Real Life: Celebs ask for me by name

The salon owner and creator of skincare range Heaven counts Kylie Minogue, Gwyneth Paltrow and Victoria Beckham among her dazzling little black book of clients.

She lent her dermatological expertise to the Duchess ahead of The Royal Wedding on the recommendation of another of her royal clients, Camilla Parker-Bowles.

We managed to catch up with the therapist and entrepreneur as she prepared for a trip to New York to showcase her new range of Heaven products.

With her brand as popular in South Africa, Dubai and Asia as they are in Shropshire where they're all made, things were busy for the mum of two, but she was more than happy to take some time to chat to Weekend.

Deborah has just scooped the Innovator of the Year Award – previously held by vacuum giant Dyson – at this year's Stevie Awards, but things haven't always been glitz and glamour for the 48-year-old.

"I studied at the Phoenix School in Telford but I was bullied a lot. I just used to go to the library and hide. Bullying and adversity gave me my greatest success, really. I had acne and so when I went on to study at Telford College I learned how to make skincare products.

"The course was good but it wasn't very inventive. We'd do facials and make face masks and go home with bright red faces. Then I discovered the astringent ingredient in leg wax gets rid of redness, so I decided to include it in my products. Then we didn't have red faces any more.

"Afterwards I started working at a salon but decided to start up in business myself, making more of my own products."

Word of Deborah's expertise soon spread, and her first celebrity client followed.

"The first celebrities I worked with were Duran Duran and I still speak to them now. Tracey Taylor, Andy Taylor's wife, heard about me and it was almost three months until we got around to doing a treatment. For me, everyone's important, it doesn't matter if they're a celebrity or not.

"I get lovely calls and emails from Dannii and Kylie Minogue, they're both lovely. Lots of famous celebrities come from all around the UK for treatment and when others come from America they ask for me by name.

"When Katy Perry came over, we were asked to be an official supporter of her tour. It was great for our staff in Shropshire as they all got to go and see the shows.

"Victoria Beckham loves the new range and her make-up artist is always in contact and, after treating Kate and Camilla, I'm regularly invited to events at the palace too."

And Deborah's client base isn't limited to just women.

"I've treated Simon Cowell, Dragon's Den star Theo Paphitis and lots of others. I was asked if I wanted to be a dragon myself actually, but I refused. I'd rather concentrate on the business.

"Robert Downey Jr is a client, as is Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe. I've treated Greg Wallace from MasterChef along with other chefs around the globe too. I never get star struck by celebrities but I do get star struck when I meet businesspeople, I'm not sure why."

This is surprising for us, as it's clear from her success that Deborah is a strong businesswoman herself. Her success has led to the creation of what can only be described as an empire – quite a feat for someone who started out experimenting with leg wax ingredients.

"My new skincare product range is an accumulation of my life's work. We've spent £1.5m on the packaging alone with is a huge investment for a company of our size.

"For all the years I've been making products, my clients have asked for them to be stronger. This range is stronger than ever, and will change your face forever in just one use.

"I've been making products for 20 years and the clients have made us what we are today. They want a product that gives a continuous effect with just one application but that has no harsh effects on the skin. The new range helps with psoriasis and acne and reduces lines, like botox, but you don't have to inject it.

"It uses bee venom, a patented product which was my own invention and it's one that has led to people knowing my name.

"I'm a healer and I invent my products by dreaming about them. My mind switches off and invents them, that's why it's called Heaven. It heals everything.

"Most people want an anti-ageing product so that's what we made. I'm committed to people and because of that and the products we're now the first choice for celebrities and royalty."

But Deborah doesn't see herself as super-successful just yet.

"I live in Oaken and have a salon in Shifnal. We supply to local business and I have a place in London now too, a clinic with seven rooms where our products sell a lot. But I'll never move from home.

"The Shifnal people are very good to us and the local hotels are often full with our customers that travel from all around to visit. Even our factory is here. I love this place and will never, ever move my factory.

"I'm not successful yet, I'm just enjoying the journey. We're going over to New York to meet with Bloomingdales soon and we've won lots of awards, I should be flying out to pick up an award in Paris this week, actually, but I'm exhausted!

"I'm a really dozy person, really, and I look at things completely differently to most other people. I'm ambitious, but mostly I'm ambitious for my staff to do well.

"I don't see my products as things I need to sell but more products that people have to use so that their skin's perfect. At the end of the day, you can only wear one pair of shoes or carry one bag at a time – success for me is not about the money."

Deborah's great reputation has ultimately led to financial success, but it's something that Deborah has been pumping straight back into her business. She recently invested £1.5 million in the development of the packaging for her new range alone.

"When my friends and family found out how much I invested in this new product packaging, they said I must be either very clever or I must have real balls!

"I find that people are stopped by fear. If I want to reach a goal, I imagine myself there and look back to work out how I get there. I always think to myself that the fear will last a few seconds but regret will last forever."

To the average customer, £1.5 million might seem steep, but it was the Royal Family's reaction that struck a chord with Deborah.

"When I changed the packaging I asked Kate and Camilla what they thought. They said that, as ever, it's what's inside that truly counts."

And with such a rich collection of clients that Deborah now counts as friends, she's proving that the beauty of her craft is more than just skin deep.