Having a dermatologist mother like Dr. Julieta Arambulo, Margaux Arambulo-Lucena knew the value of taking care of her skin. This includes staying away from products with harsh chemicals. She grew up using “unscented soap," which her mom made, dissatisfied with the soaps available in the market. Her mom's clients also love her soap and how it healed skin concerns such as dryness, acne, and hypersensitivity. Little did Margaux realize that this soap would lead her to put up a business.
“I learned so much from my mom, especially when I was working at her clinic. At that time, I learned how different ingredients benefit the skin. I also met people with different skin conditions and I also battled with my own skin concerns. These experiences helped me understand what both doctors and patients are looking for in skincare,” shares Margaux who is now the Dermtropics president and head of product development.
Being married to her husband Miko Lucena, who is now the CEO and head of business development, furthered the search for the best skincare products. Miko revealed that he had his fair share of skin concerns. And thanks to him and his search for skincare products that would work for him, they were able to harness the benefits of including organic wet-milled virgin coconut oil in their products. This organic wet-milled coconut oil that's sustainably farmed and harvested is now the hero ingredient that guides the couple in their product development process.
Miko Lucena, Dermtropics CEO and head of business development
"While others extract VCO using heat, Dermtropics extracts via wet-milling, an environment-friendly method that gets lesser yields but produces high-potent VCO. Without heat, the oil’s anti-oxidants and aroma gets preserved and is kept free from chemicals," as explained in the brand's press release, which is why it is considered as the purest and most potent type of virgin coconut oil, this organic wet-milled virgin coconut oil.
“Miko and I also visited trade shows abroad, this also helped us see what’s out there globally. Our vision for Dermtropics became clear: to create a skin and hair care brand that’s truly effective and recognized globally,” adds Margaux.
Putting up Dermtropics was just the start of another adventure for the couple. Miko told Manila Bulletin Lifestyle that during the pandemic, he advised his wife Margaux to stop working at her mom's clinic. "There weren't many clients then, people were scared to go out," he says. This was when he gave his wife a push—now is the time to pursue their dream of building their own company.
"I remember packing orders in our home," Miko reminisces. "He has mastered the art of packing," jokes Margaux. Being a start-up company, they had to do everything to save on operational expenses but not scrimping on the quality of their products. And what a ride it has been for the couple.
Helping Dermtropics in their advocacy is Rissa Mananquil-Trillo who is now their beauty ambassador. “In every endeavor I get into, it’s very important for me to partner with like-minded and like-hearted individuals—companies with standards and values I believe in. The more I got to know Margaux and Miko, the more I saw how community and sustainability are important to them. They understand that a business has the power to do good. I love that their products are cultivated by Mindanao farmers, handcrafted by women, and tested by dermatologists.”
"What excited me the most about Dermtropics is their farm-to-skin process for ingredient sourcing while embracing conscious beauty standards. For me, Dermtropics is a green beauty brand that is perfect for the new generation of mindful consumers."
Dermtropics offers natural body and hair care products. It is a green beauty brand that is fragrance-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, cruelty-free, and dermatologist-tried-and-tested. Its customers have given positive feedback on how it helped them with their eczema, psoriasis, dandruff, dryness, dullness, and many more skin concerns.
Choose from Raw Coconut + Colloidal Oatmeal Gentle Hand and Body Wash, Raw Coconut + Aloe Vera Low Foaming Shampoo, Raw Coconut + Argan Oil Intensive Repair Conditioner, Raw Coconut Hand and Body Lotion, and the best-selling Raw Coconut Gentle Cleansing Bar—the updated version of the "unscented soap."
It is the brand's hope to grow the company into a global name and, thereby, introducing the Philippines and one of our richest natural resources to the world. And that sustainable beauty is possible, empowering women and supporting local communities.
“What started as a personal interest growing up, as I watched my mom treat her patients, has now become a mission: that through Dermtropics, more and more people will enjoy real and transformative results for their skin yet without harming the environment. We believe achieving beautiful skin should never compromise our planet’s well-being. And with our sustainable practices and thoughtfully formulated products, we hope to inspire more people to embrace green beauty,” ends Margaux.
For more information, visit their website.