When people ask me what inspired SIOL Skincare, they’re often surprised when I say Korean skincare.
I’ve spent years studying skincare science, and one thing Korean beauty gets absolutely right is this: healthy, glowing skin starts with hydration and a strong skin barrier. That’s a philosophy I completely believe in.
Where my journey takes a different path is with one key ingredient.
Many Korean skincare products rely on snail mucin, an ingredient loved for its ability to hydrate, soothe, and support the skin barrier. I wanted to achieve those same skin-loving benefits—but with a plant-based ingredient that aligned with my values.
That’s why I chose Tremella mushroom.
Often called the “beauty mushroom,” Tremella is naturally rich in polysaccharides that help attract and hold moisture in the skin. It supports hydration, helps skin feel soft and plump, and works beautifully alongside the other barrier-supporting ingredients I formulate with.
But SIOL doesn’t stop there.
While I admire Korean skincare’s focus on hydration, I wanted to build on that foundation by creating what I call a layered hydration system.
Instead of relying on a single form of hyaluronic acid, I use multiple molecular weights of hyaluronic acid, allowing hydration to work across different levels of the skin’s surface. I also pair that with ingredients like panthenol (Vitamin B5), ceramides, cholesterol, fatty acids, squalane, glycerin, aloe vera, and other carefully selected botanicals to help support the skin barrier and reduce moisture loss.
To me, hydration isn’t about one hero ingredient—it’s about creating a formula where every ingredient has a purpose and works together.
That’s the heart of SIOL.
Science inspired by nature.
Thoughtful formulation over trends.
Education over hype.
I have tremendous respect for Korean skincare because it helped shape the way I think about healthy skin. SIOL simply takes that philosophy and gives it my own signature—using Tremella mushroom as my hero ingredient while combining modern skin science with plant-powered ingredients that help skin look healthy, hydrated, and radiant.
At SIOL, I don’t believe skincare has to be complicated.
I believe it should be smart, transparent, barrier-focused, and made with ingredients that truly earn their place in every bottle.
Love, Michelle
Founder, SIOL Skincare
Science + Nature. Thoughtfully Formulated.
Note: While Tremella mushroom and snail mucin are both valued for their hydrating and skin-conditioning properties, they are different ingredients with different compositions. SIOL uses Tremella because it aligns with the plant-based philosophy of the brand while supporting the same overall goal of healthy, well-hydrated skin.