Can you introduce Skindays and explain the motivation behind its creation?
Skindays is a pro-aging discovery platform, designed to guide customers through a healthy aging process, focusing primarily on skincare. We operate a curated marketplace, offering a selection of expert-backed skincare brands, chosen for their expertise, mission, and sustainability focus. Our approach is personalized, tailoring recommendations to each customer's unique skincare needs and objectives, based on their stage in the skin longevity lifecycle. Skindays, which launched in June 2022, has evolved from offering personalized skincare recommendations to a more comprehensive, expert-led journey in skin health and longevity.
The inception of Skindays was driven by personal experiences and a gap in the market. My co-founder and I realized the need for a platform that not only sold skincare products but also educated customers about their skin and its needs, especially as they approach and in their 30s. Our aim is to guide customers by selecting the right products and ingredients for their skin at different ages, something we felt was missing from existing e-commerce platforms.
Why is there a shift from anti-aging to pro-aging in the skincare industry?
The shift from anti-aging to pro-aging represents a change in how aging is approached in skincare. Traditionally, the focus was on reversing aging, emphasizing ingredients like retinol that stimulate cell production. However, pro-aging is about embracing a more holistic approach, not just focusing on cell stimulation, but also ensuring hydration, elasticity, and overall skin health.
At Skindays we advocate for a holistic approach to skin health as part of pro-aging. This includes hydration, using the right ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin C, stimulating facial muscles through methods like gua sha and facial yoga, and educating customers about maintaining their skin health. This shift also reflects a broader change in consumer awareness and education, driven by access to information and a growing understanding of a more comprehensive approach to skincare.
How personalized are the skincare routines offered by Skindays, especially for people in their 30s?
Personalization is central to our philosophy at Skindays. We start with a personalized test on our platform to understand each customer's skin type, concerns, and goals. This is the first step towards recommending products. Beyond this, we offer expert consultations with dermatologists and our internal team of experts to further tailor skincare routines.
The key pillars of our approach include hydration, protection, muscle stimulation in the face, and cell production stimulation to address fine lines and wrinkles. While the products recommended vary based on individual skin types and concerns, these pillars remain consistent. For example, someone with acne-prone skin might avoid vitamin C due to its potential for oxidation, opting instead for alternatives like ginger-based serums. Overall, our goal is to follow these pillars while considering each person's unique skin concerns and goals, providing a truly personalized skincare experience.
Could you share your experiences with in-person customer engagement, especially post-COVID, and how it complements your digital platform?
In-person experiences have become a crucial part of our strategy at Skindays especially in the post-COVID era. Despite being a digital-first platform, we recognize the immense value of omni-channel experiences in building a strong community and understanding our customers' needs more deeply. We've hosted several pop-ups and partnered with lifestyle entities and clinics, offering unique in-store experiences. These interactions are particularly vital for aspects of skincare that require hands-on guidance, like using gua sha tools or understanding scalp health. We've extended our focus to include hair care, emphasizing scalp health as a critical element of the pro-aging process. Our approach involves educating customers on the use of scalp brushes and the importance of ingredients for scalp care, mirroring the attention given to facial skin. This blend of online and in-person experiences allows us to offer comprehensive support to our customers, catering to their diverse needs in a more holistic manner.
What trends in the skincare and wellness industry excite you, particularly in relation to pro-aging and natural approaches?
We're particularly excited about the growing focus on hair care within the broader wellness and skincare journey. This area, which was somewhat overlooked, is now gaining attention for its significance in overall skin health, particularly regarding scalp health and hair follicles. The emergence of biotech formulations in skincare is another trend that we find very exciting. These innovations, while not entirely new, are gaining traction for their effectiveness in delivering significant results with natural ingredients. For example, our partnership with the Korean skincare brand Venn highlights this trend. They've developed patented formulations that offer potent anti-aging benefits using natural, fermented ingredients. These advancements not only bring impressive skincare results but are also more sustainable for the planet. This shift towards effective, natural, and environmentally friendly skincare solutions is something we're eager to see evolve and grow in the industry.
