Holidermie’s Mélanie Huynh Starts Her Beauty Routine With a Tongue Scraper

By the time Mélanie Huynh reaches for her serum, her morning beauty routine is already well underway. There’s tongue scraping, oil pulling, and body brushing, followed by a shower and skincare. The founder of French beauty brand Holidermie brings that same attention to what she eats, how she sleeps, and the habits she keeps.

You spent years in the fashion world before launching Holidermie. What inspired you to make the move into beauty?

When I was younger, I was much more focused on external beauty, on my image and how I looked. Over time, I realized that looking good on the outside starts with taking care of yourself on the inside. It’s about finding balance and feeling aligned, whether that means paying attention to what you eat, taking supplements and vitamins, meditating, or getting enough quality sleep. This was a personal journey that eventually led me to a whole new industry.

How do your Chinese and French roots influence your approach to beauty? Is there a family beauty ritual that has been passed down through the generations?

In my family, beauty and wellness have always been about balance, staying active, and eating mindfully. Traditional Chinese medicine places a strong emphasis on prevention: taking care of yourself before you get sick, rather than waiting until something is wrong. I wanted Holidermie to reflect that same philosophy, encouraging people to care for themselves both inside and out.

My Chinese heritage has also shaped our approach to beauty tools. My grandmother, for example, used to use gua sha to stimulate the skin. I’m also inspired by Ayurvedic rituals, such as tongue scraping and oil pulling in the morning. Growing up, my family always turned to nature, using flowers and natural ingredients to care for the body. That’s why using pure ingredients and maintaining Holidermie’s commitment to clean beauty are so important to me.

“Holistic” gets used a lot in beauty and wellness. What does it mean to you in practice, and what do you think people misunderstand about it?

When we launched Holidermie, the word “holistic” wasn’t nearly as widely used as it is today. For me, holistic beauty is much more than a buzzword. It’s about looking at the whole picture and bringing together three elements: what you do for your body from within, what you apply to your skin, and how you move. It means being mindful of how you eat, sleep, breathe, and take care of yourself. Everything is connected. It’s not just about applying a skincare product and expecting it to do all the work.

It’s also about the intention you bring to your daily routine. Take five minutes for yourself, light a candle, create a little moment of calm, and apply your skincare mindfully. It can make a real difference in how you experience your routine. When you’re distracted, you miss out on the experience itself. Being present matters.

Oxidative stress is central to Holidermie. What does it actually mean for our skin?

Think of an apple. Once you cut it open and leave it exposed to the air, it starts to turn brown. That’s oxidation. In much the same way, pollution, UV exposure, stress, and the demands of modern life can contribute to oxidative stress in the skin, accelerating the visible signs of aging.

My best friend is a facial plastic surgeon, and he always emphasizes how important antioxidants are for skin health. At Holidermie, we believe in the power of combining different approaches. Think of it like treating shoulder pain with both an anti-inflammatory pill and a topical cream. Each works differently, but they can complement one another. We take the same approach to skincare, bringing together supplements, targeted topical products, and beauty tools to support skin health.

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For someone new to Holidermie, which products would you recommend starting with, and why?

That’s a tough question because we put so much thought and effort into every product. Since Holidermie is built around three pillars, Inside, Outside, and In Motion, I’d recommend our collagen supplement to support healthy-looking skin as we age, the Hydratation Absolue Serum for soft, plump, hydrated skin, and either our Facial Brush or DuoRoller.

On your busiest days, which parts of your beauty and wellness routine do you actually make time for?

My morning rituals are nonnegotiable. I start with tongue scraping and oil pulling. While I’m oil pulling, I dry-brush my body, then take a shower. After that, I move on to my face. I use my facial brush, apply my hydrating serum, and layer on the rest of my skincare. And I never skip SPF. I even keep a sunscreen stick in my bag so I can reapply throughout the day.

What should people realistically expect from a skincare supplement, and where do you think expectations get ahead of the evidence?

Beauty isn’t about overnight miracles. Consistency is key. People often expect immediate results, but skincare and supplements take time to make a difference, much like growing a plant or getting in shape. I recommend giving a supplement at least two to three months before deciding how well it works for you. You can turn to a surgeon for a more immediate result, but that’s not the same as building and maintaining healthy skin over time. Your skin needs patience, consistency, and care.

What’s a good first beauty tool, and why?

I’d recommend our Facial Brush or DuoRoller. Both are easy to use, even if you’re new to beauty tools. The roller is designed to glide along the contours of your face, making facial massage simple and intuitive.

The most important thing to keep in mind, whether you’re using a beauty tool or applying your skincare with your hands, is the direction of your movements. Start at the center of your face and work outward toward your ears or hairline, then move down your neck. These movements are intended to help support lymphatic drainage.

Can you walk us through a simple facial massage we can do at home? What do people tend to get wrong?

One of the biggest mistakes people make is treating their face like a plate they’re scrubbing clean. They rub too hard, rush through their routine, and sometimes do it all while looking at their phones!

My advice is simple: be gentle. You only have one face, and you’ll have it for the rest of your life. Close your eyes, take a few seconds to slow down, and apply your skincare gently, working from the center of your face outward.

How do you decide which beauty trends deserve your attention and which to sit out?

Beauty trends move so quickly these days, but you don’t have to follow every single one. The basics never go out of style: double cleansing, daily SPF, and collagen supplementation.

When it comes to skincare, switching products every few days makes it difficult to know what’s actually working. Skin benefits from consistency, and having a routine can also bring a sense of stability to your day. I generally recommend sticking with a skincare brand for three to six months to give the products time to show results.

Makeup is a different story. It’s fun to experiment with trends because you can simply wash them off at the end of the day.

What are your favorite beauty stops in Paris?

I love Oh My Cream, one of our valued retail partners, and Le Bon Marché. They’re my favorite places to discover new products and soak up the Parisian atmosphere.

Has getting older changed the way you see your face? How does that shape the way you talk about aging at Holidermie?

We’re all going to age, and I believe the goal is to age well. I’m turning 50 soon. I pay close attention to what I eat, which supplements I take, and what I put on my skin. As a result, my skin remains healthy and firm. When you take care of your skin from the inside out and focus on its overall health, age becomes just a number. At Holidermie, we want women to feel empowered to age on their own terms and feel confident in their skin at every stage of life.

What is your favorite flaw?

Perfection isn’t what makes you beautiful. It’s your imperfections that make you unique, and that’s something we celebrate at Holidermie. Personally, I have plenty of flaws, but I’ve learned to accept them. They’re part of who I am, and in a way, they make me stronger.