Embracing the power of Mexican botanicals and driven by a passion for chemistry, Libre Skincare aims to address the unique skincare concerns of melanated skin tones, especially brown complexions.
Founder Eddie Aguirre, a chemical engineer with extensive experience in product development and a creative inventor with multiple patents to his name, has masterfully combined active ingredients with traditional Mexican healing plants and fruits to create a skincare range that targets issues such as hyperpigmentation, sun spots, wrinkles, dryness, and inflammation.
Aguirre’s love for chemistry and skincare culminated in the development of Libre Skincare, a Latine-owned brand that harnesses the healing properties of Mexican botanicals like prickly pear, grapefruit, papaya, avocado, and passionfruit. These natural ingredients, used for generations in Mexico, are seamlessly integrated into Libre’s innovative formulations, ensuring effective solutions for melanated skin.
As Libre Skincare continues to flourish, it remains committed to bridging the gap in the market for melanated skin, creating a legacy built on the fusion of tradition, science, and inclusivity. Ahead, we interviewed the genius behind the brand about what inspired its genesis, the launch products, key ingredients, and more.
So Eddie, tell us, what inspired you to create Libre Skincare?
Definitely a few things inspired the brand. One of the big factors was the LA community, especially the creatives here. The magic and power that comes from the great work published in LA is really intoxicating to see, and I love seeing POC, particularly the Latinx community, creating momentum and buzz here. My girlfriend works in the creative space, so I have secondhand exposure to it, which is pretty cool. Providing value to the amazing community here was a priority for me.
The second thing was utilizing my background. I have a chemical engineering degree and worked for a product development/material science company for five years. Skincare is a perfect blend of utilizing my knowledge and skill set, providing a product to the community, and having that POC aspect of branding. Helping and improving people of color and brown skin is the perfect blend to start a brand.
With your background in chemical engineering and product development, how have you been able to use your expertise to develop effective skincare products for melanated skin?
With my background in chemical engineering and product development, my learning curve was a bit faster and higher than the average person, which has been helpful in developing effective skincare products for melanated skin. I’m already exposed to it on a daily basis, as I help write patents on new innovations. It was surprising to me that I didn’t even know what was in my own skincare products. I stare at ingredients all day, but I didn’t know what was in the scrub I was using. That was one of the big motivators for starting Libre Skincare.
I’m curious to learn more about the Mexican botanicals that Libre Skincare incorporates into its products. How do these ingredients specifically benefit brown skin?
I can tell you about some of the Mexican botanicals we use in our products, such as prickly pear extracts, grapefruit extracts, and papaya. These ingredients are native to North America and Central Mexico, and each region has its own ecosystem that provides unique fruits, vegetation, and minerals. I want to utilize these minerals and vitamins in our region, as well as in the LA and Mexico regions. Prickly pear is one of the most well-known ingredients, containing vitamins A, vitamin C, potassium, and calcium, among other things, which benefit the skin and body. While skincare is strictly for topical use, even these topical applications have great properties that benefit the skin.
The Bravo Vitamin B Serum is formulated with all types of skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid, B3, and B5. What inspired this product?
The Bravo Vitamin B Serum was inspired by multiple factors. The first is incorporating Mexican botanicals into the product. The second is addressing general skincare needs such as dryness, redness, inflammation, fine lines, and wrinkles. Vitamin B tackles a lot of these issues, so I incorporated vitamin B3. I also included vitamin B5, which is panthenol, and a blend of different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid to help hydrate the skin at all levels.
The product contains 6% niacinamide, which is slightly above the optimal range for use in skincare products, typically between 2.5% and 5%. I wanted to use an amount just above the optimal range so that it could be a little more effective for those with skin issues like acne, inflammation, and rosacea. However, I did not want to use too much niacinamide because it could cause adverse effects, such as flushing or redness.
I designed the product to be effective for all skin types, but I wanted to highlight its benefits for POC brown skin. I have included ingredients that are known to be helpful for those with darker skin tones, such as niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.
Elsewhere, the Cielo Vitamin C Serum comes in two different concentrations. Can you talk about how about the amount of vitamin C affects the overall formula and its results on the skin?
Absolutely. I specifically designed two different levels of vitamin C in the product because depending on the buyer, some may be new to skincare or not exposed to vitamin C before. One concentration is lower at 8%, while the other is higher at 16%. I wanted to provide products that could capture any position in someone’s skincare journey.
The amount of vitamin C in the product can affect the overall formula and its results on the skin. For instance, if someone is younger and puts 20% vitamin C on their skin, it could be overwhelming.
Marina is the label’s cream moisturizer, packed with various oils and fruit moisturizers. Tell me more about this formula!
Marina is our cream moisturizer that is packed with various oils and fruit moisturizers. The main hero ingredient in this product is our ceramide complex, which helps the skin barrier with its different fatty acids and cholesterol that penetrate deeper into the skin and rebuild that barrier.
The product contains an oil blend of avocado oil, jojoba oil, and sunflower oil. Avocado oil is another Mexican botanical that is commonly found on the west coast and in Mexico. Jojoba oil and sunflower oil are also great in a blend, but I use them in lower concentrations because they can feel heavier on the skin. Sunflower oil is light and easily absorbed, making it the perfect balance for this product.
In addition to the oil blend, the product also contains prickly pear extract and grapefruit extract, which optimize the product range for the skin and make it feel good to use. Educating consumers about skincare is crucial, and knowing what’s in Marina and how it benefits the skin can help them make an informed decision.
What’s your personal favorite Libre Skincare product? And why should we all be using it?
My personal favorite Libre Skincare product is Marina. It’s crazy because I’ll spend anywhere from $15 to $20 on a cream, and I don’t feel the same improvement as when I use my own product. After a few days of using the cream, I can feel the change and the improvement in my skin. It’s pretty impressive.
I’ve also been incorporating vitamin C into my nighttime regimen. The only reason I don’t use it more is because I keep it chilled in my mini fridge outside of the bathroom. I forget that I have to go out of the bathroom, get it, apply it, and put it back in the fridge. So, I’m not as disciplined with vitamin C, but I still use it multiple times a week. Everyone should be using Marina because of its impressive results and the benefits it provides for the skin.
So, what’s next for Libre Skincare? Any exciting plans or new products on the horizon?
I definitely want to keep Libre Skincare online, to get the momentum going and some exposure through social platforms. However, I do plan on getting into some smaller shops locally, such as health and beauty stores or POC stores, particularly Latinx brands here in LA. Eventually, I hope to get into more health and beauty-specific retailers and even mass-market storefronts, assuming the brand resonates and can grow to that point. That is definitely the goal, but there’s still a lot of work to do to get there. I hope to see Libre Skincare grow in that direction.
