In Conversation: Bringing TCM to Western Skincare
I had the opportunity to sit down with Heather Chan, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Moonbow, an upcoming skincare brand rooted in the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. We talk stress, anxiety, skin troubles, and the holistic approach of Eastern Medicine—an approach that has yet to fully make its mark in the North American skincare industry.
Heather grew up in Hong Kong and has lived in various cities across the US. After spending seven years in private equity, her passion for beauty and wellness led her to create Moonbow with her identical twin sister, Felice, a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Inspired by their roots, Moonbow combines TCM principles with modern skincare, celebrating their yin and yang dynamic.
Heather's own struggles with skin health prompted her to explore holistic skincare solutions.
“As much as I try, my own health and wellness was never perfect. I’ve experienced persistent gut issues that have manifested as unhealthy skin, prompting a year-long journey of writing down everything I ate for breakfast, lunch, and dinner to decipher food triggers. I even went as far as taking a bone broth cleanse (which didn’t last long – I love food), and a visit to the doctors for an endoscopy. In a last ditch effort, I searched for holistic skincare solutions that could bring balance to my body and mind, but I never found obvious options.” — Heather Chan
After learning about TCM from Felice, she embraced its philosophy and realized the market lacked affordable, holistic options. This inspired the creation of Moonbow, aiming to democratize TCM in the Western skincare market and promote a balanced lifestyle. Rooted in their upbringing’s modest exposure to TCM through nourishing soups, herbal remedies, and lifestyle practices, Heather delved deeper into its holistic philosophy alongside her sister. TCM, Heather discovered, is a medicine that focuses on mind, body, and soul, emphasizing emotional awareness alongside physical health. Inspired, Heather embarked on a holistic journey.
“By “holistic”, I mean that I incorporated meditation, journaling, yoga, qi gong, and TCM herbs into my daily routine. The profound internal benefits of these practices manifested externally, as my skin became a canvas reflecting self-care and nourishment. Integrating my heritage and modern wellness ignited the vision to start Moonbow – a manifestation of our shared ethos, promoting not only skincare but a lifestyle rooted in balance and mindfulness.” — Heather Chan
Over time, it became clear to Heather and Felice that the market lacked holistic skincare solutions—ones that emphasize improving lifestyle habits to counteract the rising stress among young adults, use natural herbs, and remain affordable. These issues helped crystallize their mission: to democratize TCM, making its ancient wisdom and healing properties accessible to all.
Moonbow's products blend TCM herbs with Western innovations. Guided by Felice's expertise, they focus on 5-7 key ingredients per product, featuring chrysanthemum for its skin benefits and incorporating popular Western ingredients like hyaluronic acid. “The brand wouldn't exist without her,” says Chan. “Felice is a doctor of TCM and the mastermind behind our formulations, carefully selecting herbs that are powerful for skin health.”
As we talked about the significance of Moonbow’s high-quality product offering, it naturally led us to recognize the importance of intentionally emulating the brand’s ethos through branding. Branding is central to Moonbow's strategy. The name, derived from a list of 150 options, reflects their heritage and the soothing aspects of TCM. The brand's visual identity features calming, ethereal packaging that highlights their story and mission. Each design element represents TCM principles and the healing powers of their ingredients.
I couldn’t resist asking the one question every Founder gets: where do you see the brand in the next five years?
“My vision is to establish Moonbow as the leading TCM-inspired skincare brand,” she shares. “Renowned not only for our exceptional product quality, but also for inspiring consumers to embrace the importance of slowing down. We aim to target the Gen Z population who experience high levels of stress and anxiety and demonstrate that holistic health practices can begin at an early age.”
She envisions expanding their product line to include ingestibles and creating a wellness space alongside Dr. Felice’s acupuncture practice, fostering a holistic approach to beauty and health.
“We hope to collaborate with top-tier beauty retailers to make our products accessible to a wider audience. As we excel in skincare, we also aspire to expand our offerings to include ingestible products and herbal remedies, reinforcing the connection between holistic health and radiant skin.”
