Hello, I’m Emily, the founder, face, hands and heart behind Olive & Joyce.
Lately there have been so many lovely new faces joining us, and it felt like the right time to say a proper hello. If you’re new here, welcome, truly. I’m so happy you’ve found your way to this little corner of the skincare world.
As mentioned, I’m Emily, though I also answer to Em, Ems, E.D or lovely. I’m 46, a single parent to two children, and a skincare formulator who turned what began as a hobby into a business four and a half years ago. When I’m not mixing, pouring or labelling jars, I work part time as a bookkeeper. A surprisingly lovely balance between learning, numbers and nature, spreadsheets and shea butter.
I’m also a regular dog walker and sitter, although I don’t have a dog of my own. Outside of work, I kickbox, love long country walks and cold water swims in the sea, and have just started the Couch to 5K with the kids, though lately it’s been more 5K to couch with the number of injuries I’ve managed to collect.
Finding Purpose Through Challenge
At school I was diagnosed with hyperactivity, dyslexia and dyspraxia, and in adulthood I experienced postnatal depression twice. What once felt like a curse has become the fuel behind my business.
One day, when I have my own warehouse, I plan to create a charity for women who experience postnatal depression to help them learn both skincare formulation and business skills. Until then, I do what I can by donating skincare regularly to charities that support homeless and refuge women.
I’ve always believed that beauty is far deeper than the surface of the skin. It’s about resilience, warmth and the quiet strength that comes from rebuilding yourself, the same qualities that inspire every jar and bottle I make.
From Lavender and Frankincense to Small Batch Skincare
My love of skincare started early. My mum was a bit more alternative than most mums I knew. She was an aromatherapist and skincare formulator, so our home always smelled of lavender, frankincense and whatever she was experimenting with that week.
Those early memories stayed with me, the scent of essential oils in the air, the quiet rhythm of blending, the feeling that skincare could be something deeply personal and healing. Years later, when I began experimenting with natural ingredients myself, it felt like coming home.
Every formula I create now carries that same sense of calm craftsmanship. Each one is handmade in small batches using honest, plant based ingredients that support your skin rather than fight against it.
Olive and Joyce: Two Names That Mean Everything
Olive and Joyce were my grandmothers. I named my business after them because I knew that when times got tricky, seeing their names would give me the strength to carry on.
They were chalk and cheese in many ways, yet both strong, loving, independent, hardworking and the heartbeat of our family. Olive was pragmatic and calm; Joyce was spirited and fiery. Between them, they taught me that real beauty isn’t about perfection, it’s about character.
Olive & Joyce is built on that same spirit, a mix of care, character and quiet determination.
A Life by the Sea
I grew up in a little Midlands town but now live by the sea in Hove, East Sussex. I’m vegan, which usually raises an eyebrow or two considering my dad was a butcher and most of my family are dairy farmers. Still, it’s a lifestyle that feels right to me, one that aligns with how I choose to formulate: kind to the skin, kind to animals, kind to the planet.
Life here in Hove feels like the perfect balance. The sea air, the slower rhythm, the sense of community, all of it feeds into the way I work. Olive & Joyce isn’t about trends or flashy packaging. It’s about skincare that works quietly but beautifully, just like the women who inspired it.
For Those Who Believe in Real Skin
If you’re here for skincare that celebrates real skin, not the filtered kind, you’re in the right place. I believe we can’t be anti ageing when ageing itself is a privilege. Every fine line tells a story, every scar a memory.
My mission is simple, to make skincare that respects your skin as it is, while gently supporting it with nutrient rich, naturally derived ingredients. From our serums to our creams, everything is designed to feel comforting and effective, like a little act of daily care.
Join the Olive & Joyce Community
Olive & Joyce has always been a deeply personal project, but it’s also a shared one. The stories you send, the photos of your jars on bathroom shelves, the kind messages about how something has helped your skin, those are what keep me going.
If you’re new here and loving my handmade skincare, please tell your friends, and you’ll both get £10 off. Simply create an account here, or email me and I’ll create your own personal code for you.
I’d also love to know how you found out about Olive & Joyce. As a small business, that kind of thing really helps me (plus I’m naturally a bit nosy).
With love and so much gratitude,
Emily x
Founder, Olive & Joyce
A Little Jar of Comfort
If you’re just discovering Olive & Joyce, you might like to start with The Eternal Skincare Range, the very first formula I ever created. It’s gentle, hydrating and still one of my favourites today. A little jar and face wash of comfort that began this whole story.