Whilst it's a part of the role of having a beauty website to always be on the hunt for what's new and interesting on the beauty scene it's also something that I do when I am not working on this website, as a self-obsessed beauty lover I always have my eyes open to new brands and various different ingredients and products to try.

I actually came across NXT CHPTR on an Instagram ad and in doing my research on the brand I found that it fit into my overall beauty philosophy and aesthetic perfectly.

Although skincare comes naturally to me I know that it can be confusing for a lot of people so to find a brand that has good quality skincare products but also an edited range can make it really easy to start incorporating the products into a routine. 

I have been using these products from the brand for a few months now and I can honestly say that I have really enjoyed everything that I have tried, I like knowing that they work for my skin and if I am in a rush or just want to do a quick skincare routine I can instantly reach for these three products from the CHPTR 01 Set.

I have been lucky enough to ask the founder Greg a few questions to know more about the brand myself but to also share it with you the reader, continue reading for the interview.

OVERVIEW OF MYSELF:

NXT CHPTR is my first business. Previous to working on the brand, I’ve spent most of my recent years working in fashion retail for luxury/premium brands, and had the intention of working in marketing for such brands after graduating in 2019.

That goal took a pause with Covid, and in the background, my interest in skincare was increasing, and I had always wanted to create my own brand, so I had an idea and started building NXT CHPTR. 

INSPIRATION FOR CREATING THE BRAND:

I’ve always been passionate about helping people look and feel their best. Whether it’s fashion or giving advice on skincare, I’ve always loved giving people, especially my friends, tips and tricks on what they can do to look better, without overspending. I think that comes from my knowledge of luxury products (in fashion and skincare), and knowing what to look out for in more accessible priced products and also knowing what’s worth splurging on.

Because beauty and skincare tend to market toward women, many men feel uncomfortable and need a bit more assistance in this department, which is why I wanted to create a men’s skincare brand.

PERSONAL GROOMING ROUTINE:

On a normal day, I have a morning skincare routine in which I use my 3 CHPTR 01 products, followed by an SPF of course. At night, I do an initial cleanse with an oil cleanser, then my F.01 cleanser, a night-time specific serum (my F.02 I use only in the morning), and finish with my F.03 Moisturiser.

But of course, I switch this up, as I listen to my skin and its needs, but this is the basic structure of my routine. I try to keep my daily grooming/maintenance routine as simple as possible, as it helps me be consistent. Keeping consistent and a routine simple with quality products is what helped me clear my skin from acne throughout my mid-late teens and keep my adult acne at bay today.

There's more to my grooming routine than skincare, but let's save that for another day. Although my Asian background doesn't allow me to have much facial hair or body hair so there's not much maintenance/grooming there!

NEXT FOR THE BRAND:

Next for the brand will of course be the follow up of CHPTR 01...CHPTR 02!

I know exactly what I have in mind. The products are always designed around a routine, with products working in harmony, with less of a focus on the individual products and more focus on the routine as a whole - as this is what we are trying to get men on board with. Away from the one-off charcoal masks etc. So you'll definitely be seeing another routine. It'll still be as simple to use and adopt as the first set of products.

If the first chapter was about a basic essential skincare routine that can be taken from day to night, you might expect a more targeted routine in the next chapter. For those who want to take their routine to the next level after enjoying the benefits of the first chapter. 

DECIDING WHAT PRODUCTS ARE IN THE RANGE:

It's about the ingredients, and customer journey first. For example, Chapter 01 is predominantly targeted toward people starting out in skincare, so then I think about what active ingredients could be a great intro to people starting out. THEN I think about how I can incorporate these into products. For example, LA is a great intro AHA, so I decided to put this in the cleanser, because it's even more gentle than it's a wash off, which is great for a beginner. If that makes sense? After I think of the main ingredients I'd like to include and have settled on the right type of products, I think about secondary ingredients which I love (that are also proven to be effective of course) and how I can jam as much of these into the products as possible, so each product has as much goodness as possible while remaining gentle and can cater for all skin types AND don't clash with each other. This sounds chaotic, I know.

For the first chapter, I did also think about what the second Chapter products would look like too, so they work well with each other, and there's not much overlap in ingredients and types of products. 

THE BRAND NAME:

The brand name Next Chapter came from seeing many of my male peers around me entering their 'next chapter in their lives, where they start to take greater care of themselves, mentally and physically. They are driven individuals, and really kicking into gear in the next stage of their lives, in their careers, relationships etc. and they want to look and feel their best, to perform their best. So you could say Next Chapter represents this moment, and I wanted the brand to be there for these guys who want to take their skincare seriously too, with great quality skincare, but also seeing a brand that's targeted toward men and feels like it's for them.

Thank you Greg for taking the time out to be a part of my meet the founder series, for more information on the brand Click Here and to follow the brand on Instagram Click Here.