James Vivian’s clients call him “the face whisperer”. And until now, you’ve only been able to benefit from his dermal expertise with an appointment at one of his clinics in Melbourne or Sydney.
Enter Viviology: Vivian’s new range of cosmeceutical skincare, aimed at being, he says, “everything you need and nothing you don’t, in addition to being as confusion-free as possible”.
The new line includes six skincare helpers, all with active ingredients: a foaming cleanser; a liquid exfoliant; a retinol serum; a hydrating niacinamide and hyaluronic acid serum; a brightening vitamin C serum; and a ceramide moisturiser. Prices start at $35 for the cleanser, with the most expensive item – the retinol serum – clocking in at $59.
The packaging is recyclable, and, with its minimalist but playful design, will look great on your bathroom benchtop.
“Creating a cosmeceutical range of skincare from scratch during a global pandemic certainly created … some limitations,” Vivian says. “Throughout the creation process, there was only one opportunity for the Viviology team to be in a room together, and on one particular day we were discussing packaging.
“We were all going crazy over some beautiful packaging that had a matte finish. We were unanimous that it was our favourite, until we were told that [it] couldn’t be recycled. Creating a range of skincare that was sustainably minded was really important to us. Viviology packaging is made with 30 per cent recycled plastic, and we needed our packaging to be recyclable too.”
Ultimately the team opted for a gloss finish, which “still looks fab” Vivian says. “And we feel really glad to have chosen the environment over aesthetics.”
BS: Why did you decide to launch your own product line? Is it because you found over the years you were missing certain things in the products you were using at the clinic?
JV: Look, really the last thing this industry needs is another skincare brand. But when Kate Morris from Adore Beauty – a long-term client and friend of ours – flagged the possibility of creating a range of cosmeceutical skincare that works, at a low price-point, with an emphasis on inclusivity and education, I could see that we were creating something really unique and overdue for our industry. We have not reinvented the wheel. We’ve formulated [the range] with ingredients that we know work and recommend daily to our clients already. Just add in a pop of colour and a skin pun, and say hello to Viviology.
BS: Can you highlight a couple of products in the line you’re most excited about?
JV: I love cleansing my face and I see this step as such a crucial one in a skincare routine, so making a kick-ass foaming cleanser was really important to us. It’s the first step in a skincare routine, and if you don’t get it right, you can throw off everything else you apply. We’ve created a really gentle yet foaming gel cleanser that cleanses truly, madly and deeply while removing make-up, and is safe to be used around the eyes.
The moisturiser is another personal fave. This was the product that took the most amount of time to perfect as we wanted this to be a go-to for as many skin types as possible. Skin not overly dry? Just use a little. Skin needs a greater drink of water? Don’t be stingy. This is quickly becoming a crowd fave among our clients, so I think we’ve got something really special here.
BS: What makes Viviology different to other Australian skincare products on the market?
JV: My years of studying, trialling and recommending skincare are in each bottle. We are also working hard to help empower our customers with knowledge so they can become more connected with their skincare and thereby their skin.
BS: How long has the line been in development for?
JV: It’s been two years since Kate and I first began our initial conversations. Being a client of James Vivian, Kate was keen to help bring the James Vivian experience into bathrooms across Australia.
BS: The scents in the range are so divine. How did you develop them?
JV: The fragrance aspect of the process was a tricky one. Scents can be so polarising, as well as a potential for irritation and photosensitivity. We took the fragrance aspect really seriously and did everything we could to use natural fragrances in a subtle yet unique way. I love the faint scent of clove that runs through the range, in addition to the freshness that the citrus blend brings, especially when cleansing your skin in the morning.
BS: What can't you stand about other skincare products, and how did that influence your own line?
JV: Brands that recommend their products can only be used together grinds my gears a little. It’s impossible for every brand to be everything to everyone. Everyone’s skin and needs are so different, and they also change from season to season, year to year. As a clinic, being able to create skincare routines for our clients that can be selected across multiple brands allows us to best target each client and allows for room to move as their skin changes.
BS: If our readers can only afford to buy two to three of the products, which ones should they be?
JV: It depends on what someone may have already. One of the great aspects of Viviology is that you can use them all as a set of six, or you can pick and choose and mix them with products from other brands. My suggestion to anyone would be to only get what you need, but a great start would be the Gentle Foaming Cleanser ($35), Liquid Exfoliant ($45) and Ceramide Moisturiser ($45).
Viviology is available for purchase at Adore Beauty.
