Some beauty brands require no introduction. They are so iconic that even the slightest flash of a logo can remind people of how much they love that one product. Sisley Paris is one such brand. Founded in 1976 by husband and wife duo Hubert and Isabelle D’Ornano, the skin, body and hair care brand has long held cult-status in the beauty market.

Built on the philosophy of harnessing the power of plant-based ingredients to deliver products that not only feel amazing on the skin but also deliver long-lasting results, Sisley is one of the most successful family-run businesses in the world. Now in the hands of Hubert and Isabelle’s children, we thought it fitting to ask their daughter and Sisley Global Vice President, Christine D’Ornano, all about what makes a successful beauty brand. 

Here, we chat to her about her entrepreneurial spirit, how she maintains good business culture and her very in-depth skincare routine.

Hello, Christine! Your parents founded Sisley in 1976, which is right around the time you were born. How did growing up with entrepreneurial parents inspire you to become a business woman and continue their legacy?

I grew up listening to conversations about Sisley, seeing my parents testing formulas and often going to see new windows and podiums when products came out. Of course, seeing this process from start to finish inspired me to be entrepreneurial as well. It is a real pleasure to be able to create and I don’t take it lightly.

Sisley’s ethos is all about harnessing the power of plant-based ingredients to deliver luxurious and efficacious products. How do you go about maintaining this ethos during the everyday running of the brand? 

Once you use Sisley products you understand perfectly how this ethos is at the heart of all our products. We make complex formulas using the best and most potent active ingredients from plants so that you see real results on the skin. So, we don’t really need to remind our teams but we do sometimes have to remind them that the cream is more important than the packaging and more important than the marketing. For us, what speaks most is the product.

How do you come up with new product ideas and formulations? How long does it usually take to get a product to market from ideation?

Our scientists work on complex formulas to tackle each skin issue from as many angles as possible. We work on many different projects and are constantly innovating. But this takes time. Some of our products, such as Sisley L’Integrale, took more than 10 years to develop. We also test extensively before launch which can take up to a year so it’s a slow process.

How would you describe your leadership style in business and what advice would you give to someone starting out in a leadership role?

Personally, I think it’s very important to listen and to work as a team. But, at the end of the day, decisions need to be made. The advice I would give it to really nourish and value your team so that they feel heard and involved.

What products does your personal beauty routine consist of?

In the morning, I start with a spray of Eau Florale. I then cleanse with Sisley’s Lyslait Milk and Floral Toner. I apply Sisley L’Integrale Face Cream (or Sisleya Extra Rich in winter) and use the Ridoki Tool to do a short eye massage to decongest the eye area before applying Sisleya Eye Cream. I also use the gua sha tool to massage my whole face with upwards motions. I leave both creams to set (while I brush my teeth) and then apply All Day All Year from Sisley. It is my protection shield with encapsulated UVA and UVB filters to protect my skin all day long. For the body, I apply Sisleya Body Cream after my shower. And for the hair, I use the Hair Rituel Volume Shampoo, the Creme 230 as a leave-in conditioner and, as my hair is fine, the Volume Spray before drying my hair.

In the evening, if I am going out, I will use the Sisley Black Rose Mask for 10 minutes to re-plump the skin. It is miraculous! At night, I make sure to always remove my makeup and usually use Supremya Face Cream and Supremya Eye & Lip Cream.