconut or olive oil to cleanse and nourish my skin.

Wellness routine

I get outdoors every morning for a walk, and focus on eating as much plant-based food as I can. I have fermented foods in my fridge at all times for gut health – and kombucha is a non-negotiable.