Beauty Boss: Sabrina Tan, Founder and CEO of Skin Inc Supplement Bar
Sabrina Tan.
Our latest Beauty Boss is Sabrina Tan, Founder of Skin Inc Supplement Bar (Skin Inc)—a line of clean and high-performance skincare products and devices that utilize the power of Artificial Intelligence for a 360-degree wellness experience. They fuse the latest technology with decades of skin-aging research, along with each consumer’s current environmental and lifestyle factors, to help determine exactly what skin truly needs to look and feel its best.
All of their signature serums feature the brand’s proprietary encapsulation technology from Japan, which consists of caviar-inspired capsules that protect their ingredients from light and oxidation in order to keep them fresh and potent. Their team of scientists also developed My Skin Identity, a proprietary self-diagnostic tool that evaluates consumers’ skin through a quick quiz. Their algorithm recommends My Daily Dose, a customized serum cocktail that is designed to address each person’s individual skin goals.
Skin Inc is available in over 78 cities across the United States, Asia and Europe. In addition to being sold in multiple retail stores and online partners, there is also a Skin Inc Concept Store and a Skin Inc Institute in Singapore. We chatted with Tan, who shared the inspiration behind the brand, secrets for success, wellness tips, and much more.
When was Skin Inc founded and what does the name mean?
We were founded in 2008. Skin is more than just topicals—it's about personalization, customization, and overall health and wellness. That is what I wanted to portray with the name.
What inspired the creation of the brand?
To reboot the beauty industry with technology and empower consumers with their ever-changing needs. Up to 80% of our skin is affected by our environment stressors and lifestyle choices so your skincare needs to take into consideration of that. As a wellness and skin health addict, I was constantly frustrated with my inability to find products that worked for my specific skin condition which is sensitive, dull, and eczema prone. Many brands in the market addressed generic skin needs and did not account for individual differences or the fact that our skin care needs constantly change.
As a mother and career woman, I was and am constantly extremely busy juggling my career, family, and personal interests—I definitely could not afford time for trial and error. I realized then that this is a conundrum that many modern women face and decided that it was time someone stepped in to revolutionize the vision of customized skincare and fill that gap in the market where skin care should not be about a one-size-fits-all, but where a one-size-fits-one.
Skin Inc Supplement Bar’s Tri-light +SABI AI is a device that combines Sonic, PEMF (Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Field) and Hydro-Sensor technologies, with five targeted LED Lights to addresses multiple skin concerns.
Does Skin Inc have a hero product?
We are known for our customized serum cocktails. By taking a quiz powered by AI, we are able to recommend three serums that are geared to you and your skin needs. You are then able to mix the three serums to create a highly potent concoction that will give you results, instantly. We call it a cocktail because you are essentially mixing these serums and creating your own serum cocktail, made just for you. We have uncoded 1.5 million skin profiles, 15 million home facials with LED, all with clinically-proven results and won 150 beauty awards.
What are your favorite products from the brand?
For eczema and sensitive skin like mine, I have a 3-step morning routine:
My Daily Dose® Customized Cocktail of serums which consist of hyaluronic acid, which is great for dry skin, ceramide for my eczema-prone skin to strengthen skin’s barrier, and vitamin A to anti-aging and brightening.
Then I apply our Pure Serum Infused Moisturizer—our innovative, quick-absorbing hydro cream that hydrates from within and quenches skin surface upon contact, allowing active ingredients to be released on demand.
Then I use my Tri-light +SABI AI, which is a device that combines Sonic, PEMF (Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Field) and Hydro-Sensor technologies with five targeted LED Lights—empowering you to customize a routine that addresses multiple skin concerns synergistically and enhance the performance of your skincare ingredients for a radiant, healthy glow. It's completely personalized to my skin needs based on our +SABI AIapp, which is a 360-degree skincare and wellness app that helps you understand your wellness (stress, sleep, diet, exercise, helps your skin health). Last, I top it off with the Serum Glow Filter for a natural, radiant, no-makeup glow—and I’m set for the day.
Where are your products sold?
Currently we can be found at Lovelyskin, Dermstore, Bergdorf Goodman, Anthropologie, Nordstrom, and of course, on our website.
Future plans for the brand?
Our focus is clean, high-performance products that give the consumer a 360-degree wellness experience utilizing the power of AI, and we will continue to improve upon this. AI is the future, and we have been utilizing this for 15 years. It is the best way to future-proof your skin and give you insights on a holistic level. Additionally, we will be launching a 2.0 version of our Tri-light Eye Glasses, Mom & baby products, a new acne line, and more.
My Daily Dose® Customized Cocktail is a serum that is created and customized by the consumer to address their specific skincare concerns.
Who inspires you?
Ariana Huffington, the founder and CEO of Thrive. She was spot on in regard to the burnout narrative, which is what fueled her behavior change company, Thrive. Burnout isn’t the key to success. Being successful also means caring for yourself.
Secret to success?
Make sure that you have a purpose and it’s clear to you, your team, and most important, your customers. Our purpose has been “custom beauty for every you” that means we will never compromise on giving our customers customized solutions to their wellness and skin health.
Beauty secrets?
Your skin is your largest organ so you have to treat it with importance. However, it's not all about topicals. Your skin can tell you what your body needs internally. For me, hydration is key (drinking lots of water) as well as sealing in the moisture on your skin. Hydrated skin equals healthy, glowing skin. Our new Skin Saviour Dose is my go-to as it gives you intense hydration and allows your skin to rejuvenate while you sleep. Mixed with our potent Serum Booster Shot you are able to get a deeply nourishing, high-performance treatment geared to your skin needs.
Wellness tips?
I love to be active, whether that be exercising, or simply going outside and being one with nature to have a peaceful mind. And of course, hydration is key.
Best advice?
The hardest part sometimes is this: it’s lonely at the top. Make sure you do what I did…do the big mindset shift by talking to yourself, discover yourself, energize yourself, and try to not blame yourself. You are human, you are running a company, and people expect you to lead them to some extent, but don’t take all of it on yourself. Trust but verify, and you will be OK. Last, keep 5 to 10 close partners and friends informed, bounce ideas off them, and fine tune your strategies.
Favorite way to relax?
Self-care helps me to relax. Self-care to me means to take a moment to ourselves. Being centered, even for a moment. It’s OK to celebrate and care for yourself every once in a while. Know that you are “limited-edition.”
For more information, visit Skin Inc Supplement Bar’s website and follow on Instagram: @iloveskininc
[Images courtesy of Skin Inc Supplement Bar]
Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk