In 2024, the “most amazing things happened” for 4.5.6 Skin – the disruptive skincare brand catered for melanin-rich skin phototypes four, five and six on the Fitzpatrick scale – its co-founder and former CEO, Noelly Michoux, says. 

Then four years old, the young start-up had achieved its highest online sales and landed its first retail store, Harvey Nicols. Noelly was named one of Vogue’s 100 Innovators and there were a slew of awards under 4.5.6 Skin’s belt. The company was gaining momentum so 2025 was expected to be the year.

“Everything was really looking up until things turned,” she says.

Without warning, 4.5.6 Skin’s anchor investor announced it wouldn’t participate in the second tranche of bridge funding. An anchor investor is typically the first investor to commit capital to a new fund. Their cash represented the lion’s share amongst the other angel investors and the sudden loss eventually led to 4.5.6 Skin going into voluntary liquidation.