Indie Lee
Diagnosed with a rare environmentally-derived brain tumor in November 2008 and given as little as six months to live, Indie Lee survived surgery and rebuilt her life — and then her industry — from scratch. Often called the OG clean-skincare founder.
"It was my awakening — when my doctor asked what I was putting on my skin every day."
— Indie Lee
In November 2008, then a CPA, Indie Lee was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor her doctors believed was environmentally derived. The pivotal moment came when her doctor asked what she was putting on her skin and on her body every day.
After successful surgery, she sold her jewelry to fund the business and launched Indie Lee & Co. on Earth Day, April 22, 2009 — predating mainstream 'clean beauty' vocabulary by several years.
Her financial background gave her unusual discipline scaling from zero. She has consistently pushed back against the marketing language of 'clean,' arguing that science and formulation credibility must underpin any meaningful claim.
'Clean' without a verifiable formulation standard is marketing. The label has to be backed by substance.
Personal health crisis as product brief — every formulation traces back to the day a doctor asked her what she was putting on her body.
- Pre-2008Career as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- 2008Diagnosed with a rare brain tumor; given as little as six months to live
- 2009Launches Indie Lee & Co. on Earth Day, April 22
"It was my awakening."
Indie Lee profile interview"My background in finance and accounting really helped me understand what was needed to grow a business from the ground up."
Indie Lee profile interview