The skincare brand making its debut Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building sends the message: "GOOD SKIN FOR EVERYONE."
DAMDAM, a new brand whose name means "sensation, feeling, awareness" in Filipino, is holding a pop-up store Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building 1F = Men's Accessories/Cosmetics until December 25th (Tuesday), and will also be available on the Isetan online store .
We spoke with Gisele Gård and Philippe Therrien, co-founders of the brand, about their unique approach to unisex skincare products.

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DAMDAM

Creative Director Giselle Gård (left in the photo), CEO Philippe Therian (right in the photo)

Skincare products are more intimate with our skin than clothes, yet...

Gisele Gård, who took the baton for product development at the skincare brand Dam Dam, became editor-in-chief of the Singapore edition of fashion magazine Harper's Bazaar at the age of 26.
Having been at the forefront of fashion for eight years as "the world's youngest editor-in-chief," she explains the origins of her brand: "The fashion industry is full of creativity, with designers at the top and everything from fabric making to other aspects, but I noticed that the beauty industry doesn't pay much attention to the ingredients used or traceability (production history). I wondered why this was the case, considering that beauty products are more intimately connected to the skin than clothing."

While serving as editor-in-chief, Giselle met Philip Therian, who happened to be visiting Singapore, and they hit it off. Philip was running a PR and consulting business in Japan, and in 2015 Giselle decided to move her base of operations to Japan as well.
After leaving his previous job, Philip's desire to "create something with his own hands" and "communicate something with his own hands" grew stronger in Japan, and he formed a partnership with Philip, who also wanted to "do more creative work."
Together, we handled the business plan design, research, artwork, and visuals, and after two years, the skincare brand Damdam was born.

The starting point was the "unease" I felt about cosmetic items during my time as editor-in-chief.

I was trying out various cosmetic items at the Gisele Singapore editorial department, but I felt something was off with my skin.
By chance, when I went to Grasse, France, the mecca of perfumery, for an interview, I used freshly picked, pure rose water and it suited my skin incredibly well. I realized the wonderfulness of "simple and pure things." That was the starting point for Damdam. After that, I came to Japan and began to materialize the idea for a skincare brand.

The visuals align with the brand concept. The message is written on a base of green and blue, representing the sky and the earth.

—What kind of skincare brand did you envision?

Giselle thought, "I want to create a skincare line for Asian people." When she compared Western skincare products with Japanese skincare products, she realized that Japanese products had a lighter texture and suited her skin, so she decided to "use only pure ingredients."

Philip 's visuals, aligned with the brand concept, express the brand's worldview through color. Starting with a collage of blue and green, the packaging was created to fit the natural-oriented products.

The Giselle blue and green evoke images of the sky and the earth, and the color scheme expresses the gender-neutral idea that "healthy skin is important for both men and women."

The Philip Blue and Green colors are hand-painted, and if you look closely, you'll see gaps between the colors. This is meant to convey the message, "Don't strive for perfection; use it roughly and naturally."


-- Do you also use dum-dum, Philip?

Philip: Of course! When I wash my face, I use the "No-Purifying Cleanser," and before going to bed, I apply the "Drops Balancing Oil Serum." When I'm traveling by plane, the cabin gets dry, so I spray the "Hydrating Essence" toner several times.

Giselle Damm developed the product with a chemist who had lived in Japan, whom I met while conducting research in Japan. She was well-versed in the living environments and skin conditions of both Europe/America and Japan, and she helped me achieve the formulation and texture I desired.

-- How do you find using DumDum, Giselle?

Giselle's skin improved not only, but also her mood. Just 5 minutes of care at the beginning or end of a long day can make you feel calm and relaxed. People who care about their skin also care about their "wellness," and just like their skin condition, they have a high level of interest in food.

On page 2, we'll continue by explaining the lineup of DamDam products that you might be interested in.