Rising Stars: Meet Lauren Hudson of Brooklyn NY

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Hudson.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Hello, my name is Lauren Hudson. I created Soft Girl Era because I felt like something was missing in the beauty industry.

So much of beauty today feels either overly clinical or centered around perfection. It often focuses on fixing flaws, chasing trends, or maintaining an image. There wasn’t enough space for softness, not just in how products looked, but in how they made people feel.

A lot of that comes from my upbringing. I didn’t grow up with a strong sense of stability, and I often had to figure things out on my own. When you grow up like that, you learn how to be strong very quickly, but you don’t always get to feel soft, safe, or fully seen. And that stays with you.

For me, softness became something deeper. It is about comfort, ease, and finally feeling at peace in your own space. It is about creating moments where you feel cared for, even if you have had to be that person for yourself.

Soft Girl Era came from that gap.

I wanted to create something that felt playful, indulgent, and interactive, which is where the idea of realistic dessert-inspired soaps came in. They look like treats you would actually want to eat, which immediately draws people in, but once you use them, they become an experience. It turns a simple routine into something enjoyable, something you look forward to, and something that makes you feel good in a deeper way.

That emotional connection is everything to me. I want people to feel seen when they come across my brand. I want them to feel like softness is allowed, like they don’t have to be in survival mode all the time, and like they can have something that feels light, comforting, and just for them.

As the brand has grown, it has become more than just products. It is a message. That softness is not something to outgrow or hide. It is something you can choose, something you can return to, and something that can exist alongside strength.

Soft Girl Era is about redefining what beauty feels like and giving people permission to experience it in a softer way.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been a smooth road at all.

There have been multiple points where I had to start over and rebuild everything I lost. That’s been one of the hardest parts, not just financially, but mentally and emotionally. Starting over forces you to face yourself in a different way. You have to rebuild your confidence, your vision, and your momentum all at the same time.

I’ve had to revamp my business on my own, from the branding to the content to how I present everything. There wasn’t a team behind me, so every decision, every adjustment, and every improvement came from me learning, testing, and trying again. That process can feel isolating, especially when you know the vision is there but you’re still working to bring it fully to life.

There were moments where things didn’t go as planned or didn’t grow as quickly as I expected, and I had to keep going anyway. It takes a lot of discipline to stay consistent when you’re rebuilding and not seeing immediate results.

At the same time, those experiences shaped how I move now. Starting over taught me how to be resourceful, how to trust my instincts, and how to build something with more intention. It made the brand stronger because it forced me to really understand what I’m creating and why it matters.

So no, it hasn’t been easy, but every setback has been part of the process of building something real and sustainable.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work centers around building Soft Girl Era into a beauty brand that creates a softer, more emotional approach to self care. I focus on turning everyday routines into something that feels intentional, comforting, and visually engaging.

I specialize in creating realistic dessert inspired soaps that look like actual treats, but function as skincare. What makes them stand out is how interactive they are. People are drawn in by how real they look, but what keeps them engaged is the experience. It turns something as simple as washing your hands or face into a moment that feels fun, sensory, and a little nostalgic.

Beyond the products, I focus heavily on storytelling and visual presentation. I’m very intentional about how the brand feels, not just how it looks. From the content to the packaging to the overall messaging, everything is designed to create an emotional connection. I want people to feel like they’re stepping into a space where softness is allowed and even celebrated.

What I’m most proud of is building and continuing to refine this brand on my own. Taking an idea, bringing it to life, and evolving it through different stages has been a huge part of my journey. Even through setbacks and having to start over, I’ve been able to rebuild with more clarity and intention each time.

What sets my work apart is that it isn’t just focused on beauty as appearance. It’s focused on how beauty feels. The combination of realism, playfulness, and emotional connection creates an experience that people don’t just see, but actually connect with.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
One thing that might surprise people is that before building this brand, I spent years working across modeling, photography, influencing, and hospitality. Those experiences taught me how to read people, understand what draws attention, and how to move strategically to get things done.

A lot of what I do now comes from that background. Modeling taught me presence and visual storytelling. Photography trained my eye for detail and how to create a mood. Hospitality taught me how to connect with people, create an experience, and understand what makes someone feel taken care of.

I think people see the brand and assume it’s just about cute products, but a lot of the intention behind it comes from real-world experience in how people interact, what captures them, and what keeps them engaged.

Another thing is that I’m very hands on and resourceful. I’ve learned how to figure things out, pivot, and make things happen even without a traditional path or structure. That ability to move and adapt has been a huge part of how I’ve been able to build and shape Soft Girl Era into what it is today.

Pricing:

• Individual soaps typically range from $22 to $25 depending on the design
• Select styles are available as bundle offers (for example, 2 for $30)
• Limited edition or detailed designs may be priced at a premium
• Future bundles and sets will be introduced as part of curated self care experiences
• Occasional bundles are available for customers who want to experience multiple styles at once

Contact Info:

• Website: https://softgirlera.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/softgirleracom/