Beauty Bosses: Lorrie King and Celeste Lee, Co-Founders of Caire Beauty
Lorrie King and Celeste Lee.
Our latest Beauty Bosses are Lorrie King and Celeste Lee, Co-Founders of Caire Beauty—a clean and vegan skincare line designed for mature skin. They founded their company to offer grown-up women skincare products that are formulated specifically for aging mid-life skin, are easy to use, and reasonably priced.
Their award-winning formulas are made in Caire Beauty’s proprietary lab led by their expert team of scientists in the U.S., and all of their products are dermatologist-tested, cruelty-free, and good for all skin types. Famous fans of the brand include chef and TV personality Carla Hall and Emmy Award-winning actress Sally Struthers, and their products have been named among Oprah’s Daily Beauty Awards.
We chatted with King and Lee who shared the inspiration behind the brand, secrets for success, wellness tips, and much more.
When was Caire Beauty founded and what does the name mean?
Celeste: In 2019, Lorrie and I started studying the effects of hormone decline and perimenopause on skin regeneration. Our actual formulations went “live” in 2021 but of course, the research, our lab formulation, and testing started earlier. The name Caire is actually “I care” with the “i” in the middle of “care” because if we don’t intentionally self-caire for ourselves, who will? As individual women, we can be our own best advocate, so our name reflects that!
What inspired the creation of the brand?
Lorrie: We’re women in mid-life ourselves. But as beauty industry veterans, we were (ahem), surprised to learn that “anti-aging” is a problematic term. Anti-aging skincare is basically for anyone over 16! And is focused on “external” aging, meaning UV and pollution. Yet all women go through a period of estrogen decline starting around 38, 39 and 40 and it’s this “internal” aging that’s the main cause of female skin aging from about 40 to 60. We wanted to acknowledge that growing up (aka menopause) is normal and created skincare designed specifically for this major part of our lives.
Caire Beauty’s The Grownup Moisturizer ($42-$88) helps rebuild the lipid skin barrier and defends against environmental damage.
Does Caire Beauty have a hero product?
Celeste: Theorem Serum Boost is a deeply hydrating, skin-building infusion of super tiny, maximum performance hyaluronic acids, peptides, and plant actives. It works from the inside out and the outside in. “Grown up” skin becomes more sensitive so everything we make is clean, vegan, and fragrance-free too.
What are your favorite products from the brand?
Lorrie: On our website, Aillea stores and Aillea.com, and at Matthew Preece Salon in Santa Monica, CA.
Where are your products sold?
We currently sell through our website and on Amazon.
Future plans for the brand?
Celeste: The future is happening at Caire right now. We recently released The Grownup Moisturizer, the first and only moisturizer to defend against both internal and external aging factors in one formulation.
Who inspires you?
Celeste: Lorrie King’s mom, who bravely fought her cancer battle. She motivated Lorrie to study what affects women’s skin during the different “life moments” of our ever longer lifespans.
Caire Beauty Triple Lift Molecule Mask ($36-$64) deeply hydrates hormone-depleted skin and provides molecular nutrition for skin health recovery.
Secret to success?
Celeste: Never settle for the “norm.” There’s plenty of “me too” skincare and wellness already out there. But in whatever field you’re in, make sure you’re a changemaker.
Beauty secrets?
Celeste: If a serum or product is designed for use around the eyes as well as the face, choose that one! It means it’s anti-inflammatory, safe for sensitive skin, and will be a better and cleaner choice to begin with.
Wellness tips?
Lorrie: Skin is a system that works in concert with several other bodily systems. Walk, drink water, eat at least 30 different kinds of real food each week. If something doesn’t feel right, get to a doctor and if they’re dismissive in the least, get a different menopause-trained one.
Best advice?
Lorrie: Being a founder means doing the good, the bad, and the ugly. Keep setting goals and creating to-do lists: daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly. Keep executing against each and every to-do—not just the “fun” ones and you’ll be amazed how much you’ve accomplished in a year’s time.
Favorite way to relax?
Lorrie & Celeste: We both love to cook! Lorrie has perfected paella and Celeste loves to make (and eat) pasta of every kind.
For more information, visit Caire Beauty’s website and follow on Instagram: @caire_beauty
[Images courtesy of Caire Beauty]
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