This week we chatted with Olivia Chan, founder of BeautyFact App and Bridal Union, who aims big with transforming the beauty industry with her dedication and courage to challenge the normal norms.
We aim to make Asian beauty market healthier and more transparent.
1. Could you tell me a bit about yourself?
I founded two startups, Bride Union and BeautyFact. Bride Union is a digital platform to help organise weddings and match vendors with suitable styles. And BeautyFact is an ingredients checking tool and AI skin analyzer for Asian users.
I was born and raised in Hong Kong – a very ordinary local girl. After graduating, I worked as an editor in a beauty magazine. I realised that there are many misleading advertisements and PR clichés in the beauty industry. The experience became a seed for me to build a platform to bring a more transparent and healthy shopping experience.
Then I further studied in digital marketing and e-commerce and I worked in a Nasdaq listed hardware company to develop the e-commerce in Hong Kong and SouthEast Asia market. Shifting from a very feminine industry to the technology field was challenging but it was an important experience for me to work on my own startups.
2. We understand you’re the co-founder of Bridal Union. During the pandemic the wedding industry suffered a big hit, how did you cope with the changes and crisis ?
Yes, It was really an earthquake, both for the market and our business plan. Bride Union was originally found to enhance oversea photo shooting and weddings but the pandemic changed our whole business plan.
The pandemic changed the dynamic of weddings. People are seeking a smaller-scale and simpler wedding. Therefore, we shifted Bride Union as a platform for them to match intimate wedding venues and help users to organize their own weddings without a wedding planner.
It was really a hit, especially when it was my first business. The lesson learned is that the world is ever changing, we need to always prepare for the worst and hope for the best. We still have the hope that we can achieve our original plan when the pandemic ends.
3. Congratulations on the launch of the BeautyFact app! What is your vision and hope on how your app can shape the Asian Beauty Market?
We aim to make Asian beauty market healthier and more transparent. Also, we want to bring the culture of conscious buying to the market. Compared to Europe and North America, the regulations on beauty products are not comprehensive and integrated. So “check before you buy” is very crucial for our health and skin condition.
BeautyFact is a database with over 5,000 common ingredients and 8,000 products, providing indicators including allergy and canerongernic possibilities, toxic level, international usage regulation and certificates.
The BeautyFact APP also includes an ingredient scanning function to make the checking process handy and convenient.
4. As a founder of two different app , how do you keep yourself afloat in your daily life without getting drown by your work?
When I just started my business, I thought about my business 24/7 but it really affected my attention span and work quality.
I think it’s important to divide work and personal life. Although the working hours may be long, having some time to put work aside and enjoy yourself is important to keep me alive.
5. How do you make yourself happy and ritzy in life?
In summer, swimming and free-diving are always my favourite sports. And enjoying a massage is a good way to release stress both mentally and physically.
I also enjoyed having quality time with my close friends. A quality chat always brings me new inspirations.
Ritzy Chat
There is a story behind every successful woman. Every week, we catch up and chat with incredible women doing incredible things shaping Hong Kong.
