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I’m not a fan of putting myself out there.
Truth be told, I would rather run my business from behind the scenes; behind the screen.
But one of the things I find most fulfilling about being an entrepreneur is to be able to build a community of like-minded souls and connecting with them. This means stepping from behind the scenes and putting myself at the forefront of the brand.
So hello there, I am Lily Kew, 52, older mom to 2 lovely daughters, 4 & 7, and founder of Kew Organics, a #MadeWithPassion organic skincare brand.
When I started Kew Organics close to 10 years ago, it was a deeply personal journey. Having struggled with acne throughout my adolescence and adulthood, I experienced firsthand the frustrations of seeking treatment and finding no lasting solutions.
At 29, I embarked on a quest for a lasting remedy, enrolling in beauty school and ultimately discovering the power of clean, organic skincare. This transformation propelled me to create Kew Organics, offering water-based, high-performance organic skincare products, available both on our online store on our website and in our facial bars.
Today, our collection boasts a diverse array of products tailored to address various skin concerns—ranging from acne and sensitive skin to ageing and damaged skin. We've also expanded to 3 facial bars in Singapore, specializing in bespoke organic treatments.
More recently, I spotted a gap in the market and launched our sister brand, Sugar K Organic Peel Bar – Singapore’s first-ever peel bar concept to help time-strapped urbanites achieve clear, healthy skin.
Imagine that! 6 babies (including 2 human ones) in just 9 years.
And the excitement continues as we’ve most recently set up our very own formulation lab right here in Singapore. 🎉 This marks a thrilling chapter as we delve into new formulations to elevate the skincare experience for our cherished customers!
#Entrepreneurship #LinkedIn
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I had my first child at 45, and my second at 48.
Being an “older” mom, there are so many misconceptions about being an older mom. Some of the most common ones?
❌ 𝗢𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻
➤ Not true. I’ve got plenty! When I’m not at the office or overseeing operations at my various stores or taking care of my household, I’m in my workout gear, either jogging at the nearby park or doing some home workouts.
❌ 𝗢𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗳𝘂𝗻
➤ Again, not true! I’ve never believed in playtime being simply just handing my kids the iPad to play games or watch cartoons. I’m a firm believer of outdoor play. whether it's a trip to the playground, a family walk in the park or a swim in the sun, I’m always looking for ways to expose my daughters to sunshine and the great outdoors.
❌ 𝗢𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻
➤ I think this truly boils down to how open-minded one is. If we’re resistant to change and closed off to different perspectives and opinions, we live in an echo chamber of our own making. I love chit-chatting with my daughters, hearing about their day at school and asking for their thoughts on stuff. I believe in connection, rather than correction. It’s only through understanding them, listening to them without judgement, that they’re more able to trust and open up and that’s how I steer them onto the right track.
Myths busted!
I’m actually grateful that I had kids in my 40s. It gave me more time to pursue my passions; it gave me more time to build a solid financial foundation to support our family; it gave me more time to do everything I’ve ever wanted to do. Now, it gives me more time to spend with my kids. And what a privilege it is to be able to spend all my free time with my children and to be able to grow with them.
Perhaps being an older mom has also shifted my approach to managing my business, Kew Organics. Today, my strategies differ quite significantly from say, 8 years ago.
In terms of business, I’ve got plenty of energy and zest to bring Kew Organics to greater heights, while harnessing adaptability and flexibility, qualities essential not just in family life but also in entrepreneurship.
Balancing professional obligations with family commitments has taught me to manage my time more effectively, leading me to prioritize business initiatives that align with my values and drop those that don’t, a departure from my previous “do-it-all” mentality.
Know of any older mompreneurs or are you one yourself? I would love to connect!
#LinkedIn #WomenEmpoweringWomen #ChildrenAreTheFuture #WomenEntrepreneurs
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In the first such case of its kind in Singapore, a woman tragically lost her eyesight in July after she was administered a dermal filler that temporarily reduces wrinkles and folds in the skin.
Recent findings indicated that the product adhered to the stipulated manufacturing standards and was considered safe for usage. At the moment, MOH’s investigations are still under way.
The paradox arises: despite assurances of safety and quality compliance, why do adverse events such as these still transpire? It’s straightforward – even if products meet regulatory standards, the individual response to these treatments can vary, potentially resulting in unforeseen complications.
I've long advocated for a more natural and age-appropriate approach to maintaining youthfulness. When lines and wrinkles are emblems of a life richly experienced and lived, why get rid of them? It would be a never ending pursuit to defy the inevitable fact of life – ageing. And a futile, vicious cycle of chasing the impossible – eternal youth.
Wear your wrinkles proud, work with it with age appropriate skin care instead. Rather than pursuing invasive treatments aimed at reversing aging, why not explore a gentle and natural, yet effective approach to slow down the signs of ageing instead? And if you really must undergo aesthetic treatments, I encourage you to conduct a thorough research so you're fully cognizant of what the treatment entails, its possible long term side effects and risks.
#LinkedIn #BeautyTrends #BeautyIndustry #ProAgeing #PositiveAgeing
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Who said the best years are behind us? Society loves to tell us it's all downhill after 40 but I disagree. Your 40s, 50s, 60s are going to be the best decades of your life!
#LinkedIn #WomenEntrepreneurs #WomenEmpoweringWomen
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I haven’t always believed in the efficacy of organic products.
Not until I tried it on my own.
Those who knew me from when I was in my 20s (wow has it already been 30 years since?) know that I’ve struggled with really bad acne for many, many years.
It was a constant source of self-consciousness, leaving me feeling insecure and hesitant to make eye contact. I relied heavily on makeup to conceal my blemishes and oh, how I dreaded, after a long & tired day, the nightly ritual of removing it and seeing the harsh reality of getting more breakouts.
But it was also because of my skin issues that inspired me to take that first step into the beauty industry and so I took a leap and enrolled in beauty school in Singapore & Canada. 🎓
In Canada, I first learned of organic skincare. And making that switch to organic skincare completely transformed my skin, my relationship with my skin and in the process, my self-confidence.
Here’s a fun fact: while synthetic skincare products typically contain only 5 to 10% active ingredients (the ingredients that actually do the work), organic skincare products have up to 95% active ingredients.
⚡ That's nearly 9X the efficacy!
So when I started using such products on my skin, I ensured that my skin was absorbing the full nutritional benefits from the ingredients.
Organic skincare products are made of natural ingredients and these ingredients are grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and other additives or chemicals. Naturally, my skin loves this and responds positively to these pure formulations, showing significant improvement when nourished with only the finest ingredients.
Yet, upon returning to Singapore, I found myself breaking out once again. Realising that the products that worked for me in drier climates are now too heavy for our hot and humid climate, it propelled me to embark on a mission to create my own skincare – skincare that would be suitable for all climates.
My vision was to craft products that are not only organic and natural but also water-based. I wanted formulations that are so lightweight that they effortlessly absorb into the skin without feeling heavy, as if it was just sitting on the surface of the skin.
Versatility was also important. I wanted to develop functional skincare that can be used in any weather and climate so you can take them with you anywhere in the world and still benefit from it.
Right now, we continue to proudly stand as the first brand in Singapore to merge cutting-edge facial treatment technology with our organic, in-house formulations, maximizing their effectiveness like never before.
#LinkedIn #WomenEmpoweringWomen #OrganicSkincare #WomenEntrepreneurs
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In a world of instant gratification where we often want things fast and want them now, the allure of aesthetic treatments is undeniably tempting.
Promises of zero side effects, no downtime, and immediate results like a chiseled jawline or the erasure of wrinkles make it hard to resist.
Yet, I still stand firm in my belief that a more gentle approach is the key to ageing gracefully. After all, the long-term repercussions of injecting foreign substances into our bodies are still largely unknown and there have been so many instances of procedures gone wrong, so why risk it?
A gentler, more sustainable alternative is to prioritize overall well-being and complement it with skincare that contains natural, beneficial ingredients. Your jawline may not become immediately more defined and lines and wrinkles may not disappear completely but these methods help you age gracefully and preserve your natural beauty rather than attempt, in futile, to reverse the signs of ageing entirely.
Ageing is a fact of life – inevitable and natural. So why do so many people fear it and fight it so much?
Perhaps it’s driven by the false belief that it diminishes our value. But I believe that it’s a beautiful part of life that signifies growth, wisdom and experiences. Not everyone gets to live to our age.
In fact, our obsession with looking young overlooks the most important aspect of ageing: maintaining a healthy body and mind.
True beauty and health come from consistent, nourishing care. This is why the skincare and treatments at Kew Organics are designed to be clean, safe and non-toxic, working with your skin’s natural rhythm to provide long-term benefits and enhance your natural beauty and overall health.
There are truly so many more important things in life than chasing an unattainable ideal of beauty like health, relationships, and personal growth. For me, I’m excited about every year I become older. There’s nothing to fear about growing older. Let’s redefine beauty together, focusing on what truly matters and nurturing our skin with love and care.
If you’ve thoughts on this, I would love to connect and discuss!
#LinkedIn #WomenEmpoweringWomen #ProAgeing
© Shermaine Chua, 2025
