What follows is a love story, a dedicated love story. For me, the story began over two decades ago when I was introduced to Bryan Johns and Alec Call who had just launched their eponymous skincare brand, iS Clinical, but for Bryan and Alec the story has spanned several decades and it is my total privilege to tell that story.

Launching iS Clinical in the UK was a seminal moment, a seminal moment because iS Clinical was born from serious science marking a significant milestone in clinical skincare, but it also marked the beginning of a deep personal friendship between Bryan, Alec and myself which went beyond clinical skincare.  It is from that place that the origins of this story can now be told, which was ignited with a love of sports memorabilia by a 1960s signed football given to Bryan by his grandfather. 

Over time, iconic sporting mementos were added before the collection eventually expanded into fashion.  One standout piece includes an original Dior gown created by Christian Dior himself and by the 1980s, a personal passion to preserve the legacy of Hollywood legends sparked the acquisition of icons who not only defined an era of filmmaking, but continue to shape contemporary culture across fashion, beauty and storytelling, which now form The Icon Collection, a private archive celebrating the artistry, cultural impact and enduring influence of Hollywood’s most legendary figures.

Defining stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age, artefacts from Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Marlon Brando, Rudolph Valentino and Elizabeth Taylor were added to the collection, yet if we are talking about seminal moments, another seminal moment was defined twelve years ago.  At auction, Bryan and Alec bought a chest which included an autographed photograph of Marilyn Monroe, taken by Cecil Beaton circa 1956, which was sent from Marilyn Monroe to her long-time skin therapist, Madam Renna, yet they had no idea, at that time, what else lay within that chest.

Beneath that autographed photograph, which now forms part of The Icon Collection, were Madam Renna's skincare formulations. Madam Renna was a prominent Hollywood skincare expert in the 1950s whose clients included Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable and countless other film stars.  Renowned for her use of Royal Jelly and custom skincare formulas, and her husband Dr Campbell’s truly innovative ‘bloodless facelift’ technique, Madam Renna’s approach helped shape some of the era’s most iconic faces.

To this day I can barely believe that Madam Renna’s formulations and skincare rituals were rediscovered by Bryan and Alec. It almost seems surreal that they were rediscovered by the two people who understand how our skin should feel, but perhaps even more poignantly, how we should feel within ourselves when using skincare.  And so Icon Skincare was born, a reimagined dedication and acknowledgement of Madam Renna’s expertise in the field of skincare.

The threads of Icon’s formulas trace back to Hollywood’s Golden Era where one of the oldest gifts on earth, Royal Jelly, together with Propolis and Honey, powered the luminous skin behind the silver screen’s most iconic faces, but before I introduce you to the products, some words about why Icon exists.  Icon exists to elevate skincare to a daily ritual of self-belief, it exists to awaken the icon in each of us and it exists because most skincare brands sell correction, but Icon Skincare serves to awaken self-belief, a subject which Bryan, Alec and I care passionately about.  And that passion is our message.

While the beauty industry points out flaws, Icon amplifies what is already there, formulas not designed to ‘fix’ you, but to unlock your own radiance with simple, curated rituals that compound self-belief.  Results you don’t just see, results you feel because Icon isn’t what you put on, it’s what you uncover.  We call it Icon energy, because when you feel good in your skin, the world feels it too.  The warmth, the presence, that quiet confidence that fills a room before you have said a word.  That’s Icon energy, not performed, not perfected, but a ritualistic joy we can share between us because it really is time for something different.

In many ways Icon Skincare is the antithesis of algorithmic perfection, filter culture and the endless pursuit of artificial flawlessness that dominates the modern beauty landscape.  This is so far from who we are, we are curious, editorially led people who trust a pharmacist’s eye over an algorithm and value curation and expertise over influencer hype.  We filter through the noise because icons don’t follow, they adopt early and they curate.

So, let’s meet the Icons and every Icon ritual begins with a single act of intention, not just removing what dulls, but revealing what defines because cleansing is where intention meets skin and it sets the tone for everything that follows.  We begin with Take One Cleansing Honey, the opening scene to luminous skin which melts away impurities.  Blended with Royal Jelly, Honey Extract, Propolis and Cocoa Extract, it gently cleanses and purifies without stripping or drying skin.

A nostalgic moment here because I have always loved Warming Honey Cleanser from the iS Clinical range and I have written about it consistently through the years, often referencing it as a treatment product rather than a daily cleanser.  And actually it was a treatment product, which for several years was only available in a professional setting, but thankfully, and eventually, it was released as a retail product. Take One Cleansing Honey is a completely different product, this is where the Icon ritual begins and it begins each morning by delivering a calming radiance that rises to the surface. 
Take One Cleansing Honey by Icon Skincare £29 for 150 ml

Having referenced nostalgia, the entire Icon Skincare collection is fundamentally based on nostalgia and the second cleanser in the range, MilkIt Cleansing Powder, was created from a childhood memory of Bryan’s, a memory of his mother’s dressing table and the milk cleanser she used as part of her daily skincare ritual.  I think most of us of a certain age used a milk cleanser, it was probably the first skincare product we bought, it was certainly mine, and I saved all my pocket money to buy the somewhat iconic Anne French Cleansing Milk, but now it’s time for another Icon.

MilkIt Powder gently exfoliates and cleanses to remove dulling debris and impurities, revealing brighter, smoother skin and it is joined by the micro-refined skin polisher, Konjac Root, and Soothing Oat Bran which calms and balances skin for a soft, healthy finish.  This superfine powder transforms into a luxuriously rich creamy lather in the wet palms of your hands, which should then be massaged all over the face, avoiding the eye area.  Rinse thoroughly and the opening ritual is now complete, and it completes with an outstanding nostalgic, evocative experience, as MilkIt earns its very own heroic status. 
MilkIt Cleansing Powder by Icon Skincare £38 for 60 grams 

Each of the next four products are targeted performers, each formulated to play multiple roles and we begin with Luminous Brightening which features ultra-stable vitamin C combined with Rice Bran extract to help brighten skin and balance tone.  A unique, biomimetic Royal Jelly derivative and Propolis extract will, in time, bring a glow to skin, while optical light diffusers help provide immediate luminosity.  Behind the scenes, a nourishing complex of Sodium Hyaluronate, Jojoba Oil and Shea Butter help to replenish moisture delivering a supple, dewy complexion.  It can be smoothed over cleansed skin, or just on the areas of your face in need of brightening.
Luminous Brightening by Icon Skincare £52 for 30 grams 

Satin Resurfacing is a texture-refining serum combining Levulinic Acid a gentle multi-acid complex, including Gluconolactone, Mandelic and Lactobionic Acids, to help resurface and refine skin texture, revealing a luminous, polished complexion.  Royal Jelly, Sodium Hyaluronate and extracts of Honey and Propolis drench the skin with hydration and Marine Exopolysaccharides lend a signature satin touch.  Supporting natural skin renewal, Willow Bark and Sugarcane extracts are also included in this formulation, which has been dubbed ‘smooth operator’.  And that fits.
Satin Resurfacing by Icon Skincare £52 for 30 ml

Camera Ready is probably one of the most sensational skincare products I have ever used and unsurprisingly I’ve used rather a lot.  Camera Ready is a glow-getting superstar which smooths and primes skin for a brilliant finish, creating the perfect canvas whether you are going bare faced or full-glam Hollywood mode.  It glides on like a soft-focus filter to instantly smooth and brighten the skin’s appearance for a radiant, perfected finish. I promise I’m not that vain, but when I first tested it with make-up on, I couldn’t stop staring in the mirror because my skin looked air-brushed, but most obviously it wasn’t.

Camera Ready delivers skin that takes centre stage and once again Royal Jelly also takes centre stage where it is joined by Honey and Propolis Extracts.  It seems rather pointless saying I am speechless, because I am writing about a product and I need words to describe that product, so I think my final words about Camera Ready are about the texture of the product, because my skin felt like it had received an ‘embryonic’ transformation and that must surely be the holy grail of skincare.  Well, I think so.
Camera Ready by Icon Skincare £47 for 20 grams 

The fourth product in this section is Cinematic Eyes, a nourishing eye cream that delivers a starring performance for the delicate eye area.  Ingredients include Royal Jelly, Honey and Propolis with Hyaluronic Acid, Plankton Extract and Caffeine to nourish, smooth and visibly awaken tired, dry eyes.  Antioxidant Green Tea, Gingko Biloba and Grape Seed extracts are included to help defend against daily environmental stressors and it should be gently tapped around the eye contour, morning and evening.  You only need a small amount, but if you have any product left, I recommend gently tapping it onto the skin above the upper lip to soften lip lines. Tap, tap.  And tap.
Cinematic Eyes by Icon Skincare £43 for 15 grams

The grand finale and here we have three moisturisers that seal the ritual and we are going to begin with HydraScene Moisture.  A hydration hero, HydraScene actually reminds me of Reparative Moisturiser from the iS Clinical range, as it also plays an impeccable role in making skin feel comfortable, which is so incredibly important.  This lightweight emulsion layers Ceramides, Biomimetic Lipids and Phytosphingosine to help fortify the skin’s barrier, locking in long-lasting moisture.

As ever, Royal Jelly and Propolis Extracts deliver nourishing vitality, Sodium Hyaluronate and Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil plump and smooth skin for a radiant, dewy glow and antioxidant-rich vitamin E completes the formulation, working to defend against daily environmental stressors.  The HydraScene glow steals the morning spotlight, it is an incredible formulation, in a cast of nine incredible formulations, but the evening spotlight, which comes next, belongs to a timeless original beloved by icons. 
HydraScene Moisture by Icon Skincare £43 for 50 grams 

The Icon Cream Heritage is the cream that launched a thousand faces on the silver screen.  This is a faithful re-creation of the nourishing moisturiser that lay beneath the signature looks of Hollywood’s Golden Era.  It captures the glamour and grace of a bygone era, delivering deep, luxurious moisturisation for soft, smooth and beautifully nourished skin.  This rich, heritage formula can be used as a daily moisturiser or as an indulgent, restorative overnight treatment.  I choose the latter.

This is where Royal Jelly, Honey and Propolis Extracts are joined by Lanolin and Glycerine, two favourites of the era, which provide intense hydration to lock in moisture.  When I first tested this heritage cream I became overwhelmed with emotion, not only because I had waited twelve years to put this on my skin, but because it was of an era, an era where skincare really meant ‘skin-care’ and in the honouring of faithful formulations, The Icon Cream also honours the sensory experience experienced by some of Hollywood’s greatest icons, including Marilyn Monroe.  And that made me cry.
The Icon Cream – Heritage by Icon Skincare £61 for 40 grams

The ninth and final product is The Icon Cream Reinvented.  This reinvention revives a Golden Hollywood classic with a thoroughly modern formula.  It still includes the powerhouse cast of Royal Jelly, Honey and Propolis Extracts, but they are joined by Shea Butter and Olive Oil Extract to deeply condition for lasting moisture and nourishment, cocooning the skin, while fortifying its natural barrier.  This is a classic reborn, which proves that true icons never go out of style, yet icons don’t chase the spotlight, icons are unapologetically themselves and they carry a radiance the spotlight can’t help but find. 
The Icon Cream – Reinvented by Icon Skincare £56 for 40 grams

As previously mentioned, I have waited twelve years to write this and through the years there have been many moments of joy, including an Icon Facial I received in the iS Clinical office approximately seven years ago, which literally sent shivers down my spine.  I walked around LA in a trance for about three days and the reason I mention it here is because, in the fullness of time, The Icon Facial will be rolled out, which is something to look forward to and of course I will update you with further details once they become available.

The other thing I want to talk about is ethos, Bryan, Alec and I have always upheld a strong ethos of sharing and Icon Skincare will enable us to invest in future icons.  We believe that icons are forged, rather than born.  Many icons survived challenging childhoods, and most had help somewhere along the way to realise their full potential.  Sadly, some children are disproportionately at risk of being trapped in a life marked by poverty, violence and incarceration.

The Future Icons Programme, through its partnership with ‘Foster Love’, will help light children’s paths to a brighter tomorrow, starting with a focus on young children where early educational and mental wellness interventions can transform the trajectory of their lives.  We all benefit from a world in which all children can grow into their true potential and the Future Icons Programme was inspired by the personal history of a girl named Norma Jeane Mortenson whose early life was marked by instability, foster care and trauma.

On 31 May, an inaugural exhibition, ‘Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon’ opened at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles with support from The Icon Collection. Running through to the end of February 2027, it presents hundreds of original objects and rarely seen personal materials, many of which are on display for the first time.  The exhibition features an extensive display of Marilyn Monroe’s screen-worn costumes, ranging from a dress featured in Love Happy (1949) to items from her final, and unfinished film, Something’s Got To Give (1962). 

Major highlights include two costumes by Orry-Kelly from Some Like It Hot (1959) as well as the rarely exhibited famous pink dress by William Travilla from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953).  On from that, Monday 1 June marked the 100^th birthday celebration of Marilyn Monroe and because Bryan and Alec have always had style, they hosted a Red Carpet event at the Academy Museum where The Icon Collection was unveiled and Icon Skincare launched in the US.  In turn, and rooted in historical relevance and Hollywood glamour, Icon Skincare exclusively makes its debut in the UK at Victoria Health.

Marilyn Monroe didn’t just walk into a room, she illuminated it, captivating everyone around her with a charisma and magnetic energy that was entirely her own; we believe that the emotional efficacy of Icon Skincare unlocks that same magnetic energy. Icon energy is inspired by making the world brighter just by being in it and with an invitation to reveal our own iconic energy, I close with a quote which has been widely attributed to Marilyn Monroe:

‘Always, always believe in yourself. Because if you don’t, who will sweetie?’ 

Thank you for reading this story, I know it is long and it could have been longer, but this is where we begin and it’s a story with no end because a true love story is an evolving continuous journey, rather than a finite story.  And, just perhaps, Icon will become the love story of our own lives because every icon has an opening scene.  And this is ours. 

With love 

Gill x