Our latest Beauty Boss is Anna Brightman, Co-Founder of UpCircle—a line of 100% natural skincare products that are made from leftover ingredients like used coffee grounds and brewed chai tea spices, which often end up going into landfills. UpCircle repurposes these ingredients and brings them back to life as beauty products that are great for your skin.

Along with her brother and co-founder William, Brightman helped develop a range of skincare products for the face and body that includes scrubs, masks, moisturizers, an award-winning face serum, and more. Together, they are determined to make products that leave the planet a better place.

We chatted with Brightman, who shares the inspiration behind the brand, favorite wellness and beauty tips, success secrets, and more. 

When was UpCircle founded and what does the name mean?

UpCircle was founded in 2016. Our brand name encapsulates our core purpose: sustainability and promoting the power of the circular economy. UpCircle also hints at ‘upcycling’, the process of making something better from things that already exist. Each of our products is made from an upcycled ingredient.

We also try to keep our tone of voice and messaging uplifting—creating a positive environmental impact is at the heart of our product and business. We want to leave the world better than we found it. When it comes to the environment, we are constantly bombarded with intimidating doom and gloom headlines. The scale of the problem can feel so daunting that it’s all too easy to give up before you’ve even begun.

At UpCircle, we try to focus on positive change and keep an “every little helps” mentality—another reason for the inclusion of the “Up” part in our brand name.

What inspired the creation of the brand?

My brother William (my co-founder) used to make his own coffee each morning using a cafetière. Living in central London, he didn’t have a garden and didn’t have enough plants he could use the coffee grounds on, so instead he was simply throwing them away. He asked his local coffee shop what they did with their waste coffee and was shocked to hear that they were producing so much that they had to pay the council to have it removed and disposed of on landfill sites. 

He decided it was a great starting point for a business idea, but wasn’t sure what that idea was, so that’s where I came in. Throughout my teenage years, I wanted to be a makeup artist and always had a keen interest in beauty and skin care. I knew that coffee had loads of great skincare benefits, so I had a lightbulb moment! Why not repurpose the coffee into sustainable circular skincare products? Fast-forward to now and we have rescued 250 tonnes of coffee from landfill by transforming it into our products.

Does UpCircle have a hero product?

Our certified organic Face Serum! It has won multiple awards and is our highest-rated product. It’s made with antioxidant-rich coffee and rosehip oils, which fade dark spots and brighten the complexion. It can be used either morning or night to help boost collagen and keep skin firm.

What are your favorite products from the brand?

At the moment, I’m particularly loving our Cleansing Face Balm and our Face Moisturiser. I wear our moisturizer every day and think the texture is unbeatable! It’s so light and yet deeply hydrating. It doesn’t feel greasy and makeup sits really well on top of it. I love our Cleansing Balm for the scent alone and love that it’s bright yellow! It melts onto your skin as you massage it in, lifting off dirt, grime and all traces of makeup— including mascara. It’s magic! It leaves my skin glowing, I’m obsessed.

Where are your products sold?

In Ulta Beauty and Credo Beauty, both in stores and online. Check out our website for international stockists.

Future plans for the brand?

To have an UpCircle product in every bathroom... dream big, right? I’m eager for us to be able to offer full skincare offerings, to cater to whatever skincare concern(s) you may have. I’m also highly motivated to continue sourcing varied ingredients that end up being thrown away prematurely. Nothing is safe from being UpCircled—only our imagination can limit us! Next up, we’re saving flower petals from florists and wedding venues.

Who inspires you?

My sister is my absolute best friend and for the last couple of years we’ve lived together, which I’ve loved. I’ve never known someone to be such an all-rounder, she excels in whatever she puts her mind to (although she does have issues with actually making up her mind!!) She’s helped my brother and I so much since we launched UpCircle. She has her own full-time job, but she’s always ready to jump on board when we need an extra pair of hands. She’s such a big support.

Secret to success?

There is no secret—you just have to work for it. If you choose to start your own business, you have to be completely self-reliant and unfaltering in your sense of drive. You never know what’s going to happen or what could go wrong—and if you don’t fix something, no one else will! Delegation is a thing of the past.

As with everything, there are good times and bad times. However,  in the bad times you have to learn to just roll with the punches. I’ve developed an unfaltering ability to dust myself off and keep going no matter how big or how frequent the disasters!

Beauty secrets?

Nothing you haven't heard a thousand times before: get plenty of sleep, drink plenty of water, and always take your makeup off before bed!! 

Wellness tips?

It’s important to figure out your non-negotiables so that you can make sure you’re ticking the self-care boxes that you as an individual need. For me, time with my friends and family is crucial to my happiness, so I always try to weave my work life around that. William and I work together to ensure that we support each other so that our personal lives and our out of work priorities are unaffected—it’s one of the major perks of owning a business with a family member.

I live next to a park, so when I get in I like to go for a jog around the park just to unwind. Running allows me time to think and makes me feel amazing when I’m done! It’s my favorite form of exercise (although I’m also partial to a spin class, too!)

Best advice?

Ironically, to not feel obliged to take everyone’s advice. No one knows your business, your personality or your life like you do, so trust your instinct. There’s no harm in listening, but you don’t have to take everyone’s advice and run with it!

How do you like to relax?

Socializing—maybe a few gin and tonics or a glass (*bottle*) of wine!!

For more information, visit upcirclebeauty.com and follow them on Instagram: @upcirclebeauty

[Images courtesy of UpCircle]

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