What Different Cultures Taught Me About Skincare

One of the things I love most about skincare is that there is no single "right" way to care for ourselves.

Our rituals are deeply personal. They are shaped by where we live, the climate around us, the skin we're born with, the people who teach us, the cultures that influence us, and eventually, our own preferences.

Thankfully, there is nothing uniform about any of it.

I've been fortunate to spend much of my adult life living in different parts of the world—from North America to St. Barth, the South of France, and now Miami Beach. Earlier in my career (14 years ago now!), I also had the opportunity to work alongside a female-founded Indian beauty company, contributing to product design and development long before founding my own brand.

Looking back, I realize each place taught me something entirely different.

Not just about skincare.

About ritual.

About beauty.

About what people value.

And perhaps most importantly, about what it means to care for ourselves.

While every culture approaches beauty differently, I found a common thread running through all of them.

Quality matters.

Integrity matters.

The ingredients matter.

The way something is made matters.

Beyond that, the rituals begin to diverge.

Climate changes what our skin needs. Genetics influence how our skin behaves. Lifestyle shapes the products we reach for. But preference—our own lived experience—is ultimately what determines what earns a permanent place in our daily routine.

I've always believed ritual is where those preferences come to life.

For me, the most meaningful rituals are the ones that feel both effective and enjoyable. They bring a sense of ease rather than obligation. They ask very little while quietly giving a great deal in return.

Anything that feels overly complicated, exhausting or disconnected from the way I naturally live rarely lasts.

The things that remain are the ones that quietly earn their place.

While living in the Caribbean, I found myself wearing far less makeup than I ever had before. Life revolved around the water—swimming, salt air, humidity and long days outdoors. Healthy skin naturally became the focus because there wasn't much point in creating a full face only to jump into the sea an hour later. A calm, luminous complexion became the most versatile thing I could wear.

The South of France felt different. There was still an appreciation for beautiful skin, but daily life unfolded more often in cafés, markets and long dinners than on the beach. Makeup remained understated, but it became a little more present. The goal was never transformation. It was simply to feel polished while still looking like yourself.

Today I live in Miami Beach, where life exists somewhere between the two. There is, of course, the beach, but there is also a vibrant city where I genuinely enjoy getting dressed and wearing makeup. It's part of my daily ritual, and I love it.

What hasn't changed, regardless of where I've lived, is this: healthy, well-cared-for skin creates the best foundation for everything that follows.

I often think of it like the paper a photograph is printed on. Museum-quality paper doesn't change the image—it simply allows it to be seen at its best. The same is true in cooking. The simplest meal can become extraordinary when it's prepared with exceptional ingredients.

Skincare is no different.

The quality of the ingredients matters.

The care taken in the formulation matters.

The process matters.

When each part is approached thoughtfully, the result becomes greater than the sum of its ingredients. The product doesn't compete for attention—it quietly allows everything else to shine.

Every place I have lived changed the way I approached beauty, but every place reaffirmed the same truth: beautiful skin isn't the destination. It's the foundation.