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Beauty Begins With The Relationship We Have With Ourselves
I've always believed that beauty is about much more than the way we look.
For me, beauty begins with the relationship we have with ourselves, with the kindness we show ourselves every day and the choices we make for the world around us.
That belief became the foundation of Chilani.
People often ask me where the name comes from.
Chilani is inspired by two things that have always been closest to my heart: Children and Animals. To me, they represent innocence, compassion, curiosity and unconditional love...the qualities I believe make the world a more beautiful place.
The first part of the name, Chi, also carries a special meaning. In traditional Chinese philosophy, Chi is often described as our life force or inner energy. It reminds me that when we care for ourselves with kindness, we have more energy to care for others.
The lines in the Chilani logo are inspired by Hexagram 16 of the I Ching, an ancient Chinese oracle. It symbolises the invisible force that brings people together, much like music, creating harmony and shared inspiration. It also reflects the natural enthusiasm so effortlessly expressed by children and animals: a joyful, authentic way of experiencing life.
This philosophy lies at the heart of everything I create. Whether through skincare, music, writing, or animal welfare, my hope is to inspire people to reconnect with that same sense of joy, authenticity, and inner beauty.
One of my earliest childhood memories is visiting my father in Jakarta. At the local market, I saw birds kept in tiny cages, waiting to be sold. I begged my father for a few coins so I could buy them and set them free. I was only six years old and I couldn't understand why he wouldn't let me rescue every single bird.
I never wanted my happiness to come at the expense of another living being. Even today, that quiet belief continues to guide my choices.
As I grew older, life became busy. Like so many people, I focused on building a career, paying the bills and simply keeping up with everyday life. For more than twenty years, I worked as a dancer, singer and model. It was an exciting world that gave me incredible experiences, creativity and unforgettable memories. But somewhere inside me, that promise I had made as a little girl never disappeared.
Years later, life forced me to slow down. During a period of illness, I found myself questioning not only my health, but also the life I wanted to create.
It became a turning point in my life.
I realised I wanted to build something that reflected my values:
Kindness.
Compassion.
Respect for animals and nature.
And a genuine desire to help people feel good about themselves. That is where the idea for Chilani truly began.
People often ask me how I became a skincare formulator. The answer is actually quite simple; As a dancer, singer and model, I spent years wearing heavy makeup, styling products and colouring my hair. My skin became increasingly dry, sensitive and difficult to care for.
I was looking for something natural, cruelty-free and nourishing that truly worked for my maturing skin. When I couldn't find what I was looking for, I decided to learn. I immersed myself in the world of natural skincare formulation and became fascinated by the incredible properties of botanical oils. For years, I experimented, studied and tested different formulations on my own skin. Some combinations worked beautifully. Others left my skin dry, flaky or irritated. My husband often laughed and said,
"Why don't you just buy a really good cream and leave it to the experts?"
But I was too curious to stop as I wanted to understand what truly worked...and why.
Those years of learning, testing and refining eventually became the foundation of every Chilani product. The very first product I created was Golden Magic Oil.
Friends and family began using it and kept coming back for more. Their encouragement gave me the confidence to believe that what had started as a personal journey might also help others. Today, every Chilani product is still created with the same intention.
Simple & thoughtful formulations.....made with carefully selected botanical ingredients and cruelty-free.
But I believe skincare is about so much more than beautiful skin. It's about taking a few moments each day to care for yourself with kindness. Because when we learn to care for ourselves, it becomes easier to care for the world around us. That's why I believe that;
Beauty begins with the relationship we have with ourselves
With love, Cindy