ELEMENTAL

A shift is essential to mend our relationship with Mother Earth. Here, we introduce Filipino-run conscious beauty brands who believe that nurturing the skin fosters mindful consideration for the planet.

- BIANCA CUSTODIO

LESSE NEADA 

DETERS SPEAKS ON THE POWER OF STRIPPING DOWN TO THE ESSENTIALS AND FINDING BEAUTY IN YOUR NATURAL SKIN. PHOTGRAPH BY LAWRENCE DE ELEON

WITHOUT MISSING A BEAT, NEADA DETERS ENUMER ATES THE FEW ITEMS SHE CAN FIND ON HER DESK: a couple of books, a set of headphones, and photos of her family. “These are all I need,” she says.

Her mind for minimalism started back when she was still in university. Then, she went on a backpacking trip across Asia with only a small bag and a few choice items. “I didn’t need much to have such a fulfilling experience,” she shares, “and that taught me a lot about life.”

Deters’ “Less is More” principle extends to her beauty brand Lesse, which she founded in New York in 2018. While others might advocate for an extensive skincare regimen, the Fil-Australian and her brand promotes a stripping back to the essentials to build a ritual, not a routine. Lesse started out with a single product, the oil-based Ritual Serum, which is made of turmeric and sea minerals. It was a solution to the founders’ own struggles with her skin, particularly her constant bouts with cystic acne.

“I had a lot of fear that, you know, what if people don’t connect with this?” Deters shares. “But it was such a statement. And for many people, it cut through the noise and really helped us succeed.”