Q&a / Meet the Hong Kong skincare entrepreneur behind Cary: inspired by Hollywood legend Cary Grant, Matteo Chung invented a natural, easy-to-use cosmetics brand for the ‘everyday man’
Hong Kong native and former interior designer Matteo Chung went from working in his family’s manufacturing business to launching an easy-to-use tinted skincare brand inspired by the “everyday man”. Here then is Cary – named after Hollywood screen legend Cary Grant.
Where did your interest in beauty come from?
When I was younger, I was bullied for my dark circles so I’ve always taken special care when it comes to my appearance. Over the years I’ve used a variety of men’s make-up and I’m quite good at doing make-up myself. Many of my male friends would ask me for tips because they struggled to create a look that was more natural. That got me thinking about creating a line of products for guys that provided coverage without looking too heavy.
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How is Cary different from other men’s brands?
Cary targets a niche market. In the West, there are many cosmetic brands that cater to men but none of them have a skincare element. I didn’t want to create a brand where you are repackaging women’s products for men. I also feel the “everyday guy” is quite underserved.
What are men’s biggest skincare concerns?
No one wants to look tired, but at the same time they don’t want to spend too much time beautifying themselves. Everything needs to be easy, which is why all our products can be applied using your fingers. I describe it as “tinted skincare” because we use colour as a solution to common skincare concerns. Our tints are much lighter when compared to female BB cream.
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Where does the skincare part come in?
We have included efficacy-driven ingredients in every formula. Right now, there’s a trend towards sustainable or clean products but for us it’s about effective ingredients. For example, our first “hero” product, the tinted eye cream, is formulated with a proprietary C-remedial complex featuring sprouts, tangerine peel and kiwi extract to brighten the skin, along with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to hydrate and repair. We also include SPF15 in all our formulations, which also tend to be lighter to suit the Asian climate.
What are the challenges to the men’s market?
The barriers to entry have been relatively low. Fortunately, the men’s make-up market is much smaller and less complicated compared to the women’s, where you must deal with multiple products, textures and finishes. It’s also not hard to make a product, but it’s hard to make a product that’s safe, which is why we follow EU regulations as a benchmark. The upfront investment is also high because you need to buy quantity.
What other products are in the pipeline?
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What about plans to expand?
I want to be home-grown even though it may be harder. Most men’s brands available here are from Korea and Japan but they don’t have the same appeal because the men there want white skin and pinker lips. The natural look we create appeals to everyone. I don’t want to be a market leader. I just want to create a fresh narrative between men and cosmetics.
- After being bullied for his dark circles when younger, Matteo Chung set out to create natural-looking tinted skincare for men in Hong Kong – where heavy Korean and Japanese products are the norm
- Cary’s home-grown tinted eye cream is made with sprouts, tangerine peel and kiwi extract, along with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, plus a light SPF15 to suit the climate