In Style: Beauty Kitchen

If we're concerned about such things, of course, we might shop around, do a bit of googling, maybe even ask a specialist for advice. Lacy MacFarlane did all those things and a lot more besides. Just turned 24, she has not only researched the subject exhaustively, but while her friends might still be applying for jobs and struggling to find their place in the world, she has set up her own business to make the skincare products she couldn't find anywhere else on the market.

Beauty Kitchen is the latest ethical beauty brand to come to Scotland. Using 100 per cent natural ingredients, locally sourced and organic if possible, plus precycled and recycled packaging for a minimal carbon footprint, it is stripped-down skincare with a conscience. So you can expect to find a hand scrub containing stinging nettle, for instance, a body scrub containing epsom salts and bitter orange or another with sea salt and seaweed.

MacFarlane studied fashion business at Glasgow Caledonian University and, after graduating, applied for several jobs in fashion. "It just came to the point where it was too competitive and I realised it was not for me.

"I'm a complete beauty junkie," she says, "and started researching the business. I found out that a lot of products were not as natural as they were claiming because of the chemicals they put in to extend the shelf life."

She got straight on the internet in search of a chemist who could pursue the subject further and stumbled on one Richard Howard, the founder of Cowshed. "I had a few meetings with him and he thought my idea was great," says MacFarlane. "He formulated all the body stuff to make sure it's safe."

He also helped her create exclusive fragrances for the brand. "We have six, called things like Refresh Me, Awake Me, Spoil Me. They all use a different blend of essential oils unique to us."

It didn't hurt that her family has an entrepreneurial bent either: one member owns their own hotel and her father has his own car company. "I've always been around business-minded people," she says, "and obviously they helped me massively setting it up."

The range is priced extremely competitively — the most expensive product is a body scrub, coming in at 8.95, while the cheapest is a lip balm at 2.95 — and shoppers can get stuck in and create their own version. "There will be a bottle of oil, a jar of herbs, then your base which will either be salt or sugar. You can put whatever you want in them, and mix and match." You can even personalise the packaging which, incidentally, also has a green theme.

"All the jars are recycled and the stickers are made from crushed-down rocks so they don't have a carbon footprint."

Clients tend to be girls of all ages, says MacFarlane, "and because it's so affordable, we have had a lot of students in. But it's good for anyone, especially, obviously, people who are into the environment and organic products".

But, unlike another famous ethical beauty brand, Body Shop, MacFarlane doesn't see her baby becoming part of a global conglomerate any time soon. "I'm happy to take things slowly. I wouldn't want a massive company to buy it over because I want to remain small. But I'd love to go to London or Edinburgh."

In the meantime, she's focusing on the business while her contemporaries sometimes can't see further ahead than Saturday night. "I'm so jealous of my friends," she admits. "It's hard, but I love it, it's what I want to do."

Beauty Kitchen, 117, Saltmarket, Glasgow (www.beautykitchen.co.uk)

This article was first published in Scotland on Sunday, August 1, 2010