Meet Lee Lian, the visionary behind Skincomm. With over 25 years of experience in the beauty and wellness industry, she combines her deep industry expertise with a mission to create skincare and supplement solutions that are backed by clinical science and designed for real, lasting results.
Skincomm was born out of a desire to build a more scalable and resilient business after exiting a successful chain of beauty spas. For Lee Lian, the goal is more than just glowing skin—it’s about creating holistic systems that improve health, support livelihoods, and help others thrive in uncertain times.
What inspired you to develop the Skincomm UNICEL System, and how did the journey begin?
My partner Dr. Eileen and I have been in the beauty and wellness industry for over 25 years. For the first 15 years, we ran a chain of beauty spas. Around that time, we were approached by a company interested in acquiring our business.
After some negotiation, we agreed to the acquisition. The acquiring company was merging several businesses with the goal of scaling up, and as part of the deal, we remained on board under a three-year employment contract.
When that contract ended, we had to decide whether to continue with the merged entity—especially since we still held a small share in the new company. After much discussion, we chose to exit. Not long after our departure, the COVID-19 lockdown hit.
During this uncertain time, I personally started a pet supply e-commerce business, which did reasonably well for about a year and a half. Eventually, I handed it over to a relative who wanted to continue it.
Meanwhile, my partner reached out and suggested we start something new together. That conversation gave birth to Skincomm. We started brainstorming the business model and, with our extensive experience in the service-based spa industry, we realised the limitations and challenges that came with it—labour shortages, rental constraints, and scalability issues.
This reinforced our decision to pivot to a product-based business model, which is more scalable and resilient. What truly drove us to start Skincomm was witnessing how the pandemic disrupted lives.
We felt that if we could create a business model with a strong product line, we could not only build something more future-proof but also offer a platform for others to regain stability and financial independence.
How does UNICEL differentiate itself from other skincare products on the market?
Whether it’s the UNICEL System, our skincare range, or AgeREcode®, our oral supplement, our approach is unique. We intentionally keep our product line small—just 5 to 7 carefully formulated items—because we focus on creating all-in-one solutions backed by science.
The UNICEL series is designed to address multiple skin concerns for all skin types. Unlike many brands that offer 10 to 30 products across various ranges, each targeting different concerns, we’ve developed multifunctional formulations that rejuvenate, repair, and balance the skin at the cellular level.
Beyond claims, we have sent our products to a Singapore lab at NTU for both in-vivo and in-vitro testing and the efficacy results were highly impressive. Not many skincare companies go through this level of testing, but we believe it’s essential to prove our products work.
What were the biggest challenges in creating a science-based skincare system, and how did you overcome them?
Creating science-based products requires the right experts. Our R&D team includes in-house specialists and collaborative partners with deep expertise in formulation science. The process wasn’t easy.
It took us 2.5 years just to finalise the skincare formulation. We tested and revised the formulation multiple times, each time requiring new clinical tests. We personally tested every batch for texture, feel, scent (our products are free from artificial fragrances), and potential sensitivity.
Every detail matters—whether it’s the absorption rate, tackiness, or overall user experience. Once we were satisfied, we sent the products for formal clinical tests. These tests aren’t cheap and take months to complete.
But for us, investing in scientific validation was non-negotiable.
A good entrepreneur looks for strategic partnerships, aiming for not just win-win outcomes, but win-win-win—where you win, your partner wins, and the customers win too.
Can you share a success story that highlights the effectiveness of Skincomm products?
One of the most memorable stories came from a Malay aunty in her early seventies who struggled with joint inflammation and had to rely on a walking cane.
After being introduced to our *AgeREcode®oral supplement—100% vegan with 29 active ingredients, including four patented ones—she began taking it. Within just five days, she returned to us, excited and emotional, saying she could now walk without her cane. She even recorded a video testimonial and demonstrated walking unaided.
This transformation not only allowed her to regain her mobility but also gave her the confidence to travel with her family again—something she had previously avoided out of fear of being a burden. She later shared her story on stage at one of our events, breaking down in tears of gratitude.
That moment made us feel truly accomplished, knowing we had contributed to someone’s quality of life. We’ve had many such stories—improvements in cholesterol, blood pressure, and energy levels—but hers was particularly heartwarming.
What do you think makes a good entrepreneur?
I’ve been an entrepreneur for about 26 years now. To me, a good entrepreneur is not someone who says, “I’m the boss, I don’t need to do this,” or someone who thinks they call all the shots simply because they own the business.
Yes, we often hear about grit, perseverance, and resourcefulness—but there’s more. You need an open mind and the willingness to learn constantly. I wouldn’t say I’m a specialist in any one area, but I understand many things, because running a business requires knowledge across the board.
Everyone in the company plays a vital role. A good entrepreneur must understand how everything is linked and learn how to manage the business as a whole. Key traits include resilience, determination, focus, adaptability, and the willingness to take risks—especially at the beginning, when the outcome is uncertain.
It’s also essential to have a collaborative mindset. A good entrepreneur looks for strategic partnerships, aiming for not just win-win outcomes, but win-win-win—where you win, your partner wins, and the customers win too. Ultimately, success in entrepreneurship takes hard work, humility, and the ability to bring people together.
What’s your vision for Singapore in the next five years?
I believe technology and AI will continue to advance rapidly. This will inevitably lead to job displacement for those who do not upskill or reskill. Even for those who do acquire new skills, if they don’t learn how to work with AI tools effectively, they may still fall behind.
Technologies like ChatGPT and others are evolving constantly, and if we rely on them blindly without truly understanding how to use them, that becomes a problem.
To me, AI should be our assistant—our AI “employee”—not our boss. We must be clear in directing AI to work for us, not the other way around. If we simply accept whatever AI generates without critical thinking, it could lead to poor decisions.
I also worry that excessive reliance on AI might make younger generations lazier, and even older generations might struggle to keep up if they don’t adapt quickly.
At the same time, I believe we will see a rise in entrepreneurship. If you look at countries like China, many people are already leveraging AI, social media, and livestreaming platforms like TikTok to earn a living creatively.
In Singapore, however, people are still quite comfortable. When these disruptions hit us at full speed, it will be a wake-up call. I believe the transformation will be drastic.
If you could have a superpower for one day, what would it be and why?
If I could have a superpower for just one day, I would want the ability to stop wars. Right now, conflicts are happening across the world—even in counties close to Singapore. If I had that power, I’d use it to bring peace.
Connect with Lee Lian: Skincomm, LinkedIn and Facebook.
Lee Lian is a member of Rainmaker, a revolutionary movement that rallies like-minded people together based on the values of Love, Authenticity, Respect, Kindness and Youthfulness (LARKY).
*This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is a dietary supplement intended for general wellness.
