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Dr. Mark Gray launches rebranded Ao Skincare at Cosmoprof

02-Aug-2018 - Last updated on 28-Sep-2021 at 12:41 GMT

At this week’s beauty trade show in Las Vegas, Nevada, dermatologist and brand founder Mark Gray spoke with Cosmetics Design about formulation updates, aesthetic design changes, and the strategy behind this New Zealand – based brand’s approach to ethical, botanical, effectual skin care.

Ao Skincare initially launched in 2015 and with this summer’s rebrand is poised to make waves in the US marketplace. The company sources its key ingredients from New Zealand and manufactures a portfolio of six facial skin care products here in the States.

Among Gray’s chief concerns for the rebrand is clear positioning as a clean beauty brand: “we wanted to make sure to tick all of the boxes around being clean and cruelty free,” Gray tells Cosmetics Design editor Deanna Utroske. “You can’t really release a product onto the market,” he says, “unless you tick all those boxes—it’s unethical to do that.”

The doctor-led brand makes use of distinctive, regional ingredients like astaxanthin from red algae and a retinoid mimic known as bakuchiol. Watch the full interview above to learn more!

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Deanna Utroske, CosmeticsDesign.com Editor, covers beauty business news in the Americas region and publishes the weekly Indie Beauty Profile column, showcasing the inspiring work of entrepreneurs and innovative brands.