When entrepreneur Jeremy Duanna Andrus moved from the US and settled down in Malaysia with his wife, Carmen Khor, he encountered problems searching for personal care products that would work on his sensitive skin.
With his background and his wife’s public relations skills, the duo established Libra Wellness. The brand — Li’bra by Libra Wellness — is rooted in balance, birthed from the principle of providing quality, kind-to-skin products that feel indulgent yet sustainable for the environment.
Jeremy serves as the co-founder and managing director, while Khor as the co-founder and director of brand. The duo was adamant about creating products that are inclusive for the most number of people, especially those with sensitive skin.
“It was important for us to ensure that the formulation of our products is free from common irritants like sulphates, parabens, and artificial colourants. Our products are designed for all hair and skin types, and suit both men and women,” said Khor, the creative force behind the brand.
Founded during the tail end of COVID-19, Libra Wellness has had its fair share of pandemic woes. Khor recalled being faced with unprecedented barriers and hardship, which was inevitable.
“There were mass suspensions in almost every stage of the supply chain, and indefinite delays from regulatory approvals to order fulfilment,” nevertheless, the experience had taught the co-founders an invaluable lesson on resilience and agility.
“We had to exercise our creativity while navigating uncharted waters in entrepreneurship. We capitalised on e-commerce platforms to jumpstart business-to-consumer sales and pivoted to manufacturing locally with more manageable lead times, all while prioritising the consumer experience and making sure we deliver a quality product,” added the 29-year-old.
Towards a sustainable lifestyle
Sharing a study by the UK’s Daily Mail, in the country alone, an average household uses 216 plastic hair care bottles a year, most of which end up in landfills. Sharing her concerns, Khor and Jeremy felt that the impact of plastic from haircare products towards the global environment cannot be ignored.
“With our brand, it was imperative that we find a packaging alternative to plastic. After conducting market research, customer surveys, and running quality control tests, we’ve decided on using aluminium for our current range of bottled products, which is more widely recycled and infinitely recyclable compared to plastic.”
The brand has also introduced a refillable system which features refillable pouches made from recyclable kraft paper.
“Our goal is to provide consumers with a more eco-conscious option that is still accessible and approachable, one they could incorporate into their everyday routine seamlessly,” added Khor.
Recognising the significant effects of climate change on the health of the planet and quality of life, Khor believed that as an inhabitant on earth, she has a responsibility to uphold.
“We believe that as inhabitants on this planet, we bear the responsibility to be mindful of the carbon footprint and environmental impact that comes with our lifestyle choices,” said the director of brand.
Therefore, at Libra Wellness, the team is compelled to design a range of products that could help consumers make eco-friendly choices and build more sustainable habits in their day-to-day lives.
“After all, every little step matters and contributes to overall change!”
