Cosmetic pioneer Margo Marrone

Margo Marrone, 51, founded The organic Pharmacy and created its skincare range. She lives in london with her husband and co-founder Francesco and their two children. IN THE early Eighties, I had a Saturday job at my local pharmacy in North-West London — it was an old-fashioned place where you knew your customers. I loved it, so I trained to be a pharmacist.

Graduating in 1987, I spent eight years working in the industry. The traditional type of pharmacy had all but disappeared. Now I was counting pills, not helping people.

Then I joined Nelsons Homeopathic Pharmacy in Mayfair — it had the holistic approach with patients that I was looking for.

I did a part-time course at the College of Homeopathy where I learnt how to avoid chemicals in skincare. When my daughter was born in 1998, I would mix natural balms and ointments for her at home. I made my own skincare, too. I gave my creations to friends as gifts. When they all asked for more, I had that light bulb moment.

My vision was a store combining my beauty treatments with herbal and homeopathic remedies.

It took four years for my husband and me to fine-tune the concept, create a business plan and get a bank loan — then, in 2002, we opened the first Organic Pharmacy in London. Our early customers often suffered chronic acne and eczema: we were their last resort but, with us, they got results.

In 2005, we started being stocked in such high-end department stores as Selfridges and Harvey Nichols. These days, our products are used in luxury spas in 33 countries.

My daughter, whom I used those first balms on as a baby, is now a grown-up. It feels as though the business has grown up with her.