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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