With over two decades in lux fashion and beauty, Rosemin Opgenhaffen knows what a girl wants. Her journey to launching her namesake brand, Rosemin Beauty, wasn’t accidental. It was strategic, deeply personal, and intentional.
We sat down with Dubai’s newest homegrown beauty brand founder to find out how she’s filling a long-overlooked gap in the market.
Cosmo ME: What does your role as founder of Rosemin Beauty look like on a day-to-day basis?
RO: No two days are ever the same, which is exactly what I love. My role sits at the intersection of creativity and execution. I’m involved in everything from product development and shade refinement to marketing strategy, retail partnerships, and team management.
One moment I’m reviewing formulations or packaging details, and the next I’m aligning with our retail partners like Ulta Beauty or refining campaign messaging. As a founder, you are both the visionary and the operator you have to hold the long-term vision, be a leader for your team while being deeply present in the day-to-day.
Cosmo ME: Take us back to the beginning. What inspired you to launch your own beauty brand?
RO: Rosemin Beauty was born from both personal need and professional insight. Having spent over 25 years in the luxury fashion and beauty industry across PR, backstage, editorial, and television
I had a deep understanding of what was missing in the market. Personally, as someone who struggled with cystic acne, I grew up relying on heavy makeup to cover my skin. Over time, I learned the art of correcting and concealing strategically rather than masking everything.
That philosophy, intelligent design, targeted coverage, performance wear became the foundation of the brand.
Cosmo ME: Before Rosemin Beauty, what were you doing, and how did that path lead you here?
RO: My career has been incredibly multifaceted. I worked with leading fashion houses in London and Milan, including starting my career at Gucci HQ with Tom Ford, Burberry, and Juicy Couture.
I later founded RR&Co., the first luxury PR showroom in the Middle East, where I worked closely with global brands like Chanel, Burberry, Prada, and Christian Louboutin.
Alongside that, I was a TV and Stage presenter and a contributing editor at Harper’s Bazaar Arabia. All of these experiences gave me a 360-degree understanding of brand building from storytelling to consumer behaviour which naturally led me to create something of my own.
Cosmo ME: Was there a defining moment when you knew you wanted to turn your passion into a business?
RO: It wasn’t a single moment it was a growing realization. I had spent decades helping build other brands, shaping their narratives and bringing their visions to life.
At a certain point, I felt ready to channel all of that knowledge into something deeply personal. I saw a clear gap in the market, particularly for women with warmer and olive undertones, and I knew I could create something meaningful and needed.
Cosmo ME: How did you go from idea to actual product and what were the first steps you took?
RO: The first step was research understanding exactly what I wanted to solve and how to do it differently. From there, I partnered with one of the best product developers in New York and worked with a world-class packaging designer and manufacturer in Italy.
It took nearly three years of formulation, testing, and refining. Every detail mattered, from texture and performance to how the product would travel in a woman’s handbag. It was a meticulous process, but I was committed to launching with intention, not speed.
Cosmo ME: What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when building Rosemin Beauty, and how did you overcome them?
RO: Building a beauty brand from the ground up is incredibly complex especially when you’re self-funded. There are challenges across every layer: formulation, compliance, supply chain, timelines, and cash flow.
One of the biggest lessons was resilience understanding that delays and setbacks are part of the process. I overcame them by staying close to every detail, surrounding myself with the right experts, and never compromising on quality or vision.
Cosmo ME: How has your personal brand influenced your business?
RO: My personal brand has always been rooted in trust, credibility, and a deep understanding of luxury. That naturally carries into Rosemin Beauty.
People know that I don’t create or promote anything unless I truly believe in it. At the same time, I’ve been very intentional about ensuring the brand stands on its own it’s not just about me, it’s about the product delivering real value to women globally.
Cosmo ME: What does a typical workday look like for you now, from morning to evening?
RO: Coffee first! My mornings usually start with reviewing global updates emails, sales, read trade press, data performance, and team check-ins across different markets.
The day flows into meetings, whether it’s product development, marketing strategy, or retail alignment.
Afternoons are often more creative reviewing campaigns, content, or packaging. Evenings tend to be a mix of events, brand building, or simply taking a moment to reflect and reset. It’s intense, but incredibly fulfilling.
Cosmo ME: What skills have been the most important in helping you succeed as a founder?
RO: Adaptability is key. You have to be able to pivot quickly while staying grounded in your vision. Strong communication is also essential, whether you’re leading a team or building partnerships.
Perhaps most importantly, intuition. Trusting your instinct after years of experience. That combination of data and instinct is what guides most of my decisions.
Cosmo ME: How involved are you in the creative side of the brand, from product development to packaging and marketing?
RO: Very involved. Every product starts from a personal need or idea, and I’m part of the entire journey from formulation to final packaging.
I’m deeply involved in shade selection, textures, and performance, but also in how the product is positioned visually and emotionally. For me, it’s not just about creating a product—it’s about creating an experience.
Cosmo ME: What’s something about launching a beauty brand that people don’t realize until they’re in it?
RO: How much happens behind the scenes. People see the final product, but they don’t see the years of development, the compliance processes across multiple markets, or the level of detail that goes into every single component.
It’s a constant balance of creativity and economics.
Cosmo ME: How do you balance the business side of things with the more creative, passion-driven aspects?
RO: I see them as deeply interconnected. Creativity without structure doesn’t scale, and business without creativity lacks soul.
I’ve learned to give both equal importance—building systems and processes while protecting the creative vision that makes the brand unique. I also have an amazing team from Commercial Director to logistics manager.
Cosmo ME: What has been your proudest moment since launching Rosemin Beauty?
RO: Launching the brand and seeing the immediate connection with customers was incredibly special. But one of the proudest moments was seeing the sales reports with women all over the world buying from Australia to America.
It validated not just the product, but the entire vision behind the brand.
Cosmo ME: What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own beauty brand?
RO: Be very clear on your “why.” The beauty space is incredibly competitive, so you need a strong point of view and a product that genuinely solves a problem.
Take your time with development, invest in the right expertise, and be prepared for a long journey. Most importantly, stay authentic, people can feel when something is real.
Cosmo ME: Looking ahead, what’s your vision for the future of Rosemin Beauty?
RO: My vision is to build a globally recognized luxury beauty brand that truly serves women with warmer and olive complexions—something that has been underserved for far too long.
I want Rosemin Beauty to become synonymous with intelligent, effortless beauty, while expanding into new markets and categories. Ultimately, it’s about creating products that empower women to feel confident in their own skin.
Head to roseminbeauty.com to pick up your next fav makeup product.