Career advice: How I became Managing Director of Skin Rocks

Alexandra Forbes is Managing Director of Skin Rocks, the consumer skin care brand by beauty authority Caroline Hirons, which has been making a name for itself since launching in 2022. 

This year, Skin Rocks has not only expanded its empire with a line of professional-only products, Skin Rocks Pro, for use in beauty salons and clinics, but has also secured strategic investment to fuel its global expansion plans. 

Forbes, who has been at the company from the start, charts Skin Rocks' journey below and explains her key duties.

She also shares the essential skills a cosmetics industry professional needs to posess to make it to the top.

Tell us about your first job in beauty?

My first role in the beauty industry was at luxury department store Harvey Nichols in London, UK, where I joined as Assistant Department Manager.

I started in October, just as the store came alive with gift wrap, coffrets and glitter-drenched makeovers for the festive season.

It was magic and I knew within six minutes that I would be in beauty for the rest of my life.

What was a lesson you learned early in your career?

If you do not know, ask.

Early on I spent a lot of time nodding and agreeing, pretending I understood everything, especially in meetings.

That approach backfired on me spectacularly in one particular meeting with a major department store.

I learned then that confidence is not about having all the answers, it is about being confident enough to say, ‘Can you explain that, please?’

Alexandra Forbes, Managing Director of Skin Rocks

Is there someone who has helped you climb the ladder or provided some key advice?

Meeting [beauty authority and Skin Rocks co-founder] Caroline Hirons changed the trajectory of my career.

We crossed paths 19 years ago in the stockroom at Harvey Nichols and Caroline has been a pivotal force in my life ever since.

We work incredibly well together because we bring different strengths to the table, while being