Skincare Basics

Hello Skincare Basics Community! In today’s interview series, we have Chanel Burrell (CB), the founder of Chan et al.

SB: Hello Chanel! Thank you so much for joining us for our skincare interview series. We are so excited to learn more about your growing brand Chan et al, and your personal tips and tricks about skincare.

CB: Thank you for having me! It is exciting to be a part of your journey here and a great opportunity to share the journey of Chan et al.

SB: Before we dive into the skincare questions, could you tell us a bit about yourself for our readers?

CB: Sure, so I have a background in interior architecture and design. I studied in Bristol, however, I spent the whole of my life living and working in London. I was pursuing my career as an interior designer, up until I had my son 3 years ago. It was actually during my maternity leave when I decided to dive into the world of skincare, specifically natural skincare, which is something I have always had an interest in.

Currently, I am fully dedicated to Chan et al, while being a stay-at-home mother.

SB: What inspired you to start Chan et al.?

CB: My son. When he was first born, he had some dry patches on his skin, which initiated my research into natural remedies because obviously, children’s skin is so delicate, so I just wanted to put the purest natural ingredients on him. That is what inspired and initiated my journey.

SB: Tell us about the products you offer.

CB: So far, we have two different product lines, body scrubs, and body butters. All of our products are 100% natural. Even down to the scents and colorants. We only use essential oils, because fragrance oils contain chemicals and synthetic compounds within them. And for the coloring, we use natural colorants such as rose petals and clays. This is the best method, as all of these natural elements have their own added benefits. This is the main agenda of our brand. Everything is pure, natural and promotes healthy skin.

SB: How do you source all these natural ingredients in the center of London city?

CB: There are many different UK based businesses that work with international suppliers that provide all the required ingredients to make your own cosmetics. This allows us to create products with a mixture of ingredients from across the world.

SB: What is the suggested way of using a body scrub? Please share the secret tricks.

CB: Okay, for the body scrubs, they should be used 2 to 3 times a week. So maybe if you do Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, in that way you break up the week as beginning, middle, and end.

In terms of the timing, I would suggest using the body scrubs in the morning to reveal your fresh skin and allow your skin to fully absorb the skincare you apply for the day.

SB: Same question for body butter. What is the suggested way of using body butter?

CB: Body butter is 100% a daily element in your skincare routine. As soon as you come out of the shower or bath, and when your skin is still damp, you should be applying your body butter to keep your skin nice and moisturised and provide a barrier to protect your skin from the environmental factors around you in your day to day life. 

Since body butter is thicker, we recommend using it from the neck down. We would not suggest using them on your face unless you have dry patches that need extra attention.

SB: What is your best-selling product, and what do your customers love about it?

CB: Lime + Rosewood Body Butter is our best-seller at the moment. It has a very sweet and long lasting scent which I think is favored by our customers. It is a good base for your perfume as well because it is oil-based, which is going to help your perfume last longer.

SB: Are there plans to expand Chan et al’s operations beyond the UK borders in the future?

CB: We currently only sell within the UK and do not offer shipping outside of this region at the moment. As every country has different legal requirements for selling cosmetics, we have to make sure 100% we’re fulfilling all the requirements before entering a country. We are planning to start selling internationally in 2025.

SB: It is mentioned on the website it is Handmade and Natural. Do you produce the products by yourself?

CB: Yes, I actually produce all of the products myself. I spent a lot of time doing research and experimenting to achieve the best skincare solutions.

SB: What sets Chan et al. apart in the crowded skincare market?

CB: It is quite a saturated market. In terms of the natural skincare market, the offered products are all very similar. Our branding and values allow us to stand out and position us in a more sophisticated niche within the skincare market.

We believe skincare is a whole experience, from when you receive your package, to its smell, to actually using the product and seeing the benefit.

SB: What’s next for Chan et al.? Any new products or expansions we should look forward to?

CB: Next month there are going to be some seasonal body scrubs coming out. Additionally, we are starting 3 new categories; body oil, facial oil, and body wash. Which we aim to launch at the end of this year and early next year.

SB: What is your personal skin type?

CB: My skin is quite sensitive. On my face I have both dry and oily areas, so I am very conscious of what I put on my face. I have to use lightweight products.

When I was younger, I had acne-prone skin. I had to find different remedies to fix my skin, thankfully I no longer have this issue.

SB: What is your daily skincare routine in the morning?

CB: In the morning, I just use micellar water to clean my face, and remove any oils from the night before. Then I just wash my face off with water. This approach literally changed my skin and outlook on skincare so much. If I put any kind of soap-based product on my face, my skin becomes irritated and red.

When I am washing my face I use warm water first, then for the last rinse, I use cold water.

I never use a towel to dry my face. I let my face air dry because on the towel there might be things like little specks of dust that I cannot see and I do not want to irritate my skin at all.

I use coconut oil as the first base on my face, because it is very lightweight. Then I just apply my facial oil and pat it in, and that’s it.

It is very very minimal but this works the best for me. If I overcomplicate it, it can cause irritation on my skin. I do not use serums or eye creams or anything else. I tried all of them, but they are all too much for my skin, and result in breakouts.

SB: As a person living in the cloudy London, what is your practice regarding sun protection?

CB: I only apply SPF and sunscreen cream when the sun’s out and I’m going out. I apply it once in the morning before going out and keep it in my bag if I feel I need to reapply.

SB: What are some essential products that you carry in your bag wherever you go?

CB: I always have a small tiny pack of baby wipes, or facial wipes, which is great for any mascara smudges, you never know when you are going to need them.

I also keep lip balm and lip gloss in my bag.

Depending on how big my bag is, I have a small jar of body butter from Chan et al, so I can reapply it whenever I feel it is needed. Especially if you have your legs or feet out, you can be sure you’re always glowing.

I also always have my perfume with me. I like the musky scents and ones with a sweet undertone. YSL Libre and Deep Night are my go to ones right now.

SB: What is your personal body care routine?

CB: Dry brushing is a big thing for me. It is great for circulation and also prevents any ingrown hair risks. I dry brush my legs before going into the shower.

In the shower, I just like the feeling of being extra clean, so I use a bar of natural soap first and then a body wash. Of course, I use the body scrub products of my own brand as well.

When I come out of the shower, that’s when I apply the body butter straight away. If I am preparing to go out for an occasion, then I also apply a body oil on top of the body butter on areas I want to glisten throughout the night.

SB: We would like to get your opinion about in-office treatments. What do you think of Botox, golden needling, mesotherapy, lifting or any other treatments?

CB: Personally, for me, I wouldn’t try to introduce anything synthetic to my skin. However, I have seen that in some micro needling practices, they are not injecting anything inorganic, they are just supporting the skin to rejuvenate itself. Maybe when I am a bit older I might look into that.

Currently, I just try to do things that prevent fine lines and wrinkles for healthy aging now, instead of focusing on what will fix the problem later on.

SB: Is there anything specific you do before sleep?

CB: I recently started using lip balm when I go to sleep, so when I wake up it makes my lips softer. I put a layer of body butter on my feet and wear socks on it. So my feet absorb everything and fully moisturise during the night, and I wake up with much smoother feet. These are my two secret hacks.

SB: Many people find their skincare routine not only beneficial to their skin but also beneficial to their mental health by promoting relaxation and self-care. 

What are your thoughts on the connection between skincare practices and mental well-being?

CB: This is quite a big thing. There is a direct link between both. When you look good, you feel good. It is the same way when you get your hair cut, or you have a nice outfit, you try to take care of yourself in a more presentable way to feel good. That’s the same with selfcare. I think it is a big thing in terms of your mental health. It can be so small in practice, however can make you feel so good so quickly. Even if you put a face mask on for a few minutes, you just feel that ease. Or if you put a few drops of essential oils with scents you like in your bath, they definitely have mood-boosting effects. There is definitely a direct link between skincare, selfcare, and your mental well being.

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