OMALY founder connects beauty business to family history
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Ann-Marie O’Shea, born in London to Irish parents, built a beauty business called OMALY that uses sustainably harvested Atlantic seaweed from Ireland.
O’Shea grew up travelling between London and Ireland, experiencing different perceptions of her identity in each country. Her grandmother in West Cork, who made everything from scratch and used seaweed for remedies, deeply influenced her.
After a career in fashion, O’Shea retrained as a beauty therapist and began developing seaweed-based skincare products, driven by memories of her grandmother and a belief in the ingredient's benefits. She spent seven years perfecting the formulations and sourcing a supplier in Donegal who prioritises sustainable harvesting practices. OMALY now offers seven products, including beauty drops and moisturisers, that address a range of skin concerns and have received MTick approval for supporting skin health during menopause.
Despite challenges in competing with larger brands, O’Shea’s business relies on word-of-mouth and customer satisfaction, and her children maintain a strong connection to Ireland, even playing on the Irish Korfball team.
