THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL

She's young, brainy and beautiful. Social media content creator and medical professional ZOEN TAY is a successful skincare entrepreneur who launched her own brand during the demanding years of medical school. She shares with Nafeesa Saini about how Zyu Skincare aims to change the status quo, and the joys of marriage.

- ZOEN TAY

Not many would launch a business during the demanding years of medical school - much less during a pandemic. But Zoen Tay is not one to limit her aspirations. She founded Zyu Skincare in December 2019 while in the thick of her studies. And as if her plate wasn't already full, she is also a social media content creator.

Zoen's entrepreneurial drive and passion for skincare stem from her upbringing as the daughter of beauty entrepreneurs who operate their own spa. Together with her medical training and loyal following, starting Zyu Skincare was a no-brainer.

"It was 2019 and I was in my third year of medical school. Zyu was a passion project. My parents have been in the beauty industry for the past 30 years, so I learnt a lot from them and have a baseline knowledge of beauty and skincare products," she says.

Zoen also emphasises that her brand serves as a platform to pass on the skincare knowledge she has inherited to a new and diverse audience. "My parents are not very tech-savvy. They don't advertise online. They work through word of mouth, and already have a group of their regular customers. Since they don't market their business. I figured that launching my own online brand would let me spread their knowledge and reach different age groups."

When asked about the lessons she's gleaned from her parents, Zoen mentions that she consults them for advice on product formulations and customer relationships. "They guide me, because they've experienced it all. They have also imparted a ballsy attitude to me and gave me the confidence to start Zyu. Without them, I wouldn't have had the guts to launch the brand because there was so much on my plate."