First of all, can you give my readers a quick overview of the brand?
Yes, absolutely. We are a men’s skincare brand, OTIS SKINCARE, based in Paris, and we make clean, effective, anti-aging skincare products that have been specifically designed for men.
Can you tell us a bit about your background?
I come from a design background, not skincare at all. So I’ve been able to look at developing our products in a very different way to how skincare is usually developed. I’ve tried to take an authentic approach and really focus on the customer, ie men, and develop everything concentrating on that idea of quality and honesty, and respect for their skin.
What was your inspiration for creating the range?
I read an article about shaving, and the terrible things that it did to a man’s skin. As a woman, of course this was something that I had never considered before, and honestly, I was shocked. I felt that there must be a better solution than what was currently available.
So initially I looked at developing a product which would make shaving easier on a man’s skin. Then, as I investigated further, I realised that it was more than just the shaving cream which had an effect.
So I talked to men a lot about the issues that they had with their skin, and about what they would like from their skin care.
A lot of men want to look after their skin, but are unsure of what they need to do, or if a product is actually worth using. And these are very sophisticated men, but in this area they are unsure.
I set out to develop products which would address those things and that men would like using, and would be happy to use every day. We spent about 18 months just testing out different formulas and consistencies on men to make sure that we got it just right. We really took our time on this.
Do you have any tips for someone wanting to start a beauty brand?
I think the first thing is to really get to know your potential customers. Start talking to them and find out what issues and problems they have with their skin. Then you can start to research possible ingredients. Find ones which are the best at solving those issues, and are ingredients that you believe in.
Next you should search for a really good laboratory to develop the formulas for you. This is crucial. We were lucky enough to work with a phenomenal laboratory here in Paris, who had developed some beautiful creams for large houses, like Shiseido. Their advice and expertise were invaluable in formulating our products.
Finally, you need to get as much feedback as you can to make sure you have got the products exactly right.
It can be a long process but it’s the best way to do it, and at the end you know that you will have produced something really worthwhile.
How did you decide what products you wanted in the range?
I wanted to keep it very simple and uncomplicated. I wanted to make products that men need, and also that they will be happy to use consistently.
We focused on three products - a Daily Face Wash, a Protective Shave Cream and a Hydrating Daily Moisturiser, and designed them so that they are all a man needs to look after his skin really well. They all do double duty. The face wash is also a gentle exfoliator, the shave cream also nourishes and conditions the skin, and the moisturiser can be used night and day, and used as an eye cream too.
We wanted to make sure that men would enjoy using the products as well.
For example, our Hydrating Daily Moisturiser is really light, almost like a gel or a serum, and feels really good to wear. It absorbs quickly to a matt finish, without any greasiness. But at the same time, it is extremely hydrating and packed full of the best anti-aging ingredients.
It was also important that the products fitted into a man’s life easily. Every item is travel ready and can be taken onboard an aircraft in hand luggage, and they are designed to be easy to pack for the gym too.
How do you think men’s skincare products differ from women's products?
There are small differences between a man’s skin and a woman’s skin. Some are due to the influence of hormones, like testosterone, and others are down to lifestyle differences. And these small differences have an effect on the best way to look after your skin.
For example, the sebaceous glands are more numerous and active in a man’s skin, so it tends to be oilier. They also have a higher concentration of blood vessels, so the face is often redder than a woman’s might be.
Men’s skincare products need to address all of these differences.
But most obviously, men have more facial hair than women so they either have to shave (sometimes every day) or they have a beard. Both of these options can be hard on a man’s skin and their skincare needs to help with this.
As the brand is French can you tell us a bit about a typical french mans grooming routine?
Generally, French men take good care of their skin and are very receptive to skincare advice.
They always like to smell good. Choosing a fragrance is serious for a French man. So it’s essential that skincare and grooming products don’t have an overpowering smell or they will clash with their chosen scent. French men are very sensitive to this. When creating our products, we were careful to make them smell very light and fresh, and this light fragrance disappears quickly after application.
Recently and increasingly, they also take especially good care of their hands and nails too.
What are the key products you believe should be in every mans grooming routine?
Firstly, a good exfoliating face wash, to clean away excess oil and dirt so that it doesn’t clog pores and lead to blemishes. Exfoliating away the dead skin cells is going to make your face look and feel brighter and healthier, and for men, it will prevent in-grown hairs from developing too.
Secondly a really hydrating moisturiser, ideally one that has quality anti-aging ingredients. It’s the single best thing you can apply to your skin, and it’s never too early or too late for a man to start using one. It really will make a difference!
And then depending on whether you shave or not, a good shave cream or beard oil is vital too.
In everything that we do we try to take a holistic approach because as you know having good skin isn’t just about the products that you apply.
For example, we recently published an article about The Beauty Benefits To Men Of A Good Night’s Sleep, and ways that you can get better quality sleep. There’s a lot you can do to improve your skin, as well as using good products.