In conversation with Katey Mandy
What was the original idea or moment that sparked this product?
The original idea came from challenging convention: asking why night formulas deliver everything at once when skin repairs in phases. We’ve been investing in research around the skin’s circadian rhythms for years, and one thing became increasingly clear – the skin doesn’t behave uniformly overnight.
There are distinct windows of receptivity (“power hour” of penetration from 8-10pm), repair (peak repair window is 10pm-2am) and recovery (2am – 6am). That insight shifted everything. Working alongside Dr. Daniel B. Yarosh, we began exploring exactly how the skin moves through these biological stages and how a formula could mirror those biological stages rather than deliver actives all at once. That became the genesis of Lunar Veil.
Instead of behaving like a traditional night cream, we designed a chrono-active treatment with three sequential phases: an opening phase of hydration and gentle resurfacing during skin’s evening “power hour”, a deeper renewal phase during peak nocturnal repair, and a final recovery phase that reinforces the barrier toward morning.
What feeling or outcome did you want someone to experience when using it?
Comfortable, but intelligent. I want someone to understand that circadian skin science is doing its job on your behalf as they sleep, but equally, I just want the Lunar Veil to provide comfort. Especially as it’s a formula being applied before bed, I want it to almost cocoon and cushion the skin in a blue cuddle. That emotional softness matters to me as well.
How did you decide which ingredients were essential to the formula?
The brief was quite literally: “we want people to look like they have had the best sleep of their life”. From there, every ingredient had to earn its place. From the beginning, our most foundation ingredients were DNA repair enzymes. Dr. Yarosh pioneered this technology, and it felt extraordinary to build around an ingredient that supports repair so deeply. His work is incredible. DNA Repair Enzymes can decrease the skin’s DNA repair time from twelve to two hours.
The other aspect we wanted to focus on was creating a gentle-as-can-be exfoliation. Our focus was to allow people to wake up with fresher and more rested skin. For that, we chose mandelic acid in an encapsulated system that releases really slowly overnight. NAD+ precursors were another important inclusion to that layer, because they work at a deeper energetic level, by supporting renewal and resilience.
Lastly, there are our circadian-support actives such as Derma-Clock™, which features our Geo-Renewal Complex™ of New Zealand algae, mānuka honey, peptides and ferments, alongside ceramides, biomimetic lipids and postbiotic ferments. Together, they all work to strengthen the skin barrier.
What was the ‘must-have’ ingredient that defined the product from the beginning?
DNA repair enzymes. Without question. They were the anchor around which everything else was built.
How important was texture in the development process?
Massively important. With all of our formulas, texture is part of efficacy because it shapes ritual. If you don’t look forward to using something, it never becomes part of your life. We don’t take for granted that our community chooses us for moments of self-care. And with that, we spend a lot of time making products feel elevated: the touch, the slip, the scent, the colour.
What were you trying to achieve in terms of sensory experience (weightless, rich, fast-absorbing, etc.)?
Cushion-soft and whipped, with an almost cloud-like creaminess that melts into skin without residue. The dreamy natural pale-blue hue comes from fermented chamomile, which was very fitting and there’s a subtle botanical scent that is designed to soften and fade as skin settles into rest. I wanted it to feel enveloping but never heavy. Like a veil, really.
How many iterations did it take to get the final feel right?
Many. More than any product we’ve done. The lab will laugh reading this; it was probably our most challenging formula to date. It was originally meant to launch alongside the RAESO rebrand, but we pushed timing because it simply wasn’t ready. Getting the chrono-delivery technology, the actives and that sensorial elegance to coexist took a lot of refinement. But I think the extra time gave us something far more special.
Raeso has such unique packaging already – what was the thinking behind the packaging design and aesthetic direction for this product?
I’s such a fun part of the development of a new product because every shape is different. Because it was a jar, we wanted it to feel in conversation with the Cocoon Ceramide Cream, but have its own identity. All our packaging is inspired by the white river-worn stones found in New Zealand’s alpine rivers. I’ve always loved how those stones are shaped slowly over time by water and movement, they feel timeless, sculptural and calming to hold. The design encourages a slower, more considered ritual, which aligns with RAESO’s philosophy of working with the skin’s natural biology rather than overwhelming it with a plentitude of products.
How do you balance functionality with visual identity?
Function always leads. We never want design to compromise the experience; so no overdesigned closures, no beautiful things that become frustrating to use. The poetry has to perform. Ideally the object feels sculptural, but also instinctive in the hand.
How would you describe where this product sits within your range or category?
This is no ordinary night cream. Think of it more like a time-programmed treatment system designed to work in sync with your skin’s overnight biology. Rather than simply hydrating, it delivers time-released actives that support regeneration, barrier repair, and visible skin renewal while you sleep. It’s the most advanced expression so far of our Circadian Skin Science™ philosophy. A time-programmed overnight treatment designed to support regeneration, repair and visible renewal while you sleep. I often say it’s the night shift for your skin: you go to sleep, and it gets to work.
What do you hope people understand about this product that might not be immediately obvious?
That the intelligence lies in its delivery over time. The three-phase release system isn’t a marketing idea, it’s really the heart of the product. It’s designed to move with skin through the night, not sit statically on top of it. That’s quite different.
If you had to describe this product in three words, what would they be?
Intelligent. Regenerative. Comforting.
