Singaporean entrepreneur Mandy T is the face and name behind Mandy T Skin Care, line of small batch skin products that are natural, vegan and eco-friendly. We caught up with her to discuss her inspirations, challenges and achievements opening up shop in Singapore.

Singapore is flush with luxury skincare products. What did you think you could bring to the table?
There is a global trend for users to use products that they know and trust. This is particularly true in Singapore, which is saturated with international luxury brands with unpronounceable product ingredients. Users are craving for products that they know are locally produced and are sure that the producer will not hide behind a big brand label.

Which is your favorite product in the range?
However, my current favorite is our award-winning Caffeine Body Scrub, which contains energizing freshly grounded Arabic coffee and coconut flakes. My favorite body cream is our soothing Goddess body cream, which contains sweet jasmine, fresh mint and citrus and my favorite bath salt is our Zen bath salt with green tea, brown rice and barley.

What do you do in your downtime?
Besides skincare making, I also enjoy making origami paper dolls, product designing, pottery, culinary and travelling, just to name a few.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
If we are lucky, the best advice will have been given to us as kids. I remember my late mother telling me and my sister to try to live life with a sense of adventure. Keep an open mind in whatever we do, and make sure it makes us happy.

What’s your personal skincare/beauty regime?
I have turned my bathroom into my little spa sanctuary at home! I use my body scrub to exfoliate my skin 2 – 3 times a week and I also enjoy taking a warm salt bath to relax and rejuvenate once or twice a week. Using a good cleanser, moisturizer and sun block for the face and body is also a must for me.

Other than applying awful chemicals, what do people do with their skin that makes you cringe?
When I see people squeezing their pimples or scratching on their faces with their dirty fingers!

Who is an entrepreneur/businesswoman you have looked up to?
Oprah Winfrey.

Being a small company, how do you do R&D for your products?
The year before I launched Mandy T, I travelled a lot and went to trade shows and factories to understand more about the trade. I turned my kitchen into one big scientific beauty laboratory, experimenting and eventually perfecting my own formulas for our signature body scrub and bath salt collections that I love and trust for my own skin.

Mandy T skin care products start from $26.90 and are available from her website.