Anti-acne alternatives: B&B Lab’s new launches address lack of effective plant-based solutions

B&B Labs is an offshoot of Beaubelle Group, which also manufactures and distributes its eponymous Swiss-made brand.

The firm launched B&B Labs in 2014 to ‘rewrite the rules of skin care’​ by utilising unconventional Asian ingredients in skin care, such as durian, a South East Asian fruit infamous for its pungent aroma.

“We decided to launch B&B Labs in order to disrupt the beauty market. It was launched to be a cosmeceutical brand harnessing the power of Asian ingredients with the promise of performance first,”​ said CEO Julius Lim.

The latest project from the company is a range of plant-based acne treatments that consists of five products for a complete anti-acne routine.

Lim said developing a solution for acne was particularly important for the company as it is one of the biggest skin concerns in its region.

“One of the reasons we created this brand was to treat difficult skin problems. Acne is one of the most difficult to treat and it shows up on your skin. A lot of people are looking for better solutions.”​

He added: “The anti-acne category is very big in SEA because we have one of the largest populations of young people and our climate is unfortunately very conducive for acne.”​

Additionally, the company has observed a rise in adult acne due to the hazards of modern lifestyles.

“There are more adults with acne because of stress, improper nutrition and bad lifestyle habits. As such, it’s even more important to have a range that can be used long term even on people that may only have occasional break outs,” ​said Lim.

However, the company believes that the market is sorely lacking in effective yet safe treatments.

“The problem with the products available right now is that there's isn't a range of acne product that can make the skin healthier as you use it. ​

“This is a very serious problem because while conventional products may provide temporary relief, they do not address the problem. Instead, it weakens the skin in the long run and can cause skin sensitivity,” ​said Lim.

Nature’s best

The brand’s range of products are made from ingredients such as sugar beets, aloe vera, licorice root extract and coconut oil.

“Thanks to Asia, in particular, Malaysia's rich biodiversity, we've been researching Asian ingredients for many years. We managed to create a concoction of Asian herbs and plant ingredients that can offer the same type of efficacy as conventional anti-acne products, but without the side effects,” ​said Lim.

Another issue with conventional products that the brand tries to address is the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to treating acne, which Lim said are not enough to provide targeted results.

The brand developed a customised approach to treating all four stages of acne by creating a prescription chart that informs the consumers of the type of acne they have and the products best suited for them.

B&B Labs is available online through its website, Zalora and Lazada. However, its core distribution channel is through clinics and beauty salons in Malaysia.

Outside of Malaysia, the brand can be found in Singapore, China, Vietnam, India and Russia.

It is also currently in the midst of negotiations with some British distributors to break into the UK market. Lim said the company hopes to finalise these talks by the end of this year.

In the meantime, the company plans to focus on strengthening its base in Malaysia and Singapore.

“We will definitely want to strengthen our core distribution channels, the salons and clinics. We want to become household name in the pro-beauty sector.”​