Our latest Beauty Boss is Katy Cottam, Founder of Luna Daily—a microbiome-balancing body care brand for all skin (including intimate areas) that connects women of all ages and stages to themselves and each other. A beauty industry veteran who previously worked for L’Oreal and as Global Head of Brand at Charlotte Tilbury, Cottam was inspired to launch her own brand after seeing that limited progress had been made in the feminine hygiene care category.

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As a teenager, Cottam suffered from an impacted gut and skin microbiome that caused her to have thrush after an intense course of antibiotics. At the time she was unable to use traditional body care products, and experience lasting feelings of embarrassment and shame as a result of being forced to use feminine hygiene products.

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Working with a team of expert dermatologists and gynecologists (The Collective), Cottam created Luna Daily in 2022, and since its inception the brand has already received numerous awards and has been recognized in Mintel’s report “Explore New Ways to Redefine Intimate Care” looking at how the category of Intimate Care can be elevated by going beyond basic hygiene in order to elevate experiences and create more awareness around women’s health and body concerns.

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In addition, Luna Daily is a founding partner of GenM Official, leading a positive menopause revolution and highlighting the importance of the collective to educate and make a positive change. We chatted with Cottam who shared her favorite beauty and wellness tips, secrets for success, best advice, and much more.

When was Luna Daily founded and what does the name mean?

Luna Daily was founded in March 2022 after I quit my job during the pandemic two years before. The name “Luna” translates as the moon in many languages; a visibly beautiful yet daily recurring presence that connect all women, everywhere, irrespective of age or stage. We’re shining a light on topics which for so long have been kept in the dark.

What inspired the creation of the brand?

Luna Daily was inspired by my own experiences as a teenager, after an intense course of antibiotics impacted my gut and skin microbiome, unable to use traditional body care products, I was forced to use so-called “feminine hygiene” products which created lasting feelings of shame and embarrassment. 15 years later, working at the heart of the beauty industry, I could see no progress had been made.

I knew something had to change, so with the help of expert dermatologists and gynaecologists (the Luna Daily Collective), Luna Daily was born. On a mission to connect women to each other and their entire bodies with our range of microbiome-balancing products for all skin, even your most intimate, and for every stage of womanhood. And revolutionizing products are just the start of our mission; here to normalize conversations and revolutionize education for women.

Does Luna Daily have a hero product?

The Spray-To-Wipe—our elegant and portable pH-balanced body cleanser that’s like a shower in a bottle for all those times you want to freshen up on the go. After the gym, on your period, on the go, simply spray onto skin or tissue to transform into a flushable, biodegradable wipe. One bottle is the equivalent of 300 throwaway wipes—we’ve already saved over 2 million going to landfill.

What are your favorite products from your brand?

They say you shouldn’t have favourites, but for me personally, The Everywhere Wash, as it was the first product we developed as I couldn’t use cheap, synthetic, harsh body washes and I hated how embarrassing and unenjoyable intimate washes were. Our formula is so beautiful (it took over 12 iterations), developed with our unique Therma-Biome+ complex of prebiotics, vitamins E, C, and F; and thermal water. It leaves your skin feeling so soft, hydrated, and protected. I couldn’t live without our Everything Oil, which targets ingrown hairs, redness, and bumps. With a blend of eight natural oils including tamanu, jojoba, and rosehip, it’s part of my daily routine and perfect as a pre-/post-shave or wax prep.

Where are your products sold?

In the U.S. you can find us across select Sephora stores and on Sephora’s website and in the UK via our own  website and other brilliant retailers including Boots, Harrods, and Cult Beauty.

Future plans for the brand?

To become the number one womanhood brand globally, connecting women to each other and their entire brand with products that help them navigate the days, weeks, months, and decades—from daily care through motherhood and menopause.

Who inspires you?

From a business perspective, incredible female founders paving the way for more—Michelle Kennedy (peanut), Michelle (canva), Demetra Pinsent (CEO at Charlotte Tilbury where I used to work). Work of centre for intimacy justice.

Secret to success?

People. Having a brilliant team who believe unequivocally in your mission, who stick with you through the highs and the lows, and surrounding yourself by those who are smarter than you. My team are my most important asset and proudest achievement, and ensuring they are the happiest, healthiest version of themselves is the most important thing I do as the leader of this business.

Beauty secrets?

Don’t run a start-up...it ages you years! SPF every day, tan luxe drops in your moisturizer once a week, Ouai Leave-In Conditioner, Vegamour Lash Growth Serum (it really works!) Respecting your skin (Luna Daily, obviously, and gut (The Nue Co supplements) microbiome.

Wellness tips?

Moving your body regularly, in whatever way works for you. Tracking how you’re feeling in relation to your hormones. Freezing cold water. Knowing your triggers for stress and burn-out and when you need to listen and make a change.

Best advice?

Most of us don’t even know the names of our grandparents’ grandparents, meaning there’s a chance that everything about your life will be forgotten in just a few hundred years. Most the stuff we worry about isn’t the stuff worth worrying about. It’s stuck with me ever since I read it.

Favorite way to relax?

Taking my dog Alfie for a walk, finding the best margaritas and tacos in town with my best friend. Switching on aeroplane mode. Hunting down vitamin D when the days are short.

For more information about Luna Daily, visit their website and follow on Instagram: @luna_daily_official

[Images courtesy of Luna Daily]

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk