☼ Welcome to the Sun Salon ☼
We sat down with Stephanie Dyer of Del Sol Salon to chat about her long-awaited skincare brand, Del Sol Salon.
When did you begin the journey of creating your brand Del Sol Salon, and why the beauty industry?
My journey to creating Del Sol feels like a life-long quest, I’ve known I wanted to start my own brand for as long as I can remember and have been quietly working on it for years. I thought up the brand name back in 2017 and bought the first domain in 2019, but it wasn’t until these final years that I sat down and got super clear on my vision and solidified the final concept.
It’s taken multiple failed ideas, many pivots, and countless setbacks to get to the point I’m at now of almost being ready to launch. I am the world’s most impatient person (a true aries), so this journey has definitely been one of growth; it’s forced me to be way less impulsive, to slow down and embrace the complications that come with starting a brand, and has taught me to look for inspiration in everyday life. I will admit though, now that I can see the finish-line I’m itching to show the world Del Sol , I’m just so proud of her.
I feel like skincare is such a fun space to create in, it’s a pretty special ritual that we get to experience and honestly it's a huge privilege that we take for granted. Though I’m mindful skincare isn’t saving the world, it has played a major role in my self-love journey and has always been a weird fixation of mine, I guess I just want to add to that ritual and help other people connect with themselves through their skin regime. I’ve teamed up with some of the best in the industry from skin specialists to industrial designers, to pioneer a whole new realm of skincare. Focusing on creating a premium product that holds true to the elements of my regime I love most, and pushes the envelope in areas of the industry that are yet to be touched.
What is your personal relationship and approach to skincare?
My relationship with skincare started as an insecurity for sure, I always loathed having freckles and when I was 12 I must have thought that if I exfoliated my face enough they would eventually all fall off haha (I’ve learnt to love them now and honestly kind of wish I had more).
Though my relationship with skincare has evolved over the years, the principle remains, in that it’s the way I connect with and pamper myself. I’d call my personal approach to skincare ‘mindful’ or ‘less is more’, I love the act of skincare just as much as the product itself. Standing squeaky clean in the bathroom, listening to a good sound track or being alone with my thoughts, preparing for the day ahead or winding down at the end of a long one, leaving a more connected, more glowing, version of you.
Growing up I’d make moisturisers out of beeswax & oils and sold them at markets, I’d play ‘day spa’ with my sister for hours, make smoothies and cookies that promote ‘youthful’ skin, forcefully lather friends faces with concoctions of bentonite clay and coconut charcoal , and have always felt a deep affinity to beauty products with clever marketing and aesthetic branding. I noticed that when I like the look of something, I find it way easier to make it a regular part of my routine - so I've definitely channeled this notion into the makings of Del Sol Salon.
How are you planning to redefine the beauty space?
There are so many incredible brands doing amazing things in the industry, I’ve made it a goal to ensure I’m not just developing more of something other brands are already doing so well - so I guess I’m redefining the beauty space by exploring uncharted territory and pushing some boundaries. Without giving too much away, our hero product leans heavily on the 60s beach scene as inspiration - there’s a real sense of nostalgia in our products. I’m a strong believer that skincare should be equal parts fun and effective, so our products are a kind of ode to that old-school summer feeling, while also focusing on creating high-level, efficacious skincare from the help of real experts in their field.
What does the word ‘beauty’ mean to you?
Gosh, beauty has so many forms! People that are unafraid to be themselves. Kindness. Belly laughing. Feeling self-assured. Confidence. True beauty is in the way you walk, talk and hold yourself. It’s the way you speak to someone and look them in the eye and have genuine interest in what they're saying. True beauty is in the way you’re able to connect with people, the way you’re able to make people feel comfortable. The most beautiful people I’ve ever met are the ones who take physical attributes off the pedestal and focus on everything else - it’s an energy! An energy that no matter what you look like you can possess and project into the interactions you have with people. Physical beauty is pretty vapid, and beauty standards are ever-changing so I definitely try not to hold onto aesthetics as a means to define beauty — but I do find glowing skin (lumps, bumps and all) can reflect a good soul and someone who looks after themselves, which I guess can indicate someone who takes care of others!
Describe the Del Sol muse in a few short sentences.
The Del Sol muse is the contemporary man or woman - the slow mover, the sun seeker, the romanticizer-of-life, the beauty connoisseur, the fast-paced business women or the low maintenance man that is looking to elevate his self-care routine. The Del Sol muse is ultimately anyone with skin who can appreciate the art of good, well thought out, skincare practices. We've thoughtfully designed our hero product to invite daily ritual undefined by gender, skin type, or age. Skincare is for everyone!
When can we expect to see what you’ve been working on? Can you give us any product hints …
Ohhh I’ve said too much already, but I guess the best way to describe the hero product is that it’s a love affair between a few of my favourite things, a hybrid if you will. Launch date coming soon, keep an eye on the Del Sol instagram for that one.
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