Founded in 1990, CHAKS Cosmetic Design & Services PTE LTD is a Singapore’s trailblazer in the cosmetics industry, renowned for its innovative approach to creating evidence-based cosmeceuticals tailored specifically for Asian skin. Strategically headquartered in Singapore, the company leverages its unique geographical location to bridge global trends from the US, Europe, and Asia, setting new standards in beauty innovation. As one of Singapore’s first ISO22716-certified Cosmetic GMP manufacturers, CHAKS has continually demonstrated its commitment to excellence, safety, and sustainability. CHAKS thrives on collaboration, partnering with companies across Asia and Europe to deliver groundbreaking products that exceed customer expectations. By integrating emerging technologies, trendy packaging solutions, and rigorous scientific testing, the company ensures high-quality, reliable, and environmentally conscious offerings. Its dedication to sustainability is exemplified by its ambitious “YAKITORI” growth strategy, focusing on holistic product design, sustainable raw materials, and impactful community initiatives like “Chill Padi,” which creates opportunities for youth with special needs. With a proven ability to address industry challenges such as high MOQs, limited development support, and complex commercialization processes, CHAKS empowers creators, small brands, and entrepreneurs to bring their visions to life. Driven by purpose, responsibility, and innovation, CHAKS continues to transform the global beauty landscape, redefining possibilities for brands and consumers alike from Singapore.
Chaks Cosmetic Design & Services was established in 1990. Could you walk us through some of the defining moments that have shaped the company over the years?
CHAKS, established in 1990, was founded with a mission to develop innovative, evidence-based cosmeceuticals tailored specifically for Asian skin, drawing inspiration from global trends in the US and Europe. Leveraging Singapore’s strategic location, CHAKS quickly emerged as a pioneering OEM/ODM cosmetic company, housing one of the first ISO22716-certified Cosmetic GMP manufacturing facilities in the country. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the company expanded its footprint into Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia, where it successfully registered over 35 products with BPOM, driving rapid growth. These formative experiences provided invaluable insights and a solid foundation for CHAKS’ broader global ambitions.
In 2023, CHAKS embarked on a transformative journey under the “YAKITORI” growth strategy, symbolizing a rebirth and a renewed commitment to holistic development. This strategic shift goes beyond business metrics, emphasizing the enhancement of organizational capabilities, and employee benefits fostering meaningful social impact. Initiatives like “Chill Padi,” which creates employment opportunities for youths with special talents or needs, reflect CHAKS’ dedication to making a positive difference. CHAKS remains steadfast in its purpose of delivering high-quality cosmetic and well-being products worldwide while upholding innovation, responsibility, and a profound sense of purpose.
What does innovation mean to Chaks, and how do you ensure the company stays at the forefront of the industry?
At CHAKS, innovation is defined by addressing meaningful, unresolved challenges that extend beyond mere product creation, aiming to positively influence a beautified and healthy society for current and future generations. This vision is deeply aligned with CHAKS’ purpose, philosophy, and the “YAKITORI” growth strategy. To remain at the forefront of the industry, CHAKS relies on three core elements. First, it emphasizes Consumer- and Customer-Centric Product Design, fostering a culture of inquiry and a “seek-to-understand” attitude to uncover needs, wants, and desires effectively. Second, CHAKS actively contributes to and immerses itself in scientific communities, such as the Society of Cosmetic Scientists, Singapore (SCSS), broadening its perspective through curiosity and external inspiration to identify new possibilities. Notably, CHAKS is a benefactor sponsor of SCSS, with its leadership holding influential roles such as an Advisory Council Member and Past President. With over 24 years of industry experience, including a tenure as Principal Scientist at Procter & Gamble, CHAKS’ leadership brings unparalleled expertise to the organization.
CHAKS builds and leverages third, a global technical ecosystem, founded on trust, to deliver end-to-end product innovations with precision. The company invests in groundbreaking technologies, such as a patented active delivery system for skin and hair, which ensures faster and more efficacious results, addressing industry challenges with a forward-looking approach.
Chaks has partnerships with companies across Asia and Europe. How did these collaborations impact the growth and identity of the company?
CHAKS’ collaborations work synergistically with its internal capabilities to develop innovative, high-quality products that transform customers’ visions into reality, surpassing what could be achieved through internal efforts alone. This approach fosters customer satisfaction and trust, which in turn fuels business growth through referrals and expanded reach.
These collaborations span diverse regions, each contributing unique strengths. In Asia-Japan, CHAKS focuses on scouting emerging innovative technologies and traditional niche ingredients that align with clients’ desires, going beyond basic needs. In Asia-Korea, the emphasis is on sourcing trendy and fashionable cosmetic packaging, reflecting Korea’s leadership in aesthetic innovation. In Europe, CHAKS ensures high quality, reliability, and scientific rigor through in vivo and in vitro safety and efficacy testing, partnering with European laboratories for dermatologist-approved sensitive skin solutions.
By leveraging the distinct strengths of these global partnerships, CHAKS delivers unparalleled value to its customers and consumers, ensuring their satisfaction while continually raising the bar for innovation and excellence.
How does Chaks ensure its products are safe and environmentally friendly?
CHAKS prioritizes both safety and environmental responsibility in its product development and manufacturing processes, ensuring high standards and sustainable practices. For safety, CHAKS collaborates with reputable European laboratories to conduct comprehensive product safety testing, including dermatologist evaluations. Only ingredients from trustworthy suppliers with full transparency are used, ensuring a consistent safety profile. The company invests in cutting-edge knowledge of ingredient interactions, applying this expertise to develop safe formulas and optimize manufacturing processes. This meticulous approach acknowledges that safety profiles can vary based on production methods, even with identical ingredients or formulas. On the environmental front, CHAKS fosters strong and transparent partnerships with raw material suppliers to holistically assess environmental impacts, spanning ingredient sourcing, manufacturing, and post-manufacturing life cycles. Guided by the “YAKITORI” growth strategy, CHAKS set ambitious targets to transition its raw material inventory to sustainable options by the 2023/24, 2025/26, and 2030/31 fiscal years, exceeding its first milestone for 2023/24. The company adopts a holistic approach to product design, integrating sustainability into ingredients, manufacturing processes, and more. Importantly, CHAKS ensures no compromise on functional performance, leveraging its technical ecosystem and internal formulation expertise to identify high-performing sustainable materials. By discovering new mechanisms of action for skin and hair benefits, CHAKS delivers products that not only match but exceed previous performance standards while advancing environmental sustainability. match but exceed previous performance standards while advancing environmental sustainability.
What Are the specific industry challenges that Chaks is well-positioned to solve?
The cosmetics industry faces significant challenges, including high production minimums (MOQs), limited development support, and complex commercialization processes such as regulatory compliance and safety testing, which hinder creators from turning unique ideas into marketable products. Additionally, creating distinct points of difference for brands remains a persistent struggle.
CHAKS addresses these challenges by providing personalized consultations, small-batch production, and comprehensive commercialization support. With its technically immersive and innovative solution capabilities, CHAKS enables creators to seamlessly transform their visions into reality, offering support at every phase of development—from initial ideation to scaling for growth—while fostering long-term relationships. By deeply understanding customer needs, desires, and aspirations, CHAKS identifies opportunities to reset and reshape global standards, redefining challenges and translating them into actionable product design criteria.
Notably, CHAKS extends its support to smaller brands, individual entrepreneurs, and even single creators, helping them bring their ideas to life. For instance, leveraging Singapore’s equatorial climate, CHAKS developed high-efficacy sunscreens tailored for hot and humid tropical conditions. These products deliver superior protection while maintaining comfort and usability, addressing a critical global beauty market need.
By overcoming industry limitations and empowering innovators at every stage, CHAKS transforms creative visions into market-ready products. Through its expertise, CHAKS delivers high-quality, innovative solutions that harmonize consumer desires with technical possibilities, enabling individuals and brands to confidently establish themselves in the beauty industry.
