Fresh Skincare Is the New Standard Beyond Clean Beauty
We know that a healthy lifestyle is the sum of our choices, from the foods we eat to the products we use. Americans actively search for healthier options, and 71% seek foods free from preservatives. The health and wellness industry coined ‘clean eating’ to mark a diet of fresh, whole foods free of preservatives and other harmful chemicals. The beauty industry has used a similar phrase, ‘clean beauty’ to keep up with the health market trends. The demand for clean beauty continues to rise as consumers choose to leave concerning additives behind.
LightWater’s recent brand reveal in New York highlighted why fresh beauty is the industry's future. The June press event showcased LightWater’s positioning beyond skin care to fresh skin nutrition. It begged the question of why beauty seems to have flown under the radar when it comes to freshness and preservatives, especially when Americans already intuitively know that fresher is better.
The decor brought freshness to life and connected the dots between skin care and topical skin nutrition. The chefs prepared various fresh salads and entrees. Bright fruits and vegetables complimented the sunny LightWater Daily Duo regimen and represented many of the vitamins and nutrients in the products themselves. CEO and Founder Soo-Young Kang, Ph.D., shared the inspiration behind LightWater. In her days as Vice President at Living Proof, Soo-Young traveled around the world and was always on the go. The aha-moment struck when she opened her travel cosmetics bag and noticed that most of the products were three to five years old; as a scientist, she knew their active ingredients had lost all efficacy by then and that in order to last that long, the products were pumped with preservatives which disrupt skin’s microbiome. LightWater was born, and she collaborated with Drs. Rox Anderson and Fernanda Sakamoto to reinvent the industry’s sourcing, formulating, manufacturing, packaging, and delivery standard practices to bring skincare that’s as fresh, pure, and effective as possible!
Industry Standards
The beauty and skincare industry is constantly changing to meet the demands of consumers. Consumers want to feel and look good, but not at the cost of their health or the planet. Typical beauty products are manufactured in large quantities, preserved to last at two to three years, and shipped from production facility to warehouse to distributor to store shelf before they make it to your home. While preservatives function to extend product longevity, they are harmful to the skin, disrupting the skin’s microbiome and irritating and sensitizing the skin. That’s accentuated when layering on multiple products (the average woman uses 16 skincare and cosmetic products daily!) and doing so for years.
Another issue is that while the products may last for years, their active ingredients do not. Efficacy starts to plummet shortly after production, especially when exposed to light, air, and touch. This means that many consumers end up using products that no longer deliver as expected.
Is there a better way?
Fresh Skincare is the Solution
Leading beauty and skincare experts Drs. Soo-Young Kang, PhD, Rox Anderson, MD, and Fernanda Sakamoto, MD, PhD, created LightWater - the paradigm-shifting brand re-imagining the entire skincare model to deliver genuinely fresh skincare that is both as effective and gentle as possible. CEO and founder Soo-Young Kang, PhD, is a bioscientist and personal care product expert with extensive experience in skin biology, genetics, cosmetic science, cosmetic toxicology safety, and cosmetic regulations. Rox Anderson, MD, is known as the aesthetics industry's father and the world’s foremost dermatology expert. He invented laser dermatology, laser hair removal, Cool SculptingTM, Second Skin technology, and many more. Fernanda Sakamoto, MD, PhD, is a renowned innovator and clinical researcher who invented laser acne treatments and methods for tissue grafting, skin resurfacing, tattoo removal, and more. The trio forms the formidable team that’s evolving skincare so that consumers and patients can benefit from scientifically proven, high-quality active ingredients that are freshly made into the purest formulations possible.
LightWater Skin Nutrition’s Uniqueness
Beauty and wellness come together through LightWater’s fresh approach to skincare. By bridging skincare and health, the brand has found a way to feed our skin with quality, fresh, and pure ingredients. Just as our body deserves fresh food, our face deserves fresh nutrition - vitamins, antioxidants, barrier-strengtheners, and moisturizers applied directly to the skin. The formulas are pure and free of preservatives, fragrances, silicones, phthalates, sulfates, PEGs, and many other harmful irritants and allergens that can disrupt the skin’s microbiome, stress to the delicate skin, or result in skin irritation and sensitization.
LightWater takes clean beauty to the next level by completely eliminating preservatives while maintaining product integrity. Their patent-pending formulations are ultra-pure, utilizing only skin-loving ingredients and carefully screening each ingredient for residuals, such as allergens, fragrances, silicones, PEG, phthalates, sulfates, and more. Even the water they use is cleaner and higher quality than the industry standard deionized water. It delivers clinically-proven active ingredients free of harmful or concerning chemicals packaged into sustainable and recyclable daily doses. From source to the skin, LightWater promises skin nutrition that is freshly made and packaged in fresh-lock daily doses for optimal efficacy with every single application.
The philosophy behind the brand’s name reflects the respect for our bodies’ innate intelligence. Drawing inspiration from light and water, which are fundamental for all living things and support the evolution and natural cycle of life, LightWater provides fresh nutrient-dense skincare to best support skin’s biological functions and the rebirth of naturally healthy skin.
Making an Impact
The LightWater team aims to positively impact people and the planet through their actions. One area that needs extra attention is the 35 million tons of plastic waste generated annually in the US alone. LightWater’s unique flexible packaging utilizes 35% to 75% less material than rigid packages like traditional jars and bottles, reducing resources and carbon footprint. While their pouches are compostable, with 60% breaking down in just twelve weeks and the remainder oxo-degrades. Additionally, their small and frequent batches that satisfy only upcoming demand reduce beauty product waste.
Beyond their thoughtful approach to sustainable packaging, LightWater prides itself on being cruelty-free and 100% vegan, not using any animal-derived ingredients.
LightWater’s products will already help those struggling with skin issues access high-quality, effective skincare. An astounding 70% of the population consider themselves to possess the characteristics of sensitive skin, and this number has grown considerably over the last few decades! Because their formulas are so clean and pure, they are safe and gentle, hypoallergenic, pH- and microbiome-friendly, and dermatologist-approved, even for super-sensitive or baby skin.
LightWater has also partnered with Daily Table, a non-profit grocery chain in the Boston area, to extend its positive impact. Both organizations aim to make fresh, healthy nourishment accessible to everyone. People can also donate directly to Daily Table via www.lightwaterskin.com. Every dollar provides 6.5 nutritional servings to families in need.
LightWater strives to positively impact people and the planet while nourishing skin with the freshest ingredients. Every step of the business works towards aligning its development with the values of a planet-friendly company.
