Behind The Brand | An Interview With Skincare Expert Abi Cleeve

 

Meet Abi Cleeve – MD and driving force behind suncare giant Ultrasun. Abi is not only responsible for bringing Ultrasun to the UK market, but also making it the established and readily available “once a day” sun protection range that it is today. More recently, using the same innovative Ultrasun technology, Abi has created her very own anti-ageing skincare brand skinSense. Launched in June 2017, skinSense is going from strength to strength and has already been nominated for several beauty awards.

With Abi’s wealth of experience and over twenty years in the industry, I wanted to know more about her work and unwavering passion for skincare. I’ve posed five questions and I’m sure you’ll find Abi’s responses both interesting and informative. So, without further ado, let’s get into the interview and find out more.

What was the inspiration behind skinSense? Was it a natural progression from Ultrasun?

Abi: skinSense was born out of my vision to bring together the newest, groundbreaking technology with the highest grade concentration of unique active ingredients in order to successfully tackle the signs of ageing skin. For over 20 years I have brought Ultrasun to customers needing to rely on excellent protection. That was when I started to ask the question: if we can get UVA and UVB protection to stay all day long, then why can’t we do that with hydration, anti-ageing and the ingredients we all want on our skin throughout the day and night? The same lamellar technology that’s found in ‘all day long’ sun care has now been applied to daily skincare so that active ingredients keep working continuously all day and all night.

skinSense products feature the patented “Lamellar technology” – tell us more.

Abi: Lamellar technology is composed of fine, alternating layers that form an even bond with the skin. Lamellar gel structures emulsify cosmetic oils and form an invisible film around the active ingredient. This ‘suit of armour’ not only protects the ingredients such as Linefill, Hyaluronic acid, Hexylresorcinol, Liquorice, Trehalose but it supports the penetration and action of the active ingredients into the skin.

skinSense’s patented lamellar technology delivers antioxidants that the skin needs to fight external aggressors on a daily, even hourly, basis by taking them deeper into the skin. These structures enable high-quality and healthy ingredients to remain within the skin’s layers for up to 10 hours.

You’re clearly passionate about your work, what drives you?

Abi: A simple motto, live every day in business as if it is your first. Your passion and enthusiasm are at peak on day one and keeping that is essential to growth and success.

What a great Motto to live by! Do you have a best-kept skincare secret, or a special tip you could share with us?

Abi: We are who we are and let’s celebrate that, but we all want to be the best version of ourselves, we all want radiant, glowing, energized skin regardless of our age. That means we need healthy skin, protected, supported and hydrated. If we work with the skin – working with and supporting its natural function we see the best and longest-lasting results in preventing and reducing the signs and stresses of the environment on the skin.

Finally, what does the future hold for skinSense, any new products on the horizon?

Abi: We have all been blown away by the success of skinSense’s pioneering first Anti-Ageing range. Our skin is continuously exposed to changing temperatures, and harmful atmospheric and domestic pollution. These external aggressors, in addition to biological ageing, all contribute to dehydration, loss of radiance, rough skin texture and the appearance of lines. Hydranet will be the next addition to the skinSense range. skinSense Hydranet promises a gradual, slow-release of active ingredients, ensuring a long-lasting, hydrating effect on the skin.

Thank you for your detailed and interesting responses Abi. I’m sure we’re all looking forward to learning more about Hydranet when it launches – sounds like an equally innovative product range.

Have you heard of skinSense?

Read my skinSense Five-Piece Anti-Ageing Collection review, and more recently, skinSense Hydranet Three-Piece Collection.