I am always on the lookout for simple, yet great skincare products. What do I mean by this? With so many products on the market, it is hard to find great products that are made with few ingredients. Some products, that are overloaded with a lot of ingredients can be quite irritating. Sometimes it is just that one ingredient that is an irritant. Omy Laboratoires basically read my mind and I am happy to say that I love their Vitamin C serum. It has been a while since I have felt compelled to feature a skincare brand. This is a definite must-have product.
I recently sat down with the founders of Omy Laboratoires, Andrea Gomez and Rachelle Séguin to talk about how they started their brand and got a few skincare tips that may help you on your skincare journey.
What inspired you to start your brand? Was there a moment that made you realize that you could add a much-needed brand to the beauty landscape?
As a chemist with a master’s degree in pharmacy and experience working in the active ingredient industry and encapsulation process, I had the opportunity to work on R&D projects with big cosmetics companies on new formula development. However, during my part-time job as a skincare consultant in drug stores, I noticed that most people were making concessions when it came to their skincare products or were unable to find the perfect match for their skin. Furthermore, products that had been on the shelf for a long time, usually more than two years, had lower efficacy because the active ingredient degraded during that time. With my experience, I realized that the solution to offer effective products that also meet the individual needs of consumers without any compromises would be to offer freshly personalized skincare with the right ingredients mixed just before shipping. This would involve using proven, effective ingredients that address the specific needs of each consumer, allowing for a minimalist formula that maximizes the concentration of effective ingredients for maximum efficacy.
I also met my partner Andrea, who was a beauty consultant and suffered from acne and redness, and she was unable to find a product that matched her skin’s needs. She also had the idea of launching a customized skincare company. By doing so, we would be able to offer skincare products that are suitable for someone with redness, acne-prone skin and sensitivity, or mature skin looking for anti-aging with a light texture and mattifying ingredients, or even people experiencing increased skin sensitivity and reactions due to chemotherapy, pregnancy, or hormonal therapies. We are also able to adapt the scent of our products with natural extracts. We were also tired of the price discrimination in the cosmetic industry based on age and gender, where a good anti-redness ingredient costs the same as a good anti-aging one. By offering customized skincare, we were able to select the best ingredients for each concern and offer a flat price per product, regardless of the age, gender, or skin type of the person. In summary, my background and experiences inspired me to start a brand that offers freshly personalized skincare products that are effective, meet the individual needs of consumers, and have a longer shelf life due to their freshly mixed nature.
What is the best treatment method for those who would like to treat hyperpigmentation but have sensitive skin?
The best treatment for hyperpigmentation in someone with sensitive skin is to use a product that first removes ingredients that may trigger sensitivity. At Omy, we avoid using artificial fragrances or essential oils that often contain high doses of allergens. Many products designed to reduce the appearance of dark spots may contain ingredients like retinol, ascorbic acid, azelaic acid, or kojic acid, which typically work at a low pH and can make the skin more sensitive to irritation. These ingredients can also make the skin photosensitive and more prone to developing dark spots when exposed to the sun without sufficient protection.
At Omy, we use multiple ingredients that target dark spots and have been shown to deliver results in less than 28 days. These include niacinamide, Hylocereus undatus, and Terminalia ferdinandiana, which are suitable for sensitive skin and are not photosensitizing. In addition, we add soothing ingredients like Tasmannia lanceolata fruit/leaf extract and Phoenix dactylifera seed extract to our products to help calm sensitive skin. Unlike more commonly used ingredients, these have demonstrated soothing or redness-reducing effects in supervised studies and can be combined with other ingredients for additional benefits such as anti-aging or brightening. Overall, a customized skincare routine that avoids common allergens and incorporates targeted ingredients can be the best way to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation in individuals with sensitive skin.
You offer a customized product range option. What are the most popular customizations? What would you recommend for someone who is looking for a product that targets acne, sensitivity, and pigmentation?
Our most common formula targets redness, which is a prominent problem in northern countries, as well as acne-prone skin and dark spots (Ro, Ac, Ta). Our most popular texture is a light texture base with hyaluronic acid that retains up to 1000 times its weight in water, along with a cucumber scent. The formula that targets anti-aging, firmness (thanks to peptides), redness, and oiliness in a light texture is also a popular option (Fe, Ro, Se), available with an unscented option. Our two most popular ingredients target redness and dark spots. We also have a popular formula to soothe very sensitive skin that requires extra hydration and protection with a rich texture (In, Hy, Ro).
You are expanding into the US market, what are your plans to stand out from the rest of the brands on the market? What makes you unique?
At Omy, we pride ourselves on our ability to offer customized skincare solutions that are tailored to each individual’s unique skin concerns and needs. We understand that everyone’s skin is different, and we believe that skincare should be personalized to ensure the best possible results. To achieve this level of customization, we use state-of-the-art AI technology that analyzes each customer’s skin and provides recommendations for the most effective ingredients and formulations to address their specific concerns. This allows us to create personalized skincare regimens that are tailored to each individual’s unique needs, providing the most effective results possible. In addition to our customization and AI technology, we also prioritize sustainability and transparency. We use only natural and organic ingredients that are sourced ethically and sustainably, and our products are packaged in eco-friendly materials. Overall, we believe that our focus on customization and AI technology, combined with our commitment to sustainability and transparency, sets Omy apart from other brands in the market. We are proud to offer personalized skincare solutions that deliver real results and are safe and effective for all skin types.
We also offer a level of customer service that is as personalized as our products. Our team of skincare experts is available to provide guidance and support throughout the entire skincare journey, from initial analysis and product selection to ongoing adjustments based on changes in the skin. We also understand that our customers’ skincare needs can change over time, which is why we offer the flexibility to adjust formulas seasonally or based on the evolution of their skin. This allows us to continue to provide the most effective skincare solutions over time, ensuring that our customers always get the results they’re looking for. And in the rare event that a product doesn’t meet our customers’ expectations, we offer a reformulation guarantee. We will work closely with the customer to understand their concerns and make any necessary adjustments to the formula until it meets their specific standards. Overall, we believe that our focus on personalized customer service, flexibility in formula adjustments, and our reformulation guarantee further sets us apart from other skincare brands in the market. We are committed to providing the most effective, personalized, and sustainable skincare solutions to meet the unique needs of each of our customers.
What is the biggest skincare mistake you see people do?
In my experience, the biggest skincare mistake people make is focusing solely on one specific issue with their skin, such as acne, redness, or dark spots, instead of taking a holistic approach. Our skin is complex and multifaceted, so it’s important to consider all of its unique characteristics and needs when developing a skincare routine. Customization is key to achieving this, as it allows us to tailor our skincare products to our individual skin types, concerns, and preferences. By using customized products, we can avoid the common mistake of using harsh or overly aggressive skincare products in the hopes of addressing a single issue. Instead, we can target multiple concerns simultaneously, while still treating our skin gently and respectfully. At Omy, we also prioritize the health and balance of the skin’s microbiome, which is the delicate ecosystem of microorganisms that live on and in our skin.
Traditional preservatives like parabens, phenoxyethanol, or MIT can have a negative impact on the skin’s microbiome and worsen some skin issues. That’s why we avoid using these types of preservatives in our products and instead focus on more natural, sustainable alternatives, like probiotic technologies. Additionally, our commitment to freshness allows us to work with more respectful ingredients for the skin. We also offer customer service that is tailored to our products, which includes the ability to adjust your formula from season to season and according to the evolution and needs of your skin. We even offer a reformulation guarantee, which means that if a product isn’t perfect, we’ll reformulate it until it meets our consumer standards. Overall, by taking a more holistic approach to skincare and embracing customization and microbiome-friendly products, we can better support the health and vitality of our skin for the long term.
What is one thing you wish you knew now that you didn’t know before you launched Omy?
Looking back at the launch of Omy, one thing I wish I had known beforehand was how complex it would be to establish a company that offers customized skincare. We had to set up a lab, conduct extensive research and development, handle manufacturing, and manage our e-commerce platform all at once. It was challenging to find experts in each field to ensure our company was set up properly. However, despite the obstacles, we are thrilled with what we have achieved because we are one of the only companies that can provide personalized skincare that truly meets the unique needs of each individual customer.
