How Anna Lahey’s startup became a multimillion-dollar beauty brand.

With the ingestible beauty category buzzing globally, it's a market within the beauty industry expected to grow to more than $6.5 billion by 2025. 

But for Vida Glow founder Anna Lahey, collagen began as an attempt to address her hair loss. 

“Vida Glow started on a whim,” the mum-of-four tells Mamamia.

“The idea for Vida Glow came from my own personal experience with collagen supplements.

“I came across collagen supplementation while travelling overseas – I was looking for a solution for the hair loss I was experiencing at the time. It was the only product I tried – and I had tried a lot – that delivered visible results, not just for my hair, but also my skin and nails.”

While these days you can’t walk down the street without bumping into a collagen supplement, it was during the time Anna came up with the idea for Vida Glow that collagen wasn’t readily available in Australia yet.

“I spent a fortune buying it overseas and gifting it to friends and family. I was amazed by it, so I looked into the scientific research on collagen to understand if what I was experiencing was a placebo.”

Spoiler alert: Anna’s whim paid off big time.

“The data was very much there to substantiate collagen’s effects in the body. I saw a gap in the market and knew it could revolutionise beauty routines – and the beauty industry – with ingestible beauty products that are based on science."

And change the game she did. But, as with all things startup, it wasn’t without its initial complications.

“I had an idea, but I didn’t have a business plan, a product hierarchy or a strategy,” says Anna of those early days. "Knowing what I know now, I would have mapped out the brand, our mission and product offering a lot more.

“We made some mistakes in our first years, but we learnt from everything. And, most importantly, we took the first step.”

In years since Vida Glow’s 2014 inception, a lot has happened for Anna both professionally and personally – including the expansion of her family.

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“My family has grown alongside Vida Glow’s growth,” she says. “Almost nine years ago when we launched Vida Glow, I was doing everything from the content on our website to customer service. We now have a team of 50 passionate employees, which makes stepping away to pick up the kids from school, or for maternity leave, easier. 

“With that said, Vida Glow will always be my first baby, and there isn’t a day that goes by that I’m not thinking about it, or having work-related discussions with my husband, who is our CEO.”

But when it comes to being a working mum with a super-successful startup to run, Anna knows the importance of being realistic about what you can accomplish solo – and when to ask for help. 

“I think it’s important to accept that you aren’t always able to juggle both [motherhood and working], and although you might try, at times all the balls will end up on the floor. And that’s okay. Balance isn’t always achievable, and I’ve had to accept that.

“Taking the pressure off myself and having perspective helps, as does having a strong support system around me. My husband is very hands-on, I have my mum nearby and I have a nanny. I’m incredibly grateful, I couldn’t do what I do without the village around me.”

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Another thing that has changed dramatically over the past decade since Vida Glow entered the market is the way we consumers now view our beauty routines. While topical skincare still plays a huge role, there’s no denying there's been a major shift towards ingestible beauty as an integral part of beauty regimens in 2023 – not to mention the increased demand for both efficiency and efficacy in the beauty products we use.

Consumers want a product that delivers tangible results – and this is what makes Vida Glow a pivotal player in the world of ingestible marine collagen, says Anna.

“I believe our investment into scientific research and using clinical data to educate our community has set the foundation for Vida Glow’s success. It’s a definitive point that continues to benchmark us as leaders in the ingestible beauty industry. Last year we invested more than $1M into independent clinical trials. And we’re focused on continuing to ensure that every new product is substantiated with robust clinical backing.”

This robust scientific research has gone into the newest Vida Glow product to hit the market – Collagen Liquid Advance, a berry-flavoured elixir that’s set to shake up the beauty game all over again.

“We know our customers live busy lives and they don’t have time to make an 11-ingredient smoothie just to consume their daily collagen supplement. I certainly don’t,” says Anna. 

“So we created a fuss-free, clinically proven liquid collagen that will deliver firmer, smoother-looking skin.

“Collagen Liquid Advance combines a double dose of the same marine collagen that is in our powder sachets with a complex of antioxidants and vitamin C,” Anna explains.

“Vitamin C is a known essential cofactor in the synthesis of collagen, meaning it provides additional support for collagen production. Studies show that taking vitamin C supplements along with collagen supplements can improve the absorption of collagen peptides in the body making them more effective.”

My batch of Vida Glow's newest Collagen Liquid Advance. Image: Supplied/Mamamia.

Collagen Liquid Advance firms and plumps skin, as well as supports hair and nail health.

“Our marine collagen has been clinically studied to substantiate its anti-ageing benefits on skin. The clinical trial found when taking 2.5mg of marine collagen daily for 8 weeks there was a significant increase in the appearance of skin firmness, a decrease in the appearance of wrinkles, and skin complexion and radiance were significantly improved.

“Because of the higher dose [5mg] of collagen, we say Collagen Liquid Advance is for someone with more mature skin or ageing concerns, and also just for anyone time-poor.”

Watch: The latest product release from Vida Glow, Collagen Liquid Advance. Post continues below.

So what advice does Anna have for others embarking on their own business startup?

“Instead of pursuing perfection, just start – especially if it’s your first business. Both you and the business will evolve with time and experience. Trust yourself and the process. And don’t be afraid to fail. Fear of failure will always hold you back," she says.

“Know when you need to be selfish. Selfish is a dirty word, but I believe mothers need to be selfish. The mental load of motherhood alone is so large that if you don’t put some time aside for yourself to be selfish, it can be quite destroying. You can’t pour from an empty cup. If you’re starting a business, the mental load will only get bigger. 

“So, book that massage or take 15 minutes to go for a walk – do what you need to do so that you’re not always running on empty.”

Shop Vida Glow's newest collagen innovation, Collagen Liquid Advance. 

Always read the label and follow directions for use. If pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to your healthcare professional before taking any supplement, including Vida Glow's Collagen Liquid Advance.

Feature Image: Instagram/@anna.lahey