A NOTE FROM ME

I sometimes think it's just my personality, but I landed in Mallorca last night and instantly felt like a different person. In Hamburg, life often feels a little greyer. Here, everything feels lighter. It's crazy how much a place can shape your mood. Maybe that's why this week's brand felt so fitting. It isn't just selling skincare—it captures the feeling I'm always chasing: nature, the sea, slower mornings and a sense of peace.

THE ONE TO WATCH

RAESO

One of my favourite hobbies is accidentally spending an hour on Niche Beauty (check it out here). Beauty is so oversaturated these days that most brands blur into each other. Every now and then, though, something makes me stop scrolling. RAESO did exactly that.

Via Instagram @raeso

SKINCARE,
BUT MAKE IT TRANQUIL

ABOUT

Circadian skincare — Founded by Katey Mandy in 2022, RAESO (formerly RAAIE) is a New Zealand skincare brand built around the idea that skin has different needs throughout the day and night. Every formula is designed to work with the skin's natural 24-hour rhythm, combining biotechnology with native New Zealand botanicals.

Art for your bathroom shelf — Sculptural bottles are unlike anything else in beauty. Designed to be displayed rather than hidden away. The collection includes cleansers, serums, moisturisers, masks and targeted treatments—each wrapped in some of the most distinctive bottles in skincare.

Why their POV matters — RAESO understands that people don't just buy skincare—they buy into a feeling. Every touchpoint, from its products to its social presence, evokes the same sense of stillness. Backed by science, wrapped in an elemental aesthetic and rooted in a slower way of living, the brand feels less like something you use and more like the kind of person you aspire to be.

Via Instagram @raeso

LORE 🤝 RAESO
same brain, different category.

To me, RAESO is building something very similar to what LORE is doing in fragrance. Different categories, but the same instinct. Rather than competing on ingredients or features, both brands have carved out a space that feels entirely their own. It's a reminder that the brands people remember aren't always the ones with the “best“ product—they're often the ones with the clearest point of view.

3 REASONS I'D IMPULSE BUY RAESO:

01 — I'd proudly display it

The bottle is unlike anything else in skincare. In a category where so many brands look interchangeable, RAESO created something instantly recognisable. Sometimes packaging is the product. It's the reason I'd reach for it every morning—and happily leave it on my bathroom shelf.

02 — There's brains behind the beauty

Rather than chasing the latest hero ingredients, the formulas are built around resilient New Zealand botanicals, elevated through modern biotechnology. From biofermentation and cold extraction to biomimetic science, the focus isn't on adding more—it's on helping every ingredient perform at its best. That's the kind of product philosophy I love to see.

03 — It reminds me that we're part of nature too

We spend so much of our lives surrounded by screens, schedules and cities that it's easy to forget where we come from. What I love is that this feels like a small invitation back—to slower rituals, fresh air and a deeper connection with the natural world. Maybe that's what luxury looks like now: not more, but a return to what's always been there.

Via Instagram @raeso

What I'll remember isn't one ingredient or one product—it's the feeling the brand leaves behind. Rather than positioning itself as the answer, RAESO quietly becomes part of the equation. A small ritual, a slower pace and a reminder to reconnect with nature. Sometimes that's exactly what the best brands are meant to be.

FIND RAESO

TO FOLLOW

DAILY RITUALS

Another weekly read I never skip. Daily Rituals is exactly what the name suggests—a thoughtful mix of wellness trends, products, recommendations and everything happening in the world of well-being.