001 Skincare London
001 Skincare London blends Chinese and Western modalities within each formula. (Instagram @001skincare)

Ada Ooi is a woman who wears many hats. She’s a licensed Chinese Medicine Practitioner, aromatherapist, acupuncturist, royalty and celeb facialist, and founder and owner of luxury skincare brand, 001 Skincare London. We recently chatted with this entrepreneural woman and found out how her days as a little girl in her grandfather’s pharmacy and apothecary on the island of Macau, China influenced her own path in the beauty industry. She has, afterall, forged her skincare brand that lies somewhere between the two practices of Chinese and Western therapies.

East meets West

One thing is certain. Ada’s early days with her grandfather profoundly impacted her views on skin and healthcare. “My grandfather prescribed both Chinese and Western medicine in his pharmacy and this laid a foundation in what I do today. I believe that our skin is a reflection of our internal well-being.” Ada describes her approach to skincare, which includes “addressing the core of the issues we see on our skin be it acne stemmed from hormonal fluctuation, wrinkles from chronic mental stress or pigmentation from depleted detox system.” Ada strongly believes that to treat skin conditions, it’s paramount to “To Treat from Within.” She uses this guiding principle in her work as a facialist and this sentiment also extends to her brand, 001 Skincare London. “If Western medicine refers to targeted treatments for one or more identified symptoms, Chinese medicine is a process of healing and nurturing life.”

001 Skincare London

We asked Ada what is it about 001 Skincare London that makes it stand out from other beauty brands. She explains she’s found the way to harmonise both Eastern and Western approaches to her skincare brand. “I incorporate traditional apoethecary and scientifically backed natural and lab-derived ingredients that are skin identical, while also considering their Chinese medicinal nature, such as cooling, warming, and stimulating properties. From this, I developed formulas that create affinity with our own skin to replenish, fortify and treat.”

She’s also incorporated her experience as an aromatherapist to the mix as “all products are also carefully blended with natural scents to create immediate emotional response to lift or calm our mental state resulting to a brain-skin reaction enhancing our mental wellbeing and overall receptivity of the skincare products to deliver high performing results. It was also during my training as an aromatherapist that inspired me to look further into chemistry, understanding how natural or lab-derived chemical compounds react to our body and mind, paving a solid foundation in cosmetic science for formulating my range 001 Skincare London.”

Try these first

We asked Ada to share three must-have 001 Skincare London’s products for any newbies to the brand. Her recommendations are as follows:

Alpha Paradise Cleansing Dew (Dhs275, ounass.ae)

This is our grand opening to the skincare ritual. It’s a rich and luxurious oil-based cleanser infused with omega-3s and anti-oxidants to neutralize damaging free radicals that cause premature ageing whilst removing dirt, without disrupting skin barrier and natural pH, ensuring the skin is never left feeling tight or dry.

Alpha Glow Flash Facial Serum (Dhs895, ounass.ae)

“This serum took four years until the formula was just right. It is a 3-in-1 serum, primer and mask to tackle the four key ageing concerns – dehydration, sensitivity, collagen depletion, pigmentation, containing a powerhouse of 9 actives including retinyl palmitate and alpha arbutin to showcase the skins translucent clarity, texture and radiance.”

Imperial Elixir Serum (Dhs695, ounass.ae)

“Our most recent product launch designed with ancient wisdom to leave your skin rejuvenated and thriving after each use. Containing Liquorice and Angelica Root Extracts to brighten the skin and enhance its radiance, Ginseng Root Extract to boost hydration levels and work within the skin to visibly bolster the natural firmness. It’s the perfect serum to add into your routine to stimulate your natural vitality to create a royal supple glow.”

001 Skincare London is available for purchase at ounass.ae.