Interview | Arabella Preston of Votary

Arabella Preston is the co-founder of Votary, the luxury British skincare brand dedicated to skin health, and Verden, a natural fragrance brand for bath, body, and home. She began her career in the beauty industry as a makeup artist, training at the London College of Fashion before working as a first assistant to renowned makeup artist Kay Montano. Over the years, she collaborated with leading photographers, magazines, and high-profile clients.

Arabella’s passion for skincare started at her kitchen table, where she blended pure plant oils to cleanse and prep both her own skin and that of her clients. Recognising the transformative benefits of her formulations, she partnered with entrepreneur Charlotte Semler to launch Votary.

We recently caught up with Arabella to talk Votary, the future of the brand, her personal beauty routine, and the skincare essentials she can’t live without.

What inspired you to create Votary?

As a makeup artist, I was known for my ‘skin first’ approach and was booked on jobs specifically for the glowing, dewy finish I loved to create. Most of the time, this was achieved using skincare, not makeup, and I would always spend longer prepping skin than applying foundation. Healthy, nourished skin will always shine through.

Inspired by this belief that healthy skin is the best foundation, I reached out to my friend, Charlotte Semler, and together we founded Votary in 2015.

The Votary philosophy is proudly that HEALTHY SKIN IS BEAUTIFUL SKIN. We create products that work with your skin to give transformative results while supporting a strong skin barrier.

What product makes the best introduction to the brand?

Our Rose Geranium Cleansing Oil is the ideal starting point. It was our first product and encapsulates the Votary ethos—gentle yet powerful, luxurious yet practical. It transforms the cleansing process into a ritual, leaving skin deeply clean and nourished​. It is still our bestselling product 10 years on.

What has been the biggest highlight?

Seeing Votary evolve into a globally recognised brand has been incredibly rewarding. A personal highlight has been watching our facials at Liberty London consistently sell out—proof that people value our focus on experiential, results-driven skincare​.

What advice would you give to those wanting to launch their own beauty business?

Passion and authenticity are key. Love your products and ensure they solve real problems. Seek advice, learn from every opportunity, and stay adaptable to (without doggedly following) market trends. Most importantly, don’t compromise on quality​—both in your products and your team.

What’s next for Votary?

We are launching with some amazing new hotel partners in 2025 and are looking forward to bringing our products to more global properties. I’m excited to bring more experiential opportunities, like our facials, to a wider audience​.

What does your daily skincare routine look like?

In the morning, I do a quick oil cleanse, then follow with our Super Renewal Serum and a few drops of Super Seed Facial Oil. I take a couple of minutes to massage it in to wake my skin up and get it glowing.

In the evening, I do a first cleanse with our Rose Geranium Cleansing oil and a second cleanse with our Radiance Reveal Mask (I often leave this on my skin while in the bath). I follow this with Super Renewal Serum and Intense Night Oil.

What are three beauty products you cannot live without?

Votary’s Super Renewal Serum – Our new retinol alternative serum packs a punch when it comes to smoothing fine lines and evening out my skin tone, yet it’s so gentle and nourishing. I use it morning and evening.

The Trish McEvoy Beauty Balm – My everyday ‘chuck-it-on-to-feel-better’ product. It has minimal coverage but gives a lovely natural and luminous finish.

Verden Body Polish – It’s surprisingly difficult to find a really good scrub, but Verden has nailed it.

What’s the biggest skincare lesson you’ve learned?

Skin thrives on consistency and balance and less is often more when it comes to maintaining skin health​. Mainly, it is so important to understand your own skin so you can see through the marketing and know what will work for you.

What person or brand would you love to collaborate with?

I would like Cate Blanchett to be the face of Votary please!​

What’s not getting the attention it deserves in the beauty industry right now?

Barrier repair and microbiome-friendly products are finally receiving the attention they deserve, but they’re often categorised in a way that downplays their potential in anti-ageing skincare. Sensitive skin types deserve transformative solutions too, and we love making products tailored just for them.