Have you ever felt like the skincare industry just wasn’t made for you? That’s exactly how Lita Cunningham, founder and CEO of Lalais, felt before she launched her luxury skincare brand. After years of struggling with ineffective products and failed treatments, Lita decided to take matters into her own hands. Fast forward just 13 months, and Lalais is already stocked in Neiman Marcus, won Oprah’s Favorite Things, and earned top beauty industry awards.
We sat down with Lita on the latest episode of How They Scaled It, to talk about her journey from corporate HR executive to entrepreneurial powerhouse, and trust us—this episode is packed with gold for anyone looking to build a brand, break into retail, or shake up an industry.
From Corporate Climber to Beauty CEO
Lita didn’t set out to start a skincare brand. She spent years in corporate HR, including a stint at Elizabeth Arden, where she worked behind the scenes in the beauty industry. But despite her love for skincare, she struggled with severe skin issues, undergoing Accutane treatments, chemical burns, and laser damage—all in search of a solution that simply didn’t exist.
Then came a game-changing moment: a cosmetic chemist told her, “These products weren’t made for you.” That hit hard. And instead of accepting the status quo, she built something new.
How Lalais Became a Luxury Skincare Sensation
🚀 100+ formula iterations—because good enough wasn’t an option.
🚀 Breaking into Neiman Marcus & Bergdorf Goodman—before even launching DTC.
🚀 Winning Oprah’s Favorite Things—and what that meant for sales & credibility.
🚀 Self-funding a luxury brand—without a billionaire backer or big VC money.
🚀 How product innovation & brand storytelling set Lalais apart in a crowded market.
Luxury Meets Science: Why This Brand Stands Out
Lalais isn’t just another beauty brand. It’s a love letter to people with misunderstood skin. Lita has built her company around high-efficacy, science-backed formulations wrapped in luxurious, confidence-boosting packaging. She refuses to cut corners, ensuring that every detail—from the gold-embossed packaging to the clinical-grade ingredients—reflects the quality that high-performance skincare deserves.
The Hard Truths About Scaling a Luxury Brand
Building a high-end brand from scratch isn’t for the faint of heart. Self-funding meant making strategic trade-offs, carefully managing growth, and finding creative ways to get noticed. Retail success also came with its own set of challenges—Lita shares the real costs behind retail placement and how small brands can prepare for it.
Want to Learn How to Scale a Brand the Right Way?
📢 Listen to the full episode now! 🎧 👉 https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/right-left-agency
📌 Follow Lalais & Lita Cunningham:
🌐 Website: lalais.com
📸 Instagram: @lalaisskincare
📸 Lita’s Instagram: @glamlitanyc
