Former science teacher and cosmetic chemist, Terri Vinson always felt the skincare industry was missing two key components: transparency and empowering the customer with a scientific understanding of their products. So she decided to create her own skincare brand and Synergie Skin was born. “Synergie Skin organically grew as a featured brand of this endeavour, allowing me to marry my passion for beauty and science,” Terri says.
“I have always been deeply compelled to inspire, educate and create. Plus I’m a beauty junkie!”
As a cosmetic chemist and biologist, Terri’s aim is to make people feel informed and empowered when it comes to their skincare choices. “In doing so, Synergie Skin offers highly active, safe, and ethical skincare products that do so much more than make a difference to their skin—it makes a difference to their inner confidence,” she explains.
And it’s not just the ingredients that are important to Terri: the name, she explains, has a lot of importance towards the company’s philosophy. “It’s not just a buzzword; it’s the science behind how everything should work together in harmony,” she says.
“There’s a synergy between skincare and makeup. If you use the very best skin care and put pore-clogging makeup over the top of it for the next ten hours, then you’re negating all the benefits of great skincare. So, your makeup has to complement and work in synergy with your skincare.
“Secondly, skincare and makeup have to work in synergy with your skin. If it’s not working in synergy, that’s when some ingredients can lead to breakouts and reactions.
“Thirdly, the ingredients of the product themselves must work in synergy. A lot of people don’t understand that formulating isn’t just about throwing a bunch of ingredients into a pot and calling it a product. It’s a science and you have to understand how those ingredients work together in synergy to get the best results.”
Since she began formulating the Synergie Skin products 20 years ago, the business has grown exponentially. “It’s larger than I ever imagined!” Terri says.
Terri says Synergie Skin’s key point of difference is that they harness the most effective aspects of both science and nature, based on clinical data and scientific expertise.
“At the heart of Synergie Skin is my trademarked ‘Clean Science’ philosophy, which encompasses my commitment to marrying the best of laboratory synthesised ingredients together with the best naturally derived ingredients to create results-driven skincare, free from questionable ingredients and that, most importantly, improves your skin health.
“We are proudly Australian-made and solely owned by a female scientist and cosmetic chemist (that’s me) offering evidence-based skincare and intelligent mineral makeup to deliver customers visible long-term results.
“As a mother, I have always felt that if I won’t put it on my face, or my children’s face then I won’t put it on my customers’ face. Encompassing this philosophy, I coined the term ‘Clean Science’ meaning all Synergie products are ethically formulated harnessing the synergy of science and nature, without the addition of questionable or potentially harmful ingredients.”
Terri loves all her products but there’s one she really couldn’t live without. “Vitamin B serum is hands down the product that would put me into a state of anxiety if I was without it for a day!” she says.
“The superhero ingredient niacinamide is my personal favourite, for several reasons. It’s a dream to work with as a formulator: it’s stable, penetrates the skin easily to reach those target cells, and is gentle on every skin type. Niacinamide has so many amazing skin benefits, including: Improving the skin’s barrier function, promoting better skin immunity to fight off environmental aggression, improving tone and texture, increasing hydration levels through increasing ceramide production, enhancing collagen production to reduce fine lines and increase skin firmness.”
A powerhouse ingredient indeed!
Visit Synergie Skin to find out more.
In her spare time, she likes long walks down the makeup aisle and performing in Brisbane theatre. You can follow her adventures on Instagram and TikTok @thebeautypalate.
