Barbara Guillaume grew up in Seine-Saint-Denis and left the 93 in her adolescence. “I wanted to leave, discover something else,” she says. Modeling became her ticket to the world and she settled in Barcelona. Barbara Guillaume then worked on projects throughout Europe, working hard and even ended up on the cover of the women’s monthly magazine Marie Claire.
While in Barcelona, she became a mother before moving to Los Angeles at 25, driven by her ex-husband’s Hollywood dream. She wanted to continue her modeling career there, but the contrast was stark. Away from her European base, opportunities became scarce. “Life can change very quickly,” she says. Instead of prestigious campaigns she was used to, she was offered paid commercial gigs for a few hundred dollars. The fall was harsh, but informative.
Her early days in Los Angeles were filled with challenges until a decisive phone call changed everything. Instead of giving up, Barbara Guillaume reinvented herself. Surrounded by photographers and models, she ventured into makeup. Despite facing initial challenges like agency rejections and lack of credibility, a crucial phone call changed everything.
Quickly, she found her niche: male grooming. Among her clients were celebrities like Tom Hardy, Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio, Josh Duhamel, and Daniel Craig. But she also worked with French stars, from Johnny Hallyday to Omar Sy to Jean Dujardin. “With men, there is a more direct trust,” she explains. A simple, authentic connection that matches her frank and sincere temperament.
During the pandemic, Barbara Guillaume returned to a more intimate passion: beauty oils. Almost accidentally, she started formulating her own blends: rose musk, sandalwood, moringa. “It was very instinctive, almost meditative,” she recalls. The result surprised her. A texture, a scent, an effectiveness she had never encountered before.
She first tested them on herself, then on her clients. Tom Hanks was the first. His immediate reaction was, “What’s that smell?” Anxiety. Moment of hesitation. Then enthusiasm. The actor loved it and immediately ordered dozens of bottles for his loved ones. A rare validation in an industry where everything is negotiable. The oil was approved.
In response to increasing demand, Barbara Guillaume partnered with Amy Komorowski, a makeup artist in New York. Together, in 2020, they founded Circa 1970. Starting from artisanal production at home, the brand evolved into structured manufacturing in Los Angeles, while maintaining an absolute focus on ingredient quality.
Today, Barbara Guillaume juggles her loyal clients and the development of new products. But behind her success, she maintains a clear vision. “The secret is to continue, even when it’s tough. You may be on the ground, but you must not stop,” she says. Barbara Guillaume is forging a unique path, guided by instinct rather than rules, and driven by a simple belief: reinventing oneself is always possible, and “no” is never a definitive answer.
