by | Aug 11, 2024 | Business
Careless skincare manufacturers focus on hot new ingredients that may harm your skin. Don’t fall for the marketing hype when you see those untested chemicals.
Over 60 percent of all women report having sensitive skin. That’s an absolutely shocking number — but many skincare brands don’t seem to care.
The next time you’re out shopping for a lotion, salve or balm, take a look at what’s being advertised. To many people, if they see an extract named after a flower, leaf or tree, it gives the impression that the product must be “natural” — and natural means healthy, right?
In reality, those extracts and isolates are just chemicals — and they’re totally untested. Skincare brands don’t have to prove that anything actually works, or even that it’s from the source that they say it is.
The problem is particularly pressing in the Philippines, where rampant air pollution and powerful sunlight are constantly assaulting exposed skin. The ultrafine particles (UFPs) produced by our endless traffic gridlocks have been shown to cause skin inflammation and other issues.
In an environment that’s already so challenging, can your skin take yet another hit from harsh skincare products?
A problem with many layers
Skincare products all include several types of ingredients, such as surfactants, preservatives and humectants. Each of these ingredients can potentially cause issues.
Take sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) for example. The surfactant, which can be made from natural coconut oil, makes cleansers foam up nicely in a way that makes users say: “Ahh! Fresh, clean skin!” That’s why a huge number of skincare brands use SLS in their products.
But SLS causes skin irritation in many people, which may only appear hours or days after usage. Worse, SLS has been found to be frequently contaminated with carcinogens, which can damage skin and even cause cancer.
And SLS isn’t even the active ingredient — it’s just part of the supporting cast.
But most consumers aren’t familiar enough with what’s on their skincare product’s label to know what to avoid. And so many skincare brands feel free to continue using problematic ingredients.
A new trend toward sensitive-friendly products
However, many people — and their dermatologists — have now caught on to the idea that a seemingly meticulous skincare routine can cause more harm than good.
That’s why some leading-edge brands have started focusing on sensitive skin friendly products. After all, with over half of all people reporting sensitive skin, it’s clearly a large market.
One recently launched brand, Croia, has worked with Philippines-based laboratory to assemble ingredient lists that are scientifically proven to work well with sensitive skin conditions.
“I’ve personally struggled with sensitive skin, and eczema, my whole life,” says Erika Castro-Morrison, Croia’s co-founder. “My whole family has. I got really tired of having to second guess my skincare routine.”
Both eczema and acne are widespread among Filipinas. Croia’s before-and-after testers have shared images with the company of their progress after using the milder topicals that the company offers.
For now, Croia is offering a collection of 5 products, ranging from the mild retinol, acne cleansers, toner, and moisturizer.
Croia is also trying to solve problems specific to the Filipino market, like that ever-present air pollution. Methionine, one of the ingredients in the Amino Acid Cleanser, is an amino acid already found in your body, and has been proven to help prevent damage from pollutants.
With any luck, the future of healthy, safe skincare will be bright — and so will your skin.
Croia products can be found at: Croia-Aoife.com, TikTok Shop, Lazada, and Shopee.
by | Aug 8, 2024 | Business
The retail economy of the Philippines is driven by a relatively young and rapidly expanding population, presenting the region with opportunities and potential for growth. The growing digital penetration is also opening up new trends and shifts in behavior on how consumers in the region shop. The increase in both in-store and online shopping, especially in the retail sector in the Philippines, is calling for the need to adapt omnichannel strategies for enhanced customer experience.
With Filipinos becoming increasingly sophisticated, the expectation from brands to provide personalized experiences tailored to their preferences is now higher more than ever. This trend is driven by a diverse population spread across over 7,000 islands, each with its own cultural nuances and regional preferences. As Filipino consumers become increasingly sophisticated, their expectations for personalized brand experiences tailored to their cultural preferences are higher than ever. With over 7,000 islands showcasing diverse cultural nuances and regional preferences, understanding these subtleties is crucial. Brands must adapt by offering tailored solutions that resonate deeply with local tastes and values.
In such a fierce and competitive market, a one-size-fits-all loyalty strategy cannot lay the road to success for businesses. In order to succeed, brands need to understand the unique preferences of their consumers to cater to the cultural preferences and values and personalize their experience accordingly. There comes the dire need to provide a memorable customer experience so that the brand has higher recall value leading to a higher retention rate. All of this is possible with technologically advanced AI-powered loyalty software that takes care of the entire customer lifecycle to build customer loyalty.
Capillary Technologies has been the strategic partner of choice for major brands in the Philippines to overcome these challenges and win over value-sensitive and emotionally driven Filipino consumers. With over a billion consumers on the platform and having powered 100+ loyalty programs leading to 60% customer retention, brands have created hyper-personalized experiences, targeted rewards, leading to growth and profitability of the business while building customer loyalty.
In an exciting development, Capillary Technologies is collaborating with Janus Aether on an upcoming event that promises to bring innovative solutions and fresh perspectives to the forefront of the Philippine retail market. This collaboration aims to showcase how advanced technologies and creative strategies can come together to enhance customer experiences and drive loyalty in new and impactful ways.
Stay tuned for more updates, there is something exciting coming up! Checkout the website for more details: [Capillary Technologies] (https://www.capillarytech.com/)
by Ferry Bayu | Aug 8, 2024 | Business
Asuene Inc. has successfully completed a merger and acquisition (M&A) deal for CoRocket Co., LTD., a company that specializes in third-party verification of non-financial data. In addition to acquiring personnel and resources, Asuene established a new subsidiary, Asuene Veritas Inc., on August 1, 2024. Asuene Veritas offers comprehensive third-party verification services for climate change and non-financial data, providing one-stop support that includes assurance and verification throughout the disclosure process.
Background of the establishment of the new company “Asuene Veritas” and the business acquisition
“ASUENE” is the leading carbon accounting platform in Japan and Asia, with over 9,000 customers. We offer “ASUENE” to support companies in achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
As we assist businesses in calculating CO2 emissions and other non-financial information, we have noticed a growing demand for third-party verification and validation of these data, as well as enhanced system functionalities to support third-party assurance and future audits. Starting from the fiscal year ending March 2027, large corporations with a market capitalization exceeding JPY 3 trillion will be required to disclose information related to sustainability and climate change. This means that third-party verification and auditing of non-financial information have become urgent issues.
To meet these customer needs, Asuene has entered discussions with CoRocket and established a new company, “Asuene Veritas,” leveraging their skilled personnel and resources. We have recruited highly specialized staff from major audit firms, such as KPMG, KPMG AZSA, and Deloitte Tohmatsu, and will continue to develop robust business partnerships in the future. With these capabilities, “Asuene Veritas” will provide third-party verification services for non-financial data, as well as a range of climate change advisory services, including support for compliance with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
“Asuene Veritas” will enhance its service capabilities for both existing and new customers of “ASUENE,” aiming to expand third-party verification and assurance in the non-financial sector and grow its advisory business.
About Asuene Veritas
Asuene Veritas specializes in providing third-party assurance and verification services for climate change and non-financial data. The company’s services significantly impact decarbonization efforts, inspiring and motivating large enterprises to take action. In addition, Asuene Veritas offers advisory services related to decarbonization and climate change measures, along with support for the development of system functionality.
By providing third-party assurance and verification of non-financial information, which many large enterprises require, Asuene Veritas efficiently supports decarbonization efforts across the Asuene Group, making it a one-stop solution for these initiatives. Furthermore, by enhancing the third-party assurance, verification, and audit functions of the carbon accounting platform “ASUENE,” the company aims to streamline processes from CO2 emissions calculation to disclosure, thereby reducing the burden of verification and auditing for businesses.
We are excited to announce our collaboration with Asuene Inc., a leading company in visualizing CO2 emissions and providing systems for disclosing non-financial information. In today’s corporate management landscape, non-financial information is becoming as critical as financial data.
As a certified public accountant with extensive experience in supporting and verifying corporate financial disclosures, I recognize the increasing need for third-party assurance of non-financial information. In light of this, we are establishing Asuene Veritas Inc. as a group company of Asuene Inc., which is dedicated to the creation of non-financial information. Our aim is to assist companies in their sustainability initiatives.
Our primary goal is to build trust with society by offering transparent and reliable third-party assurance of non-financial information, reaffirming our commitment to transparency and trust.
Representative, CoRocket Co., Ltd.
We are excited to announce the acquisition of CoRocket Inc. and the formation of our new company, Asuene Veritas. This achievement not only enhances ASUENE’s comprehensive decarbonization solutions but also improves the accuracy and reliability of our data. Our mission will be to provide third-party assurance for globally significant greenhouse gas and non-financial data, instilling a new level of confidence among our stakeholders. Additionally, we have established a strong business alliance with CoRocket Inc. and Mr. Shiotsuki, and together, we will take on new industrial challenges.
Founder & CEO, Asuene Inc.
Asuene Veritas Company Profile
Company name: Asuene Veritas Inc.
Representatives: Chairman Kohei Nishiwada, CEO Masayuki Kobayashi
Date of establishment: August 1, 2024
Shareholder: Asuene Inc. (100%)
Capital: 70 million yen
URL：https://veritas.earthene.com/
by Ferry Bayu | Aug 8, 2024 | Business
Asuene Inc. has successfully raised approximately US $5.3 million in the 2nd close of its Series C round through a third-party allocation of shares with investors including Japan Green Investment Corp. for Carbon Neutrality (JICN), Nippon Life Insurance Company (via Nippon Life Strategic Fund I), JERA, Pavilion Capital, and individual investor Hidetaka Kojima (Head of M&A, Strategic Planning and Global Business Development at SHIFT Inc. and Director of the Board at SHIFT Growth Capital Inc.). This round brings the total Series C funding to US $33 million, with aggregate fundraising reaching US $67 million.
Business Progress and Achievements
Asuene is advancing multiple products in the climate tech field, focusing on decarbonization and ESG. Driven by the mission of “Changing the world for the next generation.”, the company continues to grow.
“ASUENE,” a carbon accounting platform, has surpassed 9,000 customers in Japan with over 140 partner companies. The ESG evaluation cloud “ASUENE ESG” has over 14,000 evaluated customers, driving ESG management for many businesses. Additionally, through its joint venture “Carbon EX” with SBI Holdings and Asuene, it offers a carbon credit and emissions trading platform, with over 1,200 companies registered on the platform.
Beyond Japan, Asuene has established ASUENE APAC in Singapore and ASUENE USA in the United States, acquiring several dozen overseas customers and partners. Furthermore, we have set up a global development center in the Philippines, hiring many local engineers to drive our global business growth. In August 2024, Asuene also established Asuene Veritas Inc., focusing on third-party verification and assurance services.
With a vision of becoming a global leader and maximizing societal impact for future generations, Asuene will continue to expand its business.
Future Investments and Partnerships
JICN
JICN, dedicated to carbon neutrality through diverse decarbonization investments, recognized Asuene’s efforts in the decarbonization sector and invested accordingly.
Nippon Life Insurance Company
As one of Japan’s largest institutional investors, Nippon Life will strengthen its collaboration with Asuene in the ESG sector.
- Enhance collaboration between Nippon Life’s sustainable finance and Asuene’s services
- Explore the use of Asuene’s services for ESG evaluation and engagement with Nippon Life’s investment targets
- Collaborate on ESG and finance initiatives
JERA
Asuene will collaborate with JERA, Japan’s largest power generation company, to drive multiple initiatives in the decarbonization space.
- Provide comprehensive end-to-end support from visualization to reduction in customers’ decarbonization efforts
- Assist in the creation of businesses that capitalize on the value generated by decarbonization and advocate for regulatory changes
Pavilion Capital
Through collaboration with Pavilion Capital, a Singaporean investment firm, Asuene will further strengthen its expansion in the APAC region.
- Enhance service deployment and promotion in the APAC region and strengthen international client introductions
Comment from a representative of Asuene
Asuene Inc. / Co-Founder & CEO Kohei NishiwadaAsuene
Following the Series C 1st close in June, we are pleased to receive investments from JICN, a public-private fund financing businesses that contribute to decarbonization; Pavilion Capital, a Singaporean investment firm; Nippon Life Insurance Company, one of Japan’s largest institutional investors; JERA, Japan’s largest power generation company; and Hideki Kojima from SHIFT. We will continue to strengthen our collaborations across government, finance, energy, and IT sectors as we position ourselves as a leading player in driving transformative change in decarbonization and engage more stakeholders in tackling global industrial transformation.
by | Aug 8, 2024 | Business
Lux Medical Aesthetic Clinic is proud to announce the launch of the HIFU Ultraformer MPT. This device marks a significant advancement in non-surgical skin tightening and lifting treatments, offering patients a comfortable and highly effective solution.
Ageing is normal. However, most people do what they can to maintain a youthful appearance but are faced with challenges in maintaining firm and youthful skin due to factors such as sun exposure and lifestyle choices.
Lux Medical Aesthetic Clinic understands that good skin and appearance empower and instill confidence. That’s why we are introducing HIFU Ultraformer MPT, which is a testament to our commitment to bringing the latest and effective aesthetic solutions to our clients.
The Ultraformer MPT addresses people’s concerns about maintaining a youthful appearance by providing a non-invasive solution that lifts and tightens the skin on the face, neck, and décolletage. It targets skin laxity and wrinkles, offering patients a refreshed and rejuvenated appearance.
HIFU (High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound) technology has been used in the medical field for decades, particularly in the treatment of cancer and other diseases. Now, it has been adapted to address common skin concerns such as sagging skin, wrinkles, and fine lines.
The HIFU Ultraformer MPT is an updated version of the HIFU Ultraformer III treatment that uses micro-pulsed technology to target deeper skin layers with less pain and stimulate collagen production within a faster treatment time. It also utilises booster handpieces that help target smaller hard-to-reach areas.
HIFU Ultraformer MPT results in the tightening of collagen fibres to improve elasticity and create a lifting effect on the skin – a refreshed, firmer and smoother appearance. For added benefit, it can be used with skin-brightening serums.
“See the beauty in everything. Begin with yourself.” – Dr Kellyn Shiau, founder of Lux Medical Aesthetic Clinic, encourages self-care as the first step to confidence and beauty. With the launch of HIFU Ultraformer MPT, patients can grasp a solution to maintain their youthful appearance with more comfort and efficiency.
Experience HIFU Ultraformer MPT at Lux Medical Aesthetic Clinic and unlock the confidence that comes with naturally beautiful skin. Visit them at Novena Specialist Center, 8 Sinaran Drive #06-15, Singapore 307470, or contact them through phone: +65 6815 9922 and Whatsapp: +65 8866 9922. You may reach them through email at co*****@****************ic.com.
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