Your Face Needs a Vacay

Spoil your skin with Sabbatical Beauty

Hello, Gorgeous!

Today is National DIY Day, which makes it a great time to start or finish a craft project or tackle a problem around the house. You know what else today is? Today is a great day to be inspired by a female founder who created an incredible line of skincare products.

From academic to hands-on creator

When she couldn’t find products to suit her skin, Adeline Koh, Ph.D. — of K-beauty-inspired skincare brand Sabbatical Beauty — created her own. And not just any skincare line, but one that includes a high concentration of quality active ingredients and clever product names referencing her own academic passions.

Koh was born in Singapore. Her skin had a rude awakening when segueing from a warm, humid climate to the frequently cranky and unpredictable weather in the U.S. She launched her skincare line about a decade ago while on academic sabbatical from her work as a tenured professor. While Koh’s Ph.D. is in the humanities, she also holds a diploma in organic skinare formulation and certificates in natural cosmetic preservation and stability testing. And like the grand doyennes of beauty, Madam C.J. Walker and Estee Lauder, Koh began experimenting with product formulations in her kitchen.

A powerhouse serum

I recently tested out the cleverly named Dorian Gray’s Serum (which references Oscar Wilde’s cautionary tale of a beautiful man with evil inclinations).

Does it work? Yes.

Does it work quickly? Also, yes.

The serum contains everything from very mild retinol to super gentle vitamin C, ceramides, and even lactobacillus (a friendly bacteria that encourages skin turnover).

What surprised me about this serum was how gentle it was even as it had so many active ingredients. I’d been taking a skin sabbatical of my own and hadn’t used product in about a week and was nervous to try this serum out. I needn’t have worried. It almost melted into my skin and seemed to buff out fine lines almost immediately. There’s a tiny bit of tackiness left even after the serum dries, but since Asian skincare works best in layers, I simply added a light moisturizer afterward.

I’m still marveling at the almost instantaneous and visible results. ($108, sabbaticalbeauty.com).

Koh, a former race & gender studies professor, writes a Substack newsletter called Ginseng & Tonic where she takes a deep (and frequently scathing) dive into the beauty and wellness industry.

Curious about what small-batch skincare means? Check out a behind-the-scenes look at production of Sabbatical Beauty’s Carol’s Serum

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Did you ever dream of starting your own skincare company? Or do you brew up skincare treats in your kitchen? Let’s meet in the comment section to discuss!

Rachel, Your beauty concierge 💋