How a Skin Cancer Diagnosis Inspired the Founders of Luna Bronze

Sara Tan (0:06)

Hi, Kirby.

Maddy Balderson (0:07)

Hi, Sarah.

Sara Tan (0:08)

Welcome to Los Angeles.

We are big believers that a good self-tanner is one of the most underrated things in your beauty routine, and today's guests would likely agree with us. Maddy Balderson and Rhiannon Hall are the co-founders of Luna Bronze, an Australian self-tanning brand born out of a deeply personal experience with skin cancer that made them rethink sun exposure entirely. Their philosophy is simple. You shouldn't have to choose between a gorgeous glow and healthy skin. Welcome to Gloss Angeles, Maddy and Rhiannon.

Kirbie Johnson (0:44)

We met at Ulta Beauty World.

Sara Tan (0:47)

Yes.

Kirbie Johnson (0:48)

Let's debrief about Ulta Beauty World for a second. Thoughts?

Rhiannon Hall (0:52)

Oh, amazing. It was incredible brand building.

Maddy Balderson (0:56)

Yeah, it was something that we, you know, we were a young brand. We've just launched into Ulta as well. I think a month earlier before Ulta Beauty World. So it was a big decision to make that investment. But we look back on it now. It was only a few weeks ago now. Oh my gosh.

And it was just just such a great moment to meet the store associates, to meet the customers and to meet you guys as well.

Kirbie Johnson (1:16)

Yeah. So we had a great dinner together.

Rhiannon Hall (1:18)

And I think the most amazing thing was the store associates that were so excited about the brand. And they had the last six inches of the sale and they were just so happy to meet Maddy and I there. The founders, we were on the ground. We were in the booth. We were hustling. And they were just so appreciative of that. So yeah, it's been incredible for our brand. And we doubled our TikTok following. Amazing.

Kirbie Johnson (1:40)

That's huge. That's a really great KPI to take a look at afterwards.

Rhiannon Hall (1:45)

So when we say brand building, I think since then, our sales at Ulta also just skyrocketed.

Sara Tan (1:51)

Oh, that's incredible.

Rhiannon Hall (1:52)

It just shows when you really put that time and effort in with the store associates and the customers, how much they love it.

Sara Tan (1:57)

I saw you guys hanging out with Khloe Kardashian at Ulta Beauty World.

Tell us about that. Yes.

Maddy Balderson (2:04)

So we had a booth that was pretty much right across from the hair brand that she was representing. And the team were like, Maddy, you have had the same skin cancer as Khloe. You need to get in this queue. You need to get one of these claw clips and line up and meet her. And she was just...

I'm not sort of like really a big celebrity fan crusher kind of person, but I met her and she was just so kind and sweet. And like really she gave everybody really at the time of day. And her skin was just... I really wanted to check her skin out. Her skin was absolutely flawless. And yeah, so told her about us having that shared skin cancer experience. So, you know, hopefully we see her in a Luna Bronze purple t-shirt one day.

Sara Tan (2:45)

Yeah, that would be such a good partnership.

Kirbie Johnson (2:48)

They also, she just, they tan all the time. Do you know if she has the product?

Maddy Balderson (2:53)

We did get her a Luna Bronze pout with the jelly and a few other treats and some Australian Tim Tams and things like that in the t-shirt. So, fingers crossed it made it to her.

Kirbie Johnson (3:05)

My friend, you got her makeup. So, I will have to tell Melissa Huffman to like...

Rhiannon Hall (3:09)

Oh my gosh, I love Melissa.

Kirbie Johnson (3:11)

Isn't she amazing?

Rhiannon Hall (3:12)

Oh my goodness, her makeup is incredible.

Kirbie Johnson (3:14)

I know, I know.

Sara Tan (3:14)

You have to tell her to put the jelly on Chloe.

Kirbie Johnson (3:16)

I know, bronzer, babe, bronzer.

Sara Tan (3:19)

You know what?

Kirbie Johnson (3:19)

I gotta say, guys, I am obsessed with your brand. I really am. I think that in a world and a sea of now, all of these self-tanning products, there's a lot of the same.

And we had not met prior to like two months ago, but both of you have the best personalities. And I think the mission for the brand really sets yourself apart from everything else. I feel probably that's why you guys saw such an increase in purchases at Ulta after having talked to the store associates, because it's not just, you want to be tan? It's like, hey, this brand was built out of the fact that one of the founders had skin cancer. And the only way to avoid skin cancer and also get a tan is with a self-tanner.