Joshua Tan And His Fiancée Have Started A Skincare Brand Together

You know what they say: Don’t start a business with a friend. For Joshua Tan and Zoen Tay, who have been engaged since last December, however, they decided that starting a biz together was the right step forward for them.

“I must admit there was some trepidation when Zoen first told me she had her mind set on starting Zyu, and furthermore, wanted me to be a part of it,” Joshua tells 8days.sg.

“I’ve heard stories about how the closest of friends have fallen out doing business together, and even some family members [and] that certainly scared me. But I've also witnessed some power couples who thrive working together, and Zoen's parents are one of them. That encouraged me to give this a shot. While I understand it may be inevitable that our relationship will be tested by our business, I see it as a way of strengthening our relationship and spending quality time together.”

Zyu (pronounced as z-you), which comes from the Chinese word zhu (pearl), was launched late last year, and the fledgling brand has already attracted a steady following. Before their first product, the antioxidant night mask, was launched last December, Zoen used it religiously on her own face for a year. “I wanted to be sure of what I was making before we put it on sale,” Zoen explains to 8days.sg as Joshua beams at her with pride. “I don’t have a cert that says I’m in the aesthetics line, so I needed time to show that my products could attain the effects they’re supposed to.” The result? She’s got the most enviable skin, and has her own products to thank for it.

Skincare isn’t new to Zoen, as her parents have been in the business for decades. They own Aesthetic Beauty & Slimming Studio, which was established in 1991. “My parents are pretty good at what they do,” she beams. “I’m also interested in what they’re doing, which is why I decided to start my own skincare line. The response so far has been very encouraging. I even have customers who send me before and after photos even without me asking them to, and I’m so happy to know my products have helped them feel more confident about themselves.”

Joshua explains, “I wanted her to take the lead on this because this is her parents’ expertise, and she’s a med student who may branch out into the aesthetics side in the future. I think her parents' background gives her a very strong starting point, so I’m very happy to support her. It’s mostly her baby, and I’m just helping her push it along.”

They did so well that they broke even in about a month, and are looking to launch a whole range of products. “I don’t want to rush out the rest of the products. I want to make sure that I’m confident enough to launch them. We have plans on paper, but they’re movable. If we rush it and it doesn’t turn out well... that’s not what we want. Skin is very personal and important, so we only want to launch it when it’s ready,” Zoen mused.

Apart from shipping their products domestically, Zyu is also available to more than 10 countries, including the US and UK. Although production for some products was affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic, everything is moving along, albiet a little more slowly. While they’ve only got two products for sale right now, Joshua has promised that there’s more in the pipeline, and will be revealed in the coming months.

Key ingredients: Rosemary Extract, Lily Extract, Aloe Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Arbutin

What it does: This night mask refreshes and hydrates your skin while you sleep. Vitamin A & E work to recharge the skin's energy while you sleep, and stimulate the cell regenerating process. It’s suitable for all skin types, including acne-prone or easily irritated skin. The mask can be used on its own or as the last step of your skincare routine.

Key ingredients: Witch Hazel, Rose, Proline and Floral Damascena, Saccharide Isomerate, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Salicylic Acid

What it does: This soothing toner has sake-grade peptides to maintain hydration in the skin, while the witch hazel and salicylic acid help to unclog pores and minimise their appearance, while brightening dull skin.

Find out more about Zyu here.

Photos: Zyu, Tay Zoen/Instagram