Skincare brand Allies of Skin was inspired by a serious accident – now, it’s drawing attention worldwide with its groundbreaking products using growth factor serum, Singaporean founder Nicolas Travis explains
Travis’ brand is stocked by retailers like Sephora, Space NK, Mecca and Cult Beauty, and boasts fans from Uma Thurman to Pedro Pascal and January Jones
Nicolas Travis’ determination to succeed is born out of personal tragedy. At 19, a traumatic accident at home left him with severe facial injuries. Then came infections following the reconstructive surgery, all of which led him to attempt suicide.
Intensive therapy eventually helped him recover. “I had always hated myself, and I realised that if I could somehow channel that pain into helping other people feel more confident or even more fearless in their own skin, then this would have been worth it,” he says.
“Nobody was really talking about it,” recalls the Singaporean of the biotechnological ingredient, said to have skin repair and anti-ageing benefits.
Despite being under the radar, the Allies of Skin Multi Peptides & GF Advanced Lifting Serum became a bestseller, cementing the brand’s niche in advanced, results-driven beauty.
These days, growth factors are a beauty buzzword, with brands like The Ordinary launching high-profile campaigns to promote their own serums. Despite more affordable versions being available, Allies of Skin’s growth factor serum continues to sell out quickly and customers often have to be wait-listed for fresh stock.
Travis sees this as validation of the pioneering work his brand has done. “Now, many brands are zooming in on growth factors. I am really happy because this megaphone only creates a halo effect on this ingredient. I think this actually helps indie brands like ours,” he says.