Tina Chen Craig, the founder of a high-tech skincare brand, has had a career as diverse as it is inspiring. From her early days as a teenage employee at Sam Goody to hosting MTV Asia and co-founding the influential fashion blog Bag Snob, Craig’s journey is a testament to her relentless drive and passion for perfection. Her latest venture, U Beauty, reflects her commitment to innovation in the beauty industry.
Craig’s first job at 13 was at Sam Goody, where she earned enough to buy a red bikini her conservative family disapproved of. This early experience taught her the value of financial independence. “I got my first taste of financial freedom, and I haven’t stopped working since,” she recalls. Later, a telemarketing gig at 18 proved less fulfilling, but it reinforced her dislike for being told no—a trait that has defined her career.
After graduating from the University of Southern California, Craig moved to Taiwan, where she landed a hosting gig on a food travel show. This led to her role at MTV Asia, where she interviewed iconic acts like Aqua and the Spice Girls. In 2005, after moving to Texas and starting a family, Craig co-founded Bag Snob, a blog that became a powerhouse in the fashion world. “Even if I bashed a bag, the brand didn’t care because it would get attention and sell,” she says.
Beauty Snob, launched shortly after Bag Snob, revealed Craig’s true passion. “Beauty was always my obsession,” she explains. Her fascination with skincare led her to collaborate with luxury brands like La Prairie and Charlotte Tilbury. Frustrated with the complexity of skincare routines, Craig sought to simplify the process. This vision culminated in the creation of U Beauty, a brand focused on multi-functional, science-backed products.
Craig’s frustration with the beauty industry’s inefficiencies drove her to innovate. “I didn’t understand how we put a man on the moon in 1969, but we couldn’t make a retinol that wouldn’t give me rosacea,” she says. Partnering with a medical-grade lab in Italy, she developed U Beauty’s Resurfacing Compound, a product that transformed her skin in days. The brand’s success lies in its ability to deliver active ingredients precisely where they’re needed.
Craig’s grandmother played a significant role in shaping her beauty philosophy. From force-feeding her chicken butt and fish eyeballs for beauty’s sake to insisting on wearing Chanel lipstick even in an ambulance, her grandmother’s influence is undeniable. “Don’t let me die ugly,” her grandmother once said—a moment Craig will never forget. Today, Craig continues to innovate, driven by her belief that beauty is about confidence and belonging.
