In this special column called the “TLC x Fempreneurs Series”, we will be featuring inspiring Female Entrepreneurs (Fempreneurs) in short. You will be able to have a sneak peek at their mindsets and their daily habits.
Believe in the power of community. On some days when you feel big goals are impossible, or when you feel like giving up, you need to lean on your like-minded community. You can even “borrow” motivation, and in turn “return” with your own inspiring stories to pay it forward.
Meet Coreenna Ong (aspurely)
TLC x Fempreneurs Series: Coreenna Ong
Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m passionate about holistic beauty and wellness. For more than 20 years until the present day, my work involves overseeing quality control, formulation, production processes, and management for skincare and wellness products. I’m the co-founder of aspurely. All my research is focused on using the latest technologies, knowledge, and techniques to distill and extract the bioactive from plants, and then combining them synergistically for maximum results. I’m also the author of Nature’s Spa, DIY Beauty Treatments and Nature’s Treats, Recipes for Wellness, published by Marshall Cavendish in 2005 and 2006. I have made numerous appearances on beauty-related national television programs with CNA and Channel U and was the weekly beauty columnist for Lianhe Zaobao, Singapore’s Chinese daily by Singapore Press Holdings. Through this column, I had addressed many skincare issues and concerns of the newspaper’s readers regionally, including offering beauty tips, quick fixes, and insider knowledge.
Recently, I have launched a new brand aspurely, with the purpose of distilling and condensing the best of what I have learned and discovered about beauty and wellness and presenting it to the world. Aspurely is a clean skincare company inspired by nature and science with a focus on pure, efficacious ingredients and formulas. It is innovation-focused, backed by years of research and development experience. More excitingly, I have incorporated the principles of epigenetics, which is centered around the fact that the products we use and our lifestyles do impact our genes, and in doing so, can potentially change our skin and overall wellbeing for the better. This is a dynamic angle in skincare R&D which I’m currently most focused on now.
Bottom line is my dream is to supply the world with clean, high-performance skincare and wellness products that are great for them and great for the environment too.
What got you started on your business?
It all started with a bad outbreak of acne in my teens. Nothing I bought could treat my acne. In fact, the more products I use, the drier and more inflamed my skin became. So resorted to experimenting on my own blends of herbs containing detoxification, soothing and antibacterial properties. This was how I discovered the immense potential of plant-based ingredients for both internal and external wellness. I began my journey of discovery by visiting organic herb farms around the world, from the countryside to mountainous regions of China, India, and Europe where I saw how the native people cared for the land and their environment tenderly and with reverence. Soon, natural and holistic skincare and wellness became my passion and I never looked back since.
Before you started on your business, what did you do on a full-time basis?
I have been in skincare and wellness R&D and product development since 1998. It has always been a full-time job for me.
What were some difficulties you faced in your life and how did you overcome them?
Back in 1998, there was virtually no made-in-Singapore skincare. People only trusted beauty brands from Europe, USA, or Japan. It was an uphill task getting them even to look at my products. I have always believed that the proof is in the pudding. So my focus has always been on product quality, safety, performance, and purity rather than the packaging and hype. In those days, I was driven and fuelled solely by my passion and belief. I guess that sort of helped to convince my early customers to give my products a try. And once they have tried it, they loved it and started to help spread the word.
Who inspires you?
My late father and my late business partner and mentor. They are not perfect people but they are big-hearted, kind, generous, fair, hardworking, and responsible. And they take good care of the people around them.
Fempreneur Coreenna Ong
What excites you most about your industry?
It is a very dynamic and constantly evolving industry. The fun is in how to synergistically combine and merge all we know and constantly learn and to incorporate them into our daily beauty and wellness routine.
What is your vision / personal motto?
Cherish your loved ones and be thankful every day.
Do you have any word of advice for other ladies who are starting their business/ starting to pursue their dream?
Fempreneur Coreenna Ong
How do you think you can help ladies to feel confident and empowered?
I guess providing them with truly effective skincare and wellness products will make them look and feel good.
What have you learned recently that you hope the other ladies can take back?
It is important to include lots of anti-inflammatory foods/supplements into your daily diet. Cut down on carbs and sugars. It’s going to do wonders for your skin and wellbeing.
What is one thing you are grateful for?
My loved ones.
What do you do in your free time as self-care? How do you unwind?
I like to read, go cycling, walking and fishing out at sea.
aspurely Brand Logo
Let us know more about what you do!
Our commitment to excellence and purity starts in our own labs, where we make our own skincare to abide by our promise of only high-quality products for you. From our inspiration of nature and the science of epigenetics, we formulate clean skincare made of high-performance clean ingredients in their purest form from the purest sources. Our philosophy of epigenetics is centered around our belief that the products we use and our lifestyles have the ability to alter our genes for the better to change our skin.
Our skin and body deserve products that are pure and effective, without compromise. Join us as we practice mindfulness through loving our skin and body.
You may find us featured on Channel NewsAsia, Channel U, Lianhe Zaobao, Prestige Magazine, The Edge, and South China Morning Post.
Connect with aspurely!
Website: www.aspurely.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/aspurely
Facebook: www.facebook.com/aspurely
Are you a Fempreneur too?
Connect with us – we’d love to feature you! Say hi to us at [email protected] or reach out to us via our social media.
Read TLC x Fempreneur Series:
- Margaret Wu, For Beloved One
- Nerissa Low, Liht Organics
- Pearline Foo, Spring Breeze Marketing
- Anna Milani, Sparkd
- Maddy Barber, Madly Gems
- Ezza Yusof, 2morrow Official (Malaysia)
- Julie Yim, Lilin+Co (Malaysia)
- Nadia, HelloBello (Malaysia)
- Zairin Azman, UMMA (Malaysia)
The rest of the Fempreneur interviews can be found here.