Cover Stephanie Oller of Pure Culture (Photo: Oly Ruiz)
Stephanie Oller of Pure Culture (Photo: Oly Ruiz)
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Years of managing reactive skin in the tropics led Stephanie Oller to co-found Pure Culture. Now, as CEO, she is scaling the award-winning brand into a regional powerhouse for microbiome-based wellness
Years of managing dry, reactive skin shaped Stephanie Oller’s understanding of an often overlooked concern in tropical climates. Humidity, pollution and sudden weather shifts frequently assault sensitive skin, yet few products in the local market have been designed with these conditions in mind. That realisation eventually led her to Pure Culture.
What began as professional curiosity evolved into a belief in the brand’s potential, prompting Oller to step in as co-founder and chief executive.
Under her leadership, Pure Culture has positioned itself around microbiome skin wellness, developing formulations that support the skin’s ecosystem of protective microorganisms rather than stripping it. In 2025 alone, it received 11 international and local beauty awards, including honours from the Organic Beauty Awards and Think Clean Awards.
Oller now aims to expand Pure Culture beyond skincare into a broader platform for microbiome skin wellness across the Philippines and the region. Learn more about it below.
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Above Stephanie Oller of Pure Culture (Photo: Oly Ruiz)
Stephanie Oller of Pure Culture (Photo: Oly Ruiz)
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Q&A
What inspired you to start your business? Was there a specific gap or opportunity in the market that others overlooked?
For most of my life, I struggled with dry, sensitive skin. I would often rely on expensive imported brands because very few local products seemed designed for people like me—those whose skin reacts to weather shifts, pollution and environmental stress. When I became a mother, I noticed that my children inherited the same sensitivity. Even simple things like dust or sudden weather changes could trigger irritation.
At the time, I was running an advertising agency and had no plans to enter the beauty industry. Then I met Alex Gentry, the founder and formulator of Pure Culture, who had just launched the brand and was looking for guidance on digital marketing. She asked me to try the products myself. I was sceptical at first, but I eventually did.
Within a few months, something remarkable happened. Friends began complimenting my skin—they described it as “bouncy”, healthy and luminous. That Christmas, I gave Pure Culture products as gifts to friends and family, and almost immediately, they became loyal fans as well.
What began as curiosity turned into genuine belief. I realised that Pure Culture had the potential to address a gap many people quietly experience: skincare designed specifically for sensitive skin in tropical environments. When the opportunity arose to lead the company full-time as CEO, I knew it was something I wanted to build with conviction.
In the early days, what were the biggest challenges you faced in building the company or brand?
The beauty industry is extraordinarily competitive and capital-intensive. Large brands invest heavily in marketing, research and retail visibility, which can make it challenging for young independent companies to gain traction.
In our early years, we had to operate with discipline and creativity. We learned to be extremely resourceful—activating our networks, building community organically and focusing on storytelling that genuinely resonated with people.
Another challenge was communication. Pure Culture’s products are deeply science-backed, particularly in the way they support the skin microbiome. But scientific skincare can sometimes feel intimidating or overly technical. Our task was to translate complex science into language and visuals that felt intuitive, accessible and beautiful. Finding that balance between credibility and clarity became a defining part of our brand-building journey.
What sets your business apart from competitors?
Pure Culture sits at the intersection of science, safety and sensitivity—a space that remains relatively underdeveloped in Southeast Asia.
Our formulations focus on supporting the skin’s microbiome, which is the ecosystem of beneficial microorganisms that protect and balance the skin. Rather than aggressively stripping or overcorrecting the skin, our approach is to nurture and restore its natural resilience.
What makes our journey particularly meaningful is that we have achieved many milestones typically associated with much larger companies, despite operating as a lean, independent brand. In just three years, Pure Culture has earned numerous international and local beauty recognitions, including awards from the Organic Beauty Awards, Think Clean Awards and more.
We are also certified by Safe Cosmetics Australia and produce our formulations through trusted laboratories across Bulgaria, South Korea and the Philippines—ensuring that our products meet global standards of safety and efficacy.
For a young, bootstrapped brand, reaching this level of recognition within such a short time has been both humbling and motivating.
Can you share a pivotal turning point that significantly changed your company’s direction or growth trajectory?
We are currently standing at one of the most pivotal moments in Pure Culture’s journey.
Over the past few years, we have focused on building strong foundations—developing effective formulations, cultivating a loyal community and establishing credibility within the clean beauty space. As the brand continues to grow, we are now exploring strategic partnerships that could help Pure Culture scale more meaningfully.
Our vision has always been larger than simply launching skincare products. We believe Pure Culture has the potential to become a leading voice in microbiome-based skin wellness. The right partnership could allow us to accelerate that vision and reach more people who are searching for gentler, science-driven solutions for their skin.
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How do you navigate the changing economic, political and social climate?
One of the most important lessons in entrepreneurship is learning to remain adaptable while staying anchored in your core purpose.
Economic cycles and global uncertainties inevitably affect consumer behaviour, but what we have observed is that people are increasingly thoughtful about what they put on their skin and into their lives. There is a growing desire for products that are safe, transparent and aligned with personal well-being.
Rather than reacting to short-term shifts, we focus on building a brand that reflects long-term values: integrity in formulation, responsible sourcing and honest communication with our community. When a brand is rooted in genuine purpose, it tends to remain resilient even as the external environment evolves. Our big goal this year is to create more skin wellness experiences as consumers gravitate towards IRL (in real life) moments. We are launching our skin wellness seats real soon, so watch out for it.
As you look toward 2026, what is your long-term vision for the business?
Our long-term vision is for Pure Culture to become the leading platform for microbiome skin wellness in the Philippines and eventually across the region.
The skin microbiome is one of the most exciting frontiers in dermatological science today. By understanding and supporting this ecosystem, we can create products that work with the skin rather than against it.
We see Pure Culture evolving beyond a skincare brand into a broader ecosystem that includes dermocosmetic innovation, wellness education and collaborations with clinics and hospitality partners. Ultimately, our goal is to redefine how people care for sensitive skin in tropical climates—with solutions that are both scientifically advanced and deeply gentle.
Above Stephanie Oller of Pure Culture (Photo: Oly Ruiz)
Stephanie Oller of Pure Culture (Photo: Oly Ruiz)
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Are there any professional or personal milestones over the past 24 months that you’d like to highlight?
The past two years have been incredibly meaningful for our team.
In 2025 alone, Pure Culture received 11 awards from global and local beauty authorities, including eight recognitions from the Organic Beauty Awards and honours from the Think Clean Awards and more. For a young independent brand, this level of recognition has been deeply encouraging.
Another special milestone was welcoming award-winning actress Angel Aquino to the founding team. Angel has been a devoted user of Pure Culture since the brand’s earliest days, and her belief in the products naturally evolved into a deeper collaboration.
We also had the opportunity to present Pure Culture internationally in Tokyo through the Department of Trade and Industry - Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (DTI-CITEM). We were told that Pure Culture was the first skincare brand invited under this programme, which speaks to the export potential of Filipino clean beauty.
Moments like these remind us that even a small team with strong conviction can build something that resonates globally.
Continuing Tatler’s 25th anniversary celebration, we honour 25 entrepreneurs whose ingenuity, resilience and purpose are reshaping the Philippine business landscape. Many started from humble beginnings, yet their determination and innovation have earned them well-deserved acclaim. Driven to make life better for the Filipino people, they are setting new standards for success.
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Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is a digital editor at Tatler Philippines. She studied journalism and has since written features that look closely at how culture, lifestyle and social impact converge, while occasionally wandering into the worlds of style and travel.
