Giselle Go and Philippe Terrien lead with a perspective that feels increasingly rare in beauty and business, one grounded in restraint, clarity, and long-term thinking. As the founders of DAMDAM, a Japanese skincare line rooted in ritual, ingredients, and everyday care, they’ve built something that reflects how they actually live.

For Giselle, that mindset was shaped by growing up between cultures, where beauty centered on maintenance and respect over correction. For Philippe, it came from recognizing a disconnect in the skincare space, where complexity and constant newness often overshadow what truly matters. “What felt missing was that balance of effective products grounded in skin science, but sensorial, and connected to a deeper philosophy of care,” he shares.

Together, they bring a shared point of view to their work, one that prioritizes simplicity without compromise and depth over speed. It’s an approach that extends beyond skincare, shaping how they build, lead, and define what it means to create something that lasts.

For those discovering DAMDAM for the first time, how would each of you describe what you do in your own words?

Giselle Go: Sharing the precision and beauty of Japanese skincare for a contemporary, global community. 

Philippe Terrien: My understanding of beauty and care was shaped by everyday rituals and a broader cultural mindset, with special attention to ingredients. I do not like the idea of resisting nature as we live with it, so practices rooted in nature always resonated well to me, going from what we ingest as food to skincare and overall well-being. For me, everything is personal and intentional.

What were some of the early influences, whether personal or cultural, that shaped how you see beauty and care?

Giselle: Growing up between cultures, I was always taught that beauty is about prevention, maintenance and respect for our skin, for time, for ingredients, and for process. 

Philippe: What stood out to me was a growing disconnect in the skincare space worldwide and Japan. On one hand, there was an overload of products: trend-driven and quick cycles. On the other, something essential felt overlooked, like a sense of intention and simplicity for caring for your skin.

I do not like the complicated routines, with multiple steps, with a vague purpose, and I was feeling that it was more about selling performance rather than a meaningful ritual. Many brands were speaking about nature and natural ingredients, but sometimes in a superficial way, prioritizing aesthetics over roots and actual practice.

What felt missing was that balance of effective products grounded in skin science, but sensorial, and connected to a deeper philosophy of care. 

Before DAMDAM, what were you paying attention to that made you feel like something was missing in the skincare space?

Giselle: A lot of noise around harsh actives, virality, and quick results. There was very little conversation around barrier integrity, longevity, and overall long-term skin health.

Philippe: From a formulation standpoint, I felt there was a lack of balance. Either very natural but not effective, or highly clinical but disconnected from experience. We felt there was space for a brand to bring both together.

Many Japanese traditions center around doing simple things exceptionally well. How does that idea show up in your work?

Giselle: We don’t overbuild formulas, we don’t overcomplicate routines. Each product has a clear role, each ingredient has a reason to be there. Japanese craftsmanship is key because of the precision, repetition for perfection, and attention to detail that manifests in all our formulas.

Philippe: That idea is really at the core of how I approach everything. We focus on what matters. Each product starts with a clear purpose, and we work to perfect that single goal: the right texture, the right balance of ingredients, the right sensory experience. Doing something well isn’t about minimal effort. On the contrary, it takes a lot of attention to detail, iteration, and patience. 

For you, what matters more: where an ingredient comes from, how it’s processed, or how it’s formulated?

Giselle: It’s never one in isolation. It’s the relationship between all three. An ingredient can be exceptional in origin, but without the right cultivation, processing or formulation, its efficacy won’t translate to the skin. What matters is how those elements are integrated: sourcing high-quality ingredients from the right “terroir,” cultivating them in a way that amplifies their strength, enhancing through processes like fermentation, and formulating them in a way that the skin can easily absorb.

Philippe: They’re deeply interconnected. Formulation is where everything ultimately comes together and either works or doesn’t. You can source an ingredient from the most pristine environment, but if it’s poorly cultivated or processed or not thoughtfully formulated, its potential is lost. Methodology makes a huge difference in how an ingredient performs on the skin.

Likewise, advanced formulation can only go so far if the raw materials lack integrity. So it really starts with respect for the ingredient, where it comes from, how it’s grown or harvested, but that respect has to carry through every step. Formulation is the final expression. It’s about creating something that is not only effective, but also stable, sensorial, and intuitive to use. It’s where art and science meet.

Do you think the industry has oversimplified the idea of “clean,” and if so, where do you see the biggest misunderstandings?

Philippe: Yes, I think the industry has oversimplified “clean.” It created more confusion. One of the biggest misunderstandings is reducing “clean” to a binary: good vs. bad ingredients. In reality, safety and efficacy are far more nuanced. An ingredient isn’t inherently harmful just because it sounds “chemical,” and something natural isn’t automatically better or safer. Concentration, formulation, and how it’s used matters enormously.

Another issue is the reliance on exclusion lists as a shortcut for trust. Simply saying what you don’t include can distract from what you do include and why. For me, a more meaningful approach is ingredient and formulation integrity: thoughtful sourcing, responsible processing, safe and effective formulation, and clear communication. It’s about the care and rigor that goes behind every product.

How has building something together shaped the way you think about partnership, both in business and in life?

Giselle: We approach things differently, but we have a shared vision and our core values are deeply aligned so we have a level of trust where we can challenge each other without losing sight of what we want to build together in our personal life and at work.

Philippe: Building something together made me see our partnership as a shared commitment that probably none of us two could fully realize alone. In business, it taught me the value of complementary perspectives. It requires a lot of listening and the ability to make decisions without ego.

On a personal level, building something meaningful with my partner means learning how to evolve together and stay connected through change. At the end of the day, it’s about trust, respect, and a shared purpose.

Wellness and skincare are often treated separately. How do you see the relationship between internal health and what shows up on the skin?

Giselle: Skin is a reflection of how our body is functioning. Stress, inflammation, sleep, nutrition. All of these show up on the skin. Skincare plays an important role in supporting and protecting the barrier, which is the skin’s primary function, but the skin is only one part of a larger system. What we eat, how we manage stress, and the physical and mental load we carry all have a direct impact, so caring for the skin also means paying attention to these foundations. Philippe and I always try to spend time in the garden, read a book, take a long bath, eat fresh food, and do yoga as a way to support our overall sense of wellness.

If everything were stripped back, what do you think truly matters when it comes to taking care of yourself?

Giselle: Consistency over overcompensation.

Philippe: When you remove the excess, what remains are the fundamentals: consistent habits that support your well-being over time. Small acts like washing your face or taking a moment to step outside can instantly shift how you feel. There’s also an element of respect: treat your body and mind not as something to fix, but as something to support.