OASIS: Has Nailed Vegan Skincare Down To A Science - Men's Folio
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OASIS: Has Nailed Vegan Skincare Down To A Science

  • By Bryan Goh

OASIS: Has Nailed Vegan Skincare Down To a Science
Hildra of OASIS: has nailed down what makes vegan skincare that damn good (though if you love your chemicals, we ain’t stopping you). It’s exactly how you should be eating your food — freshly made. Like a bun. Or a really great glass of Kombucha.

However, this intrepid lady has gone one step further. She handmakes everything in her Beauty Kitchen — the old-world charm of whisking, scooping and stirring where OASIS: products are made fresh weekly and very often daily.

Here, she takes us through the merits of vegan skincare. One that feels good and does good product at the same time.


Hello there! We’re going to be quite upfront, there’s been quite a discussion on how “vegan skincare” is kind of a hippy-dippy thing, what do you think is the best quality of vegan skincare?
I don’t think it’s hippy-dippy!  I think vegan skincare always seem like a bit of a hype or a crusade against all things chemicals. In my opinion, choosing vegan just means the use of products that contain safer, recognisable plant-based ingredients that are kept as unprocessed as possible.

 

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They are more gentle on our skin and do not contain chemicals that are traditionally added into a lot of drugstore products to extend its shelf life. My best analogy for this is going to the supermarket and choosing fresh organic product over canned food.

Best quality? Freshness. You don’t want to eat canned food daily do you?

 

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How then do OASIS: products have a considerably long shelf life? What is the science behind it?
Parabens are the most commonly used preservative and there are a lot of arguments for and against parabens and other preservatives. I believe that preservatives are needed for certain products, especially water-based ones. Because it is more dangerous if a water-based skincare product (for example: face mists) is unpreserved because it will breed bacteria, fungus, mold etc.

We use a plant-based preservative in our face mists, and it is made from a probiotic strain that preserves kimchi!


What is the probiotic strain in the OASIS: face mists? What does it do for vegan skincare? Does that mean that you can… ingest it?
As mentioned above, we use a probiotic-based preservative created by the fermentation of Lactobacillus in a defined growth medium.  Lactobacillus is one of the species of microorganisms used to produce fermented products such as sauerkraut and kimchi.

Like many members of the lactic acid bacteria family, Lactobacillus is capable of restricting the growth of other microorganisms by acidifying its environment. It therefore functions as a natural alternative to synthetic preservatives!

I don’t recommend ingesting it because it will probably not taste so good.

 

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What is the number one best selling vegan skincare product and why? How is it also good for even sensitive skin types?
Our bestselling product category has got to be our solid shampoos and conditioners. Our regulars tell us that they feel and see the difference in their scalp health and hair texture, plus they feel good that they have gotten rid of plastic bottles in their bathrooms!

Yes, they are suitable also for sensitive skin and scalp types because they are toxic-free and much gentler than the average shampoo.


Where do you source your ingredients from for OASIS: and what standards do you hold these ingredients to?
I source the bulk of my ingredients from France because the EU is very strict in their regulations for cosmetic ingredient suppliers. I’ve included a link for you to have a read to understand more about the difference between sourcing from the EU versus the rest of the world, including the US.

 

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What are some of the most rich plant-active ingredients you use and how does it benefit the skin?
I use a range of cold-pressed plant-based oils and shea butter because they are really nourishing with plenty of vitamins. One of the oils I have recently started to use is Laurel Berry oil, which is an extremely healing medicinal oil and very beneficial for eczema conditions.

I have used it to create a fragrance-free Eczema body butter to help reduce itchiness and accelerate healing of broken, dry and irritated skin.


How do you ideate on creating a new product? Is it on a whim or are you responding to a market need?
All of our products are the result of common requests from customers, and even the scents are voted for by them! For example, we ran an Instagram poll prior to the launch of our cream deodorant where we asked followers to vote for their favourite scents.

That is how we finally chose two – vanilla+coconut & grapefruit+patchouli. We value the voices of our customers – after all that is the reason for our existence.

 

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Come to think of it, how should vegan skincare ideally be stored? Do they have to be refrigerated?
It depends on the type. Water- based refrigeration is best. Oils, balms and solids should be kept at room temperature but away from heat and direct sunlight.

For solids, always try to find a good soap dish to let dry in between uses.


Lastly, fill in the blanks! Organic products make you…?
Organic products make you naturally glowy!