I recently went to a local Winter Market at Craft Central in E14, where I met SUK Han Lee, founder of SUK, a Wellness skincare brand using organic + 100% natural plant-based botanical ingredients for her skincare products which are part of her lifestyle range. Later I met her for a coffee to talk more about her new skincare brand.
WHAT IS SUK.SKIN?
SUK is a London based fashion print designer who founded her Sustainable Wellness Project initially with SUK.fashion. After completing an MA in Womenswear from the Royal College of Art SUK explored design ideas using natural, 100% bamboo and organic cotton, recycled post-consumer waste fibre such as water bottles (PET), sourced in Asia, and upcycled print off cuts to create fashion and accessory designs which promote quality, uniqueness and zero waste.
WHAT IS THE SUSTAINABLE WELLNESS PROJECT?
SUK’s Sustainable Wellness Project now includes SUK.skin, her beauty self-care skincare range for both for men and women, which is founded on self-care that connects you with beautiful, natural ingredients, and has just had its one-year anniversary.
“SUK.SKIN IS PART OF THE SUSTAINABLE WELLNESS PROJECT WHICH IS NOT JUST ABOUT LOOKING GOOD, IT’S ABOUT WELLBEING AS WELL AND SELF-CARE”.
SUK spent about two years studying for a Diploma in Organic Skincare Formulation + Certificate in Natural Cosmetic Preservation + Certificate in Cosmetic Stability Testing with Formula Botanica to learn how to create botanical formulas, specialising in clean beauty using natural ingredients.
SUK has sensitive skin herself and the turning point was a flare-up of own skin; she wanted to support her own well-being and create formulas for herself and others who have been going through similar problem skin journey, as she believes that unhealthy skin affects wellbeing and good skincare can raise self-esteem and confidence.
WHAT ARE YOUR AGEWELL FORMULA'S?
SUK.skin’s “AgeWell” products are formulated for mature, blemished and sensitive skin types; Suk doesn’t believe that aging is a bad thing – many products on the market today are called “anti-aging”, but Suk feels that we should be embracing aging and wanted her skincare products to help to protect all skin types including mature skin, after all skin is our biggest organ and needs to be protected. SUK.skin formulas are not meant to be a step by step ridged mainstream routine, instead are a range that is adaptable and can be used in different combinations.
Many of SUK.skin formulas use various natural oils and there is a perception that if you have oily skin, you can’t use oil-based skincare products, however this is a common misconception; we know that oily skin tends to be more prone to breakouts, so it seems logical to conclude that face oils for oily skin would worsen those concerns, but Suk says this is not necessarily true because some oils could actually help regulate our natural oil sebum when they contain the right amount of targeted active ingredients within a well-balanced formulas.
ARE ALL YOUR INGREDIENTS ORGANIC?
Many SUK.skin ingredients are organic, for example- shea butter, which comes from Africa, prickly pear seed oil, raspberry seed oil and many of the essential oils that are in SUK.skin formulas.
Not all SUK.skin products are organic however, especially if an ingredient is zero waste, such as tomato seed oil which is extracted by pressing tomato seeds and is a by-product of the tomato processing industry that manufactures tomato juice, sauce and food colours. Tomato seed oil is rich in antioxidants, vitamins and other important nutrients which play an important role in promoting healthy, glowing skin.
Another ingredient in SUK.skin products is natural clay, which is not certified organic, however all clays are generally organic and free from chemical additives which means that they are well-tolerated by the skin and can be used for compromised skin conditions. Clays were formed during the last ice age and is made up of layers of loam that have been formed over the course of several millennia. Clays are naturally rich in minerals and in ancient Egypt, clay was used for antiseptic mud baths. Apparently, Hippocrates, one of the most outstanding figures in the history of medicine, also recommended it for internal use.
WHAT ARE THE BRANDS VALUES?
Simplicity, honesty and transparency are the three pillars of SUK.skin; all ingredients are listed for each product on the website, alongside directions for use. Products come in glass or aluminium containers which are one of most sustainable and environmentally friendly metals on earth, as it can be recycled infinitely to create the exact same product – it’s also reusable + sturdy + stable against moisture sunlight and temperature. SUK.skin is a brand that is trying to be as sustainable as possible and only uses primary packaging, so products don’t come in a box and box sets are posted without additional wrapping using 100% recyclable packaging. Refills aren’t currently available, but this is something that SUK would like to make available in the future.
All products are handmade by SUK in London following the U.K. Cosmetic Regulation and EU COSMETICS Regulations 1223/2009 with Good Manufacturing Practice, (GMP). Only small batches of each product are made at a time to ensure the freshness of all natural products.
CALM YOUR MIND - FACIAL BLUE CREAM
One of the products I tried was the 💚SUK. Calm Your Mind facial blue cream, which SUK made up for my order, so I can vouch for its freshness! Calm Your Mind is a face cream which was recently nominated as a finalist for Best New Natural Face Products at Pure Beauty Global Award 2022.
Calm Your Mind (Blue Cream) also celebrates the amazing colour of its natural ingredients as SUK believes that skincare products don’t need to be white; it is a light multi-tasking moisturiser, soothing and fast absorbing which sinks into your skin quickly without feeling greasy.
It’s also a sensual and calming and looks after your mood and makes you feel grounded and in control. It can be applied either daytime or at night or both and is suitable for all skin types.
KEY INGREDIENTS:
- Mafura Butter Wild crafted – This amazing butter has been used for years for skin softening. Good alternative to Shea butter if you are allergic to it. Mafura butter is rich in essential fatty acids which provide antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties to help healing and nourishing dry cracked skin.
- Tomato Seed Oil – This super zero waste oil is rich in powerful antioxidants, vitamins and minerals which help fight against photoaging and its high content of Linoleic fatty acids helps promote cell regeneration especially blemished and challenging skin.
- Organic Clary Sage Floral Water – This beautiful organic floral water is coming from Provence: Astringent, tonic, purifying, anti-septic & soothing.
- Organic Aloe Vera – This is one of my favourite ingredients which has been use for wounds and burns for centuries. There is some evidence in research that topical use of Aloe Vera might relieve symptoms of skin disorders such as psoriasis, acne, or rashes.
- Gotu Kola extract – This powerful ingredient is well-known for its repairing property which is great for cell regeneration.
- Blue Tansy Oil – This calming, uplifting and calming oil offers antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties.
BLUE BALM CLEANSING BALM
I also tried the 💚SUK. Blue Balm, winner of the Vegan Beauty Award 2022 – I love this product as it’s a multi-tasking vegan balm that can be used as a cleansing balm or a leave-on balm that gently melts onto your skin to protect your skin barrier.
KEY INGREDIENTS:
- Myrica Fruit Wax – This vegan wax is produced through sustainable methods and harvested by local farmers in a process monitored by the Union for Ethical Bio Trade.
- Organic Shea Butter – This organic butter is well known for its excellent moisturising and emollient properties. It contains high levels of Vitamin A and E which help contribute the healing process of the skin.
- Organic Pomegranate Seed Oil – This exceptional plant oil is rich in Omega 5, Omega 6, Omega 9 and antioxidants. It’s anti-inflammatory & nourishing properties help various skin conditions including dry, damaged or even acne-prone skin.
- Organic German Chamomile oil – Chamomile is well known for its soothing & calming properties. This oil is rich in chamazulene which provides soothing & anti-inflammatory action.
SEED YOUR BALANCE FACE + BODY OIL
Another product I tried is the 💚SUK. Seed Your Balance face + body oil, which was also nominated as a finalist for the Free From Skincare Awards 2022 (problem skin category). To qualify the Seed Your Balance oil was sent to a number of testers with skin problems who tried the product for a whole month and rated their skins improvement and increased hydration.
This super nutritious oil blends is specially formulated for people with sensitive skin. No essential oil or fragrance oil is added.
KEY INGREDIENTS:
- Organic Prickly Pear Seed Oil – This precious oil has amazing regenerative and rehydration qualities for the skin. Rich in Omega 3, 6 & 7 with an anti-inflammatory property. It helps restore the impaired function of the lipid barrier.
- Watermelon Seed Oil or Wild Melon Oil – It is recommended for use in mature, irritated, inflamed and allergy-phone skin. Based on high content of Linoleic acid which is the essential fatty acid our body don’t produce, it has anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties.
- Organic Borage Seed Oil – It offers intense skin conditioning without greasy feel. Rich in antioxidants. Its antibacterial quality assists in keeping problem skin clear from further outbreaks. It also encourages the regeneration of skin cells and improves skin tone becoming softer and more pliable.
- Organic Raspberry Seed Oil & Blackcurrant Seed Oil – Both oils are high in Omega 3 & 6 which influence inflammatory process, soothe irritations and reduce redness. Good for sensitive, scaly, atopic-prone, fragile and damaged skin.
- Calendula infused Sunflower Seed Oil – Calendula is an amazing healing plant which conditions and soothes skin. Repair and protect our skin from cuts, ulcers and dermatitis. It is mildly antiseptic.
GIFT BOX SETS + MINI TRAVEL SETS
Other products worth trying are the Gift Sets or Mini Travels sets which are perfect for taking on holiday!
- Cleansing Duo Gift Box Set includes SUK. Blue Balm + SUK. Powder Cleanser * For evening double cleansers If you are into ‘double cleanse’ in the evening, you may use the Blue Balm first to get rid of extra sebum (over-produced natural skin oil), oil-based makeup & sunscreen. Then use the Powder Cleanser to gently cleanse & exfoliate to get rid of dead skin to keep skin pores healthy.
- Sensitive Minds Gift Box Set includes SUK. Blue Balm 30ml + Seed Your Balance 30ml
- Blemishing Twins Gift Box Set contains SUK. Rose Your Senses – Emulsion Serum 30ml SUK. Facial Oil 30ml
- Mini Travel Set includes SUK. Powder Cleanser MINI – Cleansing + gentle exfoliating + nourishing in one bottle. SUK. Facial Oil MINI + SUK. Seed Your Balance MINI
- Mini Travel Set includes SUK. Calm Your Mind + SUK. Powder Cleanser MINI – Cleansing + gentle exfoliating + nourishing in one bottle + SUK. Calm Your Mind MINI
If you are interested in trying out these amazing skincare products, then visit SUK’s website at www.sukhanlee.com or https://suk.boutir.com/
You can also find SUK at the Lunar New Year @ London near Angel, from 14th -15th January 2023. This is a community-based event for celebrating the New Year of Rabbit 2023!
Instagram @suk_sukhanlee / @suk_designstudio
