Ten years in business is no small feat in the ever evolving beauty industry. Trends shift overnight, customer needs constantly change, and innovation never slows down. Yet for LAB FACTOR, reaching a decade milestone is not simply a celebration of longevity it’s a reflection of resilience, community, and commitment to serving beauty professionals across the UK .
At the heart of it all is CEO Angelina Salacinski, who has watched the brand transform from humble beginnings into a recognised destination for lash and brow professionals. Looking back, she describes the journey as nothing short of extraordinary.
“We’re so lucky to have so many incredible milestones that have defined our brand journey over the past 10 years,” she says. “From upgrading our warehouse and growing the team, to meeting our community at events. Every stage has pushed the brand forward in a different way.”
That sense of progression has become a defining theme for LAB FACTOR. What began as a mission to provide lash extension technicians with high-quality supplies has grown alongside the beauty industry itself.
“When we launched, we wanted to provide lash extension techs with top quality supplies,” Angelina explains. “But with the rise of brow lamination and natural brow treatments, we’re proud to now be a one-stop shop for lash and brow techs alike.”
Like many successful businesses, LAB FACTOR’s growth story started small. Angelina’s entrepreneurial journey began with selling lash shampoo to salon clients, a simple idea that would later evolve into a thriving business.
“Crazy!” she laughs when asked to describe the brand’s transformation over the past decade. “I started by selling lash shampoo to my salon clients. Then came closing my salon, stocking new products, moving premises a few times and expanding the team.”
But behind every milestone came challenges that tested the business and the people behind it.
“Our biggest challenge was probably our bespoke website,” Angelina reveals. “It took four times longer to build than anticipated, and there’s still work to do. Running a business is not for the faint-hearted, but we’ve always prioritised our customers, no matter what challenges have come our way.”
That customer first approach has remained a constant throughout LAB FACTOR’s journey and has played a significant role in shaping the brand.
“Our community is at the core of everything we do and have achieved,” she says. “We stay connected and keep learning from those immersed in the industry. We listen to what they need and want, and that helps us determine the products and brands we stock, as well as the direction of our events.”
Listening closely to customers has also helped guide some of the company’s most defining partnerships. Angelina points to key product relationships that elevated the brand and helped expand its visibility.
“We were incredibly lucky to have support from brands early on that helped put us on the map,” she explains. “Bringing on Elleebana around 2017 really helped get our name out there. Then later, we started stocking Mayamy, now Bronsun. Brow laminations were really taking off at the time, and the success we saw became a major turning point.”
As conversations around sustainability and inclusivity continue to shape the beauty landscape, Angelina says LAB FACTOR remains committed to learning and evolving.
“We want everyone to feel heard, seen and represented,” she says. “Inclusivity is always part of the conversation. We’re also conscious about making packaging easier to recycle and have worked closely with manufacturers on that.”
After ten years in business, experience has naturally brought perspective — and a few lessons Angelina wishes she had learned sooner.
“Stay in your own lane,” she advises. “Focus on being yourself and don’t get discouraged if you don’t think you’re doing things right or growing quickly enough. Chances are, the brands you admire are dealing with their own challenges too.”
Looking toward the future, there’s a palpable sense of excitement surrounding what comes next for LAB FACTOR. While Angelina remains tight-lipped on specifics, she hints at ambitious plans already in motion.
“We have so many plans that we’re currently working on,” she says. “New products, expansion of The Lash and Brow Hub, and increased collaboration with our brands and community. Maybe in a future issue we can share more.”
As both a stockist and brand owner, Angelina also has a unique perspective on where the industry itself is headed. She predicts continued growth in Korean lash trends and anticipates a wider move toward softer, more natural brows with a stronger focus on brow health and innovation.
When it comes to selecting brands for the LAB FACTOR portfolio, instinct, innovation and community insight remain key.
“We get approached by brands all the time,” she says. “We look for brands that are innovative and market themselves well, but we also pay close attention to what our customers are talking about and using. While we stock many of the industry’s biggest names, we also love supporting smaller and up-and-coming brands.”
Ten years on, LAB FACTOR’s story feels less like a destination reached and more like a journey still gathering momentum. Built on community, adaptability and a willingness to evolve, its next chapter looks set to be just as exciting as the first.
