From Beauty Therapist to Brand Founder: The One Thing I Learned in Over 20 Years

By Ng Soot Goh (Sharon Ng)
Founder, LA’DERM Professional Skincare | Chairwoman, Bonbeau Berhad | Penang, Malaysia

In 1997, I was a beauty therapist.

My work was simple: show up every day, sit face-to-face with clients, and help them with their skin. No grand plans. Just the work in front of me.

But it was during those years that I noticed something that would change everything.

The Gap Nobody Was Talking About
Most skincare products on the market were developed for temperate climates — the skin needs of women in Europe and North America. But the women I worked with every day lived in Malaysia, in heat and humidity, year-round.

Their skin challenges were completely different: excess sebum, moisture imbalance, clogged pores, constant UV exposure. Yet the products available were not designed for any of this.

That observation became the foundation of everything that followed.

LA’DERM Was Born in 2002
In 2002, I founded LA’DERM — with one clear mission: to develop professional skincare solutions specifically formulated for tropical climates and Asian skin.

What drove me then was not ambition for scale or recognition. It was a simpler, longer-term desire — to build a skincare brand that could genuinely accompany women through different stages of their lives.

Because skincare is not just external care. It is a long-term act of self-respect.

The Biggest Challenge: Being Underestimated
The hardest part of building LA’DERM was not funding or market access. It was being underestimated.

Many people did not believe a woman could sustainably run a brand, a distribution system, and a manufacturing facility. That doubt was sometimes spoken aloud. More often, it lived quietly in the room.

My response was to stop explaining and start building. Because I have always believed:
The best proof is in the work itself.

So year after year, I focused on one thing: building the product, the expertise, and the systems — step by step, with integrity. Because when the foundation is solid, time will speak for you.

Leadership Is Not the Spotlight
Over two decades, I have come to understand something about leadership: it is not about standing at the front. It is about creating conditions for your team to be seen.

The people who have truly carried LA’DERM to our customers are not the founders — they are the team members who show up every single day, building trust through consistent, genuine care.

My role is to set the direction, protect the values, and then make space for the team to grow.

To Anyone on This Journey
If you are building something, or thinking about whether to begin, I want to share this:
Entrepreneurship is never a solo journey. When you are willing to share the light with your team, the achievement travels further.

More than 20 years ago, I started as a beauty therapist in Penang. Today, LA’DERM is a recognised tropical skincare brand growing across the ASEAN market.

The journey was not short. But every step was built on solid ground.

About the Author
Ng Soot Goh (Sharon Ng) is the Founder of LA’DERM Professional Skincare and Chairwoman of Bonbeau Berhad, with over 28 years of experience in the beauty industry. LA’DERM was founded in Penang, Malaysia in 2002, specialising in skincare formulated for tropical climates and Asian skin. The brand currently works with over 200 beauty salon partners across Malaysia.
Skin Better Than Before.

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Specially formulated for tropical climates and diverse skin needs, LA’DERM believes every inch of your skin deserves gentle care. From lightweight textures to effective, skin-friendly ingredients, we’re committed to professional, safe, and sustainable skincare.
Let your skin thrive—naturally and beautifully.

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善美信仰 生生不息

献给每个矢志不渝耕耘的灵魂，你们值得被看见、被拥抱、被祝福。

✨负重前行 ✨
为品牌信仰而战，执着精神、奉献精神和专业精神这三种精神仍是LA’DERM的动力源泉.

✨坚守本心、固守本道 ✨
在善美的世界没有牺牲，只有选择。

✨展望未来 ✨
坚持变美变好, 让品牌变成我们的信仰，而信仰让选择变得简单。

#Laderm
#SkinBetterThanBefore

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【Top Valuable Brand最具价值品牌奖】

精简护肤 Laderm

于今年踏入20周年的专业护肤品牌 LA’DERM，秉持着为亚洲人设计精简护肤品的理念，结合专业美容知识和天然配方，多年来让无数人收获了”Skin Better Than Before”的美好体验。

SPECIAL THANKS TO STEG Hotel Kuala Lumpur

#LADERM
#LADERMMalaysia
#SkinBetterThanBefore
#topvaluablebrand
#BeautyAwards20222023
#SISTERSMagazine
#SISTERSMalaysia
#Sisters姊妹
#NextTrendMy
#BeautyTrendMalaysia
#STEGHotelKL

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Looking for the best Asian skincare solutions to your customers?

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✨LA’DERM WANT YOU ✨

✅ Product training by our brand consultant in translating the secrets of the natural ingredients that delivers the highest efficacy and skin compatibility
✅ Powered by technological innovation
✅ More than 200 Beauty Partnerships across Malaysia
✅ We deliver results – both for our partners and our customers
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LA’DERM originating in Italy, integrating scientific research of using natural raw ingredients – providing beauty & health lovers the highest quality products which made by the world’s best laboratories.

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Our vision has always been the unity of fulfilling a woman’s need in beauty and providing the best solution when it comes to empowering and making one feel beautiful.

“22 years of being in the industry, I always believe in being confident but at the same time remaining humble is the essential quality of success. The first rule to success, is to always have a kind and loyal heart that will lead you to the right path of entrepreneurship. Knowing your directions to persistently move towards your intended goal.“

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