Told he might not see 40, influencer launches skincare brand after nine-stone GLP-1 transformation

Northern Irish influencer Marc McKee

A Northern Irish influencer who says he was warned he might not live to see 40 has launched a skincare brand inspired by his own dramatic nine-stone weight-loss journey using GLP-1 medications including Mounjaro and Wegovy.

Marc McKee, 36, transformed his health after beginning treatment in August 2024, reducing his weight from 23.4 stone to 14st 7lb while documenting the process online to an audience that has since grown to more than 400,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram.

Now, the entrepreneur has turned that transformation into a business venture targeting one of the fastest-growing sectors in health and wellness — the skin concerns increasingly associated with rapid weight loss.

The launch comes amid a major surge in use of GLP-1 medications across the UK. Researchers at University College London estimate around 1.6 million adults used weight-loss drugs over the past year, with growing demand for products aimed at managing the physical side effects that can follow dramatic body changes.

From health warning to viral transformation

McKee said his decision to overhaul his lifestyle came after receiving a stark warning from his doctor about his future health.

At the time, he was living with high blood pressure, raised cholesterol and early signs of kidney and liver issues.

“I was told by my doctor that if I continued the path I was on, I might not make it to 40,” he said.

“My stomach just dropped. I was 23.4 stone, living with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and early signs of kidney and liver damage. I genuinely thought I might not live long enough to see my nephew grow up.”

As the weight began to come off, McKee shared regular updates online, with videos documenting his transformation generating more than 100 million views across social media platforms.

But while the physical health improvements were significant, he said rapid weight loss created another challenge he had not anticipated — changes to his skin.

Growing focus on ‘Ozempic face’ and skin changes

As use of medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro has exploded globally, increasing numbers of users have reported concerns around loose skin, dehydration, reduced elasticity and facial volume loss — changes often referred to online as “Ozempic face”.

McKee said he struggled to find products specifically designed to support people going through that process.

“At the end of my weight loss, I realised I’d transformed physically but my skin was going through its own transition,” he said.

“There was almost nothing out there that addressed it in a structured, realistic way. I tried everything. What actually worked for me wasn’t one hero product — it was consistency and a system.”

That experience led to the launch of ElastiK° Skin, a five-product skincare range paired with a 234-LED face and neck mask developed around hydration, elasticity and skin barrier support.

What the skincare system includes

According to the company, the formulations were developed with cosmetic chemists specialising in skin barrier science and focus on supporting the skin during periods of transformation rather than offering cosmetic guarantees.

The range includes:

• Peptide-based ingredients designed to support skin elasticity

• Multi-molecular hyaluronic acid and Sodium PCA aimed at hydration

• Ceramides to help support skin barrier function

• Bakuchiol as a gentler alternative to retinol

McKee stressed the products are not being marketed as a miracle fix for skin concerns linked to rapid weight loss.

“ElastiK° Skin isn’t about reversing ageing or promising unrealistic outcomes,” he said.

“It’s about supporting skin as it adapts. For some people on this journey, including myself, surgery or further treatments will still be needed and I’d never pretend otherwise.”

“But for many, the right structure and consistency can make a real difference. That’s what I wanted to create — because when your body transforms, your skin does too, and no one should have to figure that out on their own.”

From Northern Ireland startup to global rollout

The brand launched officially on 14 April 2026 to coincide with In-Cosmetics Global in Paris, one of the cosmetics industry’s biggest international trade events focused on ingredient innovation and formulation science.

The business operates under Renatus Collective — derived from the Latin word for “rebirth” — McKee’s wider platform centred around transformation, wellbeing and digital health storytelling.

The skincare range is now available online in more than 30 countries including the UK, the United States and across Europe, with further expansion planned through specialist GLP-1 wellness platforms including Jurni GLP in the US.

Early observational data released by the company reported improvements in hydration, firmness, elasticity and overall skin quality among participants who followed the routine consistently.

The business has also been shortlisted in four categories at the UK Small Business Awards 2026, including Best Beauty Business and Male Entrepreneur of the Year.

A new industry emerging around GLP-1 weight loss

The rapid rise of GLP-1 medications is now reshaping not only healthcare, but also skincare, wellness and cosmetic industries as businesses race to respond to the realities of large-scale weight loss.

For many users, the conversation no longer ends with losing weight itself, but with how their bodies — and particularly their skin — adapt afterwards.

What began for McKee as a deeply personal health crisis has now evolved into a business aimed at helping others navigate the visible side of that transformation.