KEEPing COOL with KEEP COOL CEO Erin Lee
Photographer: Lena
“But first, skincare.”
KEEP COOL is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2015 with the philosophy that there is simplicity in sophistication. With an entire line of products focused on manifesting the optimal skin temperature, KEEP COOL combines traditional Korean medicinal herbs with Nordic aesthetics. To discover more about the brand, we interviewed founder and CEO Erin Lee.
When she was young, Erin’s interests were mainly in science and art. From obsessing over experiments during her school days to obtaining an MBA in Accounting and Finance in college, art finally met science when she created her own skincare brand. She decided to name the company KEEP COOL, stemming from the motivational KEEP CALM poster, with the goal of solving customers’ skin concerns and boosting their morale and confidence.
The idea for KEEP COOL arose from her time in the US. As an international college student, she couldn’t afford to visit the dermatologist to treat her sensitive skin. This got her experimenting with different skincare products and homemade packs made from ingredients like cucumbers and tomatoes.
“While searching for solutions in the US, I would go to Sephora and CVS stores for at least one hour. They were my playground. I would try new products from all over the world to see if it would make my skin better.”
Erin had one issue--most of the products contained too many chemical ingredients. So she came up with the idea to create her own skincare line which is more natural, effective and universal. The brand’s signature KEEP COOL complex contains three Korean antipyretic herbs that were originally known in ancient times to expel heat and relieve toxicity in the body. Other vegan-friendly ingredients Erin prefers are bamboo water, tiger grass (cica), and jojoba seed oil.
“These three are common but super effective ingredients for healthy skin, and they will continue to be in our future products. They are not derived from animal sources, and are cruelty-free.”
Aside from what they put into their products, KEEP COOL also pays attention to what they put their products into: “We have started [using] sustainable packaging and are moving towards finding environmentally-friendly solutions for the business.” Much of the boxes the brand uses are FSC-certified and printed with soy ink, just one of the steps KEEP COOL is taking to be more sustainable.
Erin cited her team and her family’s needs as other inspirations for developing her products. To those that are new to KEEP COOL, she recommends the Soothe Bamboo Toner and Soothe Cooling Foot Spray.
“The Soothe Bamboo Toner is our bestseller. It is low pH and fragrance free, and can be applied by all ages and genders. The ingredients are really mild and natural, making it suitable for sensitive skin, and all skin types in general.”
She uses the toner herself in her daily skincare routine.
“My morning routine starts with patting toner on my face, then putting on a toner pack while I dry my hair, followed by serum and sunscreen. [At night, I put] toner on cotton pads to wipe my face, followed by serum, followed by blue oil mixed with lotion. As for the foot spray, our customers are really intrigued and satisfied with it. Not only does it get rid of foot odor, but it is known and loved for the minty sensation [that it provides]. It’s a great solution when your legs are tired and puffy.”
You can find the products by clicking on each photo below.
In the future, Erin hopes to expand the product line to be more than just skincare. However, skincare remains at the core of her philosophy.
“If you do not have healthy skin, no amount of beautiful makeup will be able to cover it. Healthy skin beats the most expensive makeup, so it is best to invest in a good skincare product.”
Photographer: Lena
KEEP COOL products can be found in their global website. Just click on the picture above! 👆🏼
Also can be found on YesStyle.com
