Oller’s journey with Pure Culture began with a personal need: her own sensitive skin. “I used to rotate high-end imported skincare brands. They would work on my sensitive dry skin for about four to five months, then my skin would stop responding,” Oller shares. The lack of safe and effective skincare options led her to Pure Culture. 

After experiencing the effectiveness of Pure Culture’s microbiome-friendly products firsthand, Oller joined the brand as a co-founder and CEO. “I tested the products day and night, and in three months, I didn‘t need a foundation anymore because my skin was just glowing; the products support skin health from within. I became an instant fan girl. That‘s how it all started!”

Certified by Safe Cosmetics Australia, the pioneer of toxin-free guidelines for cosmetic manufacturers, Pure Culture proudly stands as the first Philippine brand to earn this stamp of approval. Its products are of natural origin and made using biotechnology, a big change from the typical skincare culture in the country. 

Read more: The never-ending plight of the Philippines’ Masungi Georeserve

When Stephanie Oller joined Pure Culture in 2023 as its CEO, the brand was in its infancy. “I had to build the team from scratch. There was only one intern when I joined,” she recalls. Drawing on her 13 years of experience in brand building, she quickly built a strong core team, streamlined operations and crafted marketing strategies that aligned with the brand’s bioholistic values which integrate mind and body with the environment.

“At Pure Culture, I’m the Chief Everything Officer,” she quips, reflecting on her hands-on approach to the business, from overseeing product development to managing financials and compliance.

Oller has since pushed Pure Culture to become one of the pioneers in the F-beauty market. “We closed 2023 with a 300 percent growth, high gross profit margins and a strong base of products that are all highly rated and received warmly.”

Read more: How to tailor your exercise routine to your menstrual cycle

Pure Culture is the Philippines’ first toxin-free skincare brand for a reason. With Oller’s background in advertising and expertise in consumer insights, she ensures the business leverages data to create products tailored to the unique needs of Filipino skin. “We utilise data science in our product development with a consumer-first approach,” she shares. Oller also leads the tech and data side of the business.

One of the many studies Pure Culture has conducted has led them to recognise sea grapes, also known as green caviar or lato locally, as a powerhouse ingredient in skincare for its ability to protect Filipino skin from premature ageing and free radicals. “Our top ingredient that made our most loved products cult favourites, green caviar, is harvested in the Visayas.” 

Beyond creating effective skincare products, Oller is also committed to making the brand a force for good in the world. Pure Culture prides itself as a plastic-neutral company, which means it recovers as much plastic waste or more from the environment as it produces. “Every successful checkout on our website allows us to collect a pound of plastic from our oceans. Non-biodegradable packaging for us is limited to less than a pound per bottle” she explains.

This initiative is personal for Oller, who admits that if she wasn’t changing the game in skincare, she’d be pursuing a career as a marine biologist. “I can live in the water and discover more of the ocean,” she says.

It’s no surprise that Pure Culture is a member of the global movement One Percent for the Planet, with a portion of its revenue going towards ocean and other environmental protection causes.

Read more: How these entrepreneurs launched their ventures

Through her work, Oller was surprised to discover how often product ingredient lists are hidden on disposable packaging, which most consumers discard.

This revelation, coupled with growing awareness about ingredient safety, led Oller and her team to collaborate with Safe Cosmetics Australia. Together, they compiled a list of 30 "Heck No!" ingredients based on extensive research and guidance from the Environmental Working Group (EWG). This list includes endocrine disruptors such as benzophenone and dibutyl phthalate, as well as potential carcinogens like hydroquinone and polyacrylamide.

“Ingredient transparency is crucial," Oller emphasises. "As a skincare consumer, take time to read the ingredients of products you’re considering and check their EWG ratings. If a product contains toxic ingredients, avoid it.”

Meet more Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow 2024 from Fashion and Beauty.

NOW READ

Modernising tradition: How young leaders are reviving Asia’s cultural heritage

How these Asian athletes clinched gold medals at the Olympics

Filmmaker Zig Dulay is bringing Filipino soul to the global screen with depth and heart