“We want to use ingredients that are abundant,” skincare maven Jun Lee says to me. This goal stands as just one pillar of the ethos behind Lee’s cult-favorite skincare line, EiR NYC, an athletics-based, all-natural collection of products. One of her most buzzed-about products is the sunscreen she places in front of me: Surf Mud, named for its brown tint and grainy appearance. Cocoa powder keeps the zinc oxide from blanching complexions, tea tree essential oil works as an antiseptic, and coconut and Vitamin E oils moisturize and soothe. All of these ingredients can be found at Whole Foods (or Amazon), and they’re 100% reef-safe. The formula makes a great makeup primer, and absorbs quite quickly. Much like the rest of the products in the line, it marries ease with a luxury experience. So, why hasn’t it been done before? And why is it being done now?
Photo Credit: EiR NYC
“I’m always on the go, so I needed very practical skincare solutions,” Lee says. “Just very utilitarian, because that’s how I am.” Lee herself is quite active, so when a surfing accident left her injured and looking for all-natural healing products, she found that the best remedies were the ones she made herself. Now, clients from across a spectrum of athleticism swear by her sunscreen and can’t perform without her deodorant. Between durable moisturizers, the coveted SPF, a range of post-workout recovery balms and a set of body oils and face products, EiR NYC’s multi-use appeal garners the support of the Lululemon crowd and serious athletes alike. “I see people in athleisure want to go from yoga to the grocery store to dinner, all while wearing the same outfit. Skincare hasn’t caught on until just now. For all the women wearing the one outfit, they’re not gonna do all the powders. I think people are becoming more low-maintenance,” Lee says.
Marketing towards a previously untapped base of active clients who also demand a luxury experience has done well for Lee, who considers herself just as much a consumer as a product developer. “I’ve tried every product under the sun from La Mer to ProActiv,” Lee says, who went through periods of bad skin in her 20s and 30s. Now, she’s much more minimalistic in her approach. “I just use a little bit of mist and a little oil, and I’m on the go. I know what I like, I know what smells good, and I know what feels good. I want people to have a good experience.” With simple yet effective products within EiR NYC, we’re convinced that Lee has cracked the code on practical skincare solutions.
Main photo credit: Seymour Templar
