Mae Ng, a beauty and skincare enthusiast, launches Lemeur, an all-natural brand consisting of cleanser, toner, face serum, acne treatment gel and face cream designed to cleanse and nourish people’s skin in the new normal.
Gone are the days when beauty was equated to vanity. In a global pandemic where the impact on emotional and mental health continues to manifest physically, beauty habits have become the new coping mechanism. Living in a state of constant distress has kept people on the edge, driving them more restless and pressured than usual, as they prioritize everything else but themselves. Disconnecting every so often from the world and finding your own pace by nourishing your skin is the key to strike a balance in the new normal.
Our modern times have evolved from attaching beauty to narcissism and redefining it into an empowering statement of self-love. In today’s society, skincare prevails as one of the most practiced forms of self-care. More than its primary function of treating skin concerns, skincare also serves as a means to destress and as a leisurely personal time that gives a sense of fulfillment.
Whether you stick to a skincare routine religiously or squeeze it into your busy schedule, there’s no greater investment than investing in one’s self. Mae Ng, a 26-year-old entrepreneur and founder of newly launched skincare brand Lemeur, lives by that philosophy as she pioneers an all-natural skincare solution during these unprecedented times.
From jetsetter to trailblazer
Mae recalls that the business idea for Lemeur struck her during her frequent travels to France, pre-pandemic. “Beauty and skincare have always been my interest,” she says. “My friends know how much I hoard and invest in skincare, especially when I’m traveling. That’s always the first order of business. Skincare, for me, is life.”
A certified skincare enthusiast, Mae has been traveling back and forth to France from 2017 to 2019, and was captivated by the intricate artistry involved in French skincare. On a quest to deliver revolutionary skincare results, she immersed herself in the experience and collaborated with French doctors and researchers to bring her vision to life.
Navigating innovation in the New Normal
Transitioning to a business in the new normal takes guts as much as it takes grit. “We faced so many challenges such as shipment delays, ingredients trial and packaging redo. I must say that patience is really a virtue when building your own brand,” Mae shares.
A rediscovered passion turned goal birthed during the pandemic, Lemeur is the product of Mae’s headstrong belief and determination in building a brand from the ground up—a brand of skincare solutions resulting from her actual experiences and struggles to maintain beautiful, healthy skin.
“I was really insecure about my skin when I started experiencing acne when I was a teenager. There was this time that I didn’t really want to show myself to people,” she recalls.
In a competitive market where instantaneous results are glorified, venturing into the saturated beauty industry is a gamble. Mae continues, “especially in the midst of the pandemic when everyone is conservative with their expenses. You must really help them and make the hard-earned money consumers spend worth it.”
And what’s a better testament to this than Lemeur users themselves? Since its release this February, the brand’s pristine pink and white porcelain packaging has been gracing the social media feeds of beauty influencers. Content creators from distinct niches have been intrigued by the nature-centric science of Lemeur, catapulting its digital presence into an ever-growing community of skincare fans. These influencers are clear on what they rave most about this new wave of skincare— all-natural, cruelty-free and vegan. What’s more, the results from using them speak for themselves.
Self-care habits made easy
With deadlines piling up every day, who really has the time for a 10-step skincare routine? In an era of beauty where complicated skincare routines have become the norm, Lemeur is a breath of fresh air.
A modern, minimalist take on what used to be a tedious process, Lemeur narrows it down to five essential products: Lemeur Gentle Cleanser, Lemeur Clarifying Toner, Lemeur Face Serum, Lemeur Acne Treatment Gel and Lemeur Face Cream. Formulated with science and nature-derived ingredients, this French-made skincare line is the first of its kind in the Philippines to transform skincare routines into effortless self-care habits.
Often overlooked is the most basic yet fundamental part of any skincare regime—cleansers. As your skin’s first line of defense from external aggressors, Lemeur Gentle Cleanser thoroughly washes off makeup and sweat without interrupting your skin’s natural pH balance. Its anti-aging components and milky consistency gently purify the skin, leaving it with no trace of dirt and excess oil. To condition the skin after a shower, Lemeur Clarifying Toner’s no-sting, hydrating boost is an easy pick. It restores your skin’s natural pH level and stimulates the production of collagen to shrink enlarged pores.
Backing these up for added nourishment, the Lemeur Face Serum goes beyond the call of duty in penetrating deep layers of the skin to plumpen, smoothen and hydrate. Instilled with hyaluronic acid and ceramides, this lightweight and non-sticky serum strengthens the skin’s barrier to reveal a refreshed, youthful complexion. When it comes to recurring blemishes, the Lemeur Acne Treatment Gel is an all-around relief for unclogging pores, refining skin texture and soothing inflamed areas with its antimicrobial properties. To lock in all these potent natural goodness, top it off with the Lemeur Face Cream to smoothen features, retain suppleness and repair dehydrated skin.
Newest addition to Lemeur products is the Advanced Sunscreen SPF50 PA++++ with Anti-Aging, that was just launch last July 11. A French-style water-resistant tinted sunscreen, it offers broad-spectrum SPF 50 protection that applies weightlessly to skin.
Besides protecting the skin against damaging ultraviolet A and UVB rays, it also contains anti-aging components that prevent your skin from aging.
Nature’s best, no Less
Lemeur prides itself in being vegan, paraben-free, hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested for all skin types. In the skincare industry where the subject of animal testing remains controversial, Lemeur is firm in its commitment to sustain cruelty-free practices and ethically sourced ingredients.
“I chose all-natural derived ingredients for my own products because I personally believe that anything too strong or severe [of a] formulation can lead to harmful effects on our skin,” Mae reasons.
Behind Lemeur’s posh, eco-friendly packaging lies its world-class ingredient list that’s just as worthy of recognition. The beauty genetics of Lemeur is made up of AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) and BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid), two chemical exfoliators, which are proven to be efficient in sloughing off the old surface of the skin and generating a more luminous complexion underneath. And their edge? Lemeur’s signature seven natural plant extracts, enriched with Glutathione and Vitamin C.
The best of both worlds
Juggling the demands of a fairly new skincare line while fully living her life is no easy feat. So how does one find harmony between letting her hair down and rolling up her sleeves? “What I do to at least cope up is I try to exercise at least five times a week whether it’s yoga, cardio, or pilates at home. At the same time, I always look after my eating habits, making sure I eat healthy food every day,” she shares.
“I believe that to have a balanced life, taking care and loving ourselves is really important,” she continues. “Because if we love or care for something, we want the best for it.”
Mae’s journey reminds us that when we shift our focus and invest in ourselves, we can create our own silver linings. The new normal may have posed challenges that seemed insurmountable, but when you have an entrepreneurial spirit driven by purpose, you eventually manage to defy the odds and enable beauty to rise from the ashes.
