Men in beauty: Meet the co-founder behind the world's first Peranakan skincare line

Men in beauty: Meet the co-founder behind the world's first Peranakan skincare line

The founder: Raphael Jiang is the co-founder of Pera Skincare.

His background: A bad skin breakout a few years ago led Jiang to discover the efficacy of traditional Peranakan skincare remedies. "Nothing seemed to work," recalls Jiang. "Until my co-founder, Michael Lim, a Peranakan himself, introduced me to a home remedy for pimples." The breakouts subsided, and this piqued Jiang's interest in Peranakan culture.

The brand: Combining age old knowledge with modern technology, Pera was born to take traditional Peranakan remedies into the future. Among other details, Jiang learnt that rose water, cucumber and banana were used in Peranakan beauty recipes. "Peranakan culture is very rich but it's fading away, and I want to preserve it while sharing the efficacy of these traditional remedies," he says.

So if you're keen to try Pera Skincare, here are some of our favourites that you can add to your collection.

DEEP NOURISHING MULTI-NUTRIENT SERUM OIL, $98

Infused with 10 natural plant oils, this serum is perfect for those who are looking to attain clearer complexions and healthy looking skin. Since it's formulated to be a non-greasy serum, it nourishes and soothes the skin without causing your face to feel oily - a bonus for those who struggle with greasy complexions. Added benefits of this fragrance-free serum include healing damaged skin caused by stress or environmental aggressors.

BEDAK SEJUK FUSION MASK (DUAL JAR), $148

This innovative fusion mask set is an easy two-step process to achieve brighter and whiter skin in just 12 days. Bedak Sejuk, which means "cooling powder", has been used by the Peranakans to rejuvenate dull skin and unclog pores for decades. The first mask is the enzyme rice powder, which you'll mix with water to form a paste that is designed to instantly brighten your skin. Follow up with the peel-off essence gel that's formulated with anti-oxidants, vitamins B1 and B2 to promote anti-ageing properties and rejuvinate your skin.

WAKE-ME HYDRATING MOISTURISER, $75

If you're on the hunt for a lightweight and non-greasy moisturiser, this one from Pera is a perfect pick for you. Infused with sunflower oil and natural vitamin E, this formula doesn't just add moisture, but it also retains moisture so you'll have soft, hydrated skin for the long haul. We especially love the subtle fragrance of lemon myrtle and peppermint because it's just so refreshing and will truly "wake you".

This article was first published in Her World Online

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