Yen Vo, founder of Reme Beauty Speaks about Sensitive Skin, Sustainability & Inclusivity.
Yen invested three years during the COVID-19 pandemic to create Reme Beauty.
As a woman of colour, Yen is committed to being a voice for the underrepresented.
Reme Beauty just reached 6 months in business, with flowing five star reviews.
Photo Source: Yen Vo
In the ever-evolving world of beauty, where high expectations, and tight budgets meets ethics, there's a brand that's going above and beyond to be part of your routine.
Meet Yen Vo, the brilliant mind behind Reme Beauty, a brand that's all about helping sensitive skin, sustainability, inclusivity, and making you feel amazing in your skin.
“My name is Yen Vo, and I am the founder of Reme (pronounced REE-MEE) Beauty.
I’m first generation Australian-born Vietnamese who grew up in Sydney, now calling Singapore home for the last 4 years and currently not sure where I will live next.”
Navigating the tricky waters of fitting into Aussie culture whilst staying true to her Vietnamese heritage. Yen’s fondest memories were all about family gatherings, where love, food, and laughter transcended cultural boundaries.
Sparked by her mom's own entrepreneurial adventures, Yen pursued her business after studying Medical Science in university.
She worked for a global science-based company called DSM, which armed her with knowledge about raw materials, sustainability, and the intricate world of business.
“My motivation for sustainability grew when I was selected to become a One Young World Ambassador in 2018.
I worked alongside other young leaders who wanted to make a global impact.
My husband and I moved our lives from Australia to Singapore in 2020, where my entrepreneurial journey with Reme started.”
During the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, Yen invested three years into building her business from scratch. It was during this time that she spotted a hole in the sustainable beauty market.
People were showing an increasing interest in eco-friendly beauty products, but there was this nagging fear that "sustainability" came with a hefty price tag.
Moreover, the beauty industry was just starting to wake up to the ideas of sustainability, inclusivity, and diversity.
“While data showed that people wanted more “eco-friendly” beauty products (and I say this term loosely), many were hesitant to spend more because sustainability often comes with higher prices.
Plus, the beauty industry was still in its early days of awareness on sustainability, inclusivity and diversity. My goal was to change that.”
Not Backing Down On Her Values
Yen’s goal was crystal clear: Bridge the gap by creating beauty products that were not only environmentally conscious but also friendly to your wallet.
Drawing from her own experiences as a woman of colour, Yen became the voice for those who felt underrepresented, echoing her journey of self-discovery and empowerment throughout her brand which extended from marketing representation to formulation.
Yen's vision for Reme Beauty extends beyond just skincare products. It's all about building a community of conscious consumers who are aware of the impact of their choices, both in beauty and in life.
She firmly believes that the small choices each one of us makes daily can add up to something significant if we all pitch in.
Reme Beauty walks the talk by sourcing sustainable packaging and high-performing upcycled and lab-engineered active ingredients, reducing waste and energy.
REME is currently a plastic neutral brand.
Their goal is to be plastic negative by 2027, by funding community programmes to collect and reuse 2x the amount of plastic waste they produce from nature.
They’re partnered with rePurpose Global Plastic Neutral Coalition.
Climate Neutral by 2025.
Sourcing of sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).
REME supports programmes like Waste4Change and Re>Pal.
About The Products
“From a skincare perspective we focus our products on sensitive skin, this was inspired by my husband's eczema struggle.
When he stopped using topical steroid creams, his skin barrier was compromised causing skin itching, flaking, and was leaking for 2 years straight.
With a minimal and gentle skincare routine alongside patience, his skin began to heal on its own.
I found that we sometimes do too much to our skin and what we truly need is to go back to basics, to simplify and uncomplicate routines.
Focusing on 3 key skin essentials : hydration, moisturisation and protection.”
Quickly becoming a cult favourite, the REME beauty double cleanse is a top pick amongst beauty bloggers. Photo Source: @MinnieMakeup_
RE-BASE Makeup Cleansing Balm
Reme Beauty has two hero products that are quickly becoming blogger favourites. In a world brimming with makeup removers and cleansers, the RE-BASE Makeup Cleansing Balm stands out as a luxurious and effective solution.
RE-BASE smells of comforting green herbs like rosemary, and when the balm warms up with the skin the scent gives a calming effect.
A thoughtful fusion of sustainably sourced ingredients like avocado, grapeseed, and fermented argan oils moisturise the skin while working to effortlessly dissolve makeup and grime, it's a holistic skincare experience.
Overall, this cleansing balm doesn't just remove makeup; it's a ritual that nourishes, protects, and rejuvenates.
G-HYDRA Cleansing Gel
Shifting focus to the G-Hydra Cleansing Gel- A bouncy, juicy gel that doesn’t leave you feeling right or squeaky. The infusion of kiwi fruit extract, rich in vitamin C and minerals, promises a radiant complexion over time.
The inclusion of Centella Asiatica extract, with its arsenal of antioxidants and amino acids, promotes deep hydration and soothing benefits, catering to diverse skin needs.
The Rose of Jericho extract elevates the gel's prowess by supporting the skin's moisture retention and barrier function. It’s an elegant cleansing experience that leaves your skin bouncy and clean.
The Launch & Reviews
Yen’s strong drive was clear in her launching talent Flex @flex.mami and Brandon @itsbybrandon - Which was a purposeful choice to celebrate individuality and diversity in the beauty space.
“I wanted to create beauty products that were environmentally conscious and more accessible than what’s already out in the market, without sacrificing effectiveness.
As a WOC, being the voice for those who feel underrepresented because I was there once.
All these elements packaged in something trendy and cool, so everyone could get behind, even if they didn’t realise it at first.”
“Incredibly moisturising, chill to use both day + night and made with ingredients that your skin likes”
“The @remebeautyofficial cleansing balm is lovely and I really appreciate that it has a storage spot for the spatula, because this way I’ll actually use the spatula. Brilliant.”
“Did I… just find my new favourite gentle cleanser?”
“The re base makeup cleansing balm is, for me, the clear standout of the duo. It’s a beautiful sorbet like (wax base) texture that melts down effortlessly and emulsifies instantly for a good clean....”
3 Questions for Yen
What would you tell other WOC starting in business?
“Dig deep and find your why, what you’re good at, what you love and what you want to solve. Because this will help be the motivation for a sustainable business and a life that is fulfilling.
What drives me is knowing the impact I am going to make, and I always envision in my mind my ideal world and that keeps me going. It may sound delusional for some haha, but what are dreams for?”
What's one thing you wish you knew before you started?
“To meet and get advice from other like-minded Founders. I have been building Reme alone for 3 years partly because of covid, and I only recently started to reach out to other Founders, forums and groups because I started to get burnt out and it was impacting my mental health.
Entrepreneurship is a tough gig and it can get overwhelming at times - surrounding yourself with people who understand and have been in your shoes, can really help - I have a great team that has helped me get through it!”
What is your business' hero product?
“We have been getting a lot of love with our Re-base Makeup Cleansing Balm but our G-hydra Cleansing Gel has truly become an essential part of anyone’s daily routine!”
Yen has kindly provided readers of White Rabbit Social 20% and FREE SHIPPING on www.remebeauty.com! Use code “WHITERABBIT20”
This code is not affiliated. Valid 21/11/2023-04/12/2023.
