Skin deep

Votary and Verden were dreamt up by friends Arabella Preston and Charlotte Semler. Focusing on plant oils and botanical actives the brands are loved for their high performance yet gentle range with a focus on potent, natural ingredients. Arabella talks to us about her beginnings as a make up artist, experimenting at the kitchen table and co-founding a cult beauty brand.

Tell us about your background and how you set up Votary and Verden?

I co-founded Votary in 2015 after years as a makeup artist, struggling to find cleansers that were both effective and nourishing. Discovering the transformative power of plant oils, I started blending my own, and when I shared them with my friend Charlotte Semler, we knew we had something special. Votary was born out of a belief that natural, plant extracts and botanical actives can deeply cleanse, transform and restore the skin. We launched at Liberty London, and since then, our mission has remained the same: to create beautiful, effective skincare that truly works.

Verden came later, inspired by Charlotte’s Danish roots and the joy of nature’s scents. After a trip to her childhood beach house, she realised how deeply fragrance connects us to memories and well-being. We created Verden to bring that connection into daily rituals, using natural fragrances for bath, body, and home. Sustainability is at our core, with recycled packaging and a commitment to “1% For The Planet.”

What’s the philosophy behind the brands?

Both brands embody a philosophy centred on the power of natural ingredients and the importance of mindful self-care. Votary focuses on harnessing the benefits of plant extracts and botanical actives to achieve healthy, radiant skin, while Verden emphasises the role of natural fragrances in enhancing well-being and fostering a connection to the earth.

Has the beauty industry changed since you first started? 

Definitely. We weathered the storms of Brexit and Covid and have seen knock-on effects as a result. Longer lead times within our supply chain, inflation and increasingly nightmare-ish red tape. I still wouldn’t want to work in any other industry though! 

What have been the pinch-me highlights of your career? 

I worked with some incredible women as a makeup artist and I still think that meeting inspirational women is the highlight of running Votary. 

But one moment does stand out, which was Jess Glynne performing at the 2018 Brit Awards with 100 dancers on stage all removing their makeup with Votary Cleansing Oil as she performed her song ‘Thursday’. It was emotional!

Who or what inspires you most and why? 

My business partner, Charlotte Semler, keeps me going and continually inspires me. I am so grateful to be sharing the crazy entrepreneurial journey with her. 

What does luxury mean to you? 

An amazing nights sleep with the best quality sheets and pillows.

Can you give us a couple of your tried and tested beauty tips?

Always cleanse every evening, even if you aren’t wearing make-up, and use a face cloth. Really clean skin that isn’t dry or tight is the foundation of great skin. 

And work out how to sleep really well, if you aren’t sleeping it is pretty hard to hide the impact on your face. 

Lastly, look after your teeth. I did invisalign 10 years ago and it was the best anti-ageing investment!

QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS

Top 3 beauty products

Votary Rose Geranium Cleansing Oil

VERDEN Arborealist Hand & Body Wash

Tweezerman tweezers

Favourite spa

Limewood

Favourite hotel

Marbella Club Hotel

Favourite bar

Rosewood Scarfe’s Bar

Next travel destination

Egypt

Who would you most like to see headline Glastonbury?

Like everyone else, Cher!