In conversation with Aesop’s Suzanne Santos: insights on skincare, beauty routine, and ignoring industry trends

Santos bares the real deal: “The honest truth is that even those who claim to be the most sustainable are still using resources.” The brand hesitates to describe its business as ‘sustainable’ or ‘eco-friendly’ because they “recognise that while we have always aimed to minimise our impact on the environment, we continue to have one.”

She further explains, “Aesop aims to become net zero and fully circular by 2030, and we are putting the weight of the entire business behind these efforts. We actively seek to understand our environmental impacts—both within the organisation and across the value chain—and are taking steps to drastically reduce them.”

Related read: What does it mean to live sustainably?

Filipinos are big consumers of beauty products. According to a study by Allied Market Research, the Philippines skin care products market is projected to register a 7.3 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2021 to 2027.

One of the leading brands loved by Filipinos is Aesop. Santos says, “Aesop has long been part of many Filipinos’ lives and is resonating with a new generation with our founding local presence.”

More than anything, Aesop is known for their experiential stores on location. Each one offers a different approach. Never just transactional, Santos says the stores offer “educational, prescriptive and sensorial” experiences. Currently, Aesop has a store at SM Aura, Greenbelt and Rockwell. She adds that the brand will open more stores as a sign of appreciation for Filipino customers.

“At Aesop SM Aura, we will host our customers in a calm, warm, comforting space that looks, feels and smells good,” she says, describing the newly opened store. “It is our heartfelt belief that the experience of being a customer can and should be so much more than an emotionless exchange.”

See also: More than What Meets the Eye: 7 Retail Stores with Best Interior Design in Metro Manila

Santos then tackles what Aesop offers the Filipino market. “We have, from the outset, formulated our products to meet the needs of the skin across a global audience,” she says. “The majority of our skincare range is greatly adaptable to the individual needs of each person’s skin, and can provide exceptional benefits to those based in humid climates like the Philippines.” Where ostentatious packaging has been all the rage, Aesop likes to keep it simple. “Our approach is to focus our efforts on the contents of the jar rather than elaborate presentation, celebrity endorsements or disingenuous promises,” explains Santos.

But the packaging game isn’t the only trend they have disregarded. Santos explains, “We ignore industry trends to focus on creating timeless formulations that serve a genuine purpose rather than create an artificial need—or, worse, prey on customers’ insecurities.”

In an interview, psychologist, author, and professor of counselling psychology at the University of British Columbia Dr Gloria Lee, mentioned that society’s perceived beauty standard can harm one’s mental health. “The multi-billion dollar makeup, hair, clothing, and shoe industries have dictated what we need to look and feel beautiful. This chase for beauty is never satiated because industry standards keep changing. Thus, we inevitably and constantly end up feeling not good enough,” the doctor said.

See also: These are 5 skincare ingredients to look out for in a product

For Aesop, ageing is a dignified process. Suzanne remarks: “The marks of its progress should be embraced, not obscured as a shameful stigma. Besides, any promise of regaining youthful-looking skin is not just predatory: it is also patently false. At Aesop, we celebrate ageing and individuality as elements of a life well lived.”

Many of us might be curious about the co-founder of Aesop’s recommendation. So, I asked Santos about which products she would recommend for Filipinos. “I unreservedly recommend Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Intense Serum for anyone based in the Philippines,” she says. “It is a succinct solution to the everyday needs of the skin, particularly in an urban environment, as it forms a lightweight and breathable environmental barrier on the skin to imperceptibly guard against airborne particulates.”

She expounds, “In warm, humid conditions such as those of the Philippines, or for those with oilier skin types, a considered combination of Grape Seed, Green Tea extracts and nourishing Tocopherol works to nurture the skin. For those with drier skin types, or anyone travelling to a drier climate, the featherlight texture can be layered under a chosen moisturiser for further hydration.”

“To use it in a routine, particularly for a warmer climate, I’d suggest cleansing the skin with either the gentle formulation, Fabulous Face Cleanser, to support most skin types, or In Two Minds Facial Cleanser, specifically for combination skin. Follow with B & Tea Balancing Toner to prepare skin for hydration, and massage Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Intense Serum into the skin. Finish with a gentle application of Exalted Eye Serum to replenish the delicate skin surrounding the eyes,” she concludes.

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