vielö

Ever wondered why Cleopatra bathed in milk? Well, luckily for us, the founders of Vielö pondered this very question, discovering that the by-product of dairy - whey - held the key to locking in moisture. Developing a skincare range called ‘The Whey Series’ that appeals to sensitive skin and is suitable for the whole family, Vielö, which is designed and made in Austria, is created using uncompromisingly high organic ingredients.

As well as organic whey, the body lotions, scrubs, shampoos and hand creams contain soothing ingredients such as lavender, rosemary, wheat germ oil and mallow, all certified to the highest of Austria’s strict requirements. You won’t find ‘nasties’ such as sulphates or artificial fragrances. In fact, Vielö sought the olfactory expertise of famed perfumer Yogesh Kumar to help create the perfect scent made from essential oils for the Whey Series.

Break down ‘Vielö’ and you begin to understand how the story started. VIE symbolises Vienna, where one of the founding duo Alex lives, whilst Chris represents the LO of London where he was working when entrepreneurial genius struck him and the seedlings of the skincare brand began. Ö stands for Österreich (Austria) where the business was nurtured into the company it is today.

Interestingly neither Alex nor Chris had experience of working in the beauty industry prior to Vielö, yet they credit this ‘naivety’ in helping them question the established norms. One area they were keen to change was sustainability, especially the deceptive advertising that surrounds the industry. By using pared-back packaging, raw paper and simplistic design they were able to convey at first glance their commitment to a sustainable approach. But that’s just the surface. Their integral ability to look at the concept of whey as not only a natural organic product but one that is readily available and sustainable made the enterprise a circular economy in addition to the high quality of organic ingredients added.