When Kyle Frank arrived at the University of Brighton to study Applied Psychology and Sociology, he thought he was simply choosing a subject that combined curiosity about people with an interest in how society shapes us. He didn’t realise those lectures on agency, structure and identity would one day shape the way he built a company, or that his own teenage skin struggles would become the foundation for a brand now changing how people think about skincare.
“During my degree I had really bad acne,” Kyle recalls. “It affected my confidence in ways I didn’t expect. Everyone around me seemed to have clear skin and I felt constantly aware of it. Studying psychology helped me understand how much of our self-image is shaped by the world around us, and that was powerful.”
Brighton gave Kyle space to explore those connections: between wellbeing and identity, science and empathy, mind and body. “It was the first time I began to see how psychology and sociology overlap,” he says. “It wasn’t just theory; it was life experience.”
From kitchen experiments to campus curiosity
By his second year, Kyle had started to experiment with natural ingredients. “I was travelling during semester breaks, always fascinated by how other cultures approached skincare,” he says. “I carried a journal everywhere, jotting down what I learned. When I got home, I started trying out my own formulations, in my dad’s kitchen of all places.”
He laughs at the memory. “My dad didn’t really know what I was doing. He thought I was just cooking. But he was supportive, even helped clean up. Looking back, it was very brave of me, I was testing everything on myself.”
Those early experiments weren’t part of a business plan. They were survival. “I’d tried everything the doctor gave me, antibiotics, topical creams- even Roaccutane- and nothing worked. I felt like I’d lost control over my skin and, by extension, my confidence. So, I decided to make something that would work for me.”
The results were visible. When he returned to university after a semester break, classmates noticed. “People kept asking what I’d used,” he says. “At first, I thought it was just polite interest, but then they started asking me to make products for them. That’s when I realised, I might have something bigger on my hands.”
A Brighton mindset
Looking back, Kyle says his studies gave him the tools to approach skincare differently. “Psychology and sociology taught me about systems, how structure affects agency, how our environment shapes behaviour,” he explains. “That thinking transferred directly into my brand. I didn’t want Frank’s Remedies to just be about surface-level fixes; I wanted it to address emotional wellbeing too.”
He credits Brighton’s lecturers for nurturing curiosity and self-belief. “Dr Nicola Kahn talked about structure versus agency, that tension between the systems that limit us and our power to make choices. At the time I argued that agency always wins, because I believed people can shape their own outcomes. I still think that’s true, but now I understand how both matter. That balance, between empowerment and empathy, defines how I run my business.”
From personal need to public purpose
In 2020, Frank’s Remedies officially launched. What began as a homemade experiment is now a brand recognised for combining science-led formulations with a holistic understanding of “stressed skin.” Its products are gender-neutral, sustainable, and independently tested, but Kyle says the heart of the brand has always been human connection.
“The emotional side of skincare often gets ignored,” he explains. “We focus on what’s visible but rarely talk about what it feels like to live with a skin condition. I wanted to create something that helps people feel calmer and more in control.”
That mission has grown beyond skincare jars and serums. Profits from Frank’s Remedies fund educational workshops in schools, where young people learn about body image, self-esteem and social media pressures. So far, the programme, Frank’s Glow-Up Project, has reached over 900 students across the UK. The project is AQA accredited, meaning students receive a formal certificate of recognition for their participation, reinforcing both personal development and educational achievement.
“It’s about helping students understand that confidence doesn’t come from perfection,” Kyle says. “We’ve seen kids become more engaged at school, less isolated, and more comfortable in their own skin. That’s what success looks like to me.”
Recognition and resilience
Kyle’s approach has drawn attention from industry leaders including L’Oréal Paris and Charlotte Tilbury, and in 2025 he was recognised by The King’s Foundation, led by HM King Charles III, as one of the 35 Under 35 – the UK’s top changemakers.
That same year, Frank’s Remedies was featured on BBC One’s UK’s Top Inventions, where the brand’s products were showcased and documented as part of a national television feature highlighting innovative British businesses.
But success, Kyle insists, hasn’t changed his values. “I’ve learned that resilience matters more than perfection,” he says. “There were times when I didn’t know how I’d keep going. Learning cosmetic regulations, branding, product testing, everything was new. I taught myself graphic design, web coding, even photography just to save costs. Brighton taught me to be resourceful, and that’s probably my biggest takeaway.”
Hope, habit and tunnel vision
Running a fast-growing business means long hours and constant adaptation. Kyle keeps grounded through what he calls “tunnel vision and growth mindset.”
“People talk about being delusional when you start something big,” he says, smiling. “But I think confidence comes from preparation, not delusion. Once you’ve done the work, you can afford to believe in yourself. That’s tunnel vision, trusting your process.”
He’s also a believer in balance. “Meditation helps,” he adds. “Even ten minutes a day resets me. I read a lot, not just about skincare, but about robotics, genetics, anything that feeds curiosity. You can always bring new ideas back into your own work.”
Building legacy, not just a label
As Frank’s Remedies grows into travel retail, Kyle’s eyes are set on Heathrow, Gatwick and international expansion into the US and France. But the goal isn’t just global reach- it’s legacy.
“In ten years, I’d love for the brand to be known as the go-to for stress skin, but also for how we make people feel,” he says. “I want to keep ownership, stay authentic, and keep our social mission at the centre. In 100 years’, time, I want people to say Frank’s Remedies stood for hope and integrity, that’s the legacy I’m building.”
Brighton gave me the confidence to start
Reflecting on his journey, Kyle says the University of Brighton gave him something more valuable than a degree: belief in possibility.
“Brighton taught me to question, to care, and to create,” he says. “You don’t need to have everything figured out, you just need to start. The skills you learn at university aren’t just academic; they’re human. That’s what carried me through.”
About Kyle Frank
- Degree: BSc (Hons) Applied Psychology & Sociology, University of Brighton
- Role: Founder, Frank’s Remedies
- Achievements: BSU Course Rep of the Year; Featured on BBC One’s The Customer Is Always Right; 35 Under 35 Entrepreneur recognised by King Charles III
- Social impact: Over 900 students supported through skincare and body-image education
- Website: franksremedies.com
Learn about studying the humanities and social sciences at Brighton.
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