Palmer’s: Exclusive Interview with Robert Neis, President and CEO of E.T. Browne Drug Company

To celebrate 175 years as one of the best-loved brands in beauty, Palmer’s is launching three new ranges this coming January. Out of the three new lines, fans would probably be most excited by their new skincare line, Cocoa Butter Formula Facial Care.

After over a century, a skincare line may be a little overdue for the brand synonymous with banishing stretch marks. We’ve all waited a long time to experience the same goodness of Palmer’s cocoa butter on their faces.

It certainly seems like you can teach an old dog new tricks. Palmer’s facial range contains 10 products, from cleanser to CC cream. The line works to cover all bases of skincare: refining, cleansing, moisturising, treating and correcting.

The star of the range is the Multi-Effect Perfecting Facial Oil, which helps reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and hyper-pigmentation. The concentrated formula is made with nine pure oils (argan, macadamia, apricot, maracuja, rosehip, coconut, sweet almond, sesame and grapeseed), as well as vitamin E, antioxidant resveratrol, retinol and Cocoa Butter.

Marie France Asia nabbed an exclusive interview with President and CEO of the E.T. Browne Drug Company, Robert Neis. His father, Arnold Neis, bought the company in 1971, which became a household name thanks to Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula products. Here, we find out from Mr. Neis about the brand’s new venture into skincare.

Marie France Asia: What makes Palmer’s Cocoa Butter and Shea Butter different from other brands?

Robert Neis: Our cocoa butter and shea butter lotions are unique as it is lightweight and has a semi-occlusive coating that allows the skin to breathe. Our lotions also draw moisture from the surrounding atmosphere into the skin to dramatically enhance the moisture content of the skin. We’ve learnt certain techniques that allow us to blend natural cocoa butter into a luxurious natural cocoa butter lotion. Shea Butter in its raw state has a rough consistency and it requires lots of experience to blend it into an emollient base.

MFA: Has expanding into the facial line always been a vision for Palmer’s?

Robert Neis: About 10 years ago we began thinking about entering the facial category. Our feeling was that the world doesn’t need another facial care range unless it truly offers something different. We needed to make the facial formulas extra lightweight while still providing all the unique benefits that cocoa butter has to offer. We began our serious R&D effort on the range in 2008 and we finally perfected the formulas last year. It took a good 6 years of solid development and we are thrilled with the outcome. It’s an extraordinary range of luxurious facial care products that delivers all the unique benefits of cocoa butter.

MFA: What was the most important product to get right in the range?

Robert Neis: It became apparent that the Multi-Effect Perfecting Facial Oil had the potential to be the revolutionary breakthrough product. We focused a tremendous amount of resources on getting the exact blend of natural oils for the facial oil. The Multi-Effect Perfecting Facial Oil is the number one selling item in the range and was voted Product of the Year in Australia in a survey of over 15,000 consumers.

MFA: Which was the most difficult product of the line to develop?

Robert Neis: In technical terms, it would be the Skin Perfecting Moisturizing Day Cream and the Illuminating Brightening Eye Serum. Again this goes back to the challenges and technology required to formulate lightweight facial products using natural cocoa butter as the base and truly delivering those unique cocoa butter benefits in the finished formula.

MFA: If a woman could only buy one Palmer’s product, which do you recommend?

Robert Neis: That’s an easy one, without a doubt the Multi-Effect Perfecting Facial Oil. Everyone should use this product!

MFA: Is Palmer’s suitable for all skin types? Can people with oily skin benefit from cocoa butter?

Robert Neis: Yes, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter is absolutely suitable for all skin types. Cocoa butter melts at skin’s temperature and it works well with the skin’s natural oils. Because of these unique characteristics, Palmer’s products work on all skin types and are very well suited for oily skin.

MFA: Do you think oils are the future of skincare? If not what do you think would be next?

Robert Neis: Oils are certainly here to stay. However they are certainly not the entire future of skincare. Oils offer tremendous benefits but women still enjoy using creams and lotions as, in addition to being great moisturisers, they are often the ideal base for delivering active ingredients and maximizing their benefits. One interesting example of a base that may be used in future skin care formulations to maximize the effect of active ingredients is micro sponge technology.

MFA: How different is the Palmer’s brand from its beginnings to today?

Robert Neis: Palmer’s was founded in 1840 and is one of America’s oldest skin care companies. In the 1800’s Palmer’s made ointments and soaps, which in their day were revolutionary. With significantly more R&D resources and new technologies at our disposal, our new formulas are more advanced than ever. Our very latest launches such as the Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Skin Care range is free of paraben, phthalates, sulfates and contain no mineral oil, dyes, GMO’s or gluten. Palmer’s has been a natural brand since our first cocoa butter product in 1975, and today we are even more dedicated to delivering natural products at popular prices that help reveal women’s natural beauty.

MFA: What are some of Palmer’s future plans that consumers can look forward to?

Robert Neis: We’ve just launched a full range of indulgent Coconut Oil Formula Skin care products. The line… will soon be expanded to include body and facial scrubs and a number of other exciting products. We’re also reformulating and relaunching our Raw Shea Formula and Extra Virgin Olive Oil Formula skin care ranges to be free of parabens, phthalates, sulfates, mineral oil, dyes, GMO’s and Gluten. This is just the beginning. We also have several natural hair care ranges that will be launched within the next year as well as an exciting new lip care range. Our R&D center is keeping very busy these days.

Amanda Lim