What is the essence of Oskol?
Our brand is inspired by the ocean. Oskol wants to introduce the ocean’s sensoriality and emotion to skincare, by creating natural and organic skincare products that are ethical, skin-friendly, and ocean-friendly. I’m a biology engineer and surfing enthusiast. I grew up with the sea in Biarritz on the Atlantic coastline in the southwest of France. In order to preserve our nature, I want to go back to the fundamentals of beauty by consuming less, and in better ways. People have long been led to believe that the most sophisticated skincare routines guaranteed results. Oskol wants to offer a different approach. Simplicity with effective, high-quality ingredients from the ocean and plants. So we remove every superfluous ingredient, complicated marketing message and polluting packaging material. We developed a minimalist routine for all skin types in order to reconnect with nature and the ocean. Oskol (pronounced “oshkol”) is Basque for ‘seashell’. We chose this name for its symbolism of protection, its link to the sea and its local footing on the Basque coastline.
How did you come up with Oskol back then – how did it all begin?
It all began with the ocean and the necessity to uncover its restful and relaxing properties. A vital need for the kind of solace that only the sea can procure. The ocean awakens our senses and emotions and allows us to find creative inspiration. The feeling of infinity, its changing colors, the flavor of salt and the sound of waves are just some of the stimulations prone to elicit creativity and relaxation. Oskol was born in Biarritz, on the Basque seaside, facing the Atlantic. We have strived to translate the singular spirit of this ‘French California’ into a minimalist skincare routine, by offering our beauty ideal: a product that is simple, organic, and eco-friendly. Meeting my wife, Flora, was decisive for the brand creation. She is a pharmaceutical doctor and a cosmetics expert; together we share an unconditional love for the ocean and skincare.
What was the hardest part when it came to making your ideas into reality?
We are a niche brand; we only produce small batches. It was necessary to find partners who know how to work with higher quality, but also in smaller quantities. We’ve succeeded in surrounding ourselves with the best French cosmetic craftspeople and a selection of farmer-producers in a small perimeter around the Oskol laboratory. All of our partners match perfectly with the Oskol clean beauty approach (organic plant products, natural, local, vegan…) ♡
Most of your ingredients are locally sourced, how do you choose your suppliers?
Oskol works with the purest raw materials, because excellence begins with ingredient choice. In addition to choosing organic ingredients, we try to find locally sourced ingredients. The objective is to minimize our CO2 footprint, by avoiding having only ingredients that come from all over the world. Oskol chooses a botanical and marine synergy. The ocean produces seaweed with powerful regenerative properties. Botanicals provide us with plant-based oils that are enriching and restorative. Oskol combines the best of both worlds in simple but sophisticated, innovative and efficient creations. Plant-based raw materials are selected for their freshness and are sampled responsibly, respecting the balance of natural resources. With a guarantee of quality, these oils are extracted by first cold press.
Essential to sensoriality, we have scented all our formulas. We have sourced an organic perfume – an organic neroli extract that has become signature to all of our skincare. In aromatherapy, neroli is considered as soothing and contemplative as the ocean.
Which Oskol product would you consider your “holy grail”?
I always develop products with my feelings, trying to find the perfect beauty match. We can call it a “beauty crush”. The perfect alliance between a fragrance, a texture, and the effectiveness observed. All Oskol formulas have been “beauty crushes” for me, so it’s hard to pick just one holy grail. I will choose a combination: the Perfect Skin K Serum combined with the Atlantic Regenerating Balm, these two products work perfectly for my dry skin type. Their neroli scent (orange blossom) makes me travel every day.
What would you consider is your most underrated product?
I don’t think there are any underrated products. Each skin must find its ideal texture. A product that perfectly suits your skin may not be adapted to another skin type.
What lies in Oskol’s near future?
Oskol is a minimalist range, we work towards responsible and reasonable consumption. We will not add a multitude of unnecessary new products; we work only on basics, and we will only develop new creations in line with our values. But we do have some new “beauty crush” to come, stay tuned!
Any final words for our readers?
If the ocean inspires you, if the regenerative properties of seaweed fascinates you, and if neroli (orange blossom) captivates you, then I think it’s time to join the Oskol family.
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