Carla Oates, founder and CEO of The Beauty Chef, has built her career on a simple yet transformative idea: true beauty begins in the gut. A longtime advocate of fermentation and internal wellness, Oates has become a leading voice in the conversation around skin health and nutrition. We sat down with her to explore the science behind glowing skin, the role of gut health in overall wellbeing, and the daily practices she recommends for feeling – and looking – your best from the inside out.
How did The Beauty Chef begin?
“As a child, I suffered from eczema and allergies. My mum took me to see a naturopath, who removed processed foods as well as allergens such as gluten and dairy from my diet. My allergies and eczema dramatically subsided and I learnt firsthand that what we eat directly impacts our skin and health. When my daughter started experiencing eczema and allergies, I eliminated dairy and gluten from her diet [and my family’s diet]. I started researching the link between gut health and skin health – that’s when The Beauty Chef was born.”
Really, how important is our gut health?
“Gut health has become an important part of the wellness landscape. Research is proving its influence over skin, energy, immunity, digestion and whole-body wellness. It’s the driver behind everything we do.”
“The Beauty Chef was a pioneer in the global inner beauty category, and one of the first to shine a light on the link between gut health and skin health [in 2009]. The gut is the foundation of our wellbeing. It’s where 70 per cent of our immune system lies. It’s also where we regulate hormones, make nutrients and neurotransmitters, create detoxifying enzymes and neutralise pathogens. If any of these processes are knocked out of balance, it can profoundly affect our wellbeing – including our skin health.
Most products at The Beauty Chef have fermentation in them. Can you explain why?
“Fermentation is our superpower. It’s brought to life in The Beauty Chef’s probiotic lab in Sydney. We use a unique fermentation process, called Flora Culture, and our exclusive probiotic strain GUT5Y supercharges our wholefood ingredients to maximise their efficacy.”
What supplement do you take every day without fail?
“The Beauty Chef Glow has been my daily nonnegotiable from the start. It’s the one product I think everyone should be taking 365 days of the year. I recently turned 50, so I’ve transitioned to Glow Ageless, which offers extra support in terms of bone health, thyroid health, hormone health and antioxidant support.
With 200 per cent of your RDI of vitamin C, plus provitamin A, broad-spectrum B vitamins, zinc, antioxidants, prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics, they’re both delicious daily drinkable habits.”
You have had such an incredible career. What are some of the highlights?
“There have been so many great moments in 16 years, but ultimately the thing I love most is helping people and hearing from women within our community who have discovered our products and had great results – with glowing skin, better digestion, energy or healthy hair. I’ve also learnt not be afraid to speak up and disagree. I used to worry about coming across as ‘difficult’, particularly as a woman in business, but I’ve learnt to trust my instincts.”
New from The Beauty Chef
Plumpers in Matcha, $45 (for 75 chewable tablets).
“Now in a new Matcha flavour, the potent, on-the-go collagen chewables are an easy way to get your daily dose of collagen (three tablets give you 2625mg of collagen).”
“Poo is no longer a taboo subject. This powder supplement will help with healthy bowel movements thanks to three different types of fibre: soluble, insoluble and starch resistant. With added antioxidant-rich plant-based extracts, this is a comprehensive formula that goes beyond traditional fibre supplements.”
The Beauty Chef is now also available at Chemist Warehouse.
