Spotlight is a regular series where we feature a prominent person in the style scene. This month we speak with Adja Sy of Lalu.
For those who don’t know you… What’s Lalu?
Lalu is a natural skincare line made of 100-percent natural ingredients such as butters and essential oils. Most of the ingredients are actually edible!
How did you start making natural cosmetics?
I’ve been interested in cosmetics and body care products for a few years already – I’ve always liked to experiment with ingredients and make my own creams. When I moved to Shanghai it was a hassle to find products that worked for me, particularly since I’m dark-skinned and suffer from a few allergies. Many products have whitening additives here, which made the whole quest for stuff I could use even more difficult. That’s why I decided to start making my own products, first for myself and then for others.
You recently launched your Weidian store. What can we find on it?
You can find my entire range of products, from body creams to face masks and scrubs. Now it is much easier to find me and order.
Do you have a favorite product?
I have two favorites: the face cream and lip balm. Actually, scrap that. I love them all.
How do you choose your ingredients and blends?
I wanted Lalu products to look like and remind us of food. After all, it is food for our skin. For fragrances, I mostly use scents I am familiar with or love, although some are seasonal and change throughout the year. I am also inspired by places I’ve lived in or visited.
For the bases I use a lot of shea butter, which is one of the best moisturizers you can find, and it is only produced in Africa. Coming from Senegal, I had to put it into my products. I have been raised with it, or should I say dipped in it, since birth.
Are there any products you tried making that didn’t work out?
My first creams and lip balms were a disaster! They were so hard that I couldn’t even break them; it was a complete mess. That’s when I learned that respecting scales and recipes are very important for creating consistent, high-quality products.
What are you currently working on?
Building the brand and its reputation. I’m also redesigning the packaging, working on a proper website and expanding the label. I’m basically going from ‘want-repreneur’ to being a [fully responsible] entrepreneur.
Have you ever had the urge to taste your products? They smell delicious.
I taste most of them, especially the scrubs. The pumpkin spice scrub could almost be a base for a cake if I didn’t add so much Himalayan salt. Customers constantly tell me how my products smell like food or desserts and they are tempted to eat them.
The one beauty product you couldn’t live without is…
Lip balm - I just can’t! I am having a panic attack just thinking about losing it. Next question please…
What’s in your bag right now?
Two pairs of gloves (don’t ask why), my make-up bag, one asthma inhaler, keys, a lollipop (it’s been there for about three months), a wet wipe, chocolate, toothpaste, mirror, two kinds of lip balm (just in case I lose one), some coins and one earplug.
> Visit Lalu’s Weidian store at www.weidian.com/s/819461844. For more Spotlight posts, click here.
0 User Comments