She Lost Her First Brand… Then Created a Better One: Nikki DeRoest

Nikki DeRoest has built a career around one core belief: beauty should enhance, not hide. From working with some of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces to launching her own brand, she’s learned firsthand that success isn’t always linear. After walking away from her first company, Nikki had to rebuild from scratch—this time on her own terms. In this episode, Nikki and Maeve talk about the realities of building a beauty brand, navigating setbacks, and why trusting your vision matters more than ever. They get into ⬇ The moment she knew she had to walk away from her first brand What it really takes to launch in Sephora Why most beauty products aren’t built for real life Balancing artistry, business, and motherhood The truth about “making it” in a creative industry This is a conversation about reinvention and doing things your way. — 🎙️ The Inside Edit Podcast with Maeve Reilly explores the mindset, personal growth, and behind-the-scenes realities of building a meaningful life and career. Subscribe for new episodes every week. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Intro to Nikki + philosophy on beauty 02:39 – Starting in beauty + early hustle in LA 06:49 – The first brand + what went wrong 08:04 – Turning failure into confidence 19:05 – The idea behind her SPF-based brand 23:40 – Pitching Sephora + getting the green light 24:28 – Raising money + finding the right partners 26:24 – Building a team + running a company 27:42 – The shift in her career after launching a brand 42:05 – Why