Andrea Lisbona didn’t just reimagine hand hygiene – she made it chic. As the founder of Touchland, Andrea took a product we all use (and kinda forgot about) and turned it into a beauty-adjacent essential that smells amazing, looks aesthetic, and actually makes you want to sanitise.
We sat down with Andrea to talk about how Touchland blew up on social, what it takes to build a cult-fave brand in a saturated market, and why she believes the little things – like a good spritz, can spark big confidence.
Get comfy and get to know the genius behind the spray that’s basically in every It-girls bag right now…
Cosmo ME: Can you share a bit about your background and what inspired you to start Touchland?
So, I come from a family of entrepreneurs, being surrounded by the realities of entrepreneurship I saw firsthand the highs and lows that come with building a business, Which inspired me to start my own business.
I’ve always been inspired by brands like Nespresso, Apple, and Dyson – brands that took everyday products and completely transformed it through design and user experience. This stuck with me. When we looked at personal care, it felt so basic and overlooked. No one was thinking about how it made people feel or how the experience could be better. We saw an opportunity to change that – by creating something that combined design, innovation, and a sense of luxury, making personal care something people actually looked forward to using every day.
Cosmo ME: How did you get into the cosmetics industry?
I studied at a business school in Barcelona, Esade, and I’ve always been drawn to design – how it shapes the way people connect with things. So after business school, I took a design course at a top institute in Barcelona IED to explore that side more. I also did a six-month exchange in California, where I focused on entrepreneurship and this really opened my eyes to what was possible.
After finishing my studies, the 2008 financial crisis hit Europe, and it impacted my family’s business.That was kind of a turning point for me. I realised I wanted to do something meaningful- something that could create real value. That’s when the idea of starting my own journey really began.
Cosmo ME: What was the biggest challenge you faced starting your brand, and how did you overcome this?
One of the biggest challenges we’ve faced since the launch in 2018 has been keeping up with demand. Our first campaign took off overnight, and things grew faster than we ever expected.
People often assume COVID helped us, but it actually hit us hard. We ran out of product for nearly a year due to supply chain issues. When we relaunched, the market was flooded and shrinking, but we still got a small shot with Sephora and Target. No one knew if it would work – but it did. Three years later, we’re in 2,500 Sephora stores. It’s been a crazy journey, but passion and community carried us through.
Cosmo ME: How long did it take to perfect the formula, and what was the process like?
Perfecting a formula is a long process, but it’s all about getting the details right Our goal was to create personal care essentials that fit into people’s busy lives. We started with hand sanitiser and recently expanded to body and hair fragrances, which involve a lot of innovation.
We focus on four main things when creating a new product. First, it has to be an “on-the-go” solution – something that’s easy to grab and use during those in-between moments, like when you’re rushing out the door.
Second, packaging is key. We put a lot of thought into making sure it’s easy to use and functional – no messy caps or leaks. It’s designed so you can apply it with one hand, which makes a big difference when you’re on the go
For the formula, it’s not just about the ingredients – we care a lot about the experience too. We want products that hydrate without feeling sticky or heavy.It’s all about getting the right balance between benefits and the feel.
And of course, fragrance this is super important. We work with top perfume houses to create scents that are fresh, light, and not overwhelming – because no one wants a fragrance that gives them a headache. It’s a lot of trial and error, but that’s what makes it all worth it in the end!
Cosmo ME: Whats your favourite product?
When it comes to products, I have a few favourites across our different ranges. I always carry multiple bottles in my bag, especially since they’re all perfect for on-the-go. From the hand sanitiser line, I love the different scents in the Power Me collection. Beach Coco is one of my favourites, along with Vanilla Blossom. I also really like the Premium Mist hand sanitisers – especially the Rosewater scent. And we’ve got a new Gentle Mist launching soon, which is soothing and really refreshing.
As for body care, we’ve recently just launched this category, and it’s been a huge success in just two months! Personally, I love the Vanilla Velvet and the Pistachio scent. I’m more into sweet fragrances, and these are designed to layer really well together. I like to mix Pistachio with my Amber scent and Vanilla with the Sparkling Bergamot -it’s a fun way to create my own custom fragrance combo.
Cosmo ME: Whats something you wish someone told you before you became a founder?
I wish someone had told me to expect the worst. When you’re starting out, you’re full of excitement, hope and think everything’s just going to fall right into place. But over time, you realise you have to plan for the unexpected. I started out super optimistic and a bit naive, but now I’m way more tactical. I’ve learned to always have a backup plan and multiple ways to get where I want to go, because things don’t always go as planned.
Cosmo ME: Whats your proudest achievement?
Andrea: Honestly, my proudest achievement is becoming recognised world wide. We turned something as ordinary, overlooked, an unsexy product such as hand sanitiser into a status symbol. We’ve made it into something people actually wanted to be seen with.
What’s really special is that it wasn’t just marketing – it was organic. People would stop us on the street and ask, “What is that?” It spread through genuine curiosity and word-of-mouth. That only happened because of the incredible community we built – people who believed in it, who became passionate supporters and helped grow it from the ground up. That kind of cultural shift is rare, and I’m really proud we made it happen.
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