Our Founder
Hello, my name is Manusanun “Mew” Leelahongjudha – and I am the Founder of SUDTANA. My story actually revolves around my late grandfather, who was a well-respected village doctor. Although I did not have the chance to meet him, I cannot count the number of times when my brothers and I would have a number of skin or hair issues that all kids have while growing up – dandruff, acne, dry cracked skin, etc. – and my mother would fix us right up with one of her ancient herbal recipes no matter our problem!
As I got older and developed an interest in beauty and personal care, I didn't enjoy the fact that lots of hair & skincare products were full of chemicals and synthetic ingredients. This led me to be curious about my grandfather's approach to herbal remedies and their application in cleaner, greener personal care.
Fortunately, I had the chance to take my curiosity to MIT through a Fulbright Scholarship, and that's where I explored how to scientifically enhance what originally was our family's very modest practice! My brothers and I like to say that was the start of SUDTANA — because from that point onwards, we found ourselves taking off on an extraordinary journey of harmonising modern science with generations of ancient herbal wisdom.
Click below to learn more about me and SUDTANA!
I take part in the research and development side of things, linking the science to the products. What I love to do most, however, is being involved in working with our growers to source the finest organic ingredients across Thailand for our self-care line! We work very closely with our small but amazing suppliers and over time have established strong relationships with them.
Yoga has gradually evolved into a passion of mine — I try to dedicate 3 days a week to it and have found it to contribute astonishing results, both physically and spiritually. On my days off, I love exploring beaches around Thailand and snorkelling. On a daily basis, though, I enjoy experimenting with different kinds of diets — mostly plant-based and low in sugar.
My favourite thing to do is stay home on rainy days and then take a walk in the garden after to smell the freshness of the grass and plants! I also make it a must to meditate once a week as I’ve found it to always increase self-awareness, reduce negative emotions, as well as generate new perspectives. Most importantly, meditation helps you focus on the present.
For me, beauty is about being kind and authentic — a perception also deeply ingrained in SUDTANA’s beauty philosophy.
Definitely! During my early 20s, I focused on using skincare products that fix the skin from the outside and started exploring more makeup products. Today, I use a lot less makeup and have transitioned to natural skin remedies.
I try to use products that I trust are truly natural to make sure that there will be no residues left behind that can harm my skin in the long run. I also prefer to use products that do not contain unnecessary fillers to ensure that my skin is only getting what it needs to rejuvenate and heal, which is more of a holistic approach.
However, apart from skincare, personal self-care is also essential. I try to get lots of sleep, drink lots of water, eat healthily, exercise regularly, and meditate once a week.
This is hard! If I had to pick the first would be the Nourishing Sacha Inchi, Ginger & Turmeric Facial Oil. Trust me, this product truly does wonders. Every time I use it, not only does my skin feel rejuvenated, but I also feel recharged from the aroma. Fun fact: the natural scent from ginger-based essential oils is known as, “The Oil of Empowerment.” It contains various essential vitamins as well as antioxidant, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory qualities. The oil also contains Omega-3, -6, and -9 from sacha inchi oil, turmeric, and ginger, which help promote a natural glow. I use this after cleansing both AM and PM.
Our face mask is also another favourite of mine. I’ve been using this recipe since my teenage years to help cope with acne problems. This mask is incredibly versatile, helps calm and soothe the skin from irritations, detoxes excess oils, minimizes pores, and contains natural exfoliators to scrub away dead cells. The formula is very gentle and does not dry out the skin. I usually use it once a week on my #selfcare days, while enjoying a good Netflix show of course. Tips: I pair it with our Invigorating Botanical Mist as it enhances the cooling properties of the mask!
Last, but not least, the Body Recovery Oil is like my magic potion. It has over 20 potent and organic herbs perfect for after workouts, physical injuries, as well as office syndrome. I would apply it to sore areas at night and would wake up feeling light and ready to jump into my daily activities. Goodbye, Tylenol!
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