A seasoned cosmetic chemist, Christal has transformed clean beauty in Hong Kong through her brand Skin Need โ a vegan, climate-responsive skincare line celebrated for its โprivate formulaโ customisation and uncompromising ethics. Born from her mission to unite scientific expertise with planetary care, Skin Needโs 50+ mixable formulasย and targeted routines address humidity, sensitivity, and pollution while respecting Asian skinโs unique needs. From her GMP-certified lab to EWG-verified ingredients and locally sourced recycled packaging, Christalโs holistic approach turns self-care into a connection between biology and the world around us. As she opens her flagship store, we sit down with the visionary to discuss her roots, personalised beauty, and why skincare is ultimately about honouring your skinโs ever-evolving story.
Read More: Glow & Tell โ Weโre Spilling Our Summer Beauty Tips!
What first sparked your love of skincare?
I grew up in my mumโs beauty salon, watching her prepare in the mornings โ soaking oatmeal, pureeing fruits, and whipping up egg whites to mix into masks for her clientsโ treatments. Iโd see customers come in, and she would give them a skin analysis to decide what kind of treatment would suit them best that day.
That experience really sparked my interest and helped me understand that beauty โ and the act of making each other feel beautiful โ is a special way women bond. That became something I truly wanted to be a part of as well.
Driven by that early interest, how did your training in biochemistry transform your approach to formulating skincare products?
One of my favorite things when I was helping out at my mumโs beauty salon was writing treatment and product leaflets. I would go to the product suppliers to learn about the products and their ingredients. But I realised that while I understood what the products could do, I didnโt fully grasp how the ingredients actually worked on our skin.
So, when I pursued my education in the US, I studied biochemistry to understand the biological processes involved and how these ingredients interact with our skin. This knowledge has helped me tremendously in developing and formulating skincare products, as well as in private label manufacturing here in Hong Kong, which is another side of my business.
At its heart, how does Skin Need define its mission?
We deeply honour and respect each individualโs personal definition of beauty. Our mission is to empower people with clean, safe, and effective products that help them achieve their unique beauty goals.
How does your new Times Square flagship bring the โprivate formulaโ idea to life for walk-in customers?
To help customers discover their private formula, they start by completing the chemistโs surveyย โ a simple tool I created to understand their skin type, concerns, and any additional issues they want to address.
From 60 pre-designed routines Iโve developed, the system selects the best match for their needs. Then, our skin consultant guides them through an AIย analysis to gather precise skin data. This lets us track progress over time while revealing their personalised routine, custom blend, and ultimate private formula.
Whatโs surprised you most about connecting with customers directly at your store?
Skin Need has been around for over ten years. I actually distribute through beauty salons so clients can use our products after invasive procedures โ they’re exceptionally clean and effective formulas, perfect for maintaining skin when it’s most delicate. We’re also in Sephora, and through my sister brand Woke Up Like This.
It’s incredibly exciting to finally have our flagship store. Customers come in saying, โWe’re actually Skin Need users!โ followed by, โFinally!โ And I tell them, โI know.โ That direct connection with end users โ hearing their stories and discussing products face-to-face โ has been the most wonderful surprise of this journey.
With Hong Kongโs humid summers in mind, what are the biggest skincare mistakes you see people make?
I see two key factors with humidity and heat: First, summer leads many to over-exfoliate, overuse retinol, or layer clay masks excessively. Second, constant AC exposure in malls and offices severely dehydrates skin.
That’s why our focus is dual-action: humectants for hydration plus emollients for moisture. But here’s a common customer challenge โ many choose products based solely on friends’ recommendations, even with completely different skin types. Re-educating them about personalised solutions is essential.
For anyone ready to fix that, could you lay out a simple routine?
At our core is the โPrivate Formulaโ concept. That’s why every product category offers at least two variants โ for oily or dry skin, with some extending to combination and normal skin types. Our hero products are the water-based serum and oil-based serum, both designed to mix seamlessly with any other skincare product for ultimate texture customisation.
On humid days when heat triggers excess sebum, mix our water-based serum into your moisturiser. With five types of hyaluronic acid that penetrate different skin layers, it delivers 24-hour continuous hydration while making any blend instantly more refreshing.
Conversely, if your skin feels dry or you’re travelling to cooler climates, blend in the oil-based serum. It transforms products into richer, nourishing formulas that actively seal, protect, and fortify your skin barrier.
Follow Skin Need on Instagram to stay up-to-date on their latest offerings.
Catherine Pun
A Hong Kong native with Filipino-Chinese roots, Catherine infuses every part of her life with zest, whether sheโs belting out karaoke tunes or exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations. Her downtime often includes unwinding with Netflix and indulging in a 10-step skincare routine. As the Editorial Director of Friday Club., Catherine brings her wealth of experience from major publishing houses, where she refined her craft and even authored a book. Her sharp editorial insight makes her a dynamic force, always on the lookout for the next compelling narrative.
