Page 92 - Marie Claire Australia (January 2020)
P. 92
FALL
and
RISE
When Nicola Kilner itting in the white-walled world, with more than 50 products
Deciem store in The Rocks, in 15 markets and backing from Estée
co-founded Deciem, Sydney, wearing a Réalisation Lauder, who invested in the brand
“The Abnormal Beauty Par love-heart dress, Nicola in 2017. Kilner was the business
Company,” with Brandon SKilner sparkles. It’s not and operational mastermind, while
just the Brit’s glowing skin (from
Truaxe was the creative genius –
Truaxe in 2013, she her 10-step beauty regimen); it’s passionate and fun, but tough and
couldn’t have imagined her glittery personality. Kilner, 30, quick to anger. “In the early days,
how much the slogan credits that same sunny disposition Brandon and I did it all: we swept
the floors, met with investors and
for getting her through the toughest
would ring true. She opens period in her life and career. everything in between,” reflects Kilner,
up to Alley Pascoe about When Kilner co-founded Deciem, who studied business management
The Abnormal Beauty Company, at at Nottingham Trent University in
triumph after tragedy age 24, the most atypical thing England, where she is based, travelling
about it was the fact they launched to Canada every month. “Brandon was
10 beauty brands at once – including the best entrepreneur on the planet.
cult-favourite The Ordinary. Kilner’s He always used to say, ‘We don’t want
Canadian co-founder Brandon Truaxe to be in the safe place with everyone
(who she first met in 2011 when she was else. We have to be on the edge.’”
working as a buyer at UK pharmacy However, working so close to the
chain Boots) was driven by an ambition edge, Truaxe eventually fell.
to prove all the haters wrong. When The “abnormal” antics started in
they told him, “You can’t do 10 things January 2018 when Truaxe, then CEO,
at once,” Truaxe said, “Watch me.” announced he was taking over the
Together Kilner and Truaxe brand’s Instagram account. Over
built Deciem (which is Latin for 10 the next year, his erratic behaviour
in a sequence) to be one of the most increased: he started fighting with
influential beauty companies in the customers in the comments section of
