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September 2, 2025 70 mins

I had such an inspiring conversation with Noelle O’Connor, the founder of Tan Organic and Skin Magic.


From building one of the cleanest sunless tanning brands in the world to creating a multi-use balm that families can trust, Noelle’s story is packed with passion, resilience, and purpose. She opened up about the early struggles of running high-end spas during the recession, the pivotal moment when Simon Sinek helped her discover her “why,” and the values that continue to guide her company today—kindness, gratitude, integrity, quality, and innovation.


What I loved most was hearing how Noelle’s personal journey is woven into her brands. From overcoming setbacks to insisting on the highest-quality, sustainable ingredients, her drive is contagious.

 

We also explored the real challenges of competing as an indie brand against global beauty giants, the growing awareness of what we put on our skin, and the exciting growth Tan Organic and Skin Magic are experiencing in the U.S.


Here are just a few highlights from our conversation:


* How gratitude and kindness shaped Noelle’s entrepreneurial journey

 

* The role of Dragon’s Den and a chance meeting with Simon Sinek in launching Tan Organic

 

* Why clean, organic ingredients cost more—but deliver so much more value

 

* The story behind Skin Magic’s 30+ uses and its recent launch at Costco.com

 

* Lessons on resilience, asking for help, and staying true to your “why”

 

Join me, Ramon Vela, as I listen to the episode and discover how Noelle is redefining beauty with purpose-driven brands that care for people, planet, and skin health.


For more on Tan Organics, visit: https://tanorganic.com/


For more on Skin Magic, visit: https://www.skinmagic.ie/


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Today’s Sponsors:


Color More Lines: https://www.colormorelines.com/get-started


Color More Lines is a team of ex-Amazonians and e-commerce operators who help brands grow faster on Amazon and Walmart. With a performance-based pricing model and flexible contracts, they’ve generated triple-digit year-over-year growth for established sellers doing over $5 million per year.


Use code "STORY OF A BRAND” and receive a complimentary market opportunity assessment of your e-commerce brand and marketplace positioning. 

 


1 Commerce: https://1-commerce.com/story-of-a-brand


Scaling a DTC brand becomes harder the bigger you grow, especially when you’re limited to selling on just one channel.  While you’re focused on day-to-day ops, your competitors are unlocking marketplaces like Amazon, Walmart, and even retail shelf space—and capturing customers you’re missing. That’s where 1-Commerce comes in. 


They help high-growth brands expand beyond their sites, handle end-to-end fulfillment, and scale through a revenue-share model that means they only win when you do. 


As a Story of a Brand listener, you’ll get one month of free storage and a strategy session with their CEO, Eric Kasper. 

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