Gloria Noto Wasn’t Going to Wait Around for the Beauty Industry to Change

"I just kind of got to a point where I was just like, what am I even doing with my life anymore? As an artist, you want to be connected to the things you put out in the world. And I was really feeling that pull and I felt that there was a missing gap in the natural wellness world of cosmetics. I wasn't seeing a lot of inclusivity and diversity. I had this background of being the editor-in-chief of an art magazine and working behind the camera—sometimes art direction, always makeup. And then with my personal interest in ingredients and cosmetics, I felt like I could marry all those worlds together and cultivate a unique brand that I wasn't really seeing out there."

"Beyond [sustainable ingredients], it's about that transparency of self as well. I was super punk, super goth—I would paint my face, like a mask. It was fun, it was cool. But I remember getting to a point where I'd wake up in the morning and look in the mirror without makeup on just kind of feel gross and disgusting in my own skin—not even recognizing my own features—and felt like I had to change them to feel my identity and that kind of freaked me out.

"So I really tapered it all back and started going really, really natural so I could begin to love my skin again. And then as I got older, I stripped it back even more by using good skincare. It changed my skin. Good skincare and good diet, it changed my skin overall. So I actually felt good with less on as well. As I started to feel better about the quality of my skin, that made me want to use less on my skin.

"And so I think that for me, it’s feeling good at looking at your bare self, feeling good at looking at your own pure reflection and loving that first. And then being able to then add on to that. It’s saying, 'Today I want to wear a thick brow and a bold lip and a star on my face.' But at the end of the day I feel really great washing it all off, you know?"

"I have such a hard time answering this because part of me is like, no. Of course it isn’t always easy, but I just don't view them as roadblocks. I just never had any doubts. I don't have any self-doubts with my company. I think that's really key and pivotal to understanding the success of something is knowing that sure, little bumps come along, but there's no doubt about it.

"I would say if anything it’s just the learning curve, learning so much about so many things I had no idea about. And then building a team and finding the right people that stick around—they’re responsible, excited, and able to help move past these sorts of obstacles that may come along. They find answers and solutions. It’s always been more about piecing each little bit together day by day, sticking with it and just remembering what your core message is and what your purpose and point is and why you're even doing it."

"I personally feel that when cosmetics are targeted to a gender…everything at the end of the day comes down to advertising and you have to, obviously, make money as a company and know what your niche is. But so much of cosmetics come targeted towards women and so-called 'women’s issues' like your wrinkles. 'Age-defying.' And why are these 'women's issues?' At the end of the day all genders want to look good, feel good, feel beautiful, feel attractive, look healthy, have clear skin, have healthy skin. So to me I felt duped as a woman being targeted in that way.

"The other aspect was why does it have to be just women? Why can't male-identified or non-binary individuals want to wear makeup, have glowing skin, or have more of what would be considered in society a 'feminine' approach to their well-being, skincare and cosmetics?

"I just didn't feel that the industry was speaking to all the voices out there; the consumers and people that are interested in their own self-care. The wellness world was very targeted towards one type of demographic only. What about all those other people? Queer identities, non-binary identities that cared about ingredients, that cared about sustainability, that cared about what they were buying? What about all those voices? I am one of those people and have a lot of friends and acquaintances that are also those people. I didn't feel that we were being represented."

"When I wake up, I have to burn something. I usually like to burn a resin, a frankincense resin—the smoke clears the room. Then it’s a moment of meditation, even if it's just a few minutes of breathwork and then writing something—intentions or the goals for the day. Sometimes the writing is really creative, like poetry, and sometimes it’s a little bit more practical.

"I like to make a warm drink, usually matcha that has adaptogens and collagen in it. Kind of my internal skin care for the day. Taking my Ritual multivitamin is part of that whole supplementation space. If anything, it's a mindset. You take that vitamin and you know that you've given your body the fuel in those ways that it needs. I know I've done this for myself today.

"And then I do some sort of body movement, whether that's dancing or something with leg weights. There’s this funky little leg weight movement workout that I do that’s almost a Pilates sort of dance thing. Then it’s a shower and skincare, and I take my dog outside. And that’s kind of my morning."

"Just to brag: I feel really confident that I could kick someone's ass because I know Muay Thai. If I needed to kick someone's ass, I feel really strongly that I could."

"I'm looking forward to so many things. We're opening a store in the fall. We hired a couple of new people on the team and I'm really excited to see their growth. I'm really looking forward to traveling more with my partner and just kind of looking at everything around me that I am so grateful for. Just watching all this unfold, it's made me so gracious and grateful and I'm just looking forward to seeing things bloom."