Mother Stories
Momboss: Lucy Vincent of Sans [Ceuticals]
Written by James Kicinski-McCoy
Photography by Photographed by Leilani Heather
May 30, 2018
When thinking of the products tucked away inside the cosmetics cabinet or dutifully perched on the ledges of the bathtub or shower, one would hope the first words that come to mind are adjectives such as: natural, non-toxic, and above all, safe. Unfortunately, in today’s beauty industry, which capitalizes on everything from a women’s body image to chemical-filled products, it is rarely the case. Dedicated to the pursuit of creating results-driven, pure products, today’s Momboss is working towards turning the beauty industry on its head—both in quality and aesthetics—with her small-batch range of hair and skin care products, Sans [Ceuticals].
Hailing from the sunny harbors of Auckland, New Zealand, this apprentice hairdresser turned clean-beauty maven and mother-of-two (Billy, 13, and Jonny, 11) dives deep into the process of creating active, natural, and tailored products by researching everything from ingredient levels to trichology (Google that, it’s a thing!) Today, the dedicated super-mom invites us into her home, work space, and community garden to discuss all things hair, skin, and motherhood.
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- “I am the founder of specialist skin and hair care line, Sans [Ceuticals].”
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- “I wake up every morning and am excited to dive into work. I love what I do and I love the people I work with. Plus, I genuinely believe we are creating something that is authentic and honest, which I feel very proud of.”
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- “I was an apprentice hairdresser. At the age of 24, I moved to Auckland—New Zealand’s biggest city—and opened a hairdressing salon with my partner. Within three years, we had opened our second salon and the year after that, we added two specialist skin clinics to the mix.”
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- “I started developing the brand in 2007. It was born from the frustration of not being able to find pure, natural, results-driven products that were also thoughtfully designed and sustainable. I was working closely with a couple of dermatologists, so I was really able to understand skin at a fundamental level. And, I knew I wanted products that could have a noticeable effect on skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis. Because of my background as a hair stylist, I also wanted to create high-performance hair care that had the ability to repair damaged strands. Creating a natural, performance-driven formulation has been something of a challenge with hair care, but I believe we have finally achieved it. When I was studying to become a hairdresser, I fell in love with trichology—a medical and cosmetic study of the hair and scalp. I have always loved science and am a voracious researcher. I also spent a lot of time with a dear friend who is a biotech scientist carrying out exciting research in the field of cancer. She is a massive beauty junkie and would spend hours talking me through ingredients and how cells work.”
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- “I was lying in bed one day with the flu and came up with an acronym for 'sans'—sustainable and natural skincare—which in French means ‘without.’”
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- “My parents have always been self-employed. They owned hotels, which we were a part of and lived in, so the idea of running your own business seemed really natural.”
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- “I find the term ‘boss’ foreign, and for me, it denotes someone who is in charge or potentially domineering. I like to think of my leadership approach as collaborative. Having said that, I do think being a mother makes you a better businesswoman. It makes you a better editor and more efficient.”
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- A minimalist's mood board.
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- “My mum is my all-time momboss. She was always self-employed and a great businesswoman, not to mention warm, loving, and always there. We had a family meal every night and because she is a chef, the food was always super wholesome and delicious. Well, sometimes. To be completely honest, whole-wheat spaghetti and spinach sauce was a staple in our house, and something I frequently gagged on.”
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- “Juggling kids and running a company is an ever-changing beast. Just when you think you have your systems down, the whole game changes. Constantly having to remember things, not drop the ball, and keep the well-oiled machine that is life moving, while dynamic and interesting, can be really taxing at times! One thing I have learned in my 44 years of life is that balance is a thing that is never achieved, but more a constant state of effort, reassessment, and tinkering to find the right way to keep the above mentioned balls in the air smoothly.”
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- “There is no right, only perspective or approaching difficulties with curiosity, not defensiveness.”
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- “Startups require a huge amount of energy, time, and dedication, as do children. So, I would say be careful about timing and not taking too much on at once. One thing I have learned is that it’s better to do fewer things well than a lot of things averagely.”
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- “I love the quote by Lao Tzu, ‘Water is fluid, soft, and yielding. But, water will wear away rock, which is rigid and cannot yield. As a rule, whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. This is another paradox: what is soft is strong.’ Running a business (and living life in general) means there are surprises and curveballs every step of the way, which can serve as great opportunities to be creative. So, I find the best approach after an initial ‘WTF! moment' is to be curious and discover the alternative routes which lie ahead.”
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- “Organization.”
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- “I like to cook or go out for a long walk on the beach.”
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- “First, my phone and laptop. My life is run off of these little things. Second, I discovered Trello from a dear friend and it has transformed how I run my business.”
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- The community garden where Lucy and her family spend much of their time.
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- “Kelmarna Gardens is a 4.5-acre farm and organic community garden set right in the heart of Auckland city. The team at Kelmarna is passionate about organic gardening and exclude the use of chemical sprays and artificial fertilizers. Locals can buy mixed-bag produce from the garden shed on site, and many volunteers have their own vegetable plots. They offer many community workshops, and local schools are able to go to Kelmarna to learn about sustainable practices.”
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- “I usually feel uninspired when I’m run down, so rest and eating well usually does the trick.”
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- “Jeans, boots, a white singlet, and a blazer.”
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- “I’ll usually make a bento box of leftovers. If we’re having an office treat, it’s hands down, Chana Masala, cucumber salsa, and raita from the local Indian restaurant down the road.”
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- “I appreciate strong organization skills, someone who is self-directed and creative in their thinking, and someone with a great personality.”
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“We are working on a concise collection of skincare products for the face called the Superdose Collection. I was chatting to a dermatologist recently who said he sees a lot of inflammation and skin sensitivity from overly-complicated skincare regimens. After working in the beauty industry for over twenty years, I have been frustrated that most cosmeceutical skincare requires purchasing multiple creams and serums to be effective. We are working on a more simplified, yet targeted approach combining key actives such as A,B,C, and E in one formulation to really deliver results.”
For more on Lucy, Sans [Ceuticals], and her family, visit her here and here.
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