Innovation is the heartbeat of the indie beauty movement, with brands constantly striving to create unique formulations that meet the needs of today’s discerning consumers and challenge the industry’s traditional standards.
In this month’s Indie Insights, we explore how indie beauty brands are leading the charge with new ingredients and cutting-edge formulation techniques, pushing the boundaries of what cosmetics and personal care products can be.
We spoke to Xhoela Dalipaj, Founder & Research and Development Scientist at The Skin Organics, who shared her insights into how she is transforming skin care with her approach to ingredient sourcing, transparency, and sustainability while delivering luxurious and effective products.
CDU: The Skin Organics has made a name for itself by blending innovative and visually dynamic formulations with organic skin care. Can you tell us about your approach to product development, especially when sourcing unique ingredients?
Xhoela Dalipaj (XD): We love clean beauty and clean ingredients and adore elegance and aesthetics. We had this in mind when creating The Skin—a brand that is responsible and transparent about its formulations yet undeniably beautiful.
Every product we create begins with meticulous research into existing market offerings. We delve deep to uncover gaps and opportunities, identifying what could be improved or what’s missing altogether.
Our mission is to elevate skin care by crafting products that set a new benchmark for excellence. We identify the benefits we want to offer and then source unique ingredients to meet those standards.
For instance, the star ingredients in our best-selling Body Lotion are hibiscus, colloidal oatmeal, ginseng Siberian powder, and pomegranate oil, which offer fantastic skin-enhancing properties while remaining ethically sourced. We’re always innovating, ensuring our products are effective, safe, and kind to the planet.
CDU: Many indie brands talk about clean beauty, but you go further by listing each product’s INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients). How does maintaining INCI transparency impact your formulation process?
XD: From the beginning, The Skin was envisioned as a clean beauty brand—a commitment that naturally comes with its challenges. As a cosmetic formulator, creating a stable, high-performing formula using primarily natural and organic ingredients is no small feat.
However, this is our mission, and we dedicate ourselves fully to achieving it. People deserve clean cosmetics and the confidence that the products they apply to their skin are safe and trustworthy.
CDU: We’ve heard you’re having a pop-up in December. How has your experience been with pop-ups, and what can people expect this time?
XD: Pop-up shops have become essential to our retail strategy, giving us a unique opportunity to connect directly with our customers. We’re thrilled to announce that we’ll open a special pop-up in December for what we consider the most beautiful time of the year!
Our customers can look forward to a festive, immersive experience where they can explore our entire product line and get exclusive, limited-edition holiday items. We have been getting so much support, and we want to use this opportunity to meet all of our customers.
CDU: Your product line includes distinctive offerings like the Caramel Pistachio Body Butter. What’s your process for creating these unique and unexpected product concepts?
XD: From the moment it launched, Caramel Pistachio became an overwhelming success, so much so that I can confidently say it has become the signature product of The Skin. Our products were conceptualized and formulated a year before The Skin officially launched, and every product released since has undergone a similar rigorous process of formulation and testing before reaching the market.
Currently, we are conducting clinical studies on our best-sellers because we recognize that to stand out and earn our clients' trust, we must always stay one step ahead.
CDU: Are there any particular ingredients or formulation techniques that you feel are especially unique to The Skin Organics?
XD: The key ingredient in every The Skin product is the highest-quality shea butter, sourced from leading UK and Netherlands distributors. You won’t find a single product from The Skin without shea butter in its formula.
It’s the heart of our formulations, bringing unmatched nourishment and care to every product we create. Additionally, our Ceramide and Niacinamide complex has elevated our body care products to an entirely new level, offering unparalleled nourishment and care for the skin.
CDU: Can you discuss any challenges in developing innovative yet organic-compliant formulations?
XD: It can be challenging to achieve the right consistency and shelf life while maintaining organic standards. We’ve met these challenges by working closely with certified organic suppliers and employing natural preservation techniques.
This commitment takes time but is fundamental to our brand’s integrity.
CDU: How has customer feedback shaped any changes or improvements in your formulations or product offerings?
XD: Customer feedback drives our product evolution. For instance, requests for gentler formulas led us to develop an eczema ointment suitable for sensitive skin. We value our customers’ voices and continuously refine our offerings to better meet their needs.
CDU: As an indie brand, what are some of your biggest challenges in balancing high-quality ingredients with competitive pricing?
XD: We are an Albanian brand, and none of our ingredients are sourced locally. Every single one of our ingredients is imported from European countries like Italy, the UK, the Netherlands, and Germany, which naturally increases the cost of our raw materials and formulations.
Finding the perfect balance between price and quality is undoubtedly a challenge, but this is also the beauty of being an indie brand. We consistently analyze economic possibilities, even if it means reducing our profit margins because quality and integrity come first for us.
CDU: Sustainability is a significant conversation in the cosmetics industry. How does The Skin Organics approach sustainability?
XD: Sustainability is central to our brand. We prioritize recyclable materials, support fair-trade suppliers, and design minimalistic packaging to reduce waste.
Every step in our process is crafted to be as eco-friendly as possible.
CDU: Looking forward, are there any trends or ingredients you’re excited to incorporate into The Skin Organics?
XD: We’re excited about plant-based actives and biotech innovations that align with our organic ethos. As we look to the future, these advancements will allow us to elevate our formulations while staying true to our values.