Meet Marianne & Lisa

The mother-daughter duo working together for the Norwegian skincare brand Face Formula. Based in Oslo, 27-year-old Lisa is the brand marketing director, while 57-year-old Marianne co-founded the skincare brand that has become a trusted name in Norwegian beauty. 

Together, they bring two generations of insight to the table, combining experience and fresh perspective in their day-to-day work. Their dynamic is both personal and professional, grounded in trust, curiosity, and a shared passion for helping people feel confident in their skin.

Let's talk passion

For Marianne, it’s always been about skin. Her love for skincare started back in 1989 when she studied at the French Cosmetic school in Oslo, and that curiosity has only grown with time. She’s always seen skin as more than just the surface - it reflects how we feel on the inside and tells a story about our health.
In the late '90s and early 2000s, Marianne became especially interested in cosmeceuticals—products with active ingredients that actually make a difference.

When she co-founded Elixir Cosmeceuticals in 2008, this idea was still pretty new in Europe, but she was all in. Since then, she’s continued to learn and adapt as skincare trends have evolved.

Today, Marianne is still driven by that same passion - to create real, effective products that people can trust.

Lisa took a different path. She changed her university major three times before finding the right mix of art history and business  - a combination that fuels her both her creative and strategic thinking.

After graduating, she joined a software company, which eventually took her to Saudi Arabia. It was an unexpected turn, but one that proved transformative. Living and working in a completely different culture pushed her far beyond her comfort zone, helping her grow in ways that were both deeply personal and professionally defining. That experience gave her the clarity—and confidence—to follow her instincts. She left the corporate world and stepped into freelance life, where she eventually began collaborating with Face Formula. What started as a project quickly became something more. Drawn to the brand’s mission and creative potential, Lisa joined the team full time and played a role in the rebrand from Elixir Cosmeceuticals to Face Formula.

Today, as Brand Marketing Director, she’s passionate about turning big ideas into something clear, grounded, and real. For Lisa, it’s not just about skincare—it’s about building a brand people can believe in and feel connected to.

Your unexpected side

When we asked Marianne and Lisa to share something unexpected about each other, it became clear that there’s more to the mother-daughter duo than what meets the eye.

Lisa is often seen as outgoing, ambitious, and highly independent. But Marianne is quick to point out another side: a quieter, more introspective - and at times almost shy version of Lisa—one that finds comfort in alone time, draws energy from calm, and uses solitude to fuel her creativity and sense of well-being.

On the flip side, Lisa reveals that her mom has a very good taste taste in music, blasting R&B and soul no matter the mood. “She always has something playing - she’s a total vibe person,” Lisa says with a smile. And Marianne’s big, not-so-secret dream? Starting her own band. There’s just one small catch: she’s tone-deaf. But in true Marianne fashion, it’s all about the vibes.

Someone who truly inspires you

For Marianne and Lisa, inspiration doesn’t come from just one source - it’s a mix of people, ideas, and everyday moments that spark something meaningful. They’re especially drawn to individuals with an edge like Phoebe Philo who revolutionized contemporary minimalism and redefined luxury fashion and Jonathan Anderson, Creative Director for Dior. 

Both have been shaped by international environments, which may explain their interest in cultures and perspectives that challenge conventional ways of thinking. They’re naturally curious about people who think differently and live beyond traditional expectations.
For Marianne, a big source of inspiration comes from her children. They constantly open her eyes to new ways of seeing the world - through their questions, their honesty, and the way they move through life without fear. It’s a daily reminder to stay open, to learn, and to evolve.

Just for fun

Not everyone’s meant to be a singer or a football star. Marianne laughs and says she’d be terrible at both. "I’m hopeless with a ball," she admits. Lisa, meanwhile, can’t stand the idea of working with Excel. "I just want to color outside the boxes, literally!" she jokes. Whether it’s missing every note or avoiding spreadsheets, some things just aren’t a good fit, and that’s totally fine. Sometimes, figuring out what isn’t for you can be just as fun.