Gilly Campbell: The Business Owner And Mum Of Two On Her Style And Motherhood.
Photo courtesy of Gilly Campbell.
We caught up with Gilly Campbell, the busy mum of two and the founder of the trendy beauty spa Flexi Skin in London. She knows a thing or two about skincare and always looks effortless on her beautifully curated Instagram feed. Gilly’s the kind of person who effortlessly blends her role as a business owner with her life as a mum, all while keeping her timeless, yet totally practical, sense of style intact.
Gilly’s approach to both life and work is refreshingly grounded, she credits her timeless sense of style to practicality as a mum, finding ways to look polished without compromising on comfort. In this chat, she opens up about her motherhood journey, the highs and lows, and how she balances the chaos of running a business with raising her children and her tips for making it all work.
By Alice Codford
ON MOTHERHOOD
Alice: Do you feel that motherhood has changed you in any way?
Gilly: In so many ways! The biggest change is that I feel somehow calmer and more at peace with things. It’s taught me that ultimately all that matters is that everyone is healthy and happy.
Is motherhood what you expected?
Gilly: It’s so hard to understand motherhood until you’re truly in the thick of it. I’m not sure my expectations were realistic at all haha! The day-to-day I've found much more chaotic and challenging than I expected, especially now that we have two little ones with a very small age gap. There's an awful lot of crying in our household, sometimes it’s me! But also the all-encompassing love and almost obsession with my little ones is beyond anything I could have imagined.
Photo courtesy of Gilly Campbell.
What has been one of the most difficult points of motherhood for you? Were you able to overcome it, and if so, how did you navigate through that challenging time?
Gilly: Jack was only 20 months old when Blair was born, and although he was very loving and accepting of Blair joining the family, he basically wanted nothing to do with me for 3 months! He cried when I came near him, only wanted his dad… he must have thought I had replaced him which was SO hard at the time. Luckily we’re now friends again.
“It’s so hard to understand motherhood until you’re truly in the thick of it.”
What has been one of the highest points of motherhood for you so far? Are there any particular moments or experiences that stand out?
Gilly: This Christmas was a very special one, mostly because I love seeing the joy that little kids bring to everyone else around them.
After a particularly tough day of juggling being a parent, running a business, and life in general, what do you do to recharge or unwind? What helps you find some calm amidst the chaos?
Gilly: A glass of Malbec! And Lindt Sea Salt dark chocolate every night without fail.
Have you found it easy or challenging to maintain your friendships since becoming a mum? And have you made any new mum-friends along the way?
Gilly: I’m lucky that a lot of my friends have kids of a similar age, so I can catch up with them in the week, babies in tow. I think that’s probably why I haven't made many new mum friends! I’ve learnt that with friendships these days it’s quality over quantity. I really try to focus on seeing my closest friends regularly and have accepted that having a huge social circle isn’t necessary at the moment.
What are your must-have products as a mum?
Gilly: Tommee Tippee Barista machine! I recommend this to everyone. It’s not actually called the barista machine, but I like to pretend I'm making cappuccinos. Also, my friend gave me her Bugaboo Donkey which is the double pram and I don’t know how I would have survived without it.
Photo courtesy of Gilly Campbell.
ON HER STYLE SINCE BECOMING A MOTHER
Has your personal style changed since becoming a mum? If so, how has it influenced the way you dress?
Gilly: My whole wardrobe has become very ‘practical’ but I’m learning to embrace this and focus on great quality basics that I love and also work well for mum life. I'm rarely in anything other than jeans these days.
What’s your go-to outfit for every day? And what pieces do you wear on repeat?
Gilly: Jeans, t-shirt, knit and then a great coat, interesting jewellery and flat boots. I’m a real believer in buying as well as you can afford, and I think this is especially important for staple basics that you wear 24/7 with children. This season, I invested in a parka from Max Mara that’s waterproof with a huge hood. It makes me feel put together even when it’s chucking it down, and I’m pushing a double buggy up a hill (which is most days).
Who's wardrobe would you love to raid? Do you have a style icon?
Gilly: I’m obsessed with what Claire Rose wears, she always looks amazing. My other favourite at the moment is Mecah Wirht. Her aesthetic is life goals.
“I love buying preloved and vintage and really value it when items have a story to them.”
Have you received or gifted yourself something special to commemorate the birth of your children?
Gilly: When Blair was born, I treated myself to an incredible second-hand Chanel bag from Sign of The Times in Chelsea. It’s cream and really unusual. Such a nice keepsake that I’ll have forever. I love buying preloved and vintage and really value it when items have a story to them.
What is on your shopping list right now?
Gilly: A Goldbergh Ski Jacket for an upcoming trip. The one I like is 90’s Prada Vibes, so I think I could wear it with jeans also.
Photo courtesy of Gilly Campbell.
Where are your favourite places to shop for your kids?
Gilly: Wheat, Organic Zoo, Binibamba & Claude and Co.
What is your go-to handbag that works as a mum and also day-to-day?
Gilly: For my birthday I bought a huge brown suede tote from Little Liffner that fits anything you could ever want in it and still looks great. I’m a big believer in a chic nappy bag!
Let's talk a bit about beauty, what are your absolute must-have skincare and make-up products that you use on repeat? And has your beauty routine changed much since becoming a mum?
Gilly: My skincare routine has massively simplified. I laugh at my morning routine these days, I get about 30 seconds!! Some favourites are Dr. Sam’s Cleanser, Medik8 Vitamin C for daytime and Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask Overnight. If I can do those three things my skin is pretty happy.
ON BEING A BUSINESS OWNER
Can you tell me what your typical day looks like with two kids and owning your business, Flexi Skin?
Gilly: Every day is different and generally has a large amount of chaos in it! Jack goes to nursery 4 days a week, and whilst Blair is so young I've been using The Jesse’s House Club really regularly, as he can go into the babysitting service for a couple of hours. This lets me get some work done and also fit in a Pilates class. I try to squeeze in a visit to the salon as often as I can, but at the moment it’s easier to deal with things over the phone than to commute over there.
Photo courtesy of Gilly Campbell.
Do you find it hard to switch off work at the end of the day? Any tips on how to help with this?
Gilly: I’m a very guilty Instagram scroller, but it does help me switch off so maybe it’s not so guilty! I also watch an hour of a great TV series every night with my husband (a lot of the time I fall asleep on the sofa and he has to catch me up!)
What entrepreneur do you look up to the most and why?
Gilly: Lauren Ireland who started Summer Fridays is a big inspiration at the moment. I love that their business is ultimately quite simple and focuses on great products with great branding
What inspired you to open your beauty salon, Flexi Skin?
Gilly: I struggled a lot with my skin as a teenager and did everything from Antibiotics to Roaccutane, so thats always made me quite skincare obsessed. I wanted to create a space that felt uplifting, female focused and calm, where you can truly look forward to getting a monthly treatment or indulge yourself during a stressful week!
“Everyone does motherhood differently, and you can’t compare yourself to what other mothers are or aren’t doing.”
What treatments do you recommend for any mum to try at your spa?
Gilly: Our Hydra Facial is amazing for all skin types and never fails to make you glow! I also don't think you can beat a 60 min bespoke massage to lift your spirits.
Any tips on how to balance the responsibilities of owning a business and being a parent?
Gilly: Have a great team! Since becoming a mum i've accepted that I can’t do it all, and in order to have a lot of time with my boys whilst they are young I’ve promoted a couple of amazing therapists to take over a lot of my responsibilities in the salon
What advice or words of wisdom do you want to share with other mothers?
Gilly: My biggest learning and advice is that everyone does motherhood differently, and you can’t compare yourself to what other mothers are or aren't doing. Whether you want to work full time, focus on your kids, start a side hustle…there's not really a right or wrong way to do it, and I’m definitely still learning this everyday too!
