Le Saman skincare
Back to Journal + Musings
Le Saman skincare is a new luxury brand with a focus on elegant products that don’t compromise on high performance. Based around ritual and longevity, the curated Le Saman edit fuses rare botanicals with modern science in lightweight textures in an easy-to-use routine. I caught up with the founder to hear how his upbringing informed his approach to skincare and the meticulous formulations.
Le Saman skincare arrives in the chicest white gift boxes filled with the ritual set: Eye Glow, Radiance Cream, Vitamin C Serum. It sounds simple but exudes an elegance that is rare to find amongst a saturated beauty market focused on mass marketing. ‘Elegance is the message I want to get out there because the luxury out there comes with such a massive price tag,’ explains Sam, the founder.
Sam absorbed beauty from youth: his mother was a highly trained beautician who instilled in him the ancient wisdoms and tropes of skincare, ‘she always told me to use upward motions when putting on cream as gravity pulls your skin downwards,’ he continues, ‘and that a little of high- quality cream went a long way. I think a lot of these tricks have been lost today.’
During Covid lockdown, like many others, Sam noticed the overload of products consumers were piling on their skin and in return weakening their skin barrier. He also found connection in meditation, spirituality and conscious awareness; new energy, vibration and a moment of pause and reflection he wanted to infuse in Le Saman. ‘It’s like the Arnold Schwarzenegger theory of mind muscle connection; what you put your mind to connects.’
So a few years of research began to find the highest quality ingredients and work out percentages and how formulations could best connect in a lightweight texture base formula.
The first product I tried is the Vitamin C Serum; I have always found Vitamin C products on the market ‘dutiful,’ something that you felt you had to put on and had functional textures. The Le Saman Vitamin C serum is like silk, compromising niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and dual Vitamin C extract which not only easily absorbs but leaves an immediate plump and radiance. Whilst it can be used on its own the texture is light enough to use it daily as a layer underneath the Radiance Cream.
Sam explains ‘the radiance cream is designed to act as a sealant over the Vitamin C serum and it lasts as barrier defence the whole day.’ The Radiance Cream is a lightweight moisturiser – which only needs a very small layer – full of sumptuous Vitamin C, Vit E, Panthenol, Radish root, and other actives for radiant, plumping effect. And the final step is the Eye Glow, a refreshing gel light cream made from caffeine, niacinamide, Vitamin C, antioxidant green tea extract and Bifida Ferment Lysate, a fermented bacteria to support the skin layers and visibly brighten and soften dark circles, crows feet and ageing.
Whilst Le Saman is transparent that the ingredients are sourced and formulated in China, they go through lengthy and rigorous testing, both over there and here in the UK; the Le Saman skincare range is certified both CSPR and by the Oxford Bioscience Lab to make it a fully trustworthy product.
As a sensitive skin sufferer, I have been enjoying the Vitamin C Serum in particular which I carry around in my bag for a little daytime top up when skin is feeling dry and dehydrated. And the lightweight texture of the Radiance Cream means both can be worked together day and evening without breakouts or skin congestion.
What are the future plans for Le Saman?
‘We want to create products slowly, meticulously and with intention so we won’t just churn out new products for the sake of it,’ explains Sam, ‘however in the works at the moment are a cleanser and toner to complete the skin ritual steps, these formulations will work in synergy with the other formulations.’