Latest / Skin Anarchy / Crafting a Cult Beauty Brand in the Age of Social Media Influence with SACHEU Beauty Founder Sarah Cheung
Transcript
- 0:00SPEAKER_00: Hey guys, welcome back to another episode of Senior Anarchy.
- 0:03SPEAKER_00: This is your vote Secta and I am so so excited about the brand I'm gonna introduce you guys to today because I have been really loving it and not just like one or two products literally across the board.
- 0:14SPEAKER_00: The entire line is you know a huge home run.
- 0:17SPEAKER_00: So you know without further ado, I want to introduce you guys to the founder of Sucho Beauty, Sarah Chung.
- 0:23SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the show, Sarah.
- 0:24SPEAKER_00: I'm so excited to host you.
- 0:25SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
- 0:26SPEAKER_00: Thank you for having me.
- 0:27SPEAKER_00: Yeah, no, it's really exciting because I rarely get excited these days about beauty brands, but yours is just amazing.
- 0:33SPEAKER_00: I really love it.
- 0:34SPEAKER_00: And I I love all of the you know products in the line, the skincare stuff, the beauty stuff.
- 0:38SPEAKER_00: It's all just like huge check marks going off.
- 0:41SPEAKER_00: Like, yes, I love it, you know.
- 0:42SPEAKER_00: So I can't wait to learn about that, but I want to learn about you first.
- 0:45SPEAKER_00: Like, what got you into beauty and wanting to start your own line if you could walk us down memory lane?
- 0:50SPEAKER_00: Sure.
- 0:51SPEAKER_01: How far back can I go?
- 0:54SPEAKER_00: Start at birth.
- 0:55SPEAKER_00: It's a good place.
- 0:56SPEAKER_00: I'll just start from the beginning.
- 0:57SPEAKER_01: So growing up, I was a huge tomboy, and I remember when I was 15, 16, and I went to Mac and bought my first eyeliner and put it on.
- 1:08SPEAKER_01: And I felt like my life changed.
- 1:10SPEAKER_01: And ever since then, I've been obsessed with makeup products, beauty products.
- 1:13SPEAKER_01: And creating content around makeup started around when I was in college.
- 1:18SPEAKER_01: And that's because I started to try out more and more products, and I realized a lot of products weren't living up to their claims and being so frustrated, spending my very limited college budget on all these products that didn't actually do what it claimed to do made me want to do reviews so I can steer people in the right direction.
- 1:35SPEAKER_01: And maybe they won't make the same mistakes that I did.
- 1:37SPEAKER_01: And I started doing my own research and really educating myself on makeup, on skincare.
- 1:43SPEAKER_01: And that's really how it all started.
- 1:45SPEAKER_01: And I started making YouTube videos about makeup and skincare, and that now expanded to TikTok and Instagram and all that, and then started Satchy Beauty in 2020 and the rest is history.
- 1:57SPEAKER_00: That's amazing.
- 1:57SPEAKER_00: No, you know what's funny is I think we have a lot in common with how we started our respective endeavors because that's really where I think essay started for me too was this complete like annoyance with how much money we spend on products that don't work.
- 2:10SPEAKER_00: Like it's just crazy how much stuff is out there, you know what I mean?
- 2:13SPEAKER_00: Like, especially I relate, you know, being a color student, it's already hard and trying to get what works for you.
- 2:18SPEAKER_00: I mean, it's the battle, you know.
- 2:20SPEAKER_00: So it makes sense.
- 2:21SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
- 2:21SPEAKER_01: I'm always like the focus of my content has always been around finding people the best products outside of the marketing and branding and all of that, just the best products for the best price.
- 2:34SPEAKER_01: And that's the philosophy I've carried throughout my whole career.
- 2:38SPEAKER_00: No, it makes sense, and I think your products really reflect that.
- 2:41SPEAKER_00: And that's kind of where I want to I want to learn more from you about, you know, well, let's start with the lip liners, which are really my favorite.
- 2:48SPEAKER_00: I mean, forever listening, I don't know if you guys have checked out Sachshow yet, but you guys have to check out the lip products because they're game-changing, especially if you're someone who's busy.
- 2:57SPEAKER_00: So, you know, Sarah, I want you to tell me like what was the story behind this product?
- 3:00SPEAKER_00: What made you want to create like a lip stain type of lip liner?
- 3:04SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
- 3:04SPEAKER_01: Well, again, starting all the way back from the beginning, you know, I was part of the kind of Kylie Jenner wave where everybody started wearing lip liners.
- 3:13SPEAKER_01: Before that, I didn't know anything about lip liners, but ever since the 2016 wave of lip liners, I started wearing it almost every day.
- 3:22SPEAKER_01: And my biggest frustration with it is how often it comes off.
- 3:26SPEAKER_01: Maybe because we're eating and talking all day, but it just comes off so often that's the first thing girls touch up in the girls' bathroom.
- 3:33SPEAKER_01: So I just I've always been looking for a good solution for it.
- 3:37SPEAKER_01: And, you know, the same story.
- 3:38SPEAKER_01: I keep buying new long-wearing lip liners over and over from different brands, different shades, tried putting setting powder on my lip liner, and none of it really worked.
- 3:49SPEAKER_01: So I started experimenting with products that I already had.
- 3:53SPEAKER_01: So I had this Maybelline brow tint in my drawer and I put it on, and it actually stayed on as a lip liner all day.
- 4:01SPEAKER_01: And I remember running to my boyfriend, I was like, I just came up with the best idea ever.
- 4:06SPEAKER_01: I was so excited.
- 4:08SPEAKER_01: And I immediately talked to the team and I'm like, we need to make something like that specifically as a lip liner.
- 4:14SPEAKER_01: Because you know, I products aren't always lip safe, but I just like to use myself as a guinea pig for stuff like that.
- 4:20SPEAKER_01: But I wanted to create a product that's a a lip liner that actually stays on all day.
- 4:26SPEAKER_01: And we got to work and launched it, and the I think the fact that it went so viral so fast is because everyone had the same problem as me.
- 4:35SPEAKER_01: And I'm so glad that even though it it does look fun to do, it actually also works.
- 4:40SPEAKER_01: So that's the story of the lip liner stage.
- 4:43SPEAKER_00: I love it.
- 4:43SPEAKER_00: I really love this product, and you know, I see why it went viral.
- 4:47SPEAKER_00: Not only it because we have it in common, but because it's a genuinely amazing product.
- 4:51SPEAKER_00: Like I remember when I first tried it, I remember opening the box and I was like, oh, this is actually brilliant.
- 4:55SPEAKER_00: Like before I had even applied it.
- 4:57SPEAKER_00: And then I actually like tested it and I was like, oh my God.
- 5:00SPEAKER_00: And I'm somebody who never wears lipstick or lip liner, you know what I mean?
- 5:04SPEAKER_00: Because of exactly what you said, which is it doesn't last, you know, like it's literally something you have to touch up through the day, is constantly worrying about my lipstick, you know.
- 5:13SPEAKER_00: And the few times I I would wear lipstick, it was like, oh god, like is it off?
- 5:16SPEAKER_00: Like, because it ruins my whole look too.
- 5:18SPEAKER_00: That's another thing for me with makeup.
- 5:20SPEAKER_00: It's like, you know, if it comes together, it looks great in the mirror when you put it on.
- 5:24SPEAKER_00: But then if your lipstick comes off during the day, you just look like you're walking around with a full beat and no lipstick.
- 5:29SPEAKER_00: So you know, yeah, I mean it really works.
- 5:32SPEAKER_00: And I think it's interesting what you mentioned about, you know, the whole wave when Kylie came out with her lip kits.
- 5:38SPEAKER_00: I remember that.
- 5:38SPEAKER_00: And I at that time, I think lip liners finally got their time in the spotlight again.
- 5:44SPEAKER_00: I feel like since Mac days, you know, and it was like interesting to see how much we gravitated because we all want a great lip liner.
- 5:51SPEAKER_00: I can't remember the last time where, you know, I felt like, okay, you know, my lip liner is something that's universal, I can use it with every shade.
- 5:59SPEAKER_00: But that's exactly what I discovered in yours, you know, is like I I use the same shade every time and I could put like a gloss over it, I could put a lipstick over it, and it's just so it it really transforms your routine.
- 6:11SPEAKER_00: So yeah, huge fan.
- 6:12SPEAKER_01: Yeah, absolutely.
- 6:13SPEAKER_01: And I have the exact same problem.
- 6:16SPEAKER_01: I feel like if my lip liner is off, my whole look changes because the lip is such a big crucial part of your everyday makeup.
- 6:23SPEAKER_01: And I just don't even have to check the mirror as much anymore.
- 6:26SPEAKER_01: Not just even touching them.
- 6:27SPEAKER_01: I don't have to check, I know it's on.
- 6:29SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's really, really cool.
- 6:30SPEAKER_00: And you know, another thing is like I wanted to ask you because I love the lip liner.
- 6:34SPEAKER_00: I was like, are you gonna do an eyeliner?
- 6:35SPEAKER_00: Because you need to you need to make an eyeliner for us like this, because I have the same issue with eyeliner.
- 6:41SPEAKER_01: I can't spill that much about future product development, but yeah, yeah, you know, a lot of things are in the word.
- 6:48SPEAKER_00: Yeah, maybe, maybe.
- 6:49SPEAKER_00: Okay, well, that's good.
- 6:51SPEAKER_00: I'll take it, you know, because I I really think this is you're on to something here, you know.
- 6:54SPEAKER_00: I think like when I was growing up, permanent makeup was this huge thing.
- 6:58SPEAKER_00: Like, you know, all my friends, I remember coming out of like high school, and my friends were like, Yeah, you know, I'm gonna go get like my eyeliner tattooed on.
- 7:06SPEAKER_00: And I was like, Oh god, like it's brilliant as it sounds about having, you know, like your makeup, like your lip liner or something tattooed on, and you never have to worry about it again.
- 7:14SPEAKER_00: It's still it was scary back then, but it's like, you know, this is the first time where I felt like wow, okay, here's a real solution to that, because we were doing extreme things back in the day, you know, to try to get that forever makeup look.
- 7:26SPEAKER_00: So yeah, I I like what you've done.
- 7:28SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
- 7:29SPEAKER_01: And yeah, women are so busy.
- 7:31SPEAKER_01: We have so much to get through in the day that I just, you know, if I can take one thing off their plate, you know, that's really the goal of this product and with really everything we're doing.
- 7:41SPEAKER_01: And it's interesting you said that about the eyeliner.
- 7:44SPEAKER_01: Cause for me, I think what the lip liner stain replaced for me is getting lip filler.
- 7:48SPEAKER_01: Because I I used to get lip filler like not that frequently, but sometimes, enough times.
- 7:54SPEAKER_01: And I haven't gone back at all since we developed the lip liner stain because it's like I don't have to take the risk, I don't have to pay the cost, and I don't have to commit to it.
- 8:03SPEAKER_01: It's something I can just put on and take off.
- 8:05SPEAKER_01: So just overlining with the lip liner stain makes such a huge difference with my makeup look.
- 8:10SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
- 8:11SPEAKER_00: No, I completely resonate with that.
- 8:12SPEAKER_00: And you know, on that note though, I want to I actually want to touch on a few other products because I think for me also, I mean, you've done a few things for me.
- 8:20SPEAKER_00: I'm not gonna lie.
- 8:20SPEAKER_00: You've kind of opened my my world up with your brand.
- 8:23SPEAKER_00: That's why when I introduced it, I was like, I literally love everything, you know, every product, because the other product I love, and I it's been a game changer for me talking about skincare, right?
- 8:34SPEAKER_00: On our skincare podcast, is the oil and the gouacia.
- 8:37SPEAKER_00: I mean, this is like revolutionary for me, Sarah, because I have never properly done gouacia.
- 8:43SPEAKER_00: Like, I'm not gonna lie to you, I've never before I started using your products, I had never really truly experienced, I feel like, what real gasha can do, like properly doing it for your skin and your overall like puffiness in your face.
- 8:55SPEAKER_00: But then when I was using your products, it made it so much easier for me to do gouacia.
- 9:00SPEAKER_00: Like the oil is amazing, like it goes on, it's a serum oil for everyone listening, and it goes on so perfectly because when you put the gouacha over it, it's almost like it glides, like it's like you're not even trying to do it, it just like goes in the direction it's supposed to go or something.
- 9:15SPEAKER_00: So, you know, just the ease of use is something I really wanted to pick your brain about.
- 9:19SPEAKER_00: It was like, where did you come up with this idea?
- 9:21SPEAKER_00: And like, what was the thought that went behind this set of products?
- 9:25SPEAKER_00: Because I feel like you've created like literally the best guacha system that we have right now on the market, from what I've seen.
- 9:31SPEAKER_01: Well, thank you so much again.
- 9:33SPEAKER_01: Yeah, the gasha.
- 9:34SPEAKER_01: Well, when we first started developing it, jade gasha and jade rollers was kind of having its moment in the US markets.
- 9:41SPEAKER_01: And the way that it was being marketed was so odd to me as someone who actually grew up in Hong Kong and have used rollers since I was really a kid.
- 9:51SPEAKER_01: It was my first beauty product.
- 9:54SPEAKER_01: But the way that it was being marketed was like, oh, jade is this new magical, mystical thing that can brighten your skin magically.
- 10:01SPEAKER_01: And I'm like, it's it's not magic.
- 10:04SPEAKER_01: There is, you know, science behind it.
- 10:06SPEAKER_01: And it it's like it's been used in traditional Chinese medicine for so long.
- 10:10SPEAKER_01: And none of the education came with the marketing of the tool, which was so odd to me.
- 10:16SPEAKER_01: And I thought that, you know, we can just create one that is, first of all, more sustainable.
- 10:22SPEAKER_01: So we'll make it with stainless steel and it's non-porous.
- 10:25SPEAKER_01: So jade and rose cords are natural stones, and inevitably it's gonna have, you know, little tiny holes in it that could trap bacteria.
- 10:33SPEAKER_01: So we wanted to make it, you know, make more sense in terms of hygiene in your daily routine.
- 10:37SPEAKER_01: We don't want people dragging it all over their skin and spreading bacteria on their skin.
- 10:42SPEAKER_01: And we also wanted to make sure that people are using it with a slip agent because if you are just dragging it on dry skin, you actually could break down your collagen over time physically, manually.
- 10:53SPEAKER_01: So having a slip agent was something that we started developing as soon as we had the guacha idea, because that's necessary when it comes to guasha practice.
- 11:02SPEAKER_01: And we also have a QR code on our packaging that leads you to a tutorial on how to use the because the education piece is so important.
- 11:10SPEAKER_01: It's not just some oriental magical thing that just helps your skin.
- 11:15SPEAKER_01: There's a reason why it helps.
- 11:16SPEAKER_01: There's a science to how lymphatic drainage works, if drainage works, and there's a science behind why it actually brightens your skin and why coolness can help with puffiness.
- 11:26SPEAKER_01: Like even dermatologists in the West talk about ice rolling on their skin.
- 11:30SPEAKER_01: So it's there's a reason why it works.
- 11:32SPEAKER_01: And we just wanted to make sure that is a very critical component of our product development and how it's delivered to customers, basically.
- 11:41SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and I think you've really nailed it.
- 11:43SPEAKER_00: I mean, honestly, like I know the serum, the way it's crafted is for a very specific reason.
- 11:47SPEAKER_00: But I mean, even that serum and that oil, it leaves your skin feeling like literally like baby skin.
- 11:54SPEAKER_00: Like it's so nourishing, I feel like, for your skin.
- 11:57SPEAKER_00: Because even after I'm done with my routine, you know, I I've used the gouache, I've gone through the motion of actually, you know, properly doing it.
- 12:04SPEAKER_00: I feel like my skin just feels so much better, you know, even better than a lot of, I mean, you know, I love skincare, right?
- 12:10SPEAKER_00: So I have like a million products that I've tried and I always look for that feeling, you know, of like whatever makes my skin feel like it's smoother.
- 12:18SPEAKER_00: And that's like it really transformed the way my skin felt.
- 12:22SPEAKER_00: So I was like, it's not only that you've created, like, you know, another gouache tool or something like that, you know, it's like you've really made it with, I can tell a lot of thought went into this because every single component, you know, it's gonna leave you feeling like you've done something wonderful for your skin, you know, and you've really made a difference in how your skin is feeling, looking, you know, how it's gonna look the next day.
- 12:45SPEAKER_00: Like I've seen all of these changes, you know, just by incorporating it into my routine.
- 12:48SPEAKER_00: So that's why I asked you like, it's sorcery.
- 12:51SPEAKER_01: What have you done here?
- 12:52SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
- 12:52SPEAKER_01: Well, flick skin is really such a superstar product because you can use it for so many things.
- 12:58SPEAKER_01: It's silicone based.
- 12:59SPEAKER_01: That's probably why it glides so well and you feel that suppleness when you apply it because it's silicone based, so it's like a permeable barrier.
- 13:06SPEAKER_01: It can help trap moisture in your skin.
- 13:08SPEAKER_01: It's a little thicker than most serums, I would say, on the market.
- 13:11SPEAKER_01: Like the hyaluronic acids, vitamin C's that I usually come across are very they're water-based and they're very thin.
- 13:18SPEAKER_01: Ours is a little thicker for a reason because we want to make sure it stays on top of your skin during the duration of your gua sha massage or any type of facial massage to make sure you're, you know, it's not dry in the middle of it and you start tugging at your skin.
- 13:31SPEAKER_01: It also has lexitin and fatty acids and squalane, all the components that can really nourish your skin barrier.
- 13:38SPEAKER_01: So, and and it's also fragrance-free and alcohol-free.
- 13:41SPEAKER_01: So, I personally have sensitive skin and I want to make sure even people with the most sensitive skin can use it with no issue.
- 13:47SPEAKER_01: So, yeah, it really does everything.
- 13:49SPEAKER_01: And also because it's silicone-based, I actually use it a lot as my makeup primer because most foundations are silicone-based.
- 13:56SPEAKER_01: So it have that kind of interruption between different, you know, oil and water and whatnot.
- 14:01SPEAKER_01: So it's really, you can use it for so many things.
- 14:04SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I mean, it's really, really wonderful.
- 14:06SPEAKER_00: And that makes sense actually, what you said about the silicone because it does.
- 14:10SPEAKER_00: It I mean, it's obviously a great experience with the actual tool itself.
- 14:13SPEAKER_00: But yeah, I mean, even afterwards, your makeup does go on very seamlessly when you use it as just a serum.
- 14:19SPEAKER_00: Like, even and you don't need a lot.
- 14:20SPEAKER_00: That's another thing.
- 14:21SPEAKER_00: You don't need a ton of it.
- 14:22SPEAKER_00: I think the formula is just very, you know, beautifully crafted because I can use a little bit of it and I can do my goua sha, and enough is staying on to where if I do want to put on my makeup, you know, or do something else, like it's it's there as like a primer.
- 14:34SPEAKER_00: So it does stay on and it it's enough to last you, is my point.
- 14:38SPEAKER_00: You don't have to keep reapplying it, you know, just to do different things.
- 14:41SPEAKER_00: But very, very cool.
- 14:42SPEAKER_00: And I think the innovation definitely shows, you know, in the product itself.
- 14:46SPEAKER_00: So I'm a huge fan of that product.
- 14:48SPEAKER_00: I'm so glad.
- 14:49SPEAKER_00: So I want to actually discuss, you know, since we're on to the topic of gouache, I want to talk about because you also have a body version, right?
- 14:55SPEAKER_00: For the body gouacia.
- 14:57SPEAKER_00: And I guess like my question is really, how has this been?
- 15:00SPEAKER_00: Because you mentioned you grew up in Hong Kong, and you know, I really I admire when brands incorporate culture into their products.
- 15:07SPEAKER_00: You know, I I admire when they bring real knowledge that is it stems from the culture that they grew up in, right?
- 15:13SPEAKER_00: The founders, and they bring that into their products.
- 15:15SPEAKER_00: And I would love to get your take on this.
- 15:18SPEAKER_00: You know, how has your like your upbringing and you were raised there and you've seen like a different side, I think, right, to skincare.
- 15:25SPEAKER_00: I mean, in the in the west, I feel like we have even just a little fraction of what's available in the east.
- 15:30SPEAKER_00: So, like, how was that when you were formulating your brand?
- 15:33SPEAKER_00: You know, bringing over this knowledge and this culture aspect and putting that into your products.
- 15:39SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
- 15:39SPEAKER_01: Well, it's very interesting because when I was younger, getting a gua should that's just something that's common practice a lot of traditional Chinese medicine offices.
- 15:49SPEAKER_01: Like you just go in, that's something that they do for.
- 15:52SPEAKER_01: Even if you have a cough, even if it's like something that people in the West typically treat with medicine, a gua is something that is so incorporated into your general wellness, you would get Chinese herbs and then you would get a gua sha massage.
- 16:05SPEAKER_01: So it's interesting to see it really finally picking up a little bit in the US once it entered the world of beauty.
- 16:12SPEAKER_01: Once people started using it for beauty purposes, that's when people started to take notice.
- 16:17SPEAKER_01: So we kind of did it in reverse.
- 16:19SPEAKER_01: We launched the face guasha for the face first for beauty, and then we did the body guasha, which is more for general wellness and for beauty, but more for general wellness.
- 16:27SPEAKER_01: So, yeah, the it's it's very interesting that people didn't take notice until we entered the beauty space.
- 16:33SPEAKER_01: But I'm really glad that people are taking care of their skin and taking care of their body with the guasha more now because there's new science in the states and and in the West that's really confirming a lot of things that we've been saying that's beneficial about the gua sha.
- 16:48SPEAKER_01: It can help with, you know, what's it called in English?
- 16:52SPEAKER_01: It's like blood circulation.
- 16:54SPEAKER_01: A lot of this I learned in Chinese.
- 16:56SPEAKER_01: So sometimes it's hard for me to translate, but it helps a lot with circulation.
- 17:00SPEAKER_01: And basically, that blood flow helps with oxygenizing all of the organs in your body.
- 17:05SPEAKER_01: And that's why your skin looks a lot better afterwards.
- 17:08SPEAKER_01: That's why washing your skin, even though you get a little bit of redness at first, it generally helps with kind of getting that glow that a lot of people say they get after a gua shop.
- 17:16SPEAKER_01: And that's because of skin cell rejuvenation and just cell rejuvenation in general.
- 17:22SPEAKER_01: And the gasha massage helps with that on the body and on the face.
- 17:26SPEAKER_01: And I'm glad that that is finally kind of getting more attention in the West because there's so much that I think we neglect on a day-to-day basis with our wellness and self-care.
- 17:36SPEAKER_01: And it's not until we get in some type of illness that we start to take notice and treat it with medicine when this is something that we should take care of every single day.
- 17:44SPEAKER_00: Yeah, no, I love that you said that.
- 17:46SPEAKER_00: And I know what you mean, like it's hard to translate, but at the same time, I know what you mean because I'm Indian and I I've seen a lot of these, like, you know, old, like kind of people call them like, you know, ancient remedies, right?
- 17:57SPEAKER_00: But they're really very accurate and so much like in terms of like modern medicine, and we're just now seeing that in the medical space, is that, you know, although like, you know, gas has been around for a long time, you're absolutely right in what you said because, you know, when it comes to like the body circulation, and even when you talk talk about like the lymph drainage in the entire body, right?
- 18:17SPEAKER_00: There's a valvular system that's there in place in most arteries and veins and stuff.
- 18:22SPEAKER_00: Like the lymph vessels don't have that, so they require pressure.
- 18:25SPEAKER_00: They require either manual pressure or they require pressure that comes from your muscles when you're like contracting your muscles, and all of that really plays a role, not only in moving the lymph, but also helping you fight your body fight infection better.
- 18:38SPEAKER_00: That's another thing.
- 18:39SPEAKER_00: I I don't think anyone discusses this.
- 18:41SPEAKER_00: And, you know, when especially in the topic of like body gasha, it's something that we really need to focus on, I think, as an industry, because there's a lot of value in, you know, I I think I hear people say things, for example, all the time, like, oh, I want to detoxify, you know, I want to go on a detox or do something for my body that's gonna help me, you know, kind of get rid of everything that's bad.
- 19:00SPEAKER_00: And I always like kind of you know roll my eyes when people say that because you can't do that, you know, there's no way to detoxify your liver.
- 19:06SPEAKER_00: But you know what you can do?
- 19:08SPEAKER_00: You can help things like like, you know, move is the whole point.
- 19:11SPEAKER_00: You know, if your body is constantly moving its fluids around, it's going to naturally detox itself.
- 19:16SPEAKER_00: And I feel like guasha is a huge, you know, conversation, like the whole conversation around body gasha is like is a great one to have when it comes to that, because it can actually, I think, in my opinion, from what I've seen and read in the long run, help you fight off infections, make sure you're mobilizing, you know, what needs to be mobilized and getting rid of, you know, the lymph that's already circulating, the fluid that's circulating, and and making sure that your body is constantly, you know, processing what's being turned over.
- 19:44SPEAKER_00: So, you know, that's a long story long, but I agree with you with what I'm trying to say.
- 19:48SPEAKER_01: Oh, totally right.
- 19:49SPEAKER_01: Like the and on the detox conversation, that is your body is detoxing all the time.
- 19:55SPEAKER_01: That is what your body is doing.
- 19:57SPEAKER_01: And what you're doing with the body is just helping your body along in that process, like fighting infections, you know, taking care of your body.
- 20:05SPEAKER_01: That is what your body is naturally gonna do anyway.
- 20:08SPEAKER_01: You don't need a special juice, you don't need anything to detox.
- 20:13SPEAKER_01: You just need to help your body in that process, and that's self-care.
- 20:17SPEAKER_00: Exactly, exactly.
- 20:18SPEAKER_00: I 100% agree with you.
- 20:19SPEAKER_00: Also, like it's just nice to have that as like a ritual in your day, I feel like.
- 20:23SPEAKER_00: I feel like our ancestors, they just took more time, probably because times were different back then, obviously.
- 20:28SPEAKER_00: You know, people had more time to like have a routine, I guess.
- 20:31SPEAKER_00: But like I remember my grandmothers watching them and just how they would carry out their like own self-care routines.
- 20:37SPEAKER_00: And they were very simple things, but they took the time to sit down and have this like more holistic approach to whether it's like rubbing like a turmeric mask all over your body or you know, whatever that might have been for them.
- 20:49SPEAKER_00: It they took the time to make sure it was a full body routine rather than just like, okay, I'm only focused on my face.
- 20:56SPEAKER_00: So I feel like that's also a message that you can really take away here is that, you know, there is a need for more body-based products, you know, whether that's washa or whatever it might be.
- 21:06SPEAKER_00: We need to start thinking in that direction, I think, as a society for overall health.
- 21:09SPEAKER_00: So absolutely.
- 21:10SPEAKER_01: And I I'm guilty of this too, because sometimes I get lazy and I put so much more effort and time into my skincare on my face and not so much on the body.
- 21:21SPEAKER_01: So I understand life gets in the way, but it is something that we should all take time to do.
- 21:26SPEAKER_00: Absolutely, absolutely.
- 21:27SPEAKER_00: Now, I want to shift gears a little bit and ask you because I think right now we're kind of living in the world of social media being behind and feeling a lot of brand growth for a lot of founders.
- 21:37SPEAKER_00: And I want to get your take on this because I know you guys are a huge super hit on TikTok and you've done so well with the social media, you know, presence that you have.
- 21:45SPEAKER_00: And I want to ask you as a founder, you know, how has that been for you building your brand and getting this real, you know, genuine movement behind it, you know, from consumers who really resonate?
- 21:54SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it it's been it's been really humbling that people resonate so much.
- 22:00SPEAKER_01: With our products and even what you said about the lip liner stain and how, like, you know, it went so viral.
- 22:06SPEAKER_01: And I think it's a big part of it is because people needed an answer to that problem of lip liners always coming off.
- 22:15SPEAKER_01: And the same thing with the guasha that also I think did so well because people were looking for an a more sustainable option, an option that is more hygienic than a jade gasha and one that doesn't break because people keep coming up to me and telling me, oh, this is my fourth jade gasha.
- 22:30SPEAKER_01: I'm finally gonna buy yours now because mine is breaking like every month.
- 22:34SPEAKER_01: So I think the fact that we're actually addressing problems that are being raised online, and that's a huge part of the inspiration behind our product development is what are people complaining about in terms of their beauty routine?
- 22:48SPEAKER_01: What are problems that need to be solved?
- 22:49SPEAKER_01: Because so often we see a million of the same products from different brands getting marketed towards you, like here, you need this serum, you need this serum.
- 22:57SPEAKER_01: Like it, and it's exactly the same thing.
- 22:59SPEAKER_01: It's the same ingredient.
- 23:00SPEAKER_01: Like, how many of that same serum do you need to buy from different brands?
- 23:04SPEAKER_01: But you don't get something that actually addresses a real life problem that people are uh proposing online.
- 23:09SPEAKER_01: So that is a big part of our product development.
- 23:12SPEAKER_01: And and we want to use that to fix people's problems.
- 23:16SPEAKER_01: And I think that's why it naturally went so viral.
- 23:18SPEAKER_01: Like we didn't have a huge marketing budget, we didn't have all this money to throw at the biggest influencers.
- 23:23SPEAKER_01: People just naturally wanted to use our products.
- 23:25SPEAKER_01: So I think that really helped is to focus on product first and marketing second.
- 23:30SPEAKER_00: No, I mean it makes sense because I think, I mean, you the products speak for themselves, you know.
- 23:34SPEAKER_00: That was that's really where I think for me it was mind blowing.
- 23:38SPEAKER_00: You know, when I tried your brand, I was like, because a lot of times you see a lot of these brands that come up, right?
- 23:42SPEAKER_00: And they're kind of resting on the laurels of social media, but then you see one product that's good, you know, but you don't see multiple products that are doing great.
- 23:52SPEAKER_00: And and I think that's for me, it made you stand out so much for me as a consumer because I was like, no, like she's really listening to people, you know, and you're really targeting genuine needs.
- 24:03SPEAKER_00: Because again, like, you know, like I said earlier, like guasha was never something that was like on my radar like that, you know.
- 24:09SPEAKER_00: But now I'm addicted to your product.
- 24:11SPEAKER_00: Like I use it literally every other night.
- 24:13SPEAKER_00: It's on my bedside table.
- 24:15SPEAKER_00: Like that to me is making an impact in ever in a person's life when you're able to put your product into their life, you know, to where they feel like, no, I'm gonna put this by my bed, I'm gonna put it somewhere I can grab it easily.
- 24:25SPEAKER_00: And that's where I my question really stemmed from.
- 24:27SPEAKER_00: It's like, yeah, you have a following, but you've built this genuine set of products that actually really are trusted and people are gravitating towards them because they they actually feel a need, you know, like you said.
- 24:39SPEAKER_00: So very cool.
- 24:41SPEAKER_00: I love that.
- 24:41SPEAKER_00: Now, how do you gather feedback from your audience then in terms of like future innovations and stuff?
- 24:47SPEAKER_01: Oh, yeah, we have really a lot of different methods.
- 24:50SPEAKER_01: We always look at comments, like anything that pops out about products that people want to get.
- 24:56SPEAKER_01: Of course, we're gonna screenshot it.
- 24:58SPEAKER_01: We send it in Slack and we start talking about it.
- 25:00SPEAKER_01: We actually have some products that we're developing that came from certain social media comments, of course, also keeping a pulse on what's going on in the beauty industry in general.
- 25:09SPEAKER_01: But we also have a Facebook group where people who are really huge fans of the brand can, you know, give their input as to what products they want or even what shades they want or products that already exist.
- 25:20SPEAKER_01: And we also do surveys with a group of people and we also look at reviews.
- 25:25SPEAKER_01: So we take feedback from really every way we can get it, but we just really want to make sure that our customers feel heard and they feel like what products we come out with is a reflection of their needs.
- 25:38SPEAKER_00: That's interesting.
- 25:39SPEAKER_00: I like that.
- 25:39SPEAKER_00: I mean, I I think that's that's pretty cool because I've I mean, I won't lie, I've left a lot of comments on people's posts before and nobody listens.
- 25:46SPEAKER_00: That's refreshing.
- 25:47SPEAKER_00: That's a breath of fresh air, you know, to hear that that you guys are really tuning into your audience.
- 25:51SPEAKER_00: I mean, I think that's how innovation should be driven, though.
- 25:54SPEAKER_00: You know, it's like true consumer feedback.
- 25:56SPEAKER_00: So that's pretty cool.
- 25:57SPEAKER_00: In terms of like your future vision, though, like where do you see the brand headed?
- 26:00SPEAKER_01: I know you've got probably got some things in the works, but overall, yeah, we we have a couple of things in the works, but I think the impact that we made with the lip liner stain has been so huge that we want to continue down that vein.
- 26:12SPEAKER_01: And we have a couple of complimentary products to the lip liner stain that are coming out.
- 26:17SPEAKER_01: And we also want to keep expanding in this kind of area where it's a little bit more long-lasting than regular makeup, but less long-lasting than let's say permanent tattoos or cosmetic procedures.
- 26:30SPEAKER_01: So kind of playing in that area where people want their makeup to last a lot longer, but not so long that you have to commit to it forever.
- 26:38SPEAKER_01: So we're trying to see what we can do in that space.
- 26:41SPEAKER_01: And that's been really exciting.
- 26:43SPEAKER_00: That's pretty cool.
- 26:44SPEAKER_00: Now, one thing I want to actually get your opinion on is this idea of like the universality of makeup.
- 26:49SPEAKER_00: You know what I mean?
- 26:49SPEAKER_00: Like making it easy for everybody of all ages and ranges to, you know, kind of get behind it.
- 26:54SPEAKER_00: How has that been for you from the formulation aspect, like making sure that your products are speaking to a large audience?
- 27:01SPEAKER_00: Because I really believe that they are.
- 27:03SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
- 27:03SPEAKER_01: Well, I think, well, there there are certain products that are specific to different age groups, but I think a good, you know, eyeliner or lip liner is always going to be good for across the board.
- 27:15SPEAKER_01: So we want to focus on the actual like long wearing, you know, the fact that the lip liner is long wearing, it performs well, the color shows up well, all those things are things that we take into consideration.
- 27:26SPEAKER_01: And it's something that moms can use, students can use.
- 27:30SPEAKER_01: We want to make sure everyone can use those products.
- 27:33SPEAKER_00: Right, right.
- 27:34SPEAKER_00: No, in terms of like marketing though, that's you guys like kind of market towards a specific audience, or do you just say, like, hey, listen, this is what we've created, you know, it works really well.
- 27:43SPEAKER_00: Like, how does that work for your team in terms of marketing it?
- 27:46SPEAKER_01: Well, we have different digital marketing channels, but mostly it's on TikTok.
- 27:50SPEAKER_01: I think as much as people hate on Gen Z's on TikTok and how, you know, the people don't like TikTok, a lot of culture trickles down from young people and their creativity and their content.
- 28:03SPEAKER_01: So at least that's how I like my that the beginning of my journey on social media, I listened to people who are my age group, and I think a lot of them influence what older people do.
- 28:14SPEAKER_01: And I think it's important to listen to what their needs are, and it actually translates really well.
- 28:20SPEAKER_01: Like, I actually we did an Ulta event in LA a month ago, and someone brought their moms.
- 28:26SPEAKER_01: Actually, two people brought their moms to the event.
- 28:28SPEAKER_01: And I think if we can, and and Gen Z's are so smart and they're so educated about their products.
- 28:34SPEAKER_01: So I think if we can get them on board with our brand, then it kind of trickles down from there.
- 28:40SPEAKER_01: But we do most of our marketing on TikTok.
- 28:42SPEAKER_00: That's pretty cool.
- 28:43SPEAKER_00: No, that's cool.
- 28:44SPEAKER_00: That's why I asked, because I feel like whenever I go on TikTok, I always see, you know, Gen Z is awesome, you know, in terms of how engaged they are.
- 28:52SPEAKER_00: I mean, they're really, really engaged in not only like obviously it's it's beauty products, but more so in like the quality.
- 28:58SPEAKER_00: I think that's where I see a lot of like differences because I'm millennial and I know that our generation, we had our long YouTube videos, and you know what I mean?
- 29:06SPEAKER_00: Like I remember sitting for hours trying to figure out if I should buy a foundation or not, you know, and really doing my homework.
- 29:12SPEAKER_00: But it was very hard to get like multiple sources that would give you like just a genuine, like, hey, listen, this really works, you know, like that kind of thing.
- 29:20SPEAKER_00: And I feel like with Gen Z, they're very vocal, you're, you know, in that sense.
- 29:24SPEAKER_00: It's like, okay, yes, you know, this is what works.
- 29:26SPEAKER_00: This is what's really doing it for me.
- 29:28SPEAKER_00: And I and I value that a lot because as a millennial, even I'm looking towards your generation, you know, a lot of times for my own picks and my own recommendations.
- 29:36SPEAKER_00: Because unfortunately, you know, I mean, we just weren't that vocal, I think, millennials.
- 29:41SPEAKER_00: We just we had a few, you know, really great like gurus, I think, on YouTube, but it wasn't a lot, you know, in terms of feedback that we would get.
- 29:48SPEAKER_00: But it's very fascinating to see how makeup is evolving, you know.
- 29:52SPEAKER_01: Yeah, absolutely.
- 29:53SPEAKER_01: And I think it became more democratized.
- 29:56SPEAKER_01: Like you really can't get away with pushing a product that really does not work or it doesn't live up to its claims because there's gonna be another TikTok posted like five minutes later talking about how this product sucks, you know?
- 30:08SPEAKER_01: So you need to make sure the product actually works and everything else, just let the internet take care of it, you know.
- 30:14SPEAKER_00: Yeah, 100%, 100%.
- 30:16SPEAKER_00: And I I think that's it's more genuine to do that too, you know?
- 30:20SPEAKER_00: And and I think that day and age that we live in now, people share information differently as well.
- 30:24SPEAKER_00: So it's like, you know, when I think about a product going viral nowadays, it's not so much like how many views it gets or something, it's more about how many people are actually telling their friends about it because that news gets around a lot faster now, you know, even in even in older circles.
- 30:39SPEAKER_00: And that's why I'd ask you about like, you know, how do you target to like multiple age groups?
- 30:43SPEAKER_00: Because, you know, I've heard about your product like through the grapevines, you know, even through my friends.
- 30:47SPEAKER_00: And so, regardless of the fact that we're here on this interview today, like I've still heard about it.
- 30:51SPEAKER_00: So that's why I'm curious how that whole machine works of how people are getting their information and stuff.
- 30:57SPEAKER_00: So, and I think that speaks very highly towards a brand like yours, because if it's genuine, it's gonna come out.
- 31:02SPEAKER_00: Someone's gonna tell you about it, you're gonna hear about it nowadays, you know, there's so much information out there and so fast.
- 31:08SPEAKER_01: Yeah, well, it's it's still mostly digital, even if it's not TikTok.
- 31:11SPEAKER_01: It we, you know, like I said before, we have a Facebook group, we're on Instagram, so wherever people can find us online, you know, we just let them find us because we, you know, we're still a small brand.
- 31:22SPEAKER_01: We don't have the the budgets of really, really big old brands, but yeah, it we we're just on different social medias for people to find.
- 31:30SPEAKER_00: That's awesome.
- 31:30SPEAKER_00: For running out the interview, I want to ask you for some advice because I know there's a lot of people out there that are like, you know, a lot of people tune in that are either budding entrepreneurs or they're just getting started on their journey, or like some words of wisdom maybe that you could share with anyone out there that's thinking about starting their own thing or they're in the middle of it and things aren't going the way they want, or you know, anything you could share.
- 31:51SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I I think just things are never gonna go the way that you planned it and be ready for any type of adversity.
- 31:58SPEAKER_01: I mean, I I'm from Hong Kong, we're up there, and throughout my path, I had to deal with, you know, immigration and different challenges that were in my way, even learning English.
- 32:08SPEAKER_01: Like neither of my parents spoke English.
- 32:10SPEAKER_01: So having to overcome all those things, I think, really set the tone for all the business issues that were gonna come up throughout my path and really becoming an entrepreneur.
- 32:20SPEAKER_01: I had to overcome those things too.
- 32:22SPEAKER_01: But the fact that I had a different upbringing and the fact that I had to overcome cultural problems in the beginning helped kind of set the stage to let me know life is not gonna be easy all the time.
- 32:34SPEAKER_01: But just never ever kind of give up on your vision.
- 32:37SPEAKER_01: If it's something you strongly believe in, just keep going.
- 32:40SPEAKER_01: I always people tell me I have this delusional confidence about me, no matter how many rejections I get in the business world or really in my personal life.
- 32:49SPEAKER_01: I just never take no for an answer.
- 32:52SPEAKER_01: So I think that's the attitude people need to have if you're trying to do something very difficult.
- 32:57SPEAKER_01: And this, you know, is beyond business.
- 33:00SPEAKER_01: It's it you can use it in every part of your life.
- 33:02SPEAKER_01: This don't take no for an answer and just really believe in your vision.
- 33:06SPEAKER_00: I love that.
- 33:07SPEAKER_00: I really love that.
- 33:08SPEAKER_00: I love that you to the confidence piece.
- 33:10SPEAKER_00: I think that's so important, especially like you're right, in every in every profession, every field.
- 33:15SPEAKER_00: I mean, it's so so important to make sure you believe in yourself.
- 33:18SPEAKER_00: And I I love that message.
- 33:19SPEAKER_00: So thank you for sharing that.
- 33:20SPEAKER_00: For everyone listening out there, if you guys have not checked out Setchuel Beauty, you need to check it out.
- 33:25SPEAKER_00: They are available in Ulta also on TikTok shop, and I believe anthropology as well.
- 33:29SPEAKER_00: So you guys can check them out.
- 33:31SPEAKER_00: Make sure you try the products.
- 33:32SPEAKER_00: You will absolutely fall in love, I promise.
- 33:34SPEAKER_00: You know, I I know I did.
- 33:36SPEAKER_00: When I tried the lip liner, it was really genuinely like I mean, it was a game changer for me.
- 33:40SPEAKER_00: And I am not somebody who wears makeup a lot, you know.
- 33:43SPEAKER_00: As I've said many times on this podcast, I'm you know a huge skincare person, but I really feel like it's become a part of my everyday because the color, like the colors and the range of colors are really easy to incorporate in your daily life, no matter if you're looking for a professional look or if you're trying to glam up a little bit, it works for everything.
- 34:01SPEAKER_00: So I find it to be a truly hero product, and I recommend it to all of you.
- 34:06SPEAKER_00: So make sure you check it out.
- 34:07SPEAKER_00: Let us know what you guys think.
- 34:08SPEAKER_00: And Sarah, thank you so much.
- 34:09SPEAKER_00: This has been truly an honor to host you and to learn from you.
- 34:12SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
- 34:12SPEAKER_00: Thanks for having me.
- 34:13SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
- 34:14SPEAKER_00: Hey guys, so I hope you love that episode.
- 34:16SPEAKER_00: Please make sure to hit subscribe if you're tuning in to us on any podcast platform.
- 34:21SPEAKER_00: We are available on so many different platforms.
- 34:24SPEAKER_00: So wherever it is that you're tuning in, just go hit subscribe.
- 34:27SPEAKER_00: You will be immediately notified when we publish new episodes.
- 34:30SPEAKER_00: This way, you're able to tune in to amazing insights from experts, brand founders, industry leaders, authors, all the wonderful people that we host.
- 34:38SPEAKER_00: And that's very important for me because I love to hear from you guys and really understand what you love and what you want to hear more of.
- 34:46SPEAKER_00: Also, make sure to give us a follow on all of our social media outlets.
- 34:49SPEAKER_00: We are available on Instagram, TikTok, X, you name it, we're there.
- 34:54SPEAKER_00: We also have a blog on Medium.
- 34:55SPEAKER_00: So if you're a reader and you love medium blogs, check us out on Medium.
- 34:59SPEAKER_00: We publish some really great articles on there that do deeper dives than just what's available on the podcast.
- 35:04SPEAKER_00: And it's really a great place for all of you science geeks out there that want to learn a little bit more.
- 35:09SPEAKER_00: We go above and beyond with our research and making sure we're bringing you information that you usually probably won't hear about in other outlets.
- 35:16SPEAKER_00: So check us out, leave us a comment, leave us a review, and we'll be back next time with another episode.
- 35:21SPEAKER_00: Thank you.