By Azia Whitted & Rachel Strella, for CEOMOM. 

As a mom, entrepreneur, and founder of Edible Beauty, Anna Mitsios has built a skincare brand that blends her passion for wellness, natural ingredients, and sustainability. Her journey from naturopath to successful skincare entrepreneur is marked by resilience and purpose as she balances multiple roles in both her personal and professional life. In this “Moms You Should Know” interview, Anna shares insights on entrepreneurship, wellness rituals, sustainability, and the challenges of leading a conscious beauty brand while maintaining a fulfilling personal life.

 Your journey from naturopath to skincare entrepreneur is inspiring. What was the defining moment that led you to create Edible Beauty, especially as a woman balancing multiple roles?

Over 15 years ago, I transitioned from a career in finance to naturopathy, a shift triggered by my diagnosis as a Type 1 diabetic at the age of 18. I became passionate about the incredible power of natural herbs, diet, and supplements in managing my health condition. I also became increasingly aware of endocrine-disrupting toxins in the beauty products I was using. The Edible Beauty range was created in 2014 while I was working at a natural fertility clinic. I found myself recommending that my patients make changes not only to their diet and lifestyle routines but also to their personal care products. I was surprised to discover that there were very few luxurious, therapeutic skincare options that were also “edible.” This inspired me to start creating my own skincare products.

I began by literally whipping shea butter, cocoa butter, and rose water in my mother’s cake mixer and sharing my creations with friends and family. After extensive research, courses, and meetings with cosmetic chemists, the Edible Beauty Australia skincare range was born.

 As a busy entrepreneur and woman, what is one personal skincare or wellness ritual that you swear by, and how has it impacted your well-being and beauty routine?

I absolutely love using pure skincare and taking wellness supplements to maintain my skin and health. One of the rituals I swear by as a busy entrepreneur is always starting my day with a morning “wellness” shot. This includes a high dose of Vitamin C and gut-supporting nutrients. Vitamin C not only supports natural collagen production, but it is also fantastic for hormone balance, immunity, and energy. I’ve always been deeply interested in gut health and feel much better when I support it (and, indirectly, my skin) with botanicals like aloe vera and slippery elm. Each morning, I add a teaspoon of our Native Collagen Booster and Inner Essentials – Skin+Gut Renew, along with a high-quality greens powder for cleansing and alkalizing, into a shot with water. This routine gives me a noticeable boost for both my step and my skin.

 Sustainability and environmental consciousness are core values of Edible Beauty. How do you prioritize these values while also focusing on the growth and success of your business?

Sustainability is at the core of Edible Beauty’s DNA. From our recyclable Miron glass bottles to our recyclable, sustainably sourced packaging, reef-friendly sunscreen, and natural ingredients that do not harm our planet or our bodies, we are committed to becoming more sustainable as we grow. We believe that caring for the environment is everyone’s responsibility, including our staff and customers. This environmental consciousness has been a priority since Day 1, and I feel it has propelled our business growth. Making these values central to our brand means they naturally inform all of our business decisions and have helped us establish ourselves as a more conscious brand.

Starting and growing a successful brand like Edible Beauty can be challenging, especially as a female founder. Can you share a particular obstacle you faced in the early stages of your business and how you overcame it?

Managing cash flow was one of the main obstacles Edible Beauty faced. Growth and new product development required funding, which was challenging without capital raising. I overcame this by staying true to the brand’s mission and vision and growing slowly yet deliberately. I prioritized customer interaction, retailer training, and education to ensure I stayed connected with customers and personally communicated the brand’s mission and vision. Taking on multiple roles and wearing various hats in the business, along with careful management of promotional spending and new launches, became essential for managing resources effectively.

 As a woman leading a successful company, how do you balance the demands of entrepreneurship with your personal life? What advice would you give to other mompreneurs trying to achieve this life/work harmony?

I launched Edible Beauty before becoming a mom. Before having my son, I quickly adjusted my work-life balance to ensure time for family, my business, and myself. I hired support for my business and became intentional about carving out “me time.” I always encourage women, no matter how busy they may be, to find time to nourish themselves, whether by spending time in nature, exercising, journaling, or reading. I make this time by waking up early! I love getting up before the sun and my family to meditate, exercise, and journal. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the demands of business and family and forget what’s most important—nourishing ourselves.