Carla Oates created The Beauty Chef in 2009 after successfully addressing her family’s skin issues through a gut-healing protocol that included probiotic-rich, lacto-fermented wholefoods. Her journey began as a beauty writer, but disillusionment with synthetic ingredients in commercial beauty products led her to explore the power of nutrition for skin health.

“It doesn’t sound very glamorous, but the gut is where the seeds for health and beauty are planted,” Oates said. “Clear, glowing skin occurs when you feed your body nutrient-dense food and cultivate a healthy gut microbiome.”

Recognising the profound impact of gut health on overall wellbeing, she developed The Beauty Chef’s first inner beauty powder, Glow, in her Bondi kitchen. Over the past 16 years, the brand has evolved into a leader in the inner beauty space, with products now stocked in major retailers globally, including Sephora, Selfridges, and Bloomingdale’s. “When I first started, no one understood what I was doing. I had to educate people on the importance of gut health, and now, it’s amazing to see how much awareness has grown.”

The Beauty Chef’s formulations are developed in collaboration with microbiologists, naturopaths, and nutritionists, harnessing the power of fermentation to enhance potency and efficacy. Oates explained that fermentation is the key to unlocking the bioavailability of nutrients while also producing beneficial probiotics and postbiotics that support gut and skin health. “What I really wanted to achieve was the science of fermentation—taking traditional processes and applying scientific insights to each step,” she said. “We control oxygen saturation, temperature, pH levels, and metabolite concentrations to ensure consistency and efficacy in our formulations.”

The brand’s unique fermentation process, Flora Culture, introduces 13 different strains of beneficial bacteria to create bioavailable nutrition and broad-spectrum probiotics and postbiotics. “Postbiotics are now being recognised in mainstream health discussions, but we were talking about them over a decade ago,” Oates added. “I remember sitting up all night with my team, monitoring the fermentation process like it was a baby monitor. It was crucial to get it right.”

Research continues to highlight the bidirectional link between gut health and skin health, with studies showing that individuals with conditions such as IBS, acne, and rosacea often have imbalances in their gut microbiome. “Your gut is where you regulate hormones, eliminate toxins, and produce neurotransmitters,” Oates explained. “Any imbalances can profoundly affect how we look and feel. More and more, we’re seeing medical professionals back up what we’ve known for years—that gut health is at the core of overall wellness.”

Beyond the gut-skin axis, The Beauty Chef’s products also support brain health, metabolic function, and immune health. “We have ten times more bacterial cells than human cells, so fostering a healthy gut microbiome empowers us to take control of our overall wellbeing,” she said. “When I was a child, I had terrible eczema and allergies. I witnessed firsthand how gut health could completely transform my skin. That’s what drove me to create The Beauty Chef.”

The Beauty Chef’s expansion into Chemist Warehouse marks a significant milestone for the brand. “Chemist Warehouse is the house of wellness,” Oates said. “Their incredible presence in the retail space allows us to get our products into the hands of a wider, diverse audience.”

To celebrate the launch, The Beauty Chef hosted an immersive event, bringing its gut-health philosophy to life. Guests were treated to plantable menus that bloom into Beauty Chef ingredients, collagen mocktails, and a mini activity lab for hands-on product testing. “It was incredible to see people engage with the science behind what we do,” Oates said. A striking concave floral table served as the centrepiece, surrounded by an immersive projection showcasing the bio-fermentation bacteria cultivated at The Beauty Chef Probiotic Lab. “It was a true reflection of the synergy between nature and science that defines our brand.”

With an extensive range of delicious elixirs, chewables, and powders, The Beauty Chef aims to make gut health more accessible and appealing. “We want to help as many people as possible become the healthiest and happiest versions of themselves,” Oates shared. “I love that people now start their day not just by putting on moisturiser, but by making a gut-loving smoothie. That’s a real shift.”

As consumer awareness of gut health grows, The Beauty Chef remains at the forefront of innovation. “Our team is always listening to our customers and exploring new ways to deliver targeted solutions,” Oates said. “The future of beauty and wellness is rooted in nutrition, and we’re excited to continue leading this movement.”

“It’s incredible to see how far the industry has come,” Oates reflected. “More people now understand that beauty is more than skin deep—it starts in the belly.”

Read the SUMMER ’25 issue of Retail Beauty below:

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