An Interview with White Rabbit Skincare Founder Melanie Blane

All Posts

An Interview with White Rabbit Skincare Founder Melanie Blane

White Rabbit Skincare was the first plastic free range that we started selling at Greener Beauty back in June 2018, just a few months after we first launched. And Melanie and I have worked closely on a number of projects since then. The product range is amazing, my personal favourites are the eye cream and the coconut and rosehip day cream. Both products deeply nourish my skin while the day cream is also soothing and I swear I can feel the eye cream working to tighten up the skin round my eyes. I also love the coconut and lime cleansing water, it smells so good!

Working with Melanie has been such a pleasure, it is so lovely to work alongside another passionate and focused business woman that has a clear goal, is vegan and cares so much about the environment as well as her business success.

Enjoy this fabulous blog lovelies!

Vic x

TELL US ABOUT HOW YOU STARTED WHITE RABBIT SKINCARE

The idea for White Rabbit Skincare came about whilst I was at university (studying History – completely unrelated to anything skincare!) and was diagnosed with the skin condition psoriasis, which is frequently brought on by stress. I was prescribed steroid creams, but when I did my research and discovered there isn’t a cure for psoriasis AND 60% of what you put onto your skin is absorbed into your bloodstream, I started to think what better way to guarantee where a product is from, what ingredients it contains, how it’s made, etc etc than to make it myself?

It originally started out as just products for me to use, and I literally made them in my kitchen in my tiny one bedroom flat, but after friends and family started taking an interest I approached The Prince’s Trust and was lucky enough to secure funding which enabled me to test and brand the products and set up the website, whilst still working full time. I took the plunge into working solely for White Rabbit December 2016 after being let go from my job, and I’ve never looked back!

Our products – and brand as a whole – can be summarised as:

Premium
Produced by hand
Plant based
Plastic minimal
Planet friendly

We are certified by The Vegan Society, Cruelty Free International, PETA, Orangutan Alliance (palm oil free) and Naturewatch.

I am vegan myself and very passionate about and committed to making positive change for our planet.

WHAT DOES AN AVERAGE DAY RUNNING WHITE RABBIT SKINCARE LOOK LIKE?

It’s a bit of a cliche, but no two days are EVER the same! Typically though I’ll get to the unit, make a cuppa (very important) then check for any urgent emails. Then I print orders and organise postage before doing a quick product inventory then starting to make products. Lunch is usually around half 12, then I normally go back to the product manufacture/packaging side of things before working through admin tasks mid/late afternoon.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE

AM: cleanse with our cleansing balm and remove with a facecloth, wipe over skin with our Orange and Aloe Toner, apply eye cream and then the Olive & Avocado Serum – it makes an amazing glow base for makeup.

PM: remove makeup (if any) with cleansing water, double cleanse with cleansing balm, tone and moisturise. My skin isn’t usually too dry so I normally just use serum, but if it needs extra TLC I’ll pop on night cream too

WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?

Go to the gym (when they were open!) and train weights! I’m currently in the process of training for a bodybuilding competition and a couple of photoshoots, so I’ve had to transform part of our unit into a mini gym with my equipment! I’m also studying to be a Sports Nutrionist, and hope to eventually get my PT qualification too. I’ve found physical health is incredibly important for mental health too, and training is my form of therapy.

IF YOU COULD VISIT ONE PLACE ON EARTH WHERE WOULD YOU GO?

New Zealand – largely to visit where they filmed The Hobbit! But I’ve always wanted to take my Mum and Dad there. My sister and I are also hoping to do a bit of a road trip round Scotland once lockdown is over, and there’s so much to explore!

IF YOU COULD CHOOSE THREE DREAM DINNER DATES WHO WOULD THEY BE?

Steve Bartlett, because despite being so young still he is INCREDIBLY wise. Highly recommend his podcast ‘Diary of a CEO’

Matt Haig, without a doubt my most favourite author ever. I am constantly astounded by how articulate and philosophic he is – sometimes I’m adamant he’s not from this world! Favourite books of his are The Humans and Reasons to Stay Alive

My Grandpa/Gran/Papa – cheating here slightly, but they all passed away when I was relatively young, and I’d give anything to have a sit down and chat with them all again

FAVOURITE FOOD?

I can’t choose just one! I LOVE pasta/carbs in general – pretty sure I was Italian in a past life!

WHAT ALWAYS BRINGS A SMILE TO YOUR FACE?

My cats, Jack Sparrow (named after the famous pirate in Pirates of the Caribbean!) and Harry Potter (no explanation required. We actually thought Harry was a ‘she’ when we got him and was originally going to be called Luna but that swiftly had to change…!)

IF YOU WERE A SUPERHERO WHAT POWERS WOULD YOU HAVE?

Healing, and also influencing the environment. I think so many situations have escalated horrendously because of heightened emotions etc.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENT

Getting White Rabbit Skincare to where it is now, largely entirely on my own, and turning it from my hobby to my full time job. You have to be a Jack of All Trades and learn on the job every single day, and it is without a doubt the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it’s also the best thing, and I’m so proud that we are here 6 years later. I’m still very much hands on with nearly everything, and we still hand make every single product in house.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR WHITE RABBIT SKINCARE?

I really want to expand the team this year (COVID19 allowing!), obtain more certifications, and expand the product range, such as into baby products and hair care.

Long term I want us to become THE leading plastic-free skin care brand.

You can find our full range of White Rabbit Skincare products by clicking here.