Sydney’s CheekyGlo make $1m in 11 months with exfoliating glove

After a TikTok video “blew up” just after launch the product sold out in hours and the partners have now shipped over 20,000 of them.

When Sydney friends Xixi Liu and Allen Fu posted a video on TikTok showing all the dead skin that came off when using their exfoliating glove, it “blew up” and sold out the product in hours.

The idea for the business called CheekyGlo, which was started in Allen’s garage, came about after a “random conversation”.

Liu, who is originally from Harbin in Northern China where it can reach temperatures of minus 30, was telling Fu about their tradition of going to bathhouses and getting full body scrubs.

Yet she couldn’t find a glove in Australia that was effective as the ones used in the bathhouses.

He then tried out the glove and was “amazed” by the results.

The best friends of eight years decided to recreate the traditional product and go into business together, initially working from Fu’s garage. They launched their CheekyGlo exfoliating glove in October last year with nothing but a laptop and a label printer.

The glove can tackle dry skin, keratosis, pilaris and ingrown hairs, according to the founders. Picture: Supplied

Liu admits sales were slow for the first few days, but she knew the exfoliating glove could tap into the self-care trend that had grown as Aussies endured lockdowns during the pandemic.

“I think what surprised us is how fast it caught on after we posted on TikTok and it went viral, selling out in matter of 10 hours. Our whole stock was just completely sold out,” she told news.com.au.

“It was one of our first few videos and it was just the product in action, where you would be scrubbing and see all the peeling skin. It also introduced the skin conditions it would help with so ingrown hairs, dry skin and keratosis and it also removes fake tan.”

She added it was an “incredible” way to showcase the product as people can see the dead skin and dirt roll off the body while they scrub.

“In beauty you want to see instant results and it gives the customer instant satisfaction that they are detoxing the body,” she said.

Over 20,000 gloves have been sold to 16,000 customers in 49 countries. Picture: Supplied

Xixi said the glove gives instant results. Picture: Supplied

The duo made $20,000 in the first four weeks of launching their business and $100,000 in their first four months.

This week they are set to hit the $1 million mark having sold over 20,000 gloves to 16,000 customers in 49 countries.

The exfoliating glove, which is priced at $31.95, is made from a plant-based material and comes in either pink or black.

Liu, who worked in skincare at Mecca for six years, said it was “every girl’s dream” to have their own beauty brand.

“Especially as I worked at Mecca and worked with other people’s brands. I wanted to have my own baby and one of the biggest things would be if I had a full circle moment and was to be stocked in Mecca, that would be a really good goal to have,” she said. “It’s really exciting being in the beauty industry.”

Xixi with a bunch of orders on the floor. Picture: Supplied

The dead skin is scrubbed away by the glove. Picture: Supplied

For Fu, who has already founded three ecommerce businesses and was a finalist in the St George Business Person of the Year awards in 2021, he also wants men to experience the gloves.

“Because I’m a dude, one of the concepts we wanted to push in our brand was the concept of mancare, because as guys innately we have been taught that looking after yourself and skincare is not so manly,” he said.

“We wanted to push the concept that’s its ok to look after your health and your beauty and its ok to practice self care as a guy. We have a large demographic of men that use our products and they love the pink colour more than the black colour.”

CheekyGlo are encouraging men to embrace the self care trend. Picture: Supplied

The friends have ambitious plans too for the CheekyGlo brand, including to become a “household name” in Australia.

“We want to become an Aussie beauty brand first and then ... be a global brand and partner with retail stores like Mecca and Sephora and more,” Fu said.

“Self care is a beauty movement that is happening across the world right now.”

There are also plans to grow their range into range different types of oils and self care routine tools and products.

Originally published as Sydney’s CheekyGlo make $1m in 11 months with exfoliating glove