Written by Louise May – Editor in Chief for Mocha Group
From humble beginnings to industry visionary – Maria’s journey continues to inspire a new generation of skincare professionals.
This year marks an extraordinary milestone for Maria Enna- Cocciolone, Founder and CEO of INSKIN COSMEDICS, as she celebrates four decades of leadership and meaningful contribution to the professional beauty industry
From graduating as a beauty therapist in 1985 to building a powerhouse portfolio of professional skincare brands – O COSMEDICS, GINGER&ME and INSKIN.CO – Maria’s journey has been driven by unwavering dedication, innovative thinking and a commitment to skin health.
Reflecting on her legacy, Maria says “If given another chance, I truly wouldn’t do it any differently. I became a master of my trade before I became a creator. The many years of hands-on experience, treating skin, working with clients and understanding the impact of skin concerns on their confidence, working in sales, education, and marketing is what shaped everything that followed. No university could have taught me what I learned in the treatment room and on the road.”
Over the past four decades, Maria has maintained a strong connection with skin professionals, clinic partners and the evolving needs of the modern consumer. This closeness and trust has been the foundation behind each new product development. “Customer needs and ingredient innovations are her two main sources of inspiration. They go hand in hand. There’s never any guesswork when it comes to creating new products. I listen, I observe and then I dive into the latest ingredient research to find the diamonds – those with clinical evidence that mimic the skin and target accurate pathways and cells to trigger natural skin responses.”
Her brands are founded on science and built on performance. “If it doesn’t make skin sense, it won’t deliver results. Active ingredients must be at a functional dose and delivery systems must work to deliver those actives precisely where they’re needed in the skin.”
Beyond skincare formulation, Maria has learned the value of building strong businesses and even stronger cultures. At the core of INSKIN COSMEDICS is a people-first philosophy, one that has created a culture known for safety, positivity and belonging. “Business is hard no matter what. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to focus on what you do best and hire experts for everything else. I flourish in what I do because I love it, but it takes a team to scale a business with purpose. That purpose has always been clear: to lead with heart, educate and empower professionals”.
“Leadership begins with culture. A strong culture supports wellbeing, aligns teams with company values and boosts productivity and retention. There’s nothing that makes me prouder than knowing INSKIN COSMEDICS is recognised for putting its people first.”
Throughout her career, Maria has become a mentor to countless aspiring beauty professionals. Her advice to newcomers is both practical and passionate: “It’s a saturated market and to succeed, you need to create a real point of difference from the ground up. So many brands look the same or offer the same promises – they’re doomed before they launch. Knowing your audience, developing a quality product, creating an unforgettable customer experience and wrapping it in what I call a Tiffany Bow is a good start, but only the beginning.”
When asked about her proudest achievement, Maria doesn’t point to one moment, but a series of firsts that built her career: “My first office, first employee, first order, first reorder, first award, first conference, first brand launch – every one of those ‘firsts’ was a step in the right direction. I’m proud of all of them.”
Looking to the future, she remains just as excited as she was at the beginning. “What excites me most is what we don’t yet know. When I graduated, we worked with feel-good, smell-good products. Today, we’re working with ingredients that target cells, reverse aging and mimic the skin’s own biology. And the best part? The best is yet to come.”
So how does she sum up the last 40 years? “Blessed. Stellar. Groundbreaking.” And for an industry forever changed by her impact – those three words couldn’t be more fitting.
